How to Untangle Matted Dog Hair

Whether your dog's matted hair is evidence of a hard life before you rescued her or the fact that she simply likes to play hard, you'll want to remove tangles as soon as possible. Not only will you relieve your dog from physical discomfort, you'll be able to run your fingers through your dog's hair again. While there are professional dog groomers who specialize in de-matting dog fur, with the right tools and knowledge, you can save yourself money and untangle matted dog hair at home.

Things You'll Need

• Bobby pins
• Detangling product
• Mat splitter
• Slicker brush
• Wide-tooth steel comb

Instructions

1. Run your fingers through your dog's hair to identify all tangles, both hidden and visible. Clip a bobby pin to these mats to keep them separate from the rest of your dog's hair. Pay special attention to the undercoat--the hair nearest the skin.

2. Remove all debris caught inside the mats. Look for loose foreign objects such as burs and clumps of dirt. For sticky items like candy and gum, freeze the object with ice to harden it and then remove it. For particularly hard-to-remove items, you may need to clip that piece of hair out entirely or visit a professional dog groomer.

3. Coat each mat thoroughly with detangling product. Some pet users choose to use cornstarch as a detangling product, while others purchase a specially formulated gel or spray from their local pet supply store.

4. Split large mats of hair in smaller sections with a mat splitter. Mat splitters are professional grooming tools (available at many pet stores) with blades that help you cut your dog's mat while keeping the length of the hair.

5. Detangle larger, loose mats with your fingers. To do this, locate each knot inside the mat and gently pull it apart until you see how the knot is formed. Loosen the knot and then manually untie it. This step is the most tedious, so patience is essential at this point.

6. Brush through each mat with light, gentle strokes. Hold the mat close to the skin when brushing in order to keep the slicker brush from pulling the skin and causing discomfort to your dog.

7. Pick the remaining tangles with a wide-tooth comb. Keep your strokes quick and light-handed.

Tips & Warnings

• For stubborn mats, consider clipping the mat off or taking your dog to a professional groomer.

• Dematting can be stressful on your dog. Be sensitive to your dog's needs and keep each dematting session no longer than half an hour.

References

• Bichon Frise Information Station: De-Matting Techniques
• Pet Groomer: Matted and Tangled Coats

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• ASPCA: Groom Your Dog