Coat Change & Line Brushing- UPDATED

[Star and Goldie]

First, let me say I'd be lost without DK! There is no way I could take care of my doodle without this site.

I'm pretty well armored for the Mat Battle 2013.  I've got the Safari Dematter Comb, The Les Pooch brush, Andis Steel Comb and Cowboy Magic Detangler.  Even with the help of all of these awesome tools (that I probably wouldn't have even known about without DK), I'd give myself a C- at best on keeping up with the mats during this COAT CHANGE-A-PALOOZA! I keep finding mats left and right. The Cowboy Magic is definitely helping along with the Dematter comb and brushes but I just can't seem to get her mat free and keep finding some pretty radical ones that are too tough to get out in one sitting.

Another thing I've started to study up on is line brushing. I've been trying it but so far I haven't quite gotten it down.

Does anyone have a good line brushing video that features a doodle with longer hair and the proper technique to use? I can't figure out if I should be starting at the back and work my way down to the belly or start at the belly and work my way up.  Which way pulls less?

Also, I can't seem to find anywhere how long the coat change lasts. I'm really struggling and am about to throw in the towel and go for a dreaded shave down:( Someone please tell me it doesn't last forever that I'm not doing as bad as I think I am... is it really this bad for everyone during this time??

I really wanted to let Goldie use this kiddie pool all summer to stay cool.  She had an absolute blast but it seemed like the mats really took over after that so it looks like we will be putting the pool away for good and keep her dry this year!

How do you let your doods get wet without a mat invasion following? I brushed her out before she got in the pool and I used Cowboy Magic and a ShamWow when she got out. They seemed to help but not enough!

7/25 UPDATE:

Including an update since the update itself has turned into a little discussion.

Goldie got shaved down today. She took her down to 1 inch. I provided a picture of what I wanted and the face was not even close to what was pictured. Goldie's body, tail and legs look beautiful but the face cut is not what I asked for. The Groomer left her ears long and a poof on top of her head. I do believe this short coat will be easier to manage and get me through the coat change and I LOVE LOVE her velvety teddy bear body but I am pretty bummed with the end result of the face- really just the ears... they're really bothering me for some reason! Maybe it's just because it's so clearly NOT what I asked for. I even left the picture with her.... did she even look at it?

HERE IS WHAT I ASKED FOR:

HERE IS WHAT I GOT:

The ears are killing me. If the wind picks up, she may just fly away ;)

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh good point, Sheri! That adult coat coming in is much curlier. I still think the ears should have been trimmed up and the head cut flatter, but I see your point exactly. 

[Star and Goldie]

Does this seem like an indicator that once the coat grows out I'm no longer going to get that beautiful shaggy fluff?

[Star and Goldie]

So because of the puppy coat the ears couldn't be blended or trimmed and had to be left long? That's the thing that's bothering me the most. The poof will die down a little. Even with the normal doodley doo she had she would always come back with somewhat of a poof from the blowout. But what's with the ears? I've never heard of a difference in the coat stopping them from doing any trimming or blending there. You'd think she would have told me why her face looked extremely different than the picture when she gave me the picture and my long eared pup back:/

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh definitely not, Star. Goldie's coat is curlier than the hair in Darwin's photo but little Goldie's hair cut is definitely too poofy on top and the ears are just not trimmed at all. So frustrating. I hope you can get a better result next time or if you take her back this time. 

[Star and Goldie]

I actually don't know whose dog that one was. I didn't take the Darwin phot because I thought it may have been too short of a cut for the face but now I'm wishing I would have. Maybe she needed to see a super short face cut to get to the medium one. Haha

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm glad you said that. I was thinking it didn't really look like Darwin! Haha!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Oh I didn't even really address the ears because it was mostly the top that looked so different.  Just take some scissors and trim the off ... easy to do!  Just trim them about chin level (go a little at a time).

[Star and Goldie]

Thanks, Sheri. I'm not sure I trust myself to do that. Do I just trim it in a straight line or how do I get it to where it won't look like my 3 year old took scissors to her ears? haha

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Cut a little at a time. I was and still am just as nervous about cutting the boy's hair, my groomer suggested using thinning shears and doing one or two snips then comb out the cut hair and keep going until it looks good to me. They don't give a straight line though like regular scissors, but I can't cut a straight line anyway, so.... :*))

[Star and Goldie]

I don't even know what thinning shears are so I better not even attempt it ;)

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm laughing... not at Goldie but at the groomer thinking she did what you asked in the photo you brought with Goldie. I saw the first photo and thought... that's perfect, I'm surprised she thinks the head looks a poodle. Then I scrolled down. sigh. If the groomer did a good job on the body. I would take her there again and take the same photo emphasizing the look you expect on the face, head and ears. Goldie is such a darling, no matter what the groomer messed up.  I could kiss that sweet black nose!

[Star and Goldie]

I am definitely saving the picture and taking it back next time. She really did do a great job on the body, legs and tail and even the nose and eyes area. If it weren't for those darn long ears, I'd even be more ok with the poof;)