If you’ve ever hit a mat on your Cavalier and watched them pull away or even screech, this video is for you. In week two of my Cavalier essential grooming series, I walk you through my gentle, step-by-step way to brush out sticky little knots (especially those sneaky mats that hide behind the ears) without making brushing stressful or painful. I show you exactly how I brush Stewart so his coat ends up airy and smooth—not just brushed flat. I cover where mats love to form on Cavaliers (neck and ears, armpits, butt area, inside thighs, and those “Grinch feet”), and the biggest rule: if you find a snag, don’t pull. I hold the hair, use my fingers to tease it apart first, and then brush from the bottom of the snaggle up using short, gentle strokes. I also share my simple DIY detangling spray—1 part 4-Legger Restore Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioning Rinse to 6 parts distilled water—so I can lightly mist before brushing or spritz right on a snaggle to help it release. And if your Cavalier is squirmy, I explain when to skip the slicker and use a softer boar bristle brush to protect that delicate skin.