Always dry. Brushing a wet or damp coat locks tangles in place as it dries and can tighten mats that would otherwise come out easily. Brush thoroughly before a bath, dry fully, then comb-check.

A slicker has fine, angled wire bristles that reach into the undercoat — the right tool for Groodles. A pin brush has smoother, widely-spaced pins and mostly glides over the top, missing the layer where mats actually form. For most Groodles: slicker + a metal comb beats any pin brush.

Small, loose tangles — yes. Work from the outer edge inward with a comb or detangler, never yank from the skin. Tight, felted, or pelted mats — no. Cutting into them risks nicking skin, and working a tight mat out by force hurts. Book a groom.

Short, calm, frequent sessions while they're tired. Start with two or three minutes, reward immediately, and stop before they lose patience. Consistency beats duration. A Groodle that hates brushing almost always became that way because it was left until the coat was already uncomfortable.

After. Grass, dirt, moisture, and whatever they rolled in all add to the tangle risk. A quick check-and-brush after outdoor time prevents small tangles from setting in overnight — especially on legs, chest, and beard.

Yes — they do different jobs. The slicker does the actual work: breaking up tangles and pulling out loose undercoat. The comb is the verification tool — if it passes cleanly through a section, that section is done; if it snags, there's still a mat hiding. Without the comb, it's very easy to think the coat is finished when half of it isn't.