How Does My Dog Get Matted?

Does this sound familiar? You drop your dog off at the groomer and ask for a long, fluffy trim. BUT the groomer says, “Your dog is matted. We’ll need to go short today.”

Bummer! You really wanted to leave them long. And you even waited longer than their last groom, so you could grow their hair to the length you liked. Well…what caused that matting in the first place? Let’s comb through and find out ;)

There are 4 main causes of matting: Friction, Water, Improper Separation, and Hair Damage. Here’s how they happen and what you can do about it:

Friction

How it happens…

Friction can be caused by movement. Think of areas that rub together a lot: behind the ears, the armpits, hips that are rubbing on the ground from laying down, etc. OR friction can be caused by gear like, collars, harnesses, or apparel. Whether by movement or gear, friction can cause matting. 

What can you do?

High friction areas will need to be brushed and combed more often to prevent matting. If your dog wears gear, make sure to remove it when you brush. Or better yet! Limit how much they wear their gear to times when it is necessary. Less time wearing the gear, means less time for friction to do its dirty work.

Water

How it happens…

Remember those fun summer afternoons at the pool? After splashing around, it's finally time to dry off but you left your hair down and now it's a tangled mess! The same thing can happen with your dog! Wet hair, if not properly dried and brushed, will tangle and mat.

What can you do?

After your dog’s water fun is done, it's best to dry your dog with a high velocity dryer (a standard human dryer will work too, but it may take a while), then brush and comb them. If that option isn’t available to you, it's best to let your pup air dry, then follow up with a thorough brushing.

Improper Separation

How it happens…

If you’ve ever taken your dog to the groomer hoping that they would get a cute, long haircut, because you’ve been brushing, but the groomer says they need to be shaved, THEN you’ve probably been a victim of improper separation. Improper separation occurs when the hair is not brushed and combed all the way down to the skin. Although the top layer is being brushed, the root of the hair is being missed.

What can you do?

The good news is you’ve already been doing 90% of the work! With just a small change in your technique, your brushing can produce effective results. Use a technique called Line Brushing and always follow up with a comb. If you want to learn in-person, or want some extra guidance, check out our classes!

Hair Damage

How it happens…

Hair can become damaged from improper tools or techniques, like dematting rakes or aggressive brushing or from previous matting. Damaged hair is more likely to tangle and mat because the cuticle is raised and rough.

What can you do?

Prevention is key! Using gentle techniques, like line brushing, and proper tools, like a slicker brush and comb, keep damage at bay and prevent matting before it starts.

Prevention

The more often you brush your dog, the less mats you will encounter, which will help shorten your brushing sessions! Stay on top of it and be proactive instead of reactive.

What happens if my dog is too matted?

I know life gets busy and your pet’s coat care might not be a priority. That’s ok! It just means it's time to adjust expectations. If you haven’t been able to keep up on brushing at home, or if it's been a while since your dog’s last grooming appointment, you may need to consider a shorter haircut. BUT the good thing is, hair grows! And a fresh start gives you an excellent chance to try again. Talk with your groomer and let them know what haircut length or style is your goal. They have the expertise and knowledge to help customize a schedule that can help you get there! 

Be realistic about how much brushing you do at home. If you will only brush properly once every other week, you may need to schedule appointments every 2 or 4 weeks. But, if you brush properly every other day, you can stretch your appointments further! And if a frequent grooming schedule and frequent at-home brushing doesn’t work for your schedule or budget, it's probably time to consider a lower maintenance haircut for your pup.

Well…now that you know the causes of matting what’s your next step?

Schedule your dog’s next grooming appointment. OR Take a hands-on class so you can be a brushing pro!