10/23/2026
✂️🐾 A fresh start for Jolene, and an important lesson about doodle grooming!
Our girl Jolene got a MUCH-needed spa day, courtesy of the wonderful Kaylee at Detail’s Pet Styling, who generously donated her time and talent to help our girl feel better. ❤️
But this was no ordinary grooming appointment.
Jolene’s coat was severely matted. And despite having received an at-home haircut before coming into our care, the matting underneath was still there, tight against her skin.
What many people don’t realize is that cutting the hair shorter or brushing the fluffy outer layer does absolutely nothing to remove matting underneath.
As the hair continues to tangle close to the skin, those mats become tighter and tighter. They pull on the skin with every movement, causing pain, irritation, bruising, and even tearing the skin causing open wounds.
Imagine only brushing the very ends of your own hair, never getting anywhere near your roots. Now imagine doing that for months- a year. Your scalp would be a painful, tangled mess!
And that’s exactly what can happen to doodles when their coats aren’t properly maintained.
Jolene did not enjoy her grooming appointment. 💔 It took several hours, lots of breaks, and plenty of encouragement. Kaylee worked patiently with her, making sure she had the time and space she needed.
We wish Jolene hadn’t been allowed to get to this point. She deserved better.
🐩 Let’s talk about doodle coat maintenance!
🐾 Daily brushing is essential. Doodle coats can mat incredibly quickly, especially in high-friction areas like behind the ears, under the collar, armpits, legs, sanitary areas, in between the toes and belly.
🐾 Brushing the top layer isn’t enough! A dog can look perfectly fluffy and brushed on the outside while hiding a solid layer of painful matting underneath.
🐾 Learn to line brush! Work in small sections, brushing from the skin outward. Follow up with a metal comb, gently checking all the way down to the skin. If your comb can’t glide through the coat, there are still tangles that need attention.
🐾 Professional grooming every 4–6 weeks is a good routine for many doodles, depending on their coat type and length. Some need even more frequent appointments.
🐾 Please don’t try to cut tight mats out with scissors! Matted skin can be pulled up into the coat, making it incredibly easy to accidentally cut your dog. Severe matting is best handled by a professional groomer, sometimes with veterinary assistance.
And here’s something else we want people to understand: Shaving a severely matted dog isn’t a groomer’s failure. It’s often the kindest and safest option. Trying to brush out extensive, tight matting can be incredibly painful. If your dog came back shaved after a grooming appointment, this 99.9% the reason why.
Doodles are adorable, but their coats are HIGH MAINTENANCE. That fluffy teddy bear appearance comes with a serious commitment of time, money, and regular grooming.
❤️ A HUGE thank-you to Kaylee- Detail’s Pet Styling for giving Jolene the patience, kindness, and care she needed. We know this wasn’t an easy appointment, and we are so grateful you took such good care of our girl.
Jolene may not have enjoyed her spa day, but she’s finally free of that painful coat. Now she gets a fresh start, and hopefully a future where grooming is a regular, positive part of her life.
Please, before bringing home a doodle, understand the grooming commitment. Their comfort and well-being depend on it. ❤️🐾
