Sara&Audi

Hi,
I brush my dog EVERY SINGLE DAY with a pin brush. Somehow she has become very matted again.. The groomer I visited today for a quote said she would have to use a 8 or 10"( I think) and shave her completely down. I am really confused and upset since I just had her shaved 4 months ago from matting when we adopted her. I was completely determined for her never to get matted again. The big problem is that it is freezing cold and I, in truth, really don't want to have a bald dog again. Any hope or tips I can possibly remove these mats? They are mostly around her neck, and upper back.
Thank you.

Note: she has not seen a groomer in 4 months other than a nail trim. She is bathed weekly with a natural oatmeal shampoo.

Zmyjka

Try some special products for brushing mats out of dog hair - for example All Systems MOISTURIZING PROTECTOR & ENHANCER, Pure Paws Classic Line Shine Conditioning Spray or Ultra Shine Conditioning Spray or maybe CHRIS CHRISTENSEN ICE ON ICE.

Zmyjka

Second thing is, that pin brush is not enough for poodle coat - you probably need some slicker brush and special poodle comb (Pin Brush | Slicker Brush | Metal Comb | #1 All Systems).

Good job makes also adding some salmon oil into food - it makes better hair.

mom24doggies

First of all, if she needs to be shaved with an 8 or 10, you are not going to be able to brush those mats out. Those blades are very short and are for tight mats, so if your groomer told you that you can assume they are tight. Have her shaved and start over again is my advise.

A pin brush is for show coats. Get a good quality soft slicker and use that instead. Don't just run the brush over the top of the coat, (I can almost guarantee that's what you are doing now, it's a very common mistake) line brush. Start at the bottom (feet) and work your way up, holding a section up with your left hand and brushing the section below with your right until you can see the skin. Use a light spray conditioner if you want. I like Ice on Ice, and if your pup has a dry coat or a lot of breakage Pure Paws H2o spray works wonders. After brushing, go back and run through everything with a comb, re brushing any areas that catch. Don't use a comb to pull through mats though.

You need to have her groomed more more often than every 4 months.....that isn't enough. That combined with the fact that you haven't been brushing thoroughly AND you are bathing her probably without blow drying is what has caused the mats. Bathing a mat causes it to tighten up, making it harder to remove. So for 4 months you have been bathing those mats in.

As far as how often she should be groomed, it depends on the clip. If you want her fluffy, every 4 weeks for a clip is good. She will however need to be bathed and brushed out at least once in between, and brushed every couple of days. A lot of customers at my shop come in every two weeks....one appointment they get a bath and blow dry with a face feet and tail trim and the next they get a full haircut. That works fine for most dogs, and if you brush her in between you won't ever run into trouble again.

Your other option is to learn how to do everything yourself. If you want I can explain how to go about that.


ETA: please don't try to brush her out this time....those mats are probably very big and tight, brushing them out WILL be painful. Let the groomer clip her down, you can always put a sweater on her.

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"Love is the emotion that a woman feels always for a poodle dog and sometimes for a man." ~George Jean Nathan

Ladyscarletthawk

I agree with m24d. It is very painful to demat a dog altho some are more tolerant than others. My preferred method to demat a dog is to shave it as it is the more humane option. If I have to demat I use my le pooch mat zapper and in extreme cases I will use a mat breaker to cut the mats into smaller mats. I haven't found anything in particular that helps with heavy mats coat dressing wise. I also go thru the dog with a comb to make sure there are no mats. Always, always use a comb to check your work regardless of brush used. Combs don't lie!

NOTE: dematting causes coat to break into differing lengths which means the coat will mat easier next time as the smaller strands wrap around the longer ones. Another reason to just start over.


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

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Laura, Eve, and Fergie

N2Mischief

I just want to add that you have gotten really good advice. When you brush a poodle and don't get down to the skin (even though you think you are) and then you bathe the dog and don't blow it out correctly, the matting will continue to tighten. Every time you bathe they get even tighter. Also, you may have to use a sweater because your dog will be quite short. As your poodle grows out, the sweater can cause mats if you dont take it off and brush correctly every day.

faerie

Have your groomer show you how to properly brush your pup

mulligan

excellent advice here. I have been shamed by my groomer, more than once. I really thought I was doing it right! I would also recommend a shave down, get the right equipment and start over. Proper brushing is not difficult once you know how to do it. Starting with a short coat you will know that you are brushing down to the skin and as it grows you will know if you are still getting down to the skin. You might want to have the groomer leave bracelets, just so she doesn't look so pathetically skinny legged.:-D As far as cold, a coat or sweater will be good enough. I assume she spends more time indoors than outside anyway.

mom24doggies

Here is a video I made with my Lhasa about brushing. I really like the brush I used in it, I think someone have you the link to it earlier in the thread. It does a great job of getting out tangles without pulling too much or brush burning the dog.

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"Love is the emotion that a woman feels always for a poodle dog and sometimes for a man." ~George Jean Nathan

Fluffyspoos

I thought your Lhases was a punk for grooming? (; He's making you a liar! Look at that good boy! Great video! I wish we could teach our clients this, and have them follow it!

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