[capt_noonie]

I think you're not supposed to brush it dry dirty, but you must take out the mats before you bathe then, otherwise you set in the mats even more, esp with a cotton coated pup. So use a conditioning spray. I've found that coconut oil take out tangles pretty well too. On clean or semi clean hair, it's just easier to brush with some spray on first. Kind of like lubricant, makes the brush glide in the hair easier.

Brushing a coat wet with just water I don't think would be good either.