steffanie you can always try my remedy,but I only use it when it is/was time to blow coat,as they call it.
When I had all my Collies once a year they would all blow coat and that meant lots of hair and mats and everything.
An old groomer at the school I went to gave me this trick and it has always worked.At least with the long hair breeds I have had.
1st bathe them and then with (whatever creme rinse you want to use,,(back then I bought the cheapest by the gallon I could find) and from their head to the end of their tails soak them in it.And I do mean soak them in it.Gooey goupy and slick.
Now since it is winter you would have to just have them wait the time,back when I used this method it was always spring or early fall.
So it was done outside. And after the soaking I would turn them loose.To run and roll and do whatever they wanted for about 30 minutes.
They get them back,and rinse rinse rinse,under the power spray and rinse and rinse more.The ones that liked to roll were then tied up away from the dirt and the others were turned loose.
IMPORTANT make sure to get all of it out or it could cause iching.And we don't want that.
Within minutes my yard looked like it was snowing.With undercoat blowing all over the yard for later collection by every bird within miles.
Once dry everyone got put on the table and brushed and combed out whatever was left.Even if they were heavily matted and a few still hun on a mat splitter took care of that in no time.
Then I had Collies with long coats and practicaly naked underneath.
But it always worked.
Then it was back to about three brushings a week and they were good to go.
Tricia and the fur kids