Hi Everyone,
Well as you might now, I have Mr Bentley who is the most beautiful dog ever (I'm biased I know) Something has happened with his coat that is really worrying me. He has started with really bad matting, and it's REALLY not because I don't groom, or take him for his monthly groom. Every night we sit down for our grooming session, and I don't let him get wet and dry without combing out, but something different is happening. My groomer in Tomball has said she will need to clip him down to his skin!!!! My husband just won't have it. He's a big furry teddy bear and everyone who meets him loves him. I don't want him clipped also, but what can we do? Is there a specialist doodle groomer? am I doing something wrong? He has never been clipped since we got him, he's now 11 months old. Please anyone who can help I would be so so happy.
WELL, it has started. Lucy was just 11 months old too, never shed one strand of hair and then boom, overnight there they were MATTS, everywhere. Mr. Bentley is blowinig his puppy coat and getting his big boy coat. There is nothing you can do about it. Clipping him short right now is the best thing you can do. It grows back. I know, you feel terrible, but that is just about the only thing you can do. You do not want these matts to get really bad and clear down to the skin. It took Lucy until 14 months to get through this. It will pass.
Thanks so much to everyone , I do feel so much better having spoke to everyone and getting their opinions. It does seem unaminous that it's Bentley getting his big boy coat - ah my baby. I will speak to my groomer and make the decision. My husband is going to be so upset, but it's still Mr Bentley underneath all that hair!!!
Thankyou
I think you will be shocked at how quickly Mr. Bentley's coat will grow back. I cut Fozzy Bear's coat down to about 1" to 1/12", I really didn't want to do it, but he would get very matted when he went swimming, so I bit the bullet, and cut off his beautiful coat. When I picked him up I couldn't stop laughing cuz he looked so goofy to me. But within a few weeks, he looked gorgeous again.
I think shaving him down to the skin is a little extreme. If I were you I would ask her to cut out the matts that are too bad to comb out, but she should be able to keep him at least a 1/2" long on the body and longer on the face. Fozzy is almost 11 months old and still hasn't really started blowing out his puppy coat yet, but as soon as he does, it will be off to the groomers, without hesitation. I think you will like the cut once it grows back a little.
Hi Chris, Well I think I've finally got my mind set that we will be cutting his beautiful puppy coat. I will miss my big ball of fluff, but Mr Bentley has more than enough character to compensate. My husband are going on a long weekend away next week so I'm thinking maybe I should hold off till we get back? He will be in his holiday home at Houston Dog Ranch so I don't want him pining for us and his hair ha! What are your thoughts on our waiting or should I get it done asap?
Luca is 18 months old and has what I'd call a spiral fleece coat but the hair itself is very fine. Although he mats less now he still mats and I think he probably always will.
Boy do we understand. Our beautiful golddoodle Samantha was shaved to the skin last month when she turned a year old. It was such a shock, to loose the beautiful furry marshmellow fur, my wife cried. We sent out an alert to our friends here on Doddle Kisses and thankfully everyone encouraged us that it would grow back. She is looking more like her old self although her fur is coming back in very curly and short. But we love her and she is such a sweetheart. We couldn't control the matting, and the groomer knew how painful it was for us, but he said it just would be too painful for her. We took loads of pictures, and then said OK doi it. Just get it done, and you won't be sorry.
Hi Lynn,
Well we've made the decision to do the same thing next Tuesday. I had to wait for my husband to go on a business trip, because I just know it will be too bad for him to "in his words" lose his buddy", I'm not looking forward to losing my big bundle of fur either, but I have to do this just as much for Mr Bentley. He's such a patient little boy, but I think enough is enough with the mats.
Thanks for your words, it helps to know we're not alone.
Pauline
Oh Pauline! I feel your pain!!! We had this problem back in May. I too thought I kept our aussiedoodle pretty well brushed and then one morning, after quite a few rainy days, she woke up with what felt like her whole body was just one big mat. She ws about 14 months old and yes it was her puppy coat. We had a wonderful groomer. She knew from the past that I hated having her shaved (as this is the reason I switched groomers in the first place). When I got there, she didn't even think she would be able to keep her from being cut real low. I left sooooo upset! She said she'd call me back in 3 hours. Well she did and asked if she could keep her for a while longer. She was going to keep brushing her out in between her other clients. Well, she stayed there for about 8 hours!!! BUT when we picked her up, she looked unbelievably great! She brushed out what ever she could and in the spots that were really too tight, she shaved, but did so in a way that it was hidden under her longer top coat. She was so amazing!!! It cost $80.00 plus a $20.00 tip, but to me it was sooooo worth it. I think many groomers don't want to take the time needed to brush, and say it would be too uncomfortable for the dog, but our puppy did great and came out looking terrific!!! ALSO: you may want to dry a product called "Bark2Basics" (you can google it). I am going to order this too. It is supposed to be the best product out there to get rid of the most stubborn mats. GOOD LUCK! Hope you have as much luck as we did! ~ Shelly
If it's only a few mats. Thinning shears and some product like cowboy magic or the one mentioned above will do the trick. If it puppy fur blowing, I would just shave it down asking the groomer to keep as much as possible. However, some groomers will work through even the heavily matted. It may cost more...or it may not. Let us know how it goes.