The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Which brushes do you all use? I mostly use a slicker brush which works great on my smooth coated kids, but the wooly, curly ones always look as though I never brush them. So what does everybody else use?

I use; A mat cutter, a sort of comb/rake with a handle, a slicker brush, a furminater (Used for stripping natural backs, I've yet to get a stripping knife), a human boar bristle brush (Once, probably ten years ago it was mistakenly used on our springer mix, it works great for the topknot and ears) Although we own a few other brushes, these are the ones I've found works the best for me, furminater excluded, but it's also about eight years old so that could be why it doesn't really work. For your wooly ones, since I know exactly what you mean having had one of those several years ago, if you use primarily the slicker brush, perhaps it is brushing mostly the top of the coat. In which case that would fluf the coat, instead of of smoothing it, and add to the wooly appearance. Wow that was long!

I use a comb. Gromit doesn't like to be brushed, but doesn't mind the comb. And I find I do a better job of getting all the way to her roots using the comb. She absolutely HATED a slicker brush!

Pin brush and comb for George usually.

Hmmm guess I will grab a new pin brush and regular comb and see what happens. The other poster was right, with the slicker brush it just fluffs my wooly bear guy so he fluffs out on his back, but his legs are still just really curly and don't look combed at all.

I would not use a mat cutter unless absolutely necessary. It will cause more matting down the road

I have heard this many a time, but at least in my case, that isn't really true. I think think that if you bathe at least every three weeks (this used to be my routine) preferably every two or every week, and condition well, you should be fine. Indy is my long coated beauty (excuse me, handsome boy) or formerly, as I more or less hacked his fur off for the summer. Right before his trim I inspected his skirt and legs out of curiosity, and he had no split ends, broken hairs or anything of the sort.
Riley and Jaime, glad I could have helped!