Preventing Matting in Doodles and Curly Coats: Line Brushing the Right Way
Doodles and curly-coated dogs are wonderful, low-shedding companions, but their coats are demanding in a way many first-time owners do not expect. Because the coat does not shed loose hair, every dead strand stays in the coat and tangles, and within a couple of weeks of neglect you have matting. The fix is not more grooming appointments; it is the right brushing technique at home, done consistently.
Why doodle coats mat so easily
A Cavoodle, Labradoodle or Poodle has a continuously-growing, non-shedding coat. Where a Labrador drops dead hair onto your floor, a doodle holds onto it, and that trapped hair wraps around the live coat and felts together. Friction makes it worse, so the spots that move and rub most, behind the ears, under the legs, around the collar, mat first.
In South East Queensland's humidity, mats form and tighten even faster, and a damp coat after a beach trip or a swim is especially prone. The key insight is that brushing the surface is not enough; mats start at the skin, and that is exactly where most owners miss them.
Line brushing: the technique that actually works
Line brushing is the professional method for getting right down to the skin. Instead of stroking over the top of the coat, you part the hair in horizontal lines and brush each section from the skin outward, working your way up the body one line at a time. This ensures you are reaching the base of the coat where mats begin, not just smoothing the tips.
Use a slicker brush to work each section, then a metal comb to check. Lay your dog on their side or stand them comfortably, lift a layer of coat with one hand, brush the exposed section thoroughly with the other, then drop the next layer down and repeat. It takes longer than a quick once-over, but it is the only way to genuinely keep a curly coat mat-free.
The comb test
Here is the single best habit you can build: after brushing, run a metal comb through the coat right down to the skin across the whole dog. If the comb glides freely from skin to tip, the coat is clear. If it snags, you have found a mat the slicker missed, and you can work it out before it becomes a problem.
Doing the comb test daily on a young doodle, or every couple of days on an adult, catches matting at the earliest, easiest stage. It is the difference between a five-minute fix and a shave-down.
Problem areas to check first
- Behind and under the ears, where the ear flap rubs constantly.
- Under the legs and in the armpits, where movement creates friction.
- Around the collar and harness contact points.
- The chest and the soft hair on the belly and groin.
- The backs of the legs and the feathering on the tail.
- Around the bottom and sanitary area, where hygiene matters most.
When matting forces a shave-down
If a coat becomes severely or pervasively matted, the kind, ethical option is often a short shave-down rather than hours of painful de-matting. Tight mats pull on the skin, hide sores and parasites, and brushing them out can be genuinely painful and damaging. A responsible groomer will refuse to torture a dog by de-matting a coat that is too far gone.
A shave-down is not a failure on the groomer's part; it is the welfare-first choice. To avoid getting there, keep the coat shorter if you cannot commit to daily brushing, book regular four to six week full grooms, and use the line-brushing and comb-test routine in between. A heavily matted dog also attracts a de-matting surcharge of around $15 to $40, so prevention saves money as well as discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I really need to brush a doodle?
For most curly coats, every one to two days, and ideally daily for a longer coat. The goal is a complete line-brush plus a comb test down to the skin across the whole dog. Frequent short sessions are far more effective than one long weekly battle.
Can I just bathe the mats out?
No, and bathing a matted coat makes it worse. Water and drying tighten mats further, so always brush and comb the coat completely clear before any bath. If you find mats, work them out first or have a groomer handle them.
Is keeping my doodle in a short clip cheating?
Not at all; it is a smart, kind choice for busy owners. A shorter "teddy" length mats far less and is much easier to maintain between grooms. If you cannot commit to daily brushing, ask your groomer for a shorter clip rather than risking painful matting and a shave-down later.