Matting is far easier to prevent than to remove, and the moment most owners give up is when the comb hits a knot and the dog flinches. Wetting a tangle with a light conditioning spray before you start changes the mechanics entirely, because the fibres slide past each other instead of pulling at the skin. It matters most where mats form first: behind the ears, under the arms and down the back legs.

The formula is pH-balanced for animal skin, which is not the same as human skin and is exactly why human conditioner does not belong on a dog. It is vegan, it soaks in without leaving a greasy film that then attracts dirt, and it is cleared for both dogs and cats from eight weeks old. That last detail is genuinely useful, since a lot of grooming products exclude puppies and kittens outright.

• Hydrating detangling spray for dogs and cats
• pH-balanced and vegan
• Suitable from 8 weeks old
• Absorbs without leaving a greasy residue
• Adds shine while conditioning the coat
• 210g bottle

Where it stops working. A detangling spray loosens knots, but it does not undo a solid mat. Once a mat has felted tight against the skin, combing it out hurts and can tear the skin underneath, and that one belongs to a groomer with clippers. Use this to stay on top of a coat between grooms rather than to rescue one that has already gone.

Who it's for: Long-coated breeds and anyone whose cat or dog knots up between grooming appointments, from spaniels and doodles to Maine Coons.