Matted Dog Hair: 9 Tips for Grooming & Prevention (Vet-Reviewed)

When brushing your pet’s hair, the last thing you want to find is matted hair that your brush can’t work through. It can be a frustrating experience for you and, even worse, a painful experience for your dog. We know how important it is to get it under control, and with the nine tips we’ve highlighted below, you can leave matted dog hair behind you once and for all!

What Causes Matted Dog Hair?

Your dog’s matted hair often occurs because of areas of friction, like under their legs, in the armpits, and behind their ear. If your dog sits or lays down on one side more often, then that hair is also more likely to get matted because it is compacted so often. Mats can also occur due to a lack of grooming and neglect. These can be painful to remove, and that’s why it's so important to prevent them from happening in the first place.

The 9 Tips for Grooming and Preventing Matted Dog Hair

1. Buy the Right Brush

Taking care of your dog’s matting problems starts with using the right tools. Two types of brushes can help with matting, and it depends on your pup's coat which option is best for your dog, or they might even benefit from both.

Slicker brushes may help to break up some mats, while metal tooth combs can help remove tangles and excess hair that might end up matting over time.

2. Brush Them Regularly

The most effective way to prevent your pup's hair from matting is to brush them regularly. The frequency of brushing will vary depending on your dog’s activity levels and hair type. Some dogs need daily brushing, while others are fine with once a week.

Learn what your dog specifically needs and keep up with a routine so you can put most of their matting concerns behind you once and for all.

3. Buy the Right Shampoo

There are endless pet shampoos on the market, but if your pet deals with matted fur, it’s important that you find the right product for them. The right shampoo depends on their exact fur type, but their vet should help point you in the right direction.

The right shampoo might cost a little more, but it can help ensure they have less tangles, cleaner fur, and potentially less matting!

If you are looking for the perfect, pet-friendly shampoo and conditioner combo, we highly recommend the products by Hepper. With a soothing oatmeal shampoo, free of soaps and other harsh chemicals, and a cucumber and aloe scented conditioner, your pet's skin and coat will be smooth, hydrated, and irritation-free. 

At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool pet company!

4. Bathe Them Only Before Mats Occur

Believe it or not, bathing a dog that is already matted will likely make the problem worse. So, be sure that you bathe your dog regularly and immediately brush them out following the bath. This ensures your dog’s coat stays clean and tangle-free. However, if they already have mats, then do not bathe them until they are taken care of.

5. Dry Them Thoroughly After Baths

Moisture is a chief cause of matting, so it makes perfect sense to dry the coat completely after each bath. Even a little moisture can lead to matting, and coat types that are prone to matting can often be a little tougher to dry.

Use a towel to dry them first, and from there, consider using a hair dryer at an appropriate temperature to ensure you get all the moisture.

6. Consider a Detangling Spray

This shouldn’t be the solution for you to brush your pet less, but it can be a solution to make it easier to get through various tangles when you are brushing them. If you don’t make it through each tangle when brushing them, it is more likely for those tangles to turn into mats, so get the right products to help ensure you do the job right every time.

7. Remove Their Harness Whenever Possible

Where harnesses and even some collars sit can be prime spots for matting. But if your dog is spending hours on the couch or roaming around the house, they don’t need their harness on! When they’re not actively using it, it’s best to just take it off.

8. Hire a Groomer

If you don’t have the necessary supplies or expertise to do it right, we recommend tying their baths into their grooming appointments and skipping baths entirely at home. To reiterate, bathing your pooch could make the problem worse, so hiring a professional is often one of your best options.

9. Keep Their Hair Trimmed

It’s a simple fact that shorter hair is less likely to tangle and mat. We’re not saying to shave it completely, but simply keeping it clean and trim might be the solution you need to keep it from matting, even if it’s not the traditional haircut for your pup’s breed.

Find a shorter haircut that looks great on them, keep up with it, and still brush them between their grooming appointments.

Conclusion

While matted dog hair can be frustrating, with a little persistence and dedication, there is no reason you can’t put matted hair behind you.

Stick with as many of our suggestions as possible and we are sure you will come out on top. It's going to take a little extra work and time, but when your pup doesn’t have to deal with uncomfortable and painful matted hair, it’s more than worth it.

Featured Image Credit: Focus and Blur, Shutterstock