Tried to groom a matted doodle with just a slicker brush and a prayer

Last month, a client brought in their 8-month-old Goldendoodle, completely pelted. I thought I could save the coat with my usual method: a slicker brush and some detangling spray, aiming for a 2-hour session. After 90 minutes of the dog being stressed and me making zero progress, I had to stop. I switched to plan B, using a set of professional clippers with a #7 blade and just shaved it down, which took 20 minutes. The failure taught me that sometimes the kindest and most efficient fix is to start over, not fight a losing battle. Anyone else had a dog where you just had to admit defeat on the coat and go short?

2 comments

2 Comments

barnes.shane5h ago

That 90 minute fight sounds like the real problem, not the matting itself. Sometimes you just gotta pick the tool that gets the dog comfortable fastest.

stellac974h ago

The fight shows how bad the matting was though, @barnes.shane. Getting it off quickly was the kindest thing for the dog.