MAtting & Brushing

There are various types of friction that cause matting.
Here are some of the main factors in how and where your dog’s coat becomes matted. 

• Movement: The type of friction happens when your dog runs and plays. Matting often starts in high-friction areas, such as the armpits, bends of the joints, and behind the ears.
  Solution: Ask your groomer to keep the armpits and bends of the joints shorter and/or brush those areas more often. 

• Gear: Collars, harnesses, and clothes can all cause friction and matting, especially if left on at home. Choose gear that has less surface coverage. Only keep gear on your dog when needed.
  Solution: Ask your groomer to trim areas where the gear sits shorter and/or brush under those areas regularly. For identification purposes, try a rolled leather collar. This type of collar does not cause a lot of unnatural friction to cause matting. 

• Water: Swimming is fun and a wonderful way to give your dog enrichment and exercise, but it can also be a source of matting if the coat is not maintained. Hair expands when wet and then shrinks when dry, which can cause tangles and matting, Prolonged matting with wet hair can cause the skin under to become raw and infected easily.
  Solution: A high velocity dryer can help separate hair after bathing or swimming. If you don’t have one, just use a slicker brush and comb to thoroughly separate the coat once dry. 

• Improper Separation: Are you brushing your dog consistently, yet when you take them for their groom, your groomer says they’re matted? This is usually due to improper coat separation. This happens when you brush, but not down to the skin.
  Solution: Use the line brushing technique when brushing. Check your brushing work with a comb – if the comb doesn’t go through the coat easily, you still have brushing to do with your slicker brush! Ask your groomer to show you how.

• Stuck Undercoat: Although poodles and many doodles “don’t shed,” they still lose some amount of dead coat. This dead coat gets trapped and eventually causes matting. Short coat breeds shed a lot, and they’re able to push dead coat out on their own. With single coated breeds, this hair needs to be removed manually with a brush and comb. If this isn’t removed, the dead coat and healthy coat start clumping together, creating mats that can quickly grow out of control.
  Solution: This one is easy! Simply brush and comb your dog’s coat regularly. Ask your groomer how often you should brush with your dog’s coat type

• Is it better to brush a dog wet or dry? It is recommended to brush your dog when the coat is dry.  Wet hair can make mats worse and more difficult to remove. DO NOT WASH A MATTED DOG. It will only make the tangles tighter!

• Do dogs like being brushed? Most dogs enjoy being gently brushing.  Regular brushing your dog will help to strengthen your bond, as it releases dopamine as you brush. The most important part of brushing will help to maintain a healthy and clean coat. A dog's brushing needs will depend on the length or hair type.

• Can brushes hurt dogs? No, unless you dig the brush too deep into the dog's skin, or continually brush the same area too many times. In cases of over brushing brush burn can appear but this is in an extreme case and rare. Signs of brush burn include irritated, reddened skin, always contact a vet if in doubt. 

• What is a slicker dog brush? Slicker brushes have fine, short wires close together on a flat surface. They are used on medium-to-long-haired or curly-haired dogs to remove mats. Slicker brush, Comb set.  It is key to ensure that a COMB can go through the hair to the skin. Using the comb to find tangles is very helpful. "Line brushing" can help, Line Brushing Example

IMPORTANT: Start with the comb, and see if it goes through the coat. Use a slicker brush to brush out the tangle until you can comb through easily. If neither will go through and the mats are hard or thick feeling, please seek help from a professional before going forward.

RED ZONE High priority. Red zone area mat easily, heavy friction areas.
YELLOW ZONE Not as quick to tangle, needs low to moderate maintenance.
GREEN ZONE least area to mat quickly, low maintenance.
Matting can spread very fast, all over the body so it is imperative your
dog is brushed 2-3 times a week, if not more.