- Puppies need to be used to brushing before they can begin to get used to getting knots removed. A few minutes a day of brushing various parts of the body with plenty of food rewards and verbal praise can help the puppy equate brushing with treats.
- Brushing when the puppy is tired can help the puppy stay calm, according to "KISS Guide to Raising a Puppy." Make sure the puppy has a good romp to burn off excess energy before brushing training sessions.
- Do not use a regular dog brush or comb to try to remove knots. Use special de-matting brushes, matt rakes, mat splitters and detangling sprays. Run your fingers through the coat next to the skin to get the puppy used to grooming out knots when it is older.
- Puppies and adult dogs will not tolerate very long sessions of unknotting a badly tangled coat. This will cause too much pain. If most of the coat is tangled, take the dog or puppy to a professional groomer to get it bathed and then clipped.
