Why Your Dog's Coat Gets Matted
Mat alert! Dog fur often becomes tangled and knotted around itself without frequent brushing, which is called matting.
Mats occur frequently in many dog breeds with curly, fine, or double coats.
In extreme cases, the dog's coat will become what groomers call "pelted" — when matting is very tight to the skin, preventing proper airflow.
Matting and pelting prevent proper temperature regulation, cause skin irritation, hide parasites like fleas or other nasties, and cause extreme discomfort and pain for the dog.
Mats are mostly preventable! Let's look at why your dog's coat is forming mats and things you can do to keep them at bay. We'll also talk about what your options are if your dog's coat is already matted.
Why Does Your Dog's Fur Get Matted?
Mats form when dog fur becomes tangled and wraps around itself, forming tightly wound clumps of the loose dead fur and live fur. If not brushed out, they continue to trap more fur, becoming closer and closer to the dog's skin. Mats tend to frequently form in areas where there is lots of friction — think around the neck area where the collar sits, behind the ears (where we lovingly scratch them), under their chin, their armpits, under where their harness usually sits, their feet, and on the back of their rear legs.
Matting can occur more frequently during seasonal shedding periods when a dog is "blowing coat" to switch from their winter to summer coat or vice versa. If the loose fur isn't brushed out, it becomes impacted against the skin and forms mats and pelting if left too long. Dogs who like to swim are more prone to getting mats, because the moisture causes their hair to curl, and it dries wrapped around itself. Many dogs who are bathed but not thoroughly brushed and dried also develop matting.
While any dog with a longer or double coat can have matting, some dog breeds are more likely to mat than others — just ask any doodle owner. Doodle coats are a blend of a curly coat and a double-coat, making them the perfect storm formatting. Curly-coated breeds like Poodles and Bichon Frisés also tend to easily mat without continued maintenance. The same goes for breeds with a long coat, Bearded Collies or Rough Coat Collies for example.
Mats vs. Cords
There are a few dog breeds whose coats are meant to be "corded" — where their coat is meticulously groomed by hand to form dreadlocks or cords. This might look like matting, but it's meant to be maintained and trimmed to prevent skin issues.
The most common breeds seen with a corded coat are the Puli, Komondor, and Bergamasco Shepherd. Many lovingly refer to these breeds as "mop dogs." Keeping their coat this way helps disguise them while they are working guarding and herding livestock.
You might even see a Poodle or Havanese with a corded coat for aesthetic and showing purposes. Cording is not for a typical dog owner, as it requires extensive maintenance and an experienced hand at forming the cords and preventing matting underneath.
Your Dog's Coat is Matted — What Now?
If you've found a mat or area of matting while brushing your dog, there are a few things you can do depending on the severity of the mat.
Make Regular Appointments With Your Professional Groomer
Some breeds and breed mixes require intensive coat maintenance to prevent matting, such as Poodles, Doodle-mixes, Coton de Tulear, and Bichon Frisés. Even with regular at-home brushing, their fine fur becomes matted very quickly, especially after it gets wet.
What Groomers Can (and Can't) Do with Mats
Quality professional groomers do not want to shave your dog shorter than requested or what's necessary. Matting often makes their job quite difficult as it determines the length they can cut the dog's coat, as they must clip underneath the mats. If there is pelting present, this means the haircut will be quite short. This can be upsetting for pet owners when they pick up their dog from the grooming shop expecting a longer haircut, but oftentimes the groomer doesn't have any other option.
There are a couple of options that you can discuss with your groomer for matting:
Shave the matted areas shorter, while leaving the rest of the coat at the desired length — while they will try to blend these shorter areas, it's often obvious where the coat is shorter. It is easier to do this if the mats are limited to certain areas, such as the belly or inner legs.
Shave all over at the shorter length required to remove the matting. This can be quite short if the mats have knotted close to the skin, but the haircut is even and won't look quite so spotty.
Overall, the best thing you can do is prevent mats from forming with regular brushing and coat maintenance (including keeping your pets on safe and effective medications to prevent fleas and other parasites from their coat). Make sure you've connected with a trustworthy dog groomer who can give you tips and tricks for managing your dog's fur and keep your pup well-coiffed, happy, and healthy.
