Brushing question
 

i use a slicker brush and one of those double sided brushes every day they work just fine for me.go to jefferspet.com type in pin brush they aren't expensive

http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/assets..._brush_cat.jpg

There is NOTHING WRONG with using a comb and in fact I find this works better than a pin brush (I even have a CC brush and I still prefer my cheap little comb). Ruthie still has her dark puppy coat which matts very easily, but the comb works very well for her. You just have to kind of do it in layers, work on small sections at a time, as you comb through it, brush it off to the side and work on another section. Make sure you hold the hair close to the skin so that as you're working matts out you aren't pulling the hair. Start closer to the tips of the hair and work your way down to the roots, gradually working the matt out. Once you get ALL the matts out after one good brushing, you shouldn't have any problem keeping them out if you stay on top of it by brushing everyday. It took me a couple good brushings to get all Ruthie's out and now even if she does get a little knot, combing her out is quite easy. You can also try any dematting spray - soak the really bad matts and leave for 10 min or so and then take the comb to it.

Don't feel like you've been doing anything wrong - use whatever works for you. Lots of people use the pin brush, and lots of people use a comb. Even if you do get a brush, I think you would still need a fine tooth comb to do smaller areas like the face and head. I find that the brush misses the little matts whereas a fine tooth comb will get em all.

Thank you for the replies... I should also mention I have the CM Detangler and Shine AND Puppy Detangler Spray from Pet store. I got a metal comb, 2 sided and it should work like a pin brush, I guess? I was combing him in the morning and the coat's starting to knot, already! They were amazed how thick his fur was at the groomer's....

I had been brushing my 4 1/2 mo old pup since he was 8 weeks old, and then about a week or so ago when I used a comb I discovered hidden matts in his coat!!! For about the past week I have been using a metal comb. This seems to reach the base of his coat where the matts begin, rather than the top layer where the brush reaches. I wish I had known this all along...i could have prevented poor Gus from having to endure the removal of the matts :( Now, I only use the slicker brush to smooth out his coat after his thorough nightly combing! Also, I only comb him out after I have sprayed him with leave-in conditioner. In addition, I sometimes gently use a flea comb to pick out the matts if they are really bad. This has been successful so far, and he is now matt free. Hopefully, I can keep him that way!:D

I use a flea comb and find it to work better than a pin brush.