Mat Overload

[Chelsie]

I have two questions on this topic! First...Sam is almost a year old and we have a huge matting problem. I brush him everyday and it is a chore. His hair is always tangled and he has mats that could never be brushed out. I usually have to cut them out, but the next day I am cutting new ones out. His poor legs look awful from all the patches of where mats used to be! At this point he hates being brushed, but I can't blame him. Is this just his puppy coat change? Will it get better? Would a Les Pooches brush really be a difference maker? We already have the Chris Christensen T brush and it works well just takes a long time to get tangles out. I start to cry thinking this is my life from now on with all this brushing and hair!

Second...I am taking him to a new groomer tomorrow and am giving him his summer cut. How short do people go for this? I love the shaggy look, but with above issues his hair must go! Thanks so much!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

1) Yes it is probably his puppy coat at the moment but that doesn't mean you won't struggle with some matting down the road.  Particularly if he doesn't shed.  (2)  The Les Poochs brush in my opinion is a life saver.  If you aren't familiar with line brushing, google it and watch some videos.  It is an excellent way to brush a doodle.  (3)  As for the haircut, if he is matted to the skin probably the best thing you can do is just shave him down and start over.  It will be easier for all of you.  You can get him to like brushing again because it won't be painful for him.  You can still keep the face and the tail most likely and still have a cute doodle.  You also need to get a really good comb and after you brush him use the comb to make sure you are getting all the way down to the skin.  This is where a lot of people get in trouble with a thick coated doodle is they think they are brushing all the way down, but they really aren't.  Line brush, Les Pooches brush and comb.  You can just ask the groomer's opinion and ask that they leave him as shaggy as they can without making him miserable during the grooming.  Also, once he is cut down, brush him daily.  If you do it daily it is a 5 minute job vs once a week a 30 mins to an hour.  Just add it to your daily routine.  Also, put him up on a table or something if you aren't already as it will make it easier.  Good luck tomorrow. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Sheri, You have said everything I would have said. I am just adding my hearty agreement. I truly thought I was getting all of Kona's mats until I learned to line-brush.

Chelsie, It gets infinitely easier after the doodles are past the dreaded coat change. If you let the groomer really cut Sam's coat back it will be much easier for both of you. There may be no choice if he is as matted as you have said. It grows back! Good luck.

[Chelsie]

Thank you! I was using a table, but stopped. I should start again...he was just getting too big!

[Linda And Loo]

Good advice from Lucy and AnnaBella's mom! Hang in there, hopefully it will get better!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Oh boy are you bringing back memories! LOL!  Tara's coat did the same thing as Sam's and I thought I would lose my mind. That was during my pre-DK days and I didn't have anyone to tell me that it was temporary!  Things really calmed down with her adult coat and it is manageable but I found that I do like keeping it shorter anyhow so that helps too.

I agree with the suggestions already made here. If you talk with Kemp at Doodle Country Store he can help you determine which LP brush would be appropriate for Sam's coat.  Don't lose hope!!

[Chelsie]

Glad to know I'm not alone in my fight with the mats! Thanks!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Most likely they are going to shave him down beyond what you would consider a "summer cut".  There is no other way if he is that matted.  Brushing only touches the surface.  Like Bonnie said you need to line brush.  Also, using a rotating tooth comb is another way to go.  The mats are down against the skin and the only way to get down there is using a comb and using it in the same way as line brushing.  I have only ever found my rotating tooth comb on line and not in the pet stores.  When you do take him to the groomers tomorrow ask them to be very careful with the razor as they get close to the skin.  So many of the pups come home with razor burn and then you have that to contend with for a few days.  This is usually on the tummy and sanitary area.  Good Luck!

[Chelsie]

He did end up with some razor burn even after I warned her of this! Is there anything I should put on it? Thanks!!

[Chelsie]

Ok...he might not be as matted as I described becasue I don't think he needs to be shaved. His bad spots are just his legs and armpits. His body, head, and tail are mat free, thankfully!! I do line brush him with the T brush and then comb through checking for any tangles. His body is just really tangled and takes awhile to brush out. Keep in mind, I do this everyday already!! I think if I only brushed him for 5 mins I would maybe have done half of one leg!!

[Bonnie and Kona]

In that case, I would get a Les Pooches brush. Honestly it made a huge difference for me with grooming Kona, especially. They are expensive but I would not groom my dogs without one. Kemp, a DK member, is the man to tell you what your doodle needs. doodlecountry.com. He's great. I still remember taking it out of the box and immediately brushing Kona's ears. It went through like butter! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It WILL get better, I promise.  Ned has what is considered a high maintenance coat thick and cottony.  He matted badly until he was two!!!  Then gradually we found that we didn't need to brush/comb him as often.  Brushing sessions still took 40 - 60 minutes and we were usually able to get the mats out without cutting.  Now that he is 5, we can go several weeks between combing sessions which is way cool to me.  When you cut a mat out, you need to make several slices in the mat with small scissors (going from the skin out - never toward the dog's skin) and not just cutting the mat.  This will help prevent the patchy look.  We also use products like Cowboy Magic, Horse Mane 'n Tail Detangler, and Bedhead which really help make the mats 'slide' out as you brush.  I use the LesPouchs brushes on Ned, on my shedding doodle, and even on my Springer Spaniel's ears.  It is an awesome brush and well worth the money if you have a dog that has a difficult coat.

[Bob Johnston]

We brush sophie 30 to 45 mins daily and she wakes up the next morning looking like someone crazy glued her hair together. We use a les pooches brush, 3 different rakes depending on where a mat is and how close to the skin it is. We also have 2 different striping tools for really bad mats and her muzzle area. They make it easy and quick to remove the mat with out having to pull on their face or poke their eye if they move quickly. When all that fails and crazy sometimes it does we have to get the scissors out and cut the mat out :( Even after all that work I still cant get her cut to short because I just love her fluffiness when I get home in the morning from work.