comments:
As others have said, go slow, do only small sections at a time, and make it a bonding activity with lots of praise and encouragement. I tend to alternate brushing and stroking with my hand. Brush, stroke, brush, stroke, etc. It helps him relax. He gets high value treats when we’re done. When he was young he got treats during as well. Also you may need a different tool. I initially tried a typical wire slicker brush because it work well on my previous dog (shihtzu-bischon) who had a similar coat. Bailey absolutely hated it. I researched and ended up getting this wide toothed undercoat rake: https://a.co/d/05FVuSAp It was an immediate game changer. It won’t break up the tiny little pin mats, but it’s great at working through the larger tangles with a minimum of pulling. I go over him first with this, then back through with a fine toothed comb. I also recommend kid’s rounded safety scissors for trimming any mats. Much safer than regular pointy ones.