Dogs that mat even with regular brushing?

[snookums]

I have a cockapoo with a very dense poodle-like coat. (Some cockapoos get wavy fur like a cocker spaniel, and some get the curly curly ones - like mine).

Anyway, she has been getting some small mats even though we brush her regularly. We've been keeping her hair super short to help aleviate this, and the groomer removes her mats at each grooming (about every 8 weeks). I'd like to let her hair grow little longer, though, so that she'll look like a regular cockapoo. Is there a shampoo or a product I could use in between groomings to help prevent this from happening?

[poodlesmom]

There are a spray-in products that you can get at any pet supply store that you can use with regular brushings that help work out the mats. The one I got at PetSmart is "Perfect Coat, Clear Choice Detangling grooming spray" which works pretty good for my 2. There are a variety of choices, some with scents or not.

[Renee750il]

LOL! I got a good giggle out of this thead - MY hair is straight but it mats at the nape even with regular grooming . . . I'm not going short with it, though! :p

[nicco]

Well I say that you should get a balsam for hair. We use (at our saloon) products from Hery (http://www.chinapets.com/trade/tradeview1.asp?id=376) .I think they're very good!
Nicco :cool:

[Ash47]

A good conditioner will help. Leave in a conditioner for awhile, then rinse. Do this every week for a few weeks. If this doesn't work, get back to me.

[Saje]

How often is often for the brushing? Just curious.

[Lucky_Lover]

My multi-poo hates brushing. He mats up though. I just yesterday cut a mat of his leg. I don't even really know how to groom him properly. I have a like prong comb and a metel bristle sharp brush and a like soft bristle brush and a regular metal bristle brush that has rounded plastic tips and pocket of air under it so when you press the bristles come together. Im not sure what brush to use and when to use and what order or anything. I want to buy some of that de-tangleing spray you were talking about. How often should I bath him?? I don't bath him very often. But he is white and does look very nice after a good bath.

[Ash47]

You should bathe him at least every 2 weeks. Brush with the hard bristle brush. Not too much in the same spot, because this will cause "brush burn."

[candy722]

TOki will let me brush everywhere except for his face.

[Lucky_Lover]

Wow every two weeks!! But what about when its winter and he gets cold after his bath? He HATES the blow dryers. He trys to eat the air com,ing from them.

[Ash47]

Yes, every 2 weeks. That's part of owning a dog with such a high maintenance coat. ;) If he tries to eat the air, towel dry as best you can, then while holding him, dry what you can. Brush out any excess water. Leave him inside for a little while to dry off, then let him back out.

[Saje]

Pro47 you have to be careful about the heat on the dryer too don't you? I've heard that if you have it on the hot setting you risk irritating/burning their sensitive skin.

[poodlesmom]

I have always heard that bathing too frequently is not good as it removes the essential oils and will result in dry skin & fur. My 2 usually get a bath about every 8 wks unless they get into something that doesn't easily brush out when they are dry. If you are going to be bathing more often I would definitely recommend a very mild shampoo. In fact sometimes a rinse with just water will clean up some of the messes they get into. :)

[bubbatd]

I agree with you...brushing and combing keeps them looking nice and feeling good. I don't bath until the coat feels icky when you rub them. They never smell doggy. As to mats....when we lived in the woods we had a terrible problem with burrs....I have a matt blade that took care of these and their matts. Works well to thin their rear end " panties" and tails.

[Khristine]

He HATES the blow dryers. He trys to eat the air com,ing from them.

My little guy does the same thing! :D it's soo cute and hilarious! ;)

[snookums]

How often is often for the brushing? Just curious.

About every other day. For as long as she'll hold still!

[Ash47]

Yes, you have to make sure the dryer is on a cool/mildly warm setting. Also, I was only saying to bathe the dogs with skin problems and with problem coats or unmanageable coats about every two weeks. The pH level is not going to hurt if you bathe them every two weeks. If you read the backs of the bottles of the shampoos, you will see it says not to bathe more than once in "a week." That means once a week. I don't think it is good for the skin if you do it more than that. But, that is just what I have learned and encountered being a groomer. ;) If you are concerned about the skin, use an Oatmeal shampoo, followed by a strong conditioner.

[siemens716]

YOu can buy a tangle remover. You just brush it in and it gets rid of the tangles.

[poodlesmom]

I know with poodles it is recommended that you don't do regular brushing with their hair dry so I would imagine the same would hold true for most ...poos. Get a spray bottle & do a light misting while you are doing regular brushing - perhaps using a detangler mixed with water.

[lilly]

ok, to prevent mats, just use mild kids detangler for after bath use ONLY use a soft human brush (like a babies brush) to get his face.(you shouldnt get the kids mild detangler anywhere near his face!!!!~!~!~!~!~!~~~~!~!~!~!~!

[groominggal]

You need to make sure that you are brushing ALL the hair...not just the top layer. Get yourself a metal comb and comb your dog after you brush to get all the tangles out. Also be sure to brush both before and after you bath your dog at home. If mats are present before you bath, the water just tightens them. Hope this helps!

[MysticRealm]

one good thing about blowdrying the hair is that when you blow the air onto the coat it will part the hair so you can see right down to the skin that way you can easily brush right to the skin to ensure all tangles are found and are brushed out.

[Gempress]

My mom has a maltese, which have extremely high-maintenance coats when left long. You have to brush every day, without fail. Every other day is not enough. And also, be sure to brush thoroughly, all the way down to the skin. Unless you brush the entire coat, you'll still get matting. And I agree with the more frequent bathing. My mom has to bathe her dog weekly to maintain the coat, so I think every two weeks shouldn't be a problem for you. Just be sure to use a very mild shampoo for dogs.

Your dog is wiggly now, but be persistant and offer a lot of treats during grooming. Eventually, they'll learn how to behave during brushing.

[tintinabulation]

I know how you feel. I used to have a cocker spaniel. the grooming people would make her hair VERY short, and just leave long hair on her ears. it would get matted very easily. but since you don't want your dog to have short hair, I dunno...

[Madaline]

I have a minature poodle which I take into be groomed every 8 weeks, in that time period I probably only brush him once a week, he doesnt have really tight curls though. My Mothers poodle gets groomed every 4 weeks as her coat is very thick. My maltipoo is only 4 months old and has tons of fur I have to brush her every day or she is a mess. I think if a dog has a longer coat you have to brush it every day to prevent matting. My sister has a bishon/poodle cross and she just had to have it shaved down completly because she doesnt brush it regularly