Doodle brushing! Help!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Yeti hates to be brushed. I feel so bad because he is getting matted a lot but every time we bring the brush out he tries to hide. We bought a grooming arm because it takes at least 2 if not 3 people
to brush him (1 to brush him and 2 to hold him down). We are finishing up a table for the arm and was wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks for distracting him from being brushed. I'm thinking a frozen kong held by my boyfriend while I brush but I was hoping for other ideas! I wish I could afford to send him to the groomer every month so she could take care of his mats but it's expensive!

[Judi Christopher]

Here's what I do:

Slicker brush him first. Gently, then more deeply.  

This is the best matting comb I've used: https://www.amazon.com/Safari-W6116-De-matting-Comb/dp/B0002ARR2W/r...

Then a stainless comb.

I do this for a few minutes each day.

My dog HATED to be groomed at first...until he was about 1 year old and now he tolerates it.  

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Oh thank you so much for the brush suggestions. There are just so many out there it gets so overwhelming.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Haley hated to be brushed as a puppy and still does as an adult so I don't brush.  I use two combs; and wide tooth and a find tooth rotating tines comb.  I use a technique similar to line brushing.  If you are not familiar with line brushing here is a video on it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szIij_zknNs.  I start with the wide tooth comb and follow with the fine tooth comb.  This way I get down to his skin.  When I first began when he was a puppy I would show him the comb and when he sniffed it I would treat him.  Then I would touch the comb to him and if he accepted it I would treat him.  It took a lot of patience but now if tell him it's grooming time he runs to the garage and jumps up on the grooming table.  I no longer have to use a grooming arm and have taken it off the table.

I know Yeti has a different and thicker coat than Haley but it might work for you.  Also lots of treats and praise.

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Thank you so much :) I have researched line combing/brushing on youtube a lot! I try to practice this on him but he doesn't sit still long enough for me to get very far haha. He doesn't get many treats (mostly because he doesn't eat all his breakfast/dinner) so im hoping the extra treats will really get him excited about grooming.

[Stacy]

I also just comb. I find the brush to be worthless. It just doesn't work for us. Keep in mind that I'm not the best groomer, but I comb Katie while she's on my lap. Whatever parts I can reach while we're watching tv. Then I flip her around and work on the other side. I don't try to do everything in one day. Ears and tail are pretty easy. She doesn't object to her back or sides being combed. My struggles are sometimes her tummy and her legs. Legs mostly because of the shape of them. Her belly she just doesn't cooperate very well. I have her groomed about every 8 weeks or so, and the groomer is always happy with her coat, so even though it's not the proper way it seems to be working okay for us.

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Thank you so much!! We get Yeti groomed probably every 6ish weeks and our groomer says his coat is always in pretty good shape. She breeds/grooms doodles and she says he is usually pretty mat free. It makes me believe that i stress out over little mats too much haha :p.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Since your pup is probably in the "dreaded coat change" stage of life, I would highly recommend clipping his coat very, very short. Then he will not have mats to deal with and you can begin desensitizing him to the process of brushing without pain. Please look up line brushing. It is a technique (combing a small area at a time) that is invaluable to deal with clearing your pup of mats before they get bad. I also do all of my own grooming. I did not use a table for desensitizing them to brushing. I basically sat on the floor with them and cuddled and played with them while "brushing" (sometimes just moving the brush lightly on their fur). The goal was less about getting the brush through every strand of hair than desensitizing the pup to the process. This is only going to work if the dog has no mats. You are at a stage where your dog is matted and will need to be shaved. It won't be a good look for a couple of weeks but hair grows back and for your sanity and your boy's comfort, I highly recommend it. Good luck! Yeti is just adorable!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

How long does the coat change typically last? He is 13 months old today!! I am so hoping the matting will subside soon haha. Thank you so much for the suggestion. I am thinking this option is a really really good one. I am getting ahold of our groomer tomorrow so i will see what she says about it! Thank you so much!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Hi Haley, The "dreaded coat change" can last several months...I don't think it would necessarily be over at 13 months. I hope you and Yeti are able to develop a sweet grooming relationship. It does take a while to develop. I think shaving him down will help immensely. Don't let the luxury of him not needing to be brushed stop you from the daily habit being established. It will be tempting to not go through the process because he will be mat-free. From reading your responses to the many suggestions it sounds like you are doing a great job with your puppy. Keep up the good work. Things will settle down with your patience and consistency, I'm sure. 

[EJ & Dante]

We have one of our kids give Dante continual treats (1 calorie tiny naturals) while being brushed and I do it when he's fairly relaxed and walked, etc.  After 6 weeks of this, I can mostly brush him without the bribe.  Otherwise, he would get up and move, bite the brush, etc.  I brush him at least 1x, if not twice a day.  I use a Chris Christenson Pin brush and a poodle comb.  He hates a slicker brush and I do a better job with the pin brush and comb.

Good luck!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Thank you so so much!! I have a feeling that my boyfriend will have to be the treat dispenser. We usually don't give him treats because he isn't a good eater so i might have to research some nice high value treats (or maybe just some cut up chicken or steak). We really really want to get him into the habit of being brushed at least once a day.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We do take our guys to the groomer every 4 - 6 weeks (mostly 4) and they still get matted.  Ned HATES to be groomed.  My husband holds, cuddles firmly while I brush.  I get any areas I can get, then my husband moves him. If Ned sees me pick up the dog brush he disappears!  If he sees me brushing one of the other dogs, he dances around with a toy in his mouth and is annoying.   I often use Cowboy Magic on a mat or spray a section with Horse Mane 'n Tail.  The longer you let it sit the easier it is to brush/comb out the mat.  I also slice through mats several times  in the direction the hair grows. 

I use LePoochs or Activet slicker brushes and a steel comb with rotation tines.