Frequently Asked Questions

I brush my dog almost every day, yet the groomer says he's always matted. How can that be?

It might be that you’re using the wrong equipment to brush your dog, or that you’re using the right tools but simply are not brushing thoroughly enough. For most coats, you’ll need a slicker brush and a metal comb. Soft bristle brushes won’t penetrate the fur all the way to the skin on most coats, so they’re basically useless for brushing out most dogs. And most people are great at keeping the dog’s BACK well brushed, because it’s the easiest to reach on a wiggling, happy puppy. But don’t forget the dog’s legs—both INSIDE and outside—and the neck, tail, and face, too.

How do I know if I’ve combed my dog out completely?

That’s an easy one: After you’ve brushed your dog out completely, take your metal comb and put it into the fur until the tips lie against your dog’s skin. Now rake through EVERY inch of your pet’s fur, top-to-bottom, front-to-back, plus inside the dog’s legs and on his chest, belly, and neck. Don’t forget his tail, too! The comb should go through your dog’s coat like butter. If you find your comb stops and can’t continue, that means you’ve hit a MAT.

What IS a mat, and what causes them?

A mat is the dog's hair that has become tangled together, so tangled that it forms a lump of hair that you cannot get a comb though at all. Mats are caused by the dog’s naturally shedding hair that is not brushed out. ALL dogs shed. Yes, even the “shedless” dogs, like Poodles, Bichons and other such breeds. Mats are simply the old fur that is falling out that gets caught and tangles with the new coat. As more and more coat naturally falls out and gets caught in the coat, the mats will get larger, closer to the skin, and tighter. If these mats are not taken out on a regular basis, they become impossible to remove in any way other than shaving the coat completely off.

How do I untangle these mats?

There are several ways, but the best is first pulling it apart with your fingers, and then gently combing out the smaller tangles with your metal comb. Oftentimes using a Detangler Spray, like Coat Handler’s Anti-Static Detangler Spray, helps the comb slide through more easily. If the dog is truly tangled or the mats are too big for you to undo, it’s best to call your groomer immediately and let her or him do it!

My dog is one of those “shedless” breeds. That’s why I bought this type of dog! So I don’t have to worry about shedding and matting, do I?

All dogs shed. Yes, ALL. The reason your dog is “shedless” is because it either has very little fur or because the dog’s coat is naturally curly or wavy. When the fur on a curly or wavy coat (on Poodles, Bichons, Portuguese Water Dogs, etc.) is shedding, it doesn’t come out completely, but “sticks” to the other hairs. As more hair naturally sheds, it is held in by those hairs that haven’t yet been brushed out, and so each day more and more hair is added to the layers. The same is true with Drop-coated breeds.

And what do you mean by "Drop-coated"?

A drop-coated breed is any breed with naturally long, flowing hair: Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Afghan Hounds, Tibetan Terriers, Havanese, Bearded Collies are all examples of drop-coated dogs.

Why does my dog only seem to get more mats on its legs or neck?

Mats tend to form faster wherever there is Rubbing or Pressure Points on the dog. There is rubbing and movement between the dog’s legs when it walks, so you’ll find more matting there. The collar around a dog’s neck rubs the fur constantly, which is why there’s so much matting underneath the collar. Ditto for the base of a happy dog’s tail (all that happy wagging!), and behind its ears, too. You’ll also find mats on a dog’s shoulders and hind quarters from where it lies down, because those are pressure points in contact with the ground or the dog's bed when it is lying down. The LAST place a dog will mat is on its back. That’s the only place on a dog that isn’t rubbing against something, nor is it a pressure point. With this in mind… remember that sweaters put on your dog during cold weather makes him mat up twice as fast! That lovely warm sweater is rubbing against EVERY part of your pet it touches, which means it’ll be forming mats as the dog takes its walk. No problem! Just make sure to brush out (and use your “Mat-Detector” comb afterwards!) your pet as soon as you take the sweater off.

My dog has some bad mats, but I want the coat trimmed to 1” in length.

There is no way to use long clipper blades on a coat that is matted. Long clipper blades or snap-on combs are not physically able to clip through a mat. You either have to clip the coat underneath the mats (which usually means ¼ inch or shorter!), or de-mat the coat completely before the trim.

How much does is cost to de-mat my dog?

The first 5 minutes of de-matting is no extra charge, because anybody’s dog can have a mat or two in the course of everyday playing and living. After the first 5 minutes, it is $60/hr. So if it takes 30 minutes to take out all the mats, there will be $25 added onto your regular grooming fee. (5 minutes free, plus 25 minutes at $60/hr, for $25 total de-matting charge.)

Why is the price for de-matting so expensive?

Two reasons:

1. De-matting a dog is difficult work that takes a long time. The first 5 minutes of de-matting is free, because anybody’s dog can have a small mat or two that you might have missed in your home brushing. But if your dog has mats all over, and I have to carefully separate those mats without ruining your dog’s beautiful coat, it takes a LOT of time and expertise to do it right.
2. More importantly, de-matting is usually quite painful for your pet, no matter how careful and gentle your groomer works. It involves pulling on their fur and skin, which is never any fun for dog or the groomer who only wants your dog to be clean, happy, and comfortable!

How can it be painful or take a long time? Aren’t you just cutting out the mats?

No. Correct de-matting takes quite a lot of skill, because it gets rid of all the mats without shortening the coat or taking big chunks out with scissors. Want to know what it feels like to your pet? With your fingers, take a bit of your hair on the side of your neck, right at the bottom of your hairline, and pull. OW!!! That HURTS, doesn’t it? That's how it feels to your pet all over. Unfortunately, the mats most often missed by owners are between the legs, around the neck, or other sensitive areas on your dog. When the mats are close to the skin, it’s almost impossible to get my fingers between the mat and the skin so it doesn’t pull. There simply isn’t enough room. So a gentle tug on the dog’s coat to loosen the mat might mean a sharp tug to your pet. It can HURT, and I hate giving your dog any discomfort!

So how can I avoid paying this huge de-matting fee?

Very simple: COMB your dog out every few days at home! Make sure you brush all the way down to the skin (not just the top layer), and then make sure to run your metal comb through every inch of that coat to see if you find any hidden mats. Remember... Brushing at home is FREE. And it will keep your dog’s coat in the best condition, too!

I've tried brushing out the mats and there's just too many!

If it's too late and your dog is already badly matted, we can just "start over" by shaving her short this time and letting her coat grow back in nice and evenly all over. Hair always grows back, and it grows back a lot faster than you'd think! Sometimes Starting Over with a short clip is a much better solution than putting your beloved pet through an hour or more of painful de-matting. And with that short trim it's easy to keep up with the growing coat to keep it nice and completely brushed out as it grows!

My dog’s fur gets has so much static when I brush. What can I use to stop that?

I have a terrific Detangler/Anti-static spray available to fix such a problem. It’s perfect for helping take out mats and keeping the coat static and dust-free. Coat Handler Detangler spray comes in 12 oz bottles that will last the average owner months! Feel free to call me at (831) 840-4568 to order this wonderful spray or any other grooming tool you need to keep your pet in perfect condition.

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