Grooming brush(es)

[Ollie's Mom]

Hi all! Ollie is 5 months old, I read through some of the grooming discussions but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask "What is your favorite brush to use daily to get mats out or just smooth out the doodle?"

Ollie is 75% poodle and so far I use a slicker brush on him each night while he eats his peanut butter out of the Kong. As soon as the PB is finished he is growling and nipping at me if I continue to brush him. He HATES it.

Please let me know your thoughts on this comb: gets good reviews but I can't tell if the teeth are too wide.?

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Grooming-Ultimate-Coarse-Wooden/dp/B00...

 

This one looks good too but some people said they didn't like it - may not have been using it correctly?  I would like to get to the point where I can brush Ollie and he doesn't have to be bribed but maybe that's wishful thinking!  I do wonder if the slicker brush hurts him and it is hard to tel if i'm getting close enough to his skin.  Any tips would be great.  Thanks!!

http://www.amazon.com/Four-Paws-Grooming-Matting-Medium/dp/B003JVOV...

[Kathy Miller]

I have 3 doodles and all have varying coats.  I have a Labradoodle that is about 95% poodle with tight curls, a goldendoodle with a thick curly coat (that mats like crazy) and an Aussiedoodle who has more wavy cowlicks than curls and all three of these items below get used on all of them.

This brush is pricey but it is wonderful!  I've been using it since 2012 on 3 doodles and it is still just like new.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ES7WI6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o...

I follow up with a steel comb similar to this. http://www.amazon.com/Andis-2-Inch-Steel-Comb-65730/dp/B004UTDHP2/r...

And for extreme mats I use a comb similar to this that I've had for about 20 yrs.  http://www.amazon.com/Safari-De-Matting-Comb-for-Dogs/dp/B0002ARR2W...

[April S.]

My doodle is really sensitive to a slicker brush so I don't use it.  I have a metal comb with rotating bristles, a double undercoat rake and a brush with metal bristles that are coated on the ends.  I have a dematting tool that is curved on the end so its a bit safer.  It is razor sharp so I avoid it as much as possible.  My doodle's hair is quite coarse and curly. 

Dematter I use is this one:   

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Grooming-Tools-Ergonomic-DeMatting/dp/...

Rake is this one: 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F247JS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o...

I mostly use the metal comb though and brush. 

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

The best type of comb to use has both wide and narrow teeth. You use the wide end first and then the other.

A slicker brush will not get to the bottom of a coat. You need to line brush. ie Brush all the coat in the wrong direction and work it back into the right direction in small sections. There are some discussions on this subject and examples on youtube.

A good idea is to brush different sections of the puppy on different days. ie, one day hind legs, another day front legs etc. The growling and nipping are a different problem. Can you take a bone or food away from your puppy? 

[Kathy Miller]

The lift and brush method shown in this video is what I do with the Chris Christensen 16mm T-Brush and it works extremely well.  The 16mm is the perfect size...any longer and I think you might hurt the skin using this method.

http://youtu.be/e7Bmq3lFSGg

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I use the exact same ones that Kathy Miller uses, with the addition of the red Mat Zapper and green double brush from Les Pooches (now Activet). Those brushes get down to the skin using the line brushing method, and I make sure I can comb through the coat afterward. The only time I use a regular slicker brush is when I'm blow drying the doodles, and because they can have sharp points, I'm careful not to press too hard while I'm brushing. I use the Chris Christensen pin brush just on the longer tails, as it works beautifully for that, and finish with the steel comb. The Safari Mat Rake is my lifesaver when it comes to any mats I encounter, which are only ever in the tail and ears, as I keep my doodles pretty short everywhere else. 

Personally, I'd stay away from any comb with a handle. It just doesn't give you the control like a plain steel comb (with both wide and narrow teeth spacing). I like the 7" Safari steel comb.

[Carol Bordwell]

Somewhere within all the great advice, someone blessed me with suggesting the Chris Christansen brush. Also, to test it on your head. If it is sharp on your scalp, abandon & move on. My mini goldendodle loves to be brushed with this one. Her fur is wavy and like cotton. Hope this helps!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I use Activet (formerly Les Poochs) brush, a steel comb or the Untangler comb, I have an Activet Mat Zapper also.  Every time I  tried a rake, Ned cries - he doesn't have an undercoat so the rake is actually pulling out his coat - not pleasant. Ned doesn't like being brushed and if he even sees the grooming tools, he disappears!  My dh and I brush him together - he holds Ned while I brush/comb. My shedding doodle is a whole other game:  I make him lay on his side and I brush and comb him.  Brushing is not 'torture' for him like it is for Ned, so he cooperates.  I had the CC pin brush and it broke on Ned's coat.