02/01/2026
Grooming fun facts #4 (sorry I missed last week!!)
Today we talk about matted coats. To De-mat or not. . THAT is the question.
We(all too often) hear people, on social media, outraged because their fluffy dog got shaved. Why do we shave dogs? When your dogs coat isn't maintained properly, the fur builds up or the hair twists into tangles that form mats. There's commonly 2 different kinds of coats on most dogs... the undercoat... and the outer layer which is usually more coarse. Undercoat tends to shed out year round.. that's the softer coat underneath the top layer. When it isn't brushed out regularly, it can build up and getting thick and chunky and often matting up underneath. Breeds without undercoat, grow hair like ours that needs regular brushing or will form tangled hair that turn to dreadlocks.
Both of these situations require attention as matted fur doesn't allow the skin to breathe, leaving your pet susceptible to hot spots, sores, and other skin issues.
Brushing them out isn't as simple as it sounds. Sometimes packed in fur can be brushed/ blown out and then once the coat is clear and clean, regular maintenence can be resumed. Sometimes, the coat can't be saved and must be shaved.
Severe matting or dreadlocks... usually need to be cut or shaved out. We try our best and if we can slowly brush them out, we will. Otherwise, it can be painful and tedious taking much longer. I promise you.. your dog doesn't want to stand on my table longer than necessary. When grooming is painful, they don't enjoy coming in and behavior can and will be affected. Fur/ hair grows fast. Why cause unnecessary pain when clipping the pet down is less stressful and the results are temporary.
This is all preventable by simply maintaining your pet between appts. I'm happy to show you how or to direct you to the right brush/ combs to achieve this. Feel free to ask anytime!!
Have an amazing Sunday, yall.... and GO BRUSH YOUR DOG!!🐾❤️🐾
