I’ve been seeing a lot of mats lately on dogs that seem to enjoy getting brushed out otherwise. It takes considerably longer to clipper dogs that have mats. If I could sound like Dr. Phil for a moment, you’re setting your dog up for a lot of stress at the groomer’s when you don’t do your part by regularly brushing out your dog at home. From here on out, look at brushing your dog out as a crucial part of owner and dog bonding. If your dogs’ coat/matting is not too bad, then a quick spritz of water will help the brushing.
Also, try using different types of bushes. I have five different brushes and sometimes I use up to three different ones to maintain the comfort level of the dog. The first brush has lots of space between each bristle and also has a plastic ball on each tip. The next brush has a flexible head and many bristles. The third brush is the classic slicker brush. By using all three brushes, the dog is more comfortable as I work out the mats and it also cuts my overall brushing time in half. The cost for all three brushes is under $50 retail; that’s less than some bling collars these days.