If your pet's fur is matted to the skin you may have no other option than to have it shaved. I cringe as I say that because where I live it is getting quite cold.
If the mats are not close to the skin you can spray the mat with a good conditioning spray and slowly pick through the mat with the metal comb starting at the very bottom end of it. Some people like to gently rub corn starch into the mat before trying to comb. You can use one or the other but not both products on the same mat.
If you have a puppy that hates grooming try working for short periods of time and give a small healthy treat at the end of the session. The idea is to get the dog to learn to at least tolerate the comb being run through the fur. Try picking the pup up frequently during the day if only for a minute or two. Puppies that are not accustomed to being handled need extra work at accepting human contact. The more you do it the sooner they will accept handling.
If a mat is really bad but not next to the skin you could try cutting it out. If you feel you can't comb through the mat cutting it out may be the kindest way to deal with it. When I groom Gracie's feet I use small round tipped scissors. They are much safer than traditional scissors when working close to the skin and may prevent an accidental poke.
Many times puppy fur is shorter and people assume that it does not need to be combed. Comb anyway because it is good training for the puppy to be prepared for a lifetime of grooming. Even if you are going to keep your dog cut down it is going to need to be accepting of grooming. Many dogs get hurt at the groomers because they freak out when a groomer tries to handle them. For your dog's own safety train it to accept grooming daily.
Puppy coat does change at about 8 to 10 months of age. Until then you just don't know what you will end up with. |