Please help, i need some advice. After a weeks vacation at my parents (and us 2 in Rome) Molly has came back with HUGE matts in her coat. They have a very large garden and she just loves exploring it. She doesn't enjoy being groomed at the best of times but with these matts its getting v hard to do it. I have a matt splitter but some of the matts are so bad and close to the skin that it doesn't work. I can only go so far with scissors for fear of cutting her. I'd rather avoid the groomers after 2 bad experiences where she came back with "cat paws" and she didn't look gorgeous like she does now. I'd really be grateful of any constructive suggestions or names of excellent groomers for CKCS near peterborough. Thanking you in hope

Get some human detangle spray & soak the knotts completely then you will find you will be able to tease out the knotts. I have two of the worlds best knott making cavaliers

agree with moonmaiden ..soak and ease them out ......it may take a few days but the results will be much better than cutting

Once you've applied the detangle spray, try working on the mats from the outside in, or the bottom up, a little at a time, you will need loads of patience but it is possible ;)  don't forget to use some really high value treats cut up really tiny (little fingernail size) for good behaviour.  If you always follow grooming with a comb through you'll find that mats won't form so quickly.  For the future, try training her to enjoy grooming by doing it for only a few minutes 4 or 5 times a day, always stop before she gets fed up and only treat for good behaviour ;) :)

Have bought detangle spray and will start mission detangle the Mollster tonight when we're all chilling out after a lovely walk.
Role on the next few days of teasing and combing/stroking etc. I'm off to cut up cheese into tiny pieces. Thanks all. I'll update you on how it goes.
Gwen I shall definatley chase up some of the cowboy creams stuff.
I'm quite lucky as Freya loves the grooming fuss and her coat rarely gets knotted.

Even better than a detangle spray see if you can get hold of a tube of "Cowboy Magic" detangle.  It comes in a tube, is available on the web from various dog places, and also at a few horse outlets - see if you can find a tack shop near you.  You just rub it into the knots (I know, it feels all wrong to do that) but it really does make the knots disappear as you comb them out.
bye
Gwen

I'm not a qualified groomer (yet!) but I brush my own Cavaliers and my friends', and they all say I am very good and patient with teasing out neglected tangles and matts, so if North London is any good for you let me know!

Sounds like I might buy my friend some of that detangle stuff for Christmas! A couple of hers knot so quickly that I have been know to start at the ears, get right down to the tail, and find the ears have knotted again in the meantime!