If you only focus on the top layer of your dog's fur, your brushing is actually pushing any loose fur and tangles down closer to the skin. One of the most common mistakes made when brushing a dog's fur is only combing the top layer, which actually can make matting worse. Breeds that have long coats, curly coats, or fine fur should be brushed more often, even daily in some cases, while other coat types might only need once a week. How often you should brush your dog depends on their coat type and if it's shedding "season" (when their coats change from a thinner summer coat to a thicker winter coat or vice versa). The number one thing you can do to prevent matting in your dog's coat is regular and thorough combing and brushing. How to Prevent Matting in Your Dog's Fur Regularly Brush Your Dog's Coat 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. You might even see a Poodle or Havanese with a corded coat for aesthetic and showing purposes. 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. The most common breeds seen with a corded coat are the Puli, Komondor, and Bergamasco Shepherd. This might look like matting, but it's meant to be maintained and trimmed to prevent skin issues. 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. The same goes for breeds with a long coat, Bearded Collies or Rough Coat Collies for example. Curly coated breeds like Poodles and Bichon Frisés also tend to easily mat without continued maintenance. Doodle coats are a blend of a curly coat and a double-coat, making them the perfect storm for 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. Many dogs who are bathed but not thoroughly brushed and dried also develop matting. 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. If the loose fur isn't brushed out, it becomes impacted against the skin and forms mats and pelting if left too long. 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. 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. If not brushed out, they continue to trap more fur, becoming closer and closer to the dog's skin. Mats form when dog fur becomes tangled and wraps around itself, forming tightly wound clumps of the loose dead fur and live fur. We'll also talk about what your options are if your dog's coat is already matted. 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. 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. In extreme cases, the dog's coat will become what groomers call "pelted" - when matting is very tight to the skin, preventing proper airflow. ![]() Mats occur frequently in many dog breeds with curly, fine, or double coats. ![]() Mat alert! Dog fur often becomes tangled and knotted around itself without frequent brushing, which is called matting.
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