Wat is the bes way to get rid of matts in my schnauzer poodle mix?

Answer 1

Shave them out unless they are minor. There is no humane way to dematt a seriously matted dog. You must rip them out to one extent or another. Once the dog is dematted, brush them to prevent them from getting rematted.

If the matts are minor, then put a dog conditioner on the matts, and work through them slowly and gently with a comb. You can also invest in a pair of scissors called thinning shears. They are scissors, but have teeth. You can cut into the matt with these scissors. They loosen up the matt so that it can be combed out easier, and lessen the look of cutting the hair.

Answer 2

I'm a groomer, and I can tell you right now, most mats cannot be removed safely and painlessly without shaving them off with a pair of dog clippers. I have seen people try, and at the very best, the dog looks awful when they are done. At the worst, I've seen dogs need stitches after their owner slipped with scissors or clippers and ripped their skin open. If the mats are very large, or very tight against the skin, it's time to take him to the groomer.

If they are very small and near the ends of the hair, not the skin, it may be possible to remove them. You will need a fine tooth comb and a slicker brush. Gently brush the spot with the slicker, and try to pick the mats out gently with the comb. It's tedious, and it ONLY works on small loose mats- you will just be pulling hair if you try it on a larger mat, and your dog won't thank you for it.

All the 'detangling' sprays and conditioners they sell DO NOT WORK. I promise, us groomers would know about it if they did. They do make dematting combs, but these have razor blades on one side and are VERY dangerous to use if you don't know what you're doing! You could easily slice a huge hole in your poor dog's skin trying this.

To prevent future mats, once you've resolved the problem, brush your dog every single day with a slicker brush, head to toe. If you don't brush him, he'll keep matting up, and mats are actually very painful for a dog to have. It's like having lots of little rubber bands stuck in your hair and yanking on pieces of it all day and all night.

Answer 3

Considering ive seen this situation all to often at work ( i work beside groomers ) the only option is to shave the dog. ( not a balding shave dont worry ). Matts are so close to the skin/hair line, that it is EXTREMELY painful for the dog to have them brushed out. Trust me, ive heard way to many screaming dogs when it comes to matts. Once you get him/her shaved, keep up on the home grooming, and once every 2-3 months, depending on how the hair grows back ( quick or slow ) go in for a groom. Most people don't considering grooming for a dog when the dog is purchased, but it is almost an essential to good dog care. Hope I was of some help. Don't try to get them out at home, it'll hurt the dog more than you mean to.

Answer 4

I have a Schnauzer poodle mix. You have to keep him brushed or he'll get dread locks, especially under the belly and on his legs. The best solution for us is to have him groomed/clipped and then brush him daily. It's really hard to comb them out once matted.

Answer 5

a mat splitter works wonders on my dog. You can get them ata good pet supply store. After you do get rid of the mats, prevent them by daily brushing and combing. I have a very large, long haired breed ( Briard) and she rarely has mats due to frequent brushing. And the minute I see her fur start to tangle, I get at it so that it does not turn into a mat. See a groomer every 6 - 8 weeks for a thourough brush out.

Dreamkil ( below me).... you don't need to sahve a dog unless it is completely matted to the skin and all over. It is a shame to shave a dog down unless it is absolutely necessary. Many mats are perfectly easy to get out with the proper tools and a little patience. be gentle and speak soothingly, and your dog will be fine.

Answer 6

Use baby powder. Sprinkle some onto the matted hair and rub it in between your fingers. This helps loosen the hairs grip on itself. Then comb it out starting at the ends. Add more powder if needed. Don't bathe your dog until all the matts are out. If they are really stubborn and powder doesn't work then you probably need to shave the dog and start over.
Believe me the powder works really well.

Answer 7

If you can't afford to take your dog to a groomer, I would suggest going to a pet store (not Wal-Mart or Target-a pet store) and getting what they call a mat cutter. Its a knife type thing that you rake through the mats and it cuts them up and then you can comb or pull them out.

If your dog has poodle in it, you do have to keep them groomed. A poodle is one of the few dogs who's hair grows like ours and needs to be regularly cut. So if you are not religious about brushing, combing and trimming, they will get mats.

Answer 8

Get your pup a good professional clip job to start with and get all the mats out. Then, in the future, when you wash him/her, be sure you don't rough up the fur with the towel. That's what causes matted fur and tangles in poodles/poodle-mix dogs. Use a blow dryer if you can.

Answer 9

I just checked out the website suggested by Cairn Terrier Lover. I have one of these dematting combs and it works great. What it is, is 6-7 little saw blades, sort of, and you can cut out mats without cutting out whole chunks of hair.

I have a Schnauzer and use this on him, as well as regular hair cutting scissors. I used to take him to a groomer, but it is so expensive, and he looks and feels ridiculous when he is completely shaved.

Answer 10

the best way is to take your dog to a groomer to get the matts off. If you try it yourself you could cut the dog seriously and then the dog will be afraid of the groomers and such. If you can't afford one then I hate to say it you shouldn't have a breed like this one in need of a hair cut every other month.