Why Your Doodle Mats So Much During Coat Change (7 Fixes)
Laura Acevedo
Quick answer: Most doodles go through a coat change somewhere between about 6 and 12 months old. The soft puppy hair falls out, but it gets stuck in the new adult curls and twists into mats, often in just a day or two. The fix is to brush more often for a few months, down to the skin, with a long pin brush like our Slicker Brush for Goldendoodles. Then check your work with a metal comb. A light mist of detangler spray helps, and a shorter haircut can make this stage much easier.
Your doodle puppy was easy to brush. Then, almost overnight, the coat started to mat. You brush on Monday and find new knots by Wednesday. If that sounds familiar, you are not doing anything wrong. Your puppy is most likely changing coats.
We started Freshly Bailey in 2020 because keeping our doodle Bailey's coat healthy and free of mats was a real struggle. The coat change is the stage we hear about most from doodle parents. The good news is that it does not last forever, and a few small changes to your routine make a big difference.
Why does my doodle mat so much during the coat change?
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies usually lose their puppy coat between 4 and 6 months, but the timing varies a lot from dog to dog, and the adult coat is usually thicker than the puppy coat. Many doodle parents see the change between about 6 and 12 months. Here is why it causes so many mats.
- Puppy hair falls out but has nowhere to go. In a curly or wavy coat, loose hair does not drop to the floor. It stays tangled in the coat and twists into knots.
- Two coats at once. For a while, your doodle has soft puppy fluff and the thicker adult coat growing in together. That mix tangles very easily.
- Mats start at the skin. The coat can look smooth on top while mats grow close to the skin, where a quick brush never reaches.
- Friction spots. Collars, harnesses, armpits, behind the ears and the back of the legs get rubbed all day, so they mat first.
- Getting wet. Rain, swimming and baths make tangles tighten, especially if the coat is not fully brushed out first and fully dried after.
7 ways to stop coat change mats
1. Brush more often for a few months
During the coat change, a brushing every few days is often not enough. Plan on a short session most days until the adult coat settles in. Ten minutes a day is much easier on you and your dog than an hour fighting mats on the weekend.
2. Brush down to the skin, one section at a time
Brushing only the top of the coat leaves the mats underneath. Hold the coat up with one hand, brush a small row of hair down and away, then move up a little and repeat. This is called line brushing. A long pin slicker brush reaches through the curls to the hair near the skin.
3. Check every area with a metal comb
After brushing, run a metal comb from the skin out to the tips. If it glides through, you are done with that spot. If it snags, there is a tangle hiding there. Brush that spot again, then comb again.
4. Mist with detangler spray first
A light mist of detangler spray helps the brush slide through the coat instead of pulling. You can brush a dry coat or a damp one. Use a light mist, not a soaking, and work one section at a time.
5. Focus on the friction spots
Check behind the ears, under the collar and harness, the armpits, the belly, the back legs and the tail every single day. These are the places mats show up first. Take the collar or harness off while you brush so you can reach the hair under it.
6. Brush out mats before every bath
Never bathe a matted coat before brushing out the mats. Water makes mats tighter, so a small knot can come out of the bath as a big one. Brush and comb first, then bathe, and dry the coat all the way. Brush again once your doodle is dry.
7. Ask your groomer about a shorter cut
There is no prize for keeping a long coat through this stage. A shorter, even trim makes daily brushing faster and gives mats less hair to grow in. Many doodle parents keep their dog shorter until the coat change is over, then let it grow out again.
The tools we recommend for coat change mats
A quick note: we make these tools, so we are biased. Here is why we recommend each one for coat change mats.
Slicker Brush for Goldendoodles, Poodles & Doodles
Long, flexible pins reach through thick, wavy or curly coats to the loose puppy hair near the skin, which is exactly where coat change mats start. Choose Small for dogs under 15 lbs and Large for 15 lbs and up.
"Great large-size brush pad for larger dogs, and the slickers were soft enough not to irritate my dog's skin while getting out mats on her thick doodle coat."
Review by Crystal Ellis
Greyhound Metal Comb for Dogs
The comb is how you know the brushing worked. Its dual-spacing teeth are made for doodle and poodle coats, so you can find small tangles before they turn into mats.
"The Freshly Bailey Metal Comb worked really well on my Goldendoodle’s coat. The dual teeth design makes it easy to work through both the thicker areas and the finer spots, and it helps remove tangles without pulling or irritating her skin."
Review by Matto
Doodle Detangler Spray
A leave-in conditioner made for curly coats. It works on damp or dry hair, and a light mist before brushing means less pulling on the tangles that pile up during the coat change.
Dematting Comb for Dogs
For the mats that slip past you. Its sharp blades break up stubborn mats in curly and long coats. Hold the fur at the base so you do not pull on the skin, and work from the edge of the mat inward with short strokes.
A 10-minute daily routine for the coat change
- Pick a calm time, like after a walk. Take off the collar or harness.
- Mist one section of the coat lightly with detangler spray.
- Line brush that section down to the skin with the long pin slicker brush.
- Comb the same section from the skin out. If the comb snags, brush that spot again.
- Repeat around the body, and spend extra time behind the ears, the armpits, the collar area and the back legs.
- If you find a mat, work on it gently with the dematting comb. Stop if your dog gets upset and finish another day.
- End with praise and a treat, so tomorrow's session is easier.
When to call your vet or a groomer
If a mat is tight against the skin, do not try to force it out or cut it with scissors. Skin can get pulled up into a mat and is easy to nick. Ask a groomer to remove it safely. Call your vet if you see red or broken skin, sores, a bad smell or bald patches under the mats, or if your dog yelps, snaps or flinches when you touch one area. Pain can be a sign of a skin problem that needs care.
Frequently asked questions
When do doodles change coats?
Most doodles go through it somewhere between about 6 and 12 months old, but every dog is different. Some start earlier, some later, and it can take a few months to finish.
How long does the coat change last?
It is different for every dog. For many doodles it takes a few months. You will know it is ending when mats stop showing up so fast and the coat feels more even.
Should I shave my doodle during the coat change?
You do not have to shave, but a shorter, even trim is a smart choice if mats keep winning. If your doodle is already badly matted, a groomer may need to shave the coat for your dog's comfort. It will grow back.
How often should I brush my doodle during the coat change?
Most days is best during this stage. Short daily sessions catch tangles before they turn into mats. Once the adult coat settles in, a few times a week is often enough.
Can I bathe my doodle to loosen the puppy coat?
Only after brushing out every mat. Water makes mats tighter. Brush and comb first, bathe with a gentle shampoo like our Doodle Shampoo & Conditioner, then dry the coat fully and brush again.
The coat change is a messy few months, but it does end. Brush a little every day, check with a comb, and do not be afraid of a shorter cut. For more help, read our tips for a doodle that still smells after a bath or what to do if your dog hates being brushed. Your doodle's soft adult coat is worth the work.