We went to the groomers today!!!

[Claudia]

So I took Jake to the groomers today. He was so matted that they had to shave him almost right down to the skin. He looks like an entirely different dog. However he was severely matted. The groomer said that it was like shearing a sheep. She had to cut a line down the middle of the fur and shear the rest off. It came off in almost one piece. The thing is I do brush him!! Honestly!!! I swear the matting happened over one week. I tried a number of different things, matting comb, bath, conditioner and combing when wet, nothing worked!!! I hope this is a one time thing because he his coat is transitioning. Has anyone else experienced this quick all over matting? Is it a problem that repeats?

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

awwwh - you have a naked doodle :) My best advice is to not let his fur get too long next time. We try to let Dex get to a maximum of 2-3 inches and then get him cut again. I bet he feels so much better now but wow he does look like a different dog!!

[2SCdoodles]

I have to shave my dogs down twice a year. I have had the exact same problem with the matting when their fur gets to a certain length. They actually seem to be very happy when they get their haircuts.

[MBKANE]

Claudia have you tried using a leave-in spray conditioner? I spray that on Kensi about every other day (it only takes seconds) and leaves her coat smooth and detangled. Kensi has never has her hair cut down yet I am hoping to avoid it at all costs to cut her short. I love the shaggy look. Also the Furminator brush is a miracle! It is designed for dogs that shed but works great to keep doodle coats tangle and mat free. Hope you can find a routine that allows you to keep Jake's coat free of matting!

[gbrlcsimcwoq]

Hi Claudia
I had a similar experience with my goldendoodle, Levi. I also brush Levi and the groomer tried to save his coat (late summer I think) but the matting was still there. She ended up cutting him very short (a look I don't prefer) but at least he was cooler and matt-free! I thought that he matted easily due to his coat transitioning from being a puppy.
He is finally growing out but I have noticed that he is matting again mostly around his head. I wonder if I am adding to the problem as I am constantly petting his head because he is sooooo soft (I call him my personal therapy dog!) My guess is that this will be a recurring issue but hopefully not as bad. Time will tell!

[2widfg8okrqg5]

Let me just add that I have spent at least 3 hours for the last 3 days scissoring and brusing out Noel because she was one big matt! And like you said it seemed to happen overnight. She gets a few matts here and there, but it is like they just grew exponentially very fast. She had one huge one down her back and one down each side. I was horrified at the thought of sending her to the groomer and having them shave her down (and I think my husband may have never let her back in the house - he likes the shaggy look). So, I started my week off my ordering a Les Poochs brush (after some great advice from Kemp at DoodleCountry.com) and also some Cowboy Magic detangler - neither is here yet, but I figure they will at least help me prevent this from ever happening again!! I started on one side and decided to only do one section a day because it was hard on her (and my back!) I scissors thru the matt (in the direction of the growth of hair) and then just brushed her out. It took hours and was very tedious. I ended up cutting quite a bit out, but as fluffy as she is, you really can't tell. I did her back the second day and the other side and her legs today. She was such a a trooper! I gave her lots of stretch breaks and lots of cookies and hugs and kisses! The mattes were all the way to her skin and I felt so bad... I don't ever want to have to do that again and I don't ever want her to feel that way again. Kemp says it is a transition time (she's 14 months old) for her coat - I sure hope so. I will probably try and keep her a bit shorter and just be more careful about brushing and detangling.

Wow - I really needed to vent... thanks for listening and I'm sorry you had to go thru it, too!

[Jazz & Jane]

oh........... what an adorable "NEEKED" doodle. Don't feel bad because doodles feel good about this -- I think they LOVE the short hairdo -- it's the "MOMS" that don't. Remember they feed off your reaction (and I think it happens to everyone as they blow that puppy coat). We (mom's) take it harder than anyone. The brushing can quickly get away from you. Try keepin him at a little shorter length until you get the right feel for the brushing. I sware there should be a degree program we all need to go thru to figure it out !!!

I'm sure he feels like SILK now. Make sure you tell him how "handsome" he is (and not how mom really feels).

Believe me, you are not alone and many others are feeling your pain.

[Leslie and Halas]

Halas is apparently going through this transition for the 2nd time. It happened when he was about 9 months old, and now it's happening again at about 16 months old. My story is the same as yours - I had it under control with a normal brushing schedule, and then, literally overnight, the giant mats just appeared. I've spent 45 - 60 minutes almost every day for the past 2 weeks brushing him out. They are down the back, just like Noel's. I'm trying to just get through this transition again. Once he gets through this phase, I'm hoping we can get back to our normal brushing schedule, which was only about once per week.

[Jean]

This happened to my Bucky until he turned 3. Then his coat changed and he hardly matts at all. I brush once a week and that is all. I keep him about 2 to 3 inches. It is awful the first time you see them like this. I have added a picture of how long we keep his coat. If it grows more than this, it will matt.

[Claudia]

Thanks for all the comments. Just knowing that I'm not the only one who experienced this makes me feel that maybe I'm not the most incompetent doodle owner in the world!!! Thanks for all the comments and tips!

[Kay and Tanner.]

Our Goldendoodle tends to mat too...We do brush him, but he will still mat..He goes to the Groomers twice a year for a cut down....It was bad the first time getting him cut down, but we got used to it..It grows out really nice and his fur is so soft.....Now we like him both ways long and short..

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

the key is getting down to the skin when you brush/comb your dog. Lay your dog on his side, start low, at the belly area, holding all this hair up with one hand, using the other hand with a slicker type brush comb hair down and out in sections, then move to the legs and head. Once you have done that start over using a comb! You really have to do this every week and make sure you are actually getting down to the skin and use a comb, if you cant get a comb though it then it is matted.

You might join the grooming group, Barb who started it is a groomer and a breeder so she knows the proper tools and techniques.

[Adina P]

Claudia, have you joined our Doodle Grooming group on here yet? If not check it out: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/doodlegrooming -- lots of great tips and discussions there about such matters!