How to Groom a Matted Airedale

The Airedale terrier has a short, wiry double coat. While short coats don't normally become matted, it's possible for Airedale terriers to develop matted coats without regular grooming due to their double coats. You can either take your matted Airedale terrier to a groomer to have the mats removed, or remove the mats yourself.

Things You'll Need

  • Slicker brush
  • Steel wide-tooth comb
  • Mat-removing tool
  • Scissors
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine how badly your Airedale terrier's coat is matted. If there are only a few small mats in the terrier's coat, and the skin is still in good condition, you can probably remove the mats yourself. If the coat is matted to the point where your Airedale terrier is in severe discomfort or the skin is damaged, you will need to consult a professional groomer and veterinarian to determine whether to treat the skin or remove the coat first, both of which will need to be done professionally.

    • 2

      Lay your Airedale terrier down in a position that is comfortable for the dog. Removing mats takes time and patience, and the more comfortable your Airedale terrier is, the better the experience will be for both of you.

    • 3

      Hold the mat at the end closest to your Airedale terrier's skin when breaking up, brushing and combing out the mats to protect its skin. Pulling and tugging on mats is painful and can injure your Airedale terrier, so try to be as gentle as possible.

    • 4

      Use a slicker brush to break up the mats and brush out the coat, periodically running a steel, wide-toothed comb through the coat to make sure you did not overlook any mats.

    • 5

      Use a mat-removing tool to break up any particularly thick mats, or use scissors to cut out the mats. Always point the scissors away from your dog's body.

    • 6

      Brush your Airedale terrier regularly or schedule regular grooming appointments to prevent a matted coat in the future.