One of the most common issues that dog grooming is required for is matting in a dog’s coat. Matting is where the strands in a dog’s coat tangle together to form clumps of fur.
The reason this occurs is that each strand of a dog’s fur has tiny barbs which get caught on other strands.
These tend to occur in areas where friction occurs with examples being behind their ears, their armpits, and around the collar area
Even the way a dog sits can influence matting in their fur. You will notice that a dog has a preference for sitting on its right hip or its left hip.
Whichever side it is, the fur underneath that hip gets compacted, and thus it tends to become matted.
Another cause of matting is a dog’s coat being wet. Their age and breed can influence it too.
Puppies tend to get matting as their adult fur grows in, and breeds such as cocker spaniels and poodles are more prone to matted fur.
Apart from matting being unwanted as it makes your dog look unkempt, matting can cause additional issues which you want your dog to avoid.
Dander can get caught underneath matted fur, as can moisture, both of which can lead to skin problems. Matted fur also hampers new fur from growing in.
So, now you know what matting is, why it occurs and why you want to prevent it from happening, the next step is to highlight ways in which you can prevent matting.
One point we must make is that a small degree of matting is inevitable, but the key is to remove it as soon possible before it becomes a significant problem.
As such, here are some steps you can take to prevent your dog’s coat from matting.
Brush Them Often: By far the most effective preventative measure is to brush your dog’s coat regularly.
Once a week is an absolute minimum, but you should really be brushing them daily, especially in those areas of their coat that are prone to matting.
Use The Right Brush: As for the brush you on your dog, any old brush will not do.
First, you want a brush that is suitable for the type of coat your dog has, be that long, short, or curly.
Also, avoid cheap brushes and use one which is specially designed for matting removal rather than a generic brush.
Remove Small Knots Immediately: Even if you are not brushing your dog every day, you should be checking their fur daily.
If so, and you spot an area of fur which is becoming knotted then it might be that brushing will not remove it.
If the knot is so bad that it cannot be brushed out, then you may have to trim it off.
Trim Areas Where Fur Grows Too Thick: Areas of thick fur are a prime candidate for matting, so it makes sense to trim these areas to stop the fur from growing too thick and thus more likely to become matted.
If you are uneasy about doing this then it is something you can ask a professional dog groomer to do.
Bathe Them Properly: By ‘properly’ we mean bathing your dog in a manner that helps prevent matting rather than promoting it.
This includes ensuring you rinse off all traces of shampoo and conditioner, and thoroughly drying them afterwards.
Ensure Your Dog Has A Healthy Diet: Just as our diet affects our health, including the health of our hair, the same applies to your dog.
A healthy diet means a healthy coat, and that in turn means less matting.
Groom Them Regularly: We have already mentioned a professional dog groomer, and often simply taking your dog to be professionally groomed regularly will contribute enormously to preventing their fur from becoming matted.