How to Groom an Unruly Coat on a Dog

Place your dog on a sturdy, flat surface. Using the slicker brush, try to brush your dog all over, avoiding areas of severe matting or tangles. If you are dealing with blocks of fur that are in a solid mat, use your grooming comb to gently minimize the part of the mat that is actually holding the matted fur to your dog's skin. Once you have saved as much fur as possible, use your grooming shears to cut away the remaining mat. By repeatedly brushing the mat close to the skin, you are minimizing the amount of fur that will have to be cut away.

Continue brushing your dog. When you come across fur that is knotted or tangled, use the slicker brush to comb out the tangle. Alternate between comb and brush to avoid pulling the dog's fur or causing it unnecessary pain. Often, tangled fur appears under the belly, arms, legs and other hidden areas. If these tangles are difficult, trim them away. Making small cuts around the tangles, then combing, will allow you to save much of the fur. Another trick many groomers use is to take thinning shears and repeatedly cut directly into the tangle. This will allow the tangle to be easily combed out with a minimal loss of fur.

Prepare a bath for your dog using lukewarm water. As a rule, groomers do not recommend wetting your dog prior to fully brushing him out because wet mats are much more difficult to work with. If you have made a genuine attempt at brushing, cutting and combing the mats and tangles, a few difficult areas may be left behind and can be dealt with during the bath.

Wet your dog thoroughly with warm water. Before you use shampoo, completely cover your dog in canine conditioner. Work the conditioner into the fur and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Using your de-matting comb, comb through any leftover mats or tangles. The conditioner should loosen all remaining fur and, at this point, your dog's coat should be completely tangle-free.

Shampoo your dog as normal and rinse thoroughly. Towel dry your dog with patting motions as opposed to rubbing. Use a blow-dryer, set on low, to thoroughly dry your dog, brushing as it dries. After your dog is dry, use your thinning shears on the thickest part of your dog's coat, and this will help lessen future mats and tangles.