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Every dog owner knows it – that sense of dread when it’s time to remove mats from a pup’s hair. Whether your Doodle has curly, wavy, or straight hair, hours of playing and even natural movement can cause difficult matting and tangling.
Wondering how to remove matted dog hair? This is the guide for you. Check out our step-by-step guide and recommended products to keep any dog’s coat slick and tangle-free!
How to Remove Matted Dog Hair
Now that you know why your dog’s fur is matted, it’s time to get to work! Here’s your step-by-step guide outlining how to remove matted dog hair.
Step 1: Gather Your Tools
To remove matted dog hair, you’ll need:
- Detangling spray
- Slicker brush (high recommend this brush)
- Dematting tool
- Pin brush
- Scissors
- A conditioning shampoo if you’ll opt to wash your dog today
- Treats
Once you’ve gathered your tools, you’re ready to assess your dog’s coat. Check the most commonly affected areas, such as the belly, between paw pads, around your dog’s collar, and beside his ears.
Step 2: Apply Detangling Spray
Whether you’ll be bathing your dog today or not, it’s a good idea to apply a quality detangling spray to your dog’s coat. We Love Doodles Dog Detangler Spray comes in three scents: Lavender, Ocean Breeze, and Mango. Alternatively, you can choose the unscented version.
We Love Doodles Dog Detangler Spray is made with USDA-Certified Organic ingredients that won’t harm your dog – or the planet! The American-crafted sprays smell simply sensational and your dog will, too!
From a distance of six to eight inches from your pup, evenly apply the spray to your dog’s coat – wet or dry – and ready your brushes. It’s time to remove those mats!
Step 3: Work With a Good Slicker Brush
To begin, you’ll want to use a quality brush on your dog. Start with the We Love Doodles Slicker Brush! This brush features one-inch, angled pins that effectively remove mats without injury to your dog. The non-slip handle makes quick work of removing tangles from your pup, and it’s made of recycled wood!
Work from head to tail, and if you come across a particularly stubborn mat you’ll want to work through it in very small sections. Feel free to apply more detangled spray if necessary – this can help prevent pulling your pup’s hair.
Large mats should be handled carefully to prevent pulling, and you should always work from the outer edges of the tangle first. Should you discover mats that are particularly difficult, move on to step 4.
Step 4: Detangle Large Mats
Doodles are prone to matting from water, dirt, and day to day activity. Sometimes this can mean large clumps of matted hair that are particularly stubborn.
In a worst-case scenario, you can trim off the matted hair with your scissors. We Love Doodles Grooming Scissor is the perfect tool for the task! The ergonomic scissors are crafted from quality stainless steel; they’re rust-resistant and will last for years!
In less severe cases, you’ll get by with the We Love Doodles Dematting Tool. It sports 34 stainless steel blades that make safe, easy work of the toughest mats and tangles. Rounded blades easily slide through your pup’s knots and tangles.
If you’ve opted to wash your dog today, this is the time to do it! Use a shampoo that’s specially formulated for your dog’s skin, like We Love Doodles Dog Shampoo. This is an all-in-one product that detangles, washes, conditions, and moisturizes – ideal for minimizing tangles in the future!
Step 5: Finish With a Pin Brush
Give your dog a good inspection, paying close attention to his paw pads, collar area, and ears. Is your pup free from tangles and mats? Great! Now it’s time to give your dog one final brush. Use the We Love Doodles Gold Pin Brush for this step.
Your pin brush is the perfect tool to remove all those stray hairs and the debris you loosened as you removed matted dog hair from your furry friend. Pin brushes also give your pup a “doggy massage,” helping to stimulate the skin and evenly spread your pup’s natural oils.
If you bathed your dog, that’s okay – a pin brush can be used on either wet or dry fur. Working from head to tail, simply brush your dog in the direction of his hair growth. That’s it! Opt to give your pup another spritz with your We Love Doodles Detangler Spray as a finishing touch!
Step 6: Reward Your Doodle!
You did it! Your pup is now tangle-free and dog show-ready, and he’s feeling fresh and ready to play! Reward your pup for being a Very Good Dog as you removed mats and tangles; grab a treat … you both deserve it!
What Causes Matted Dog Hair?
Dogs will be dogs, and everyday doggy activity will inevitable lead to tangles, if not matting! Here are a few of the most common causes of matted dog hair.
Scratching
Your dog naturally scratches to relieve itches, but in the process he may cause matting in his fur. Check around your dog’s ears, collar, and other commonly-scratched area for mats. If you suspect that scratching is a result of fleas or allergens, please contact your vet.
Friction
Any object rubbing against your dog’s skin can cause matting. A harness, collar, or that adorable sweater Fido got from Auntie Jenna – they’re all culprits. There’s little that can be done to eliminate this, but you can certainly mitigate clumping with a detangling spray and vigilant observation.
Water
Does your Doodle love the rain? If so, you’re no stranger to matting. And if your pup likes to roll in the dirt after a swim, you may be considering a summer cut for your pet! Whether from swimming, rain, or bath time, you’ll need to know how to remove matted dog hair.
Shedding
Finally, shedding can cause matting of your pup’s hair. Loose fur can become entangled with live hair, so a good detangling spray will be your best friend. Some Doodle breeds are more prone to shedding than others, but any dog can benefit from the removal of mats.
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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