De-Matting

[doglove01]

I own a grooming shop but do not groom myself. I am new to the business and need some advice. My groomer refuses to de-mat dogs and insists on shaving them if they have knots or mats in their coats. She says that brusing out mats tortures the dog. My problem is that my customers are getting very upset when their dogs are cut too short.

Advice please??!!

[jbates]

Buy her a Les Pooch red handle brush as an early b. dat gift..or rather gift to self. Insist she try it. Also Conditioners in bath can be a miracle. Tropiclean has a de-mat rinse.. Lots of us can sugg. good products thyat will keep everyone happy. Guy? tell her about some.

[furrybestjob]

Each case is different. Depending on the type and amount of matting and tangles, sometimes they can be brushed out fairly easily, and other times, I feel it would be cruel to try and brush them out. If a customer hands me a badly matted dog, I definitely will not try to de-mat....it will get clipped down.

[Fluffy Puppy]

She says that brusing out mats tortures the dog. My problem is that my customers are getting very upset when their dogs are cut too short.

Advice please??!!

Then your customers need to keep the dog combed out between groomings, or get them on a maintence schedule so they are coming in more often. That way they will not be matted and the groomer can keep them in a longer cut. Also explain to your customers that not only is it hard on the dog, but dematting is also expensive. Once they realize how much it will cost for their dog to be totally dematted, they will probably opt for the shave down or start combing out at home.

I agree that dematting is hard on the dog. And I also will not put them through that if they are matted that bad. If there are a few matts and tangles here and there, I will demat. But if the owner wants a dog left long and I know I can barely get a 5 or 7 thorough the coat...forget it, I'm shaving it.

There are products out there that will help make dematting a little easier, and she could also wet shave (personally...I dont care for it) but that will leave a little bit of coat on the dog. Les Poochs mat brushes are great.

[Shampooch]

Each case is different. Depending on the type and amount of matting and tangles, sometimes they can be brushed out fairly easily, and other times, I feel it would be cruel to try and brush them out. If a customer hands me a badly matted dog, I definitely will not try to de-mat....it will get clipped down.

I completely agree. There's a point where de-matting can become cruel and its in the best interest of the animal to be clipped down.

[Reader]

I think dematting should have a limit. My limit is half an hour. If it takes me longer than that, they need to be shaved. I have brushed out some matted dogs and regretted it later. Humanity beats vanity any day.

[pamperedpups]

I do not offer dematting services, although I will try to save as much coat as possible on a matted pet (if the owner requests it) between bathing first, extra conditioning, HVing and wet shaving in reverse.

[bow_wow_wheels]

15 minutes brush-out time is all I allow per appointment. Anything more is cruel to the pet and hard on your Pet Stylist. There are products like Stazko Shampoo & Spray, Quicker Slicker, EQyss Survivor Gel, Cowboy Magic Detangler Gel and other such products that are miracle products but NOTHING beats at home maintenance and more frequent visits if the pet's owner desires a longer trim.

Also consider that once a coat is dematted it is also severely damaged. That damaged coat can't help but to tangle up again and you have that mess to deal with all over again. Nope, not me. I did NOT get into the Pet Care business to torture pets for the sake of the owner's vanity and the detriment of my body. Some things truly cannot be bought and dematting is one of them IMO.

[milhasavilla]

I used to demat alot, but since being on this board and seeing how little everyone else demats and can get away with it, I've cut down drastically on it too. I always hated doing it anyway. It's hurtful for the dog and in turn hurts me to hurt the dog...Plus the majority of the time after dematting them, the same dog would need dematting again at the next visit. It was a viscious cycle!! So if the mat is to the skin, I won't demat it, it has to be removed. Just today I shaved a Maltese that before has always had the teddy bear clip, but too many mats today - so I called up the owner and said, can't do it - she has to be shaved. She wasn't really pleased either, like some of your clients seem, but I can't perform miracles. Try to educate them, so this won't happen again. Good luck!

[ejmj30]

I agree. I rarely dematt. If I'm going along and run into a couple matts on the butt or behind the ears, fine. Even then I usually use thinning shears a lot and then brush out what little is left.

It hurts the dog, hurts the groomer, and is pointless. 9 x out of 10 it's your customers' fault for not bringing the dog in enough, or bathing at home and not drying properly, or just not brushing. I'd stand by your groomers on this one, and tell the customers that if they don't want the dog to be shaved so short, bring them in more often, and maybe have your groomer come up and give a quick 5 minute demo on how to maintain the coat at home. Carry the brushes and combs your groomers use and then they can recommend them. People buy them all the time when they see me using it on their dog, and getting hair or matts out. Most people just need to be educated on how to handle it. Then they'll either do it right, or realise it's too much for them to deal with and bring the dog in more often.

[KarlaSnyder]

I agree with the others. No one likes to see a naked dog-including the groomers, but hurting a pet is not in the job description. Plus the time factor. People can learn to brush out their pets and I am glad to show them how. Client education goes a long way. Maybe since you don't groom, you should learn a little bit about what the process entails including coat condition and a few brushing lessons. If you walk in our shoes for a while, I think you'll understand why we object so to de-mattiing pets.

[Helly]

If your groomer is refusing to brush out any mats or tangles at all, I'd say she's going a little overboard in refusing.

But if the dogs are badly matted, to the point where it would take more than 15 minutes to demat, she's right. It is torture.

If you don't think so, let someone pull your hair and pinch you for 15 minutes and see how you like it. And if that doesn't convince you, try having someone pull hair on other parts of your body, if you get my drift.

[Fur Elite]

It sounds like to me, you need some personal education so that you may effectively communicate with your customers and thereby, drive their expectations. If you take the dog in, take the instructions and then give the dog to the groomer....who may not be able to perform the instructions due to matting, you are just setting yourself up for disappointed clients and bad relations between yourself and your groomer. Spend some time with your groomer. Have them show you what it takes to work with matted fur. Understand that matting must be shaved UNDER...not through. See what it takes to brush out even just a mildly matted dog and the types of mats that can be brushed out and the ones that are really a lost cause. Once you have seen this, you will be able to communicate with the client. You need to be checking these dogs for matting as they come in, and not just sending them back (if that is what you are doing). You will learn to have a comb with you on check in and how to spot matting. At first you may call the groomer up to look over the dog if you aren't sure. Then, when you check the dog in you can point out the matting and say "It appears fluffy is a bit matted today. Unfortunately, the only humane thing to do for her is to shave her fur today". Then when they ask how short, you can tell them that the blade must go under the mat and that this dictates how short the hair will be. Once you show them the pelt matting, they will understand. This works to your advantage in many ways. First, by not setting yourself up for clients who expect one thing and then get another. Second, by decreasing friction between you and your groomer. Third, once you understand what is and what is not possible, you will know for sure whether your groomer is being truthful with you or not. Contrary to popular opinion, shaving down dogs is not any easier than giving them nice, cute cuts. I have had clients make comments to me about previous groomers who just "shaved the dog down" for no good reason "because it was easier".

[diamienono]

I only do small tangles. If it is matted, it gets shaved. If the owners don't want their dog shaved they should brush them every day. If they can't do that then it is in the best interest of the dog to be shaved.

[Pawsitively Purrfect]

15 minutes brush-out time is all I allow per appointment. Anything more is cruel to the pet and hard on your Pet Stylist. There are products like Stazko Shampoo & Spray, Quicker Slicker, EQyss Survivor Gel, Cowboy Magic Detangler Gel and other such products that are miracle products but NOTHING beats at home maintenance and more frequent visits if the pet's owner desires a longer trim.

Also consider that once a coat is dematted it is also severely damaged. That damaged coat can't help but to tangle up again and you have that mess to deal with all over again. Nope, not me. I did NOT get into the Pet Care business to torture pets for the sake of the owner's vanity and the detriment of my body. Some things truly cannot be bought and dematting is one of them IMO.

I couldn't agree more with Patty...my release form which every client signs before the first groom states: In the case of severely matted pets you, the client have 2 choices..1)20 minutes demmating at $20 2) Shave down your pet and start fresh...most would have to choose #2 because 20 minutes of brushing, dematting or conditioning won't help a darn thing...