07/31/2025
Let’s Talk Matting 😲✂️🐾
📖At Manchester Grooming, I specialize in maintenance grooming. That means I schedule your pet’s appointments based on your desired look, their coat type, your home grooming habits, and what’s realistic for your lifestyle and budget. Whether that’s a fluffy doodle, a sleek spaniel, or anything in between, we work together to figure out a grooming rhythm that keeps your dog looking and feeling their best—without painful detangling sessions or surprise shave-downs.
📣So let’s talk about matting.
📍What is matting?
Mats are clumps of tangled, compacted hair. They usually start as small tangles that are easy to miss, especially behind the ears, under the collar, armpits, legs, and tail. If left alone, they quickly tighten and grow, pulling on the skin and trapping moisture, debris, and even fleas or bacteria.
💡How do they form?
Matting happens when loose hair gets caught in live hair instead of shedding off, especially in breeds that don’t naturally shed much. Or, it can happen when there is a lot of friction on the coat from day to day life, such as rolling/cuddling in bed or running/rolling outside! It’s common in curly, fine, or double-coated breeds. It can be caused by skipping brushing, infrequent grooming, getting wet and not being brushed out afterward, or just going too long between appointments.
🐾Why do they hurt?
Mats tug on the skin constantly. Imagine having a ponytail yanked all day long—or worse, a tight knot right at your scalp that never goes away. They can cause bruising, skin sores, and even restrict movement when located in joints. Removing severe mats can also be incredibly uncomfortable for dogs, which is why prevention matters so much.
⁉️Can they be brushed out?
Tiny tangles and minor trouble spots can often be worked out gently with the right tools and a calm approach. But once matting is dense or close to the skin, brushing becomes painful and unfair to the dog. In these cases, shaving is the kindest option—not a punishment, not a failure. It’s a fresh start and relief for your dog.
🎯How can you prevent matting?
-The quickest answer is to keep your pet in a shorter cut that requires less hands-on work at home. (I could help you figure out what that length may be, and help decide why/why not you'd want to choose that.)
-Stick to a consistent grooming schedule (usually every 4–8 weeks depending on the coat. I can help you decide.)
-Brush thoroughly at home—yes, even the spots they hate. (I can help you with tips and tricks.)
-Keep your dog dry and brushed after baths, swimming, or wet weather. (I can help you find the right tools.)
-Ask questions— because guess what?! I’m here to guide you with realistic at-home care tips and tools. I am here to offer you a calm, educated approach to any breed or need, and send you and your pup home confident and comfy.💜
🤞I promise: a short haircut isn't the end of the world. It’s just hair, and it grows back. What matters is that your dog is comfortable, healthy, and happy. My job is to make sure the grooming plan we set makes sense for you and your dog—and to keep them in good shape without drama.
Pictured is a beautiful lady who gets spot-shaved sometimes in her "problem areas" that we just can't save, even though the majority of her body is 100% brushable! No painful brushing, no upset owners, just an agreement that some shorter areas might be necessary for health and safety, but the end goal is still so stinkin' cute! And she knows it.🤩
I'm here to help. 🥰
