What sort of combs or brushes do you use to detangle
 

I just have a basic soft bristle brush for my 12 week old Yorkie but its not getting the small matts out. The matts are forming in the woolly bits of his puppy coat. I brush him daily, but I have had to pick them out with my fingers. I have a metal comb I used to use for my old cat but havent used that as I dont want to pull him.

What should I use?

Madan brushes are the best! Jenny sells them right here on YT:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...hing-else.html

Madan also makes combs that I am dying to try. Combing through the coat after brushing is a must to keep them tangle free.

my two cents
 

Here is what I do for my babies and it seems to work well.

1. I spray them with some diluted conditioner; 16 parts water to 1 part conditioner to reduce hair breakage.
2. I brush them through with a bristle brush.
3. I then use a slicker brush which helps with the mats and they seem to tolerate it pretty well.
PetEdge: Oscar Frank Universal Standard Soft Slicker Brush
4. I've also been using this little grooming comb for their face as well as to work out any remaining mats.
https://www.petedge.com/product/Mast...Dogs/46266.uts

I used to have a problem with my first Yorkie getting matted but since I've been doing this regimine, she seems to hardly get mats anymore. :) Thank goodness because I hated having to get them out. :(

Thank you. They look like the pin brushes with the protective ends. I will look for something like this in the UK as I need it quickly.

You want to make sure you get a high quality pin brush like Madan, Chris Christensen, or All Systems that does not have balls on the end of the pins as they catch and snag the hair.

I made a mistake of using a human hair brush with protective ends, and later learned that the little tips rip out hair. Within a month after using the Madan brush, I could see the difference in length on Joey's hair, no more breakage! You really aren't looking for protective tips, but you are looking for a pin brush that has tips that are polished and won't scratch the skin. You can tell the difference in pin brushes by combing one down the side of your arm, if it scratches you, it will scratch your dog. Most dogs have fur, and the double coat protects their skin. You can use sharper pin brushes, and slicker brushes without harm, but a Yorkie has a single hair like a human, and you can scratch the skin. Chris Christensen also make a wonderful pin brush, much like the Maden, but it's much more expensive, and many people prefer the Madan. I bought a pin brush at Target ($12.00) and it had very scratchy pins, so be careful about this.

Cowboy Magic Detangler is an excellent product for removing mats. The trick is to remove the mat before you get the hair wet, so I used it before baths. It's made for horses and you may have something like it over there, but many people have suggested using cornstarch on the mat. You just take a little cornstarch and rub it into the mat, and with your thumb and forefinger work in a circular motion. Again, do this before you wet the hair, if mats are really bad, a matting comb can be used, it has a razor on one side and it cuts through the mats.

By the way, many people just end up shaving the puppy coat, the adult coat doesn't mat as easily, but you still have to be diligent.

Thanks. Maybe there is a UK stockist, if not I will send for one.

Its quite funny if you think about it, the area I live in is one of the areas where Yorkies were kept last century by miners for ratting, yet you people over in the US are advising me on grooming! Thats the joy of the net!

When I was a little girl, growing up in the 60s my grandma's neighbour bred Yorkies and they were very popular round here. He kept 3 yorkies, 2 bitches and a dog, and had a special room fitted out in the garden for the pups. I used to wear white cotton ankle socks and whenever I appeared at the end of the passageway which led to the backyards at my grandma's the male Yorkie, Tuggy, would charge at my ankle socks and pull and growl. I was never frightened, I just used to laugh, but it used to make my mum quite cross because the socks lost their shape! (no lycra in those days). I used to love to see the man who bred them put their top knots up in tissue paper and a rubber band. I always wanted one of the pups when I saw them but my dad wouldnt let me have one as both my parents worked.

Lol, that is funny, I guess the miners weren't too into grooming! I wonder why he went after the white socks, black socks I could understand, is this also where white rats came from? :p

I dont remember what he used to brush them with though.

My mum and dad have just paid a visit and we got my dad talking about ratting dogs round these parts. (My dad is 84 so its a long time since). When he was a boy his friend who lived nearby had a farm and he was always round there. Men used to catch rats around the farm in wire cages and take them for the terriers to kill, it was some sort of sport. The champion ratter when my dad was young was a Bedlington Terrier though. He mentioned the man who used to breed Yorkies next to my grandma and how the little ones were really prized. So to keep them little he used to feed them gin from a pint pot (the big mugs that men used to have their tea in).

I remember when I was a child we moved to a new house which was built on old farm land. My dad started a compost heap and before you knew it, there was a rats nest and my mum was terrified to go down the garden. My dad decided that the rats had to go so he got a couple of local men with Jack Russells (also a popular dog round here) to despatch them on their way. I wasnt allowed to watch and was kept in the house.

When mum and dad first got married they had an Alsation cross ("Laddie") and my dad says the Yorkies from the aforementioned breeder used to gang up on him and the dog used to look at my dad as if to say "can I sort them?" but he was so well trained he did nothing.

This is one of my biggest fears, and one of the main reasons I try to discourage people from going to breeders who advertise "teacups" or smaller than average Yorkies. I know there are things you can do to make a dog smaller, however, ALL of these, have effects on long-term health. I think many people believe that a breeder would never do this, but this is a good example of some who are willing to do anything to make a buck.

Well I can almost guarantee that this particular breeder has been pushing up daisies for many years as he was an old man when I was a little girl. I hope he hasnt passed on his "top tips" to the next generation of breeders. Times have changed a lot and people realise these days that alcohol isnt a cure all.

My very favorite brush for working out matts of any size is the Chris Christenson Wood Pin Brush......a little pricey but very easy on the hair!

For daily grooming, I have a blue Maden pin brush that works great and the price is very reasonable!

I love the Chris Christenson buttercombs....so gentle and last forever!

Not sure if it's too late, but I used this on Belle for the tangles in her fur (caused by daddy rubbing her belly...but she likes it apparently).
Groom and Detangle Spray for Dogs 250ml by Groomers | Pets at Home
I also got a comb from pets at home, but it's not on the site, very short comb with serrated edges on the teeth, it's not particularly great as it combs and seems to cut as well, but does salvage most of the hair...I was desperate so I got what I could. We are much better friends now I don't pull :p

Thanks will look at that next time Im in.

I'm a bit late coming to your thread, sorry Hedley.

I use an Isinis brush daily to keep the mats at bay & also a Chris Christensen Gold pin brush which was quite expensive but is very gentle, far more so then the pin brush I have for my other breed terriers.

I never brush a dry coat but spray it first with a little conditioner, usually Ice on Ice & use a little Cowboy Magic to work out any stubborn knots.

You can buy all these, & lots of other things they recommend on here in America, from Petcetera in Cheshire. They are very good with mail order & have a comprehensive catalogue of dog products. You can get one from their website, or you could order online if you prefer but I like to browse their catalogue before deciding.
They also sell the tiny hair bands you were asking about, in lots of different colours. they are far smaller than the human ones you get in Claire's.

If you visit dog shows you can get all these things at the trade stands but you have to pay to go in of course if you're not exhibiting.

I can recommend Petcetera, they're very efficient & P&P is free over a certain amount.

I've accumulated dozens of brushes over the years, some better than others for different breeds.
To bring a shine to the Yorkies, once the knots are dealt with, the best I've found are the antique silver-backed soft bristled brushes. they're softer than new ones & as it doesn't matter if the silver's a bit bashed you can pick them up for a song at fairs.
I've just got a Chris Christensen wooden bristle brush, expensive for what it is! that I saw recommended over on the grooming threads, but so far I'm not that impressed with it to be honest.

xx
Meggie