Brushing / matting?

[Michele Kiss]

Our 5-month-old miniature labradoodle is petrified of brushing - we can't go near him with one. We have even bought three kinds figuring one of them would be better! We have tried giving him treats/peanut butter/etc and we can't even get him to have the brush next to him still. 

We do take him to the groomers (he has been twice so far) so he does get brushed. Is grooming enough to avoid him ever getting matted? I don't want to ever have to shave him down, but it's so hard to get him over this fear of brushing... 

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Actually the Les Pooches brushes are available now. It is now under the name of Activet. They are not widely available yet. I bought mine from Britain. It was worth it to me to have when Yogi started matting a month ago. I love it, but it is not a brush to start with when just teaching them to like the feel of it.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Actually, from what I understand these brushes are being made by the Activet company who were the ones that used to make the Les Poochs brushes.  Les Poochs had some sort of falling out and that is why they haven't been available.  They are in the process of relocating their manufacturing and this company is sort of for lack of a better word illegally making them under the Les Poochs name.  

[Melissa Bissell]

I'm a big proponent of "treats make life better" in dog land.  I use treats for everything with my puppy, and it works!!!  I give him his most favorite treats when I brush him.  He now loves being brushed and will even roll onto his back for me to do his belly.  I no longer have to treat him continuously while I brush, but I do start with a yummy treat and treat as he gets impatient, and then a super special treat when we are all done.  

[Michele Kiss]

The challenge is that in two situations (bath, and brushing) he simply won't eat. No matter how good the treat, he has no interest when he's in that state of stress :-( 

Will check out the brush you mentioned and I'm guessing we just are going a million times more slowly than for some other pups. 

I don't get it - I love someone brushing my hair. LOLS!! 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

One thing to keep in mind is you should always have him all brushed out before you bathe.  Otherwise you sort of "set" the mats for lack of a better word.  It is then harder to get them out.  Some other suggestions would be try doing this when he is really tired and sleepy.  When ever he is maybe just sitting with you sort of run your fingers through his fur sort of like a comb.  If he likes belly rubs do a lot of that and play with his feet and ears as well.  Get him used to being touched.  

[Michele Kiss]

Which one should we be getting...? 

http://www.lespoochs.com/brushes.asp 

http://www.redcape.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=...

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Michele -- I just now put a post above about the Les Poochs brush.  If you order from the top link you will most likely be on back order as the Company from my understanding had a falling out with their manufacturer and is in the process of getting re established elsewhere to make the brushes.  This is the brush that the majority of us have ordered through  The Doodle Country Store previously.  However, they can't even get them right now.  The second link is the manufacturer that WAS making the brushes for Les Poochs and is now continuing to do so somewhat illegally from what I've been told.  Or at least there are some lawsuits in progress.  Some people here have ordered them through that company and they seem to like the brushes.  I can't speak to that since I got mine before the falling out.  That being said, any type of slicker brush (another name brand is Chris Christinsen I believe) will work along with a good comb.

[Michele Kiss]

Thanks. It looks like I can order from the Redcape site. They seem to have two sizes, one for dogs up to 40lb, so that would be right. But they also show soft, medium, firm. No idea which one is right for him?! 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

If Fenway is going to be over say 20-25 lbs I would go ahead and get the larger brush and I would get the purple.  His coat looks like it is going to be pretty thick.  My AnnaBelle is 53 lbs and I've been using the Lg purple on her since she was a puppy.  She has been up on our grooming table since the day she came home and she loves being brushed.  She doesn't mind it at all.  Keep in mind though it is going to take some getting used to.  I hated it the first time I used it.  Be sure to read and watch the line brushing video as well.  

[Michele Kiss]

Thanks so much. He is only going to be 20-25 MAX so I guess I will go with the smaller, and purple. Thank you!! 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Michele, I just saw this post.  I think you are right going with the single, but unless your puppy has a super wooly coat, I think I would go with the red, or even the yellow.  Both of my doodles have fleece coats, but Charlie has way more hair than Beau.  I used the yellow single on them when puppies and still use it on their legs, because the seem to be sensitive to leg brushing.  Whatever brush you get, I would suggest you try it on yourself first so you can feel how it feels.  It may be your little guy is very sensitive and he thinks it hurts.  I started brushing the doodles from day one whenever they were tired or relaxing next to me.  I would just gently brush through the hair.  At this point he is probably not getting many little mats, but If you feel a snag, you need to hold the hair between your fingers below the snag, and brush over the top of your fingers.  Pulling definitely is painful for them.  Do you stay while they groom him to see what is happening?  Maybe they are being a little rough with him - I hope not.  Good luck. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Purple is stiffer than the green.  My guess is that you should purchase the green one. I have both for Ned who has a poodle thick coat.