Does a wool coat need to be kept trimmed for matting reasons?

[Doreen Szukala]

I have a labradoodle(2 years) who is fleece and I am able to keep him long in the winter(not too much swimming), but my second doodle(18months) is a combination wool/fleece. His body just keeps getting puffy. I have noticed though that he matts alot more when I try to let him grow too long. Is this because he is more wool or just the nature of the beast. I trimmed him down to 1" last night and as much as I prefer him longer, he loves it! Plus he loves that I won't have to brush/comb him so much. Will I ever be able to let it grow real long? Picture is before the hair cut.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Razor type combs can be extremely damaging to the doodle coat. I use scissors, cutting in the same direction as the hair growth as my last defense. I like to use my Les Pooch Matt Zapper followed by a fine brush and a comb. I always cut out matts behind ears and shave the 'arm pits'. No sense in trying to save the hair in those areas.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Hi Doreen...Blake has a wooly coat and he matts at the skin when long unless I slicker brush him at least every other day..........He looks poofed out for a few hours and then the hair "settles into soft fleecy curls...but in order to maintain the long wooly coat and avoid matting you must brush thoroughly a few times a week....He is long right now for the winter...below are pics....

[Doreen Szukala]

Jacquie,
I LOVE the snow picture! Blakes eyes are gorgeous! I cut Java down to 3/4", but he grows fast and will look better in a couple of weeks. He is not a lover of the brush, so I would hate to have to brush him every other day. It sounds like I will have to find a happy medium. I have two pre-teen girls as well as my two boys and brushing them one to two times a week is about all I can fit in. I am going to try to water trick to see if that helps. My fleecy boy get the cotton ball type matts and it sounds like this could help!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Soaking the coat after brushing with a diluted finishing spray will help a lot.

[Diane Dolphin Rocker]

I spray them all over with the Kelko industries "De-Mat Spray" after brushing. It helps keep the mats away :)).

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

One of my doods has very curly wool. He is 14 months old. I was talked into shaving him at nine months and since it was July and he swam at least once a day it was very practical. Since July I have let him grow out. His coat is about 3 inches long. I never brush or comb him. I just wash him with very dilute shampoo and rinse really thoroughly, then conditioner and rinse and then leave in conditioner. I only trim his bum for cleanliness and his face so I can see his eyes. He seldom mats and if he does I spray the mat heavily with leave in conditioner and use a rake to detangle it. I got this advice both from his breeder and from someone at a doodle romp. I think for very curly wool coats that it might be better to leave them alone or comb them out in the shower after the conditioner is on, before you rinse it out. This is how my very very curly headed daughter cares for her hair. She never brushes or combs her hair when it is dry, it is very long and would probably be pretty difficult to do. If your curly wool dog still mats I guess you will need to keep it short, but you can try just the wash, condition, and wear policy and see if it works. Just use shampoo sparingly and rinse, rinse rinse so no soap is left to irritate his skin.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Maryann, how often do you wash?

[Denise Armstrong]

My girl is curly curly wool and i have only attempted to groom her a couple of times with poor results. I am going to try again on Wednesday any tips from anyone would be great and is it wash then brush or brush then wash?

Thanks

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Brush then wash then brush again.