I’ve recently started caring for my niece’s dog while she is deployed to Kuwait. The dog has been here often, and loves the farm and my dog Juju. However, my niece always cared for her coat. Now I’m doing it. And, um, I’m not sure how to keep up with the matting!! I’ve never had a dog with that kind of fur. I can painstakingly pick the mats apart, but it takes forever. Are there good tools or potions that will help? It’s going to be a long nine months, haha. Nah, I love her. She is on the right, and my dog is on the left. 
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It sounds like she might have an undercoat. If so, you can buy a special comb for that—it has alternating long and short tines, and really works well to keep the matting down if you use it every day or two. I used these to great success on my late corgis.
If there are certain areas prone to matting, sometimes keeping them clipped short can help, like behind the ears, under the tail, the armpits, etc. Especially if it’s superfine hair that is matting, rather than an undercoat. That’s easy to do yourself.
If she’s squirelly about you working on mats she’s already got, sometimes paying for a bath and groom from a groomer is well worth the $50 or so. They’ll get everything reset for you, so it’s easier to manage going forward. Or you can do like I do and just book the service every month to make life easier. 
Thanks!! She’s fairly good about it, but I’m not so good at it. 
I hate to cut too much since she’s not my dog, but a few little spots probably wouldn’t be overly noticable.
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Just tell yourself that your niece would rather have her good dog sporting a few clipped spots than be uncomfortable from mats pulling at her skin. Plus it relieves you of having to be the “bad guy” every day by tugging on them.
Definitely good points! Thanks. 
When I groomed dogs, I would use showsheen on them after they were tangle free after their bath. This helped lessen the matts developing. I would do the same for your niece’s dog. Or at least some sort of detangler.
They both look so happy and content on their tubs!
Thanks, MuchingonHay. I was wondering about Showsheen or Cowboy Magic. I’ll get the mats (matts?) out and try this. And brush her every day.
Yes, they’re happy dogs! A few seasonal shots:
Reluctant ghosts…
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Combing every day helps so much with mats. Making it a part of the daily routine means it doesn’t take very long. I like a long tooth greyhound comb for this sort of thing.
For existing mats, you can get a mat knife or mat splitter which is a sharp pointy thing that breaks up the mat. Here’s one:
Thanks! I’m adding things to my Amazon cart. 
The last one, the defeated ghost. I just want to comfort him with cuddles. I am looking forward to Christmas, and other holiday themed photoshoots.
You are being very good Auntie Paradox.
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Aww…thanks! 
I’ll be sure to get some holiday shots.
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For some areas of you don’t want to trim, or break, the fur rub in cornstarch before brushing. No chemicals and it makes fur loosen up so you can brush it out. We did that when I groomed dogs, and specially longer haired cats.
I had not heard of that. Thanks!
