Mats!

[puppydog]

This is the first time in my life I am dealing with mats.
Ben does not have a pain threshold, I hate hurting him when I groom him! It makes me so sad. He yells when I try to get the mats out. I have used detangling spray but it does not work.

Any suggestions?

[Beanie]

Cut them out.
Figure out where he mats and brush with a fine tooth comb regularly to try and prevent him from matting in the future.

[Brattina88]

What are you using to get out the mats? I mean, what kind of a brush and what kind of technique are you using? Unless the mats are severe, you can get them out without causing pain to the dog. It takes a long time, and requires A Lot of patience!

I have to say I agree with the above post. Be very very very careful if you decide to cut them out, if the hair is matted to the skin I would take the dog to a professional groomer, because the risk of cutting the skin is too high for inexperienced groomers.

[Suzzie]

if it's a loose mat, i'll grab the hair at the skin and pick at it carefully with a comb.

If it's a little tighter, i'll snip it down the center with scissors, grab the hair at the skin and pick at it carefully with a comb.

If there's no hope, I'll snip the sucker off. Hair always grows back.

I don't use any kind of sprays. Also, don't give the dog a bath with mats... they dry even tighter together. But it does seem like regular bathing helps keeps mats at bay!

[puppydog]

I cut off the serious ones. I actually managed to get the superficial ones out yesterday. They develop under his "arms" and I am just keeping the hair short there now.
The smaller ones are behind his ears. I just think I am going to have to brush him daily.

[Suzzie]

i get ear mats all the time. Definitely brush him daily and it'll be less horrific.

Roo gets armpit mats from time to time - i just cut them out and keep the hair short there. I keep his inner thighs on his back legs shaved. Saves a lot of trouble, and since I'm shaving the abdomen anyway, not a big deal.

[puppydog]

I have just learned about shaving the abdomen. I will NEVER let Bens tummy hair grow back in! Stinky!

[Hairy&Stumpy]

I just shave armpits...even with my adult that is fully coated. You don't see it and it makes it so they don't mat. It's a sensitive area on my dogs--the clipper works best.