How to Groom a Dog With Mats

When caring for a dog that has long hair, regular grooming is important to help prevent mats from forming in the dog's fur. When long hair becomes tangled, over time it will form a mat, which is essentially a patch of extremely tangled fur that is very hard to brush out or remove with traditional grooming. Regular brushing will help prevent these mats from forming, but in the event that your dog does develop mats in his fur, there are methods to remove the mats without cutting the fur.

Things You'll Need

  • Spray bottle
  • Conditioning or de-tangler spray
  • Comb
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Spray the matted area with a generous quantity of water to lubricate the fur. If the mat has been packed solid, use a de-tangler spray or conditioning spray to wet the area. This will help the hairs separate more easily.

    • 2

      Pull the mat apart with your fingers as much as possible. You should never try to brush the mat right away without first pulling the hairs apart---this can result in hair loss and pain for the dog.

    • 3

      Comb the loosened hairs of the matted fur with a comb so that the hairs begin to loosen from the mat. Continue the process of gently pulling apart the mat with your fingers, and then combing the loosened hairs. Be very patient as you comb the area. Removing mats can be a long and arduous process depending on the severity of the mat.

    • 4

      Work on the mat over the course of a few grooming sessions. If your dog will not stand still, or hates being groomed, you might have to remove the mat over the course of several sessions to fully comb through the hair.

    • 5

      Cut the mat from the dog's fur as a last resort. If you cannot pull apart the mat, or the hair is too tangled to comb without causing your dog pain and discomfort, you can cut out the mat with a pair of scissors. This should only be used as a last resort because it will leave a large bare patch in the dog's fur.