We’ve all dealt with knots and tangles in our own hair. Did you know your dog can have the same issues with their fur? Matting occurs when loose fur wraps around attached fur, creating tight clumps, or mats. This condition can cause skin irritation, trapped moisture, and even painful pulling on your pup’s skin, so it’s advisable to groom a dog with matted fur ASAP.
Many different types of dogs can experience matting, but some are more prone to it than others. Is your pooch’s breed one of the dog breeds most prone to matting? See if you need to pay close attention to their coat from now on.
Poodle
With their dense, curly coats, poodles are prime candidates for matting. Their beautiful fur grows continuously and can easily trap dead hair, which can lead to stubborn knots. Without regular brushing, these tangles can quickly turn into painful mats close to the skin.
Bichon Frise
That fluffy, cloud-like coat on a bichon frise needs a lot of attention. The double coat consists of a soft undercoat and a coarser outer coat. When loose hair gets caught between these two layers, mats form almost out of nowhere.
Shih Tzu
Shih tzus are famous for their long, flowing hair. It’s gorgeous, but it’s also a magnet for tangles. The fine fur requires daily brushing to prevent knots from forming, especially around the pup’s ears, legs, and tail, where movement creates friction.
Doodle Mixes
Breeds such as goldendoodles and labradoodles often inherit a tricky combination of hair types. Their coats can be wavy, curly, or a mix of both, which makes them very susceptible to matting. The soft undercoat can get tangled within the curlier outer coat, a perfect recipe for mats.
Cocker Spaniel
Those long, silky ears aren’t just for looks. A cocker spaniel’s fine fur, particularly on their ears and legs, can easily tangle from daily activities such as running through the grass. Frequent grooming is a must to keep their coat smooth and free of mats.
Keeping Your Pup Mat-Free
These dog breeds are particularly prone to matting, mainly because they have long, dense, or curly coats. If your dog belongs to one of these breeds, you’ll want to keep a close eye on their fur condition. To prevent matting, put a regular grooming schedule in place. Regularly grooming your pets offers many benefits, and one is that it can keep fur knot-free. However, if you do encounter some gnarly mats that you can’t tackle on your own, a professional groomer will have the tools and tricks necessary to getting your pup untangled.
