A mat is not a tangle that has got worse. Once the coat has felted, brushing through it pulls on skin rather than separating hair, which is why a dog who used to enjoy grooming starts leaving the room when the brush comes out. A dematting comb works differently: the curved blades cut into the mat and split it apart, so it comes away in sections instead of being dragged off the skin in one piece.

The blades are stainless steel, curved to follow the shape of the body, and sharpened on one edge only, so the flat back sits against the coat as you work. Stainless matters for a tool that goes into water repeatedly, because a rusted blade drags instead of cutting. There is a hanging loop on the handle and the whole comb is washable, which is worth doing, since undercoat and skin oils build up between the teeth and blunt the action over a season.

• Row of curved stainless steel blades
• Cuts through mats rather than pulling them out
• Also lifts loose undercoat to reduce shedding
• Fully washable, with a hanging loop for storage
• Two colours: white or pink
• Six photographs showing the blade row

Two things worth knowing. These blades are sharp, so work in small sections, hold the mat at its base to keep tension off the skin, and never use one flat against a belly or armpit. If a mat is felted right down to the skin, or the skin underneath is damp or sore, stop and book a groomer, because cutting blind into a tight mat is how dogs get nicked.

Who it's for: owners of doodles, spaniels and double-coated breeds keeping on top of small mats between grooms, rather than anyone trying to rescue a badly neglected coat at home.