Removing mats and tangles can be difficult, especially if you have a dog who doesn’t like to stand still. Plus, sensitive dogs won’t appreciate you pulling on their coats, and may be unwilling to tolerate the procedure. Consider using treats and plenty of positive reinforcement to help your dog associate grooming sessions with something pleasant.
The best approach is prevention. Brush your dog daily to keep his/ her coat clean and to prevent mats from developing. Tangles are typically easy to avoid with regular grooming. Fine-coated dogs and dogs with long, thick undercoats will quickly mat if they are not brushed regularly. If your dog loves the outdoors, then he/ she will likely pick up burrs, sticks and leaves that can cause his coat to mat more quickly.
If you find your long-coated dog has developed mats and tangles, start working on them now before the situation gets completely out of hand; in which case we are always here to help!
However, if you’d like to try and keep on top of it yourself, here we have put an easy to follow guide together for you to aid you in the de-matting and mat prevention process, Thanks!
Dirty Dingos 6 Step guide to Untangle Matted Dog Hair
- Assemble your tools. In order to conquer mats and tangles, you will need the right equipment. A de-matting tool, a mat splitting tool and a slicker brush are your best friends when taking on mats and tangles. You can find these tools at a pet supply shop, or online.
- Find the mats and tangles. Brush your dog with the slicker brush to locate mats and tangles. Mats often form under the ears, below the neck, under the belly and along the back legs.
- Use your fingers. Work the mat or tangle out with your fingers by pulling and easing the hair apart a little at a time. This is painstaking work, but your efforts will pay off if you keep at it. If you can’t break through the mat after working on it for a considerable amount of time, use the mat splitting tool to cut through the mat. Be sure to cut in the direction the hair grows.
- Use your brush. When you have removed as much of the tangle or mat as you can, use the slicker brush to finish the job. For tangles, gently brush a few hairs at a time to separate them from the rest of the tangle. For mats, brush in the direction the hair grows
- Bathe your dog. Once you have removed as many of the mats and tangles you can, give your dog a bath. Be sure all the mats and tangles are gone before you wet your dog, as water will make a tangle worse and a mat tighter and harder to get out.
- Prevent problems. Regular bathing, brush drying will help maintain a Mat free coat
If your dog’s coat has a particularly bad case of matting or tangling, he/ she may need to come to us for clip or a shave. Or, if you have a good pair of clippers and know how to use them, you can do it yourself. If your dog has developed a skin irritation or sores as a result of having matter tangled in his coat, he/ she may need to visit your veterinarian.
Clipping the coat to a very short length will enable you to start over and help prevent mats and tangles from forming in the first place.
With the right dog grooming tools, products and procedures at your fingertips, you can keep mats and tangles at bay, even if your dog is prone to them. Your dog will be happier for the extra effort, and so will you.
Many thanks for reading!!
Dirty Dingos!
