Me vs Mats

[peasareevilcreatures]

I have a shih tzu cross poodle. She has silky hair wavy hair so has inherited more of the shih tzu type fur but she doesn't shed.
I like her fur when it gets longer as she's a total fluff ball but I am fighting a constant war on mats.

I'm brushing her daily at the moment, using thinning scissors and a mat splitter to tackle as many mats as I can but as soon as she goes out and gets wet more mats appear.

I'd love to keep her long for the winter, is there a wonder brush or a wonder technique that can help me win this war. I keep her bum trimmed with a bikini line clipper lol, but thats no good on longer fur, I haven't invested in dog clippers yet.

I've seen the Les Poochs mat zapper, but it's so expensive (this dog already has more hair care products and gadgets than me!), is there anything similar and recommended?

is there anything similar and recommended?

Yes, a groomer!

Sorry if that sounds flippant, but I think keeping her short will be the only way to go. I have a Shih Tzu too :)

I know, I normally get her groomed regularly in the warmer months but her fur is so gorgeous I'd love to keep her longer for the winter and go longer between grooms. It's just a constant battle with the bloody mats.

How to people cope with the shih tzu's with hair that touches the floor lol?!

I know! I'm pretty lucky with his coat in that it doesn't seem to matt, but goodness me, what a state he's in after every walk in this awful weather. He's like a walking sheet of absorbent kitchen roll.

With my boy I feel my choices are longer and daily if not twice daily brushing or shorter and less brushing.
A bit like us long flowing locks are high maintenance.