Mats 101: Why Your Dog's Coat Mats and What to Do About It

Almost every owner of a doodle, poodle, shih tzu, Maltese or Yorkie has had the same moment. You run your hand over your dog after a few weeks of ignoring the brush, and your fingers catch on a tight lump of hair that will not come apart. That lump is a mat, and it is one of the most common things we deal with at Marie's Pet Grooming here on Union Turnpike.

Why a coat mats

A mat forms when loose, shed hair does not fall away but stays tangled in the live coat around it. Friction does the rest. Movement, moisture and rubbing pull those loose hairs tighter and tighter until the tangle becomes a felted knot. Dogs with soft, fine, curly or double coats hold onto shed hair instead of letting it drop, so they mat more easily than a short, smooth-coated dog.

Water makes it worse. A dog who gets wet in the rain or after a bath and is allowed to air dry without brushing can end up with mats set like cement. Long walks through wet Queens sidewalks in winter, slush and all, have the same effect on leg and belly hair.

Where mats start

Mats rarely begin in the middle of the back, where you tend to brush. They start in the places where hair rubs against hair or against something else:

• Behind the ears, where the coat is thin, soft and constantly rubbed by your dog's head and collar.
• In the armpits, where the front legs move against the chest all day.
• Along the collar and harness line, where straps press and rub the same strip of coat.
• Between the back legs and along the belly, where urine, damp and movement combine.
• Around the tail base and the feathering on the legs.

Check these spots first, every time. If you only brush the top layer, the coat can feel smooth on top while a dense mat grows underneath, close to the skin.

How to brush to the skin

Brushing the surface of the coat is not enough. The goal is to get the brush or comb all the way down to the skin, section by section.

• Use a slicker brush and a metal comb. The slicker loosens the hair, and the comb tells you the truth. If the comb cannot travel from skin to tip without catching, you have not finished.
• Work in small layers. Hold up a section of hair with one hand and brush the layer underneath, then let the next layer down. Start at the bottom of the coat and work up.
• Hold the hair close to the skin while you brush so you are not pulling on it. A tug on a mat hurts, and a dog who learns brushing hurts will start avoiding it.
• Go slowly around the ears, armpits and collar line, and stop if your dog is clearly uncomfortable.
• Brush a dry coat. Brushing a wet or damp coat can tighten tangles.

Why a badly matted coat is often shaved down

Many owners ask why we cannot simply brush out a coat that is badly matted. The honest answer is that a severe mat is not just tangled hair. It is a tight mass that pulls on the skin with every step. Underneath it, skin can become irritated, red and sore, and moisture gets trapped against it. Working a dense mat out strand by strand can take a long time and be painful and stressful for the dog, especially if the matting covers a large part of the body.

When the matting is that bad, the kindest option for the dog is usually a shave-down. The hair is clipped close, the skin can breathe, and the coat grows back clean. A shave-down is not a punishment or a shortcut. It is often the safest, most comfortable choice for a dog with a heavily matted coat. It does mean your dog may look quite different for a while, and the new coat takes time to grow out.

What this means at Marie's

Marie's is a by-appointment dog grooming salon, and matting affects the appointment in a few practical ways.

• There is a Matted Release Form. It is part of our paperwork for dogs who arrive matted, and it is not required for smooth-coated dogs who are only having a bath.
• Extra work is an additional fee. De-matting and matted pet shave-downs are among the services that can add to the cost of a groom, because they take extra time and care.
• The call is based on what is safe and comfortable for your dog. If your dog is too matted to brush out without causing pain, we may recommend a shave-down instead.
• Send photos ahead of time. You can text pictures of your dog's coat to (718) 380-7387 so we can tell you what to expect before the appointment.

Keeping mats from coming back

The best defense is regular brushing to the skin, a comb check of the trouble spots, and keeping grooming appointments close enough together that the coat never gets the chance to tangle badly. The right schedule depends on your dog's breed and coat, and we are happy to give you advice on coat and skin maintenance at drop-off or pick-up.

If you are new to Marie's, email mariespetgrooming@gmail.com or text (718) 380-7387 to get started. Current clients can book through /appointment-booking. Book about two weeks ahead, and if your dog is already matted, tell us when you reach out so we can plan the time.