How to Keep Your Dog From Becoming Matted

Mats in fur occur commonly on dogs with long hair if they are not regularly groomed; the long fur tangles together to form a flattened knot that is almost impossible to brush out. Mats are very common in long-haired breeds like St. Bernards or on dogs that do not like to be groomed. You can stop mats before they have a chance to form.

Things You'll Need

  • Brush
  • Shampoo for long-haired dogs
  • Corn starch
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush your dog often to prevent mats from forming. Regular brushing untangles the hair before mats can form. The longer the mat has to form, the larger and harder it will be to remove. If your dog doesn̵7;t allow regular brushing, try to bribe it with treats and positive reinforcement.

    • 2

      Wash your dog using a shampoo designed for long-haired animals. These shampoos contain conditioning agents that coat the hair follicles and prevent them from sticking together to form mats.

    • 3

      Sprinkle corn starch in the dog̵7;s fur. Corn starch acts like conditioner in that it helps prevent the hairs from sticking together and forming a mat.

    • 4

      Check your dog̵7;s coat regularly to see if mats are forming. The best way to prevent large mats is to check the fur on a regular basis; it̵7;s a lot easier to remove or untangle small mats than it is to remove large ones.