How To Get Matts Out Of Dog Hair Fast: Quick Tips & Easy Guide

Can you get mats out of a dog’s hair without shaving? Yes, you often can remove small mats without shaving the dog completely. Large, tight mats might require careful cutting or professional help.

Dealing with removing painful mats from dog fur is stressful for both you and your dog. Mats are tight clumps of hair that stick together. They pull on the skin, causing pain and sometimes leading to skin infections. Getting rid of them safely and quickly is key. This guide will show you the best ways to handle this common grooming challenge. We will focus on speed, safety, and making the process easy.

Why Mats Form So Quickly

Mats happen when shed hair gets tangled with live hair. Long, thick, or curly coats are most prone to this problem. Moisture, lack of brushing, and friction (like a collar rubbing) speed up matting. When mats get close to the skin, they tighten. This tightness restricts airflow. It traps dirt and moisture. This can lead to hot spots and skin irritation.

Gathering Your Essential Dematting Toolkit

Before you start detangling matted dog hair, make sure you have the right tools. Using the wrong items can hurt your dog or make the mats tighter. Think of your tools like a surgeon’s instruments—they must be clean and appropriate for the job.

Best Tools for Cutting Out Dog Mats and Detangling

Tool Name	Primary Use	Key Feature	Safety Note
Metal Comb (Wide & Fine Teeth)	Daily maintenance; checking for tangles after brushing.	Should have rotating or rounded tips.	Never pull with the comb alone.
Slicker Brush	Removing loose undercoat and surface tangles.	Fine, short wires packed closely together.	Use light, short strokes. Too much pressure hurts the skin.
De-matting Rake/Tool	Breaking up small to medium mats layer by layer.	Has curved, sharp blades facing inward.	Use carefully; blades are sharp. Work parallel to the skin.
Grooming Scissors (Blunt-Tip)	Carefully cutting small mats free.	Rounded or blunt ends prevent skin pokes.	Keep blades flat against the skin.
Dematting Spray for Dogs	Lubricating the hair to reduce friction.	Makes tangles slide apart easier.	Choose sprays safe for your dog’s skin.

Step-by-Step Guide to Gentle Mat Removal

The goal is always to comb the mat out. Cutting should be the last resort, as it leaves awkward stubble that grows unevenly. Follow these steps for the best results when dog mat removal is necessary.

Step 1: Assess the Mat and Prepare Your Dog

First, look closely at the mat. Is it small, loose, or is it a tight pelt close to the skin?

Create a Calm Space: Choose a quiet room with good lighting. Have treats ready. Keep the session short—five to ten minutes maximum—especially if your dog is nervous.
Positioning: Have your dog lie down or sit comfortably. If the mat is on the leg, gently hold the leg so the skin stays still. This is crucial for the safe way to shave out dog mats later, but also for combing.
Use a Dematting Spray for Dogs: Generously spray the mat and the surrounding hair with your dematting spray for dogs. This adds moisture and lubrication. Let the spray soak in for a minute or two.

Step 2: Working the Mat Apart with Your Hands

Never yank directly on a mat. You must break it down first.

Stabilize the Base: Use one hand to hold the mat right where it joins the skin. This prevents pulling the skin while you work. Think of this as anchoring the mat.
Use Your Fingers: Gently try to pull the outer edges of the mat apart using just your thumbs and fingers. Try to tease the hair strands apart. This is often the most effective initial step.

Step 3: Combing Technique for Detangling Matted Dog Hair

This stage requires patience. You must work from the outside in.

Working from Tip to Root

Start at the Ends: Use a wide-toothed comb or a slicker brush. Begin brushing only the very tips of the tangled hair—the parts hanging lowest. Brush short strokes, away from the skin.
Work Down Slowly: Once the ends are smooth, move down a tiny bit closer to the base of the mat. Comb out that small section.
Isolate the Mat: If you can, use your fingers to separate the mat from the surrounding clean hair. This stops you from pulling clean hair into the tangle.
The “Sectioning” Method: For stubborn areas, comb a small section of hair, then comb through it again. If the comb gets stuck, stop. Do not force it. Go back to spraying and massaging the area before trying again.

Using the De-matting Rake

If finger combing fails, switch to the de-matting rake.

Hold the hair firmly at the skin.
Place the rake just above your hand, where the mat starts.
Use short, gentle strokes, aiming to slice the mat into smaller pieces. Move the rake down through the mat only when it starts to break apart.

Step 4: Dealing with Tight, Painful Mats

When mats are too tight to comb, you must reduce their size before they cause skin injury. This often involves cutting.

Soaking Out Dog Mats with Conditioner

For mats that feel stiff but aren’t rock-hard, try intensive conditioning.

Mix a solution of warm water and a rich, creamy dog conditioner. About one part conditioner to three parts water works well.
Use a spray bottle or pour the mixture directly onto the mat. Make sure the mat is totally saturated.
Massage the conditioner deep into the mat for several minutes. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. The lubrication can sometimes loosen the fibers enough to comb through.

The Safe Way to Shave Out Dog Mats

If conditioning and combing fail, cutting is necessary. This must be done with extreme care to avoid cutting the skin. This is a major part of dog mat removal when all else fails.

Use Blunt-Tip Scissors: Only use grooming scissors with rounded ends. Regular household scissors are too dangerous.
Keep Skin Flat: Get a helper to hold the skin flat around the mat, or use your free hand to gently stretch the skin taut.
Cut Parallel to the Skin: Slide one blade of the scissors into the mat, keeping the blade perfectly parallel to the dog’s skin. Never point the tips toward the dog.
Slice Small Strips: Make very small cuts along the length of the mat, breaking it into thin strips. Never try to cut the whole mat in one snip.
Comb After Each Cut: After making a few small cuts, stop and use your comb or brush to tease out the loosened section. Repeat the process until the mat falls away.

If the mat is severely impacted or too close to the skin, stop immediately. Attempting to cut a pelted area risks severe injury. In these cases, call a professional groomer.

Grooming Techniques for Severe Matting

When mats cover large areas, it is called ‘pelted’ fur. This is beyond simple dematting.

When to Call a Professional Groomer

If you see any of these signs, stop home treatment and seek advice:

The matting covers more than 30% of the dog’s body.
The mats are hard, dense, and feel like a solid shell against the skin.
You see redness, sores, or raw skin underneath the mats.
Your dog reacts with aggression or extreme fear when you touch the mats.

Professional grooming for severely matted dogs involves using electric clippers with short guards. Groomers are trained to work slowly under tight mats, using specialized clippers that vibrate over the skin rather than cutting deeply into it. They know how to check for skin irritation hidden beneath the fur.

Long-Hair Maintenance: Preventing Mats in Long-Haired Dogs

The best way to deal with mats is to stop them from ever forming. This is especially true for breeds like Poodles, Shih Tzus, Afghan Hounds, and Old English Sheepdogs. Preventing mats in long-haired dogs is a daily job, not a weekly one.

Developing a Solid Brushing Technique for Preventing Tangles

Your daily routine is your first line of defense. A poor brushing technique for preventing tangles is often the root cause of severe matting, even in dogs brushed every day.

The Line Brushing Method

Line brushing is essential for long coats. It ensures you reach the skin, not just the surface hair.

Divide the Coat: Imagine your dog’s coat is made of vertical rows, like shingles on a roof.
Lift the Topcoat: Use one hand to gently lift the top layer of hair straight up. Hold it there.
Brush the Undercoat: With the slicker brush or comb, brush the hair underneath where you are holding it. Brush only down to the skin.
Release and Move: Once that small section is tangle-free, release the topcoat, let it fall naturally, and move down the dog’s body a few inches.
Repeat: Repeat the process, lifting the next section and brushing the undercoat thoroughly.

This method prevents the common mistake of only brushing the top layer, leaving the dense undercoat to matt near the skin.

The Importance of Bathing Protocol

Bathing a matted dog makes mats significantly worse, tightening them into rock-hard pelts. Never bathe a dog before removing all tangles.

Pre-Brush Thoroughly: All mats must be combed out before water touches the coat. If you can’t comb it out, don’t bathe it.
Use Conditioning Shampoos: For long coats, use high-quality, moisturizing shampoos and conditioners designed to reduce static and add slip to the hair shaft.
Rinse Completely: Leftover shampoo residue is sticky and attracts dirt, creating new tangles quickly. Rinse until the water runs perfectly clear.
Drying is Crucial: Always use a high-velocity dryer or a human hairdryer on a cool setting while brushing. Blow drying allows you to brush through the coat while it dries, fluffing the hair and preventing strands from settling back into tangles.

Addressing Specific Problem Areas

Certain spots on a dog collect mats more frequently due to friction or moisture. Focus extra attention on these zones.

Behind the Ears and Neck

The hair here is fine and often gets rubbed by collars or harnesses.

Use a wide-tooth comb daily.
If the dog wears a decorative collar, swap it for a smooth nylon or satin collar that glides over the fur.
When brushing, gently part the hair at the nape of the neck and check the skin underneath.

Under the Legs (Armpits) and Groin Area

These areas are warm, moist, and experience constant friction.

These areas are often the first to become severely matted.
Keep the hair trimmed short in these areas, even if the rest of the body is long. A shorter length here greatly reduces mat formation.
When removing painful mats from dog fur, mats in the armpits are the most likely to hide skin infections.

On the Tail

Tails often get mats from rubbing against furniture or carpets.

Brush the tail hair in sections, holding the base of the tail steady.
Avoid brushing the tail brush straight down like a whip; instead, sweep it outward and then down.

Troubleshooting Common Issues During Dematting

Even with the best tools, you might run into snags. Here is how to handle setbacks during the process.

My Dog Hates Being Brushed Now

If your dog has experienced painful pulling, they may start avoiding grooming time.

Return to Basics: Stop trying to remove mats immediately. Go back to just petting and rewarding your dog for sitting still for 30 seconds.
Positive Reinforcement: Use high-value treats (like small bits of cheese or boiled chicken) for every small success. Keep sessions extremely short.
Apply More Spray: Always use plenty of dematting spray for dogs to ensure zero friction during any brushing attempt.

The Mat Won’t Budge Even With a Rake

If the de-matting rake slices through but the pieces still cling together, it means the mat is too dense for mechanical removal.

Stop using the rake. You risk tearing the hair unevenly.
Apply the soaking method (conditioner mix) again. Let it sit longer—up to 30 minutes.
If the mat is still hard, you must switch to careful trimming with blunt scissors, as described in Step 4. If you cannot see the skin, stop and call the groomer.

I Cut the Mat, But Now There’s a Snag Left

This is common when detangling matted dog hair. You have created a shorter, smaller tangle.

Use your slicker brush, starting just below the cut, and work that small snag gently. Since it is smaller, it should yield to the brush and spray.
If the snag is still stubborn, use the scissors to trim horizontally around it until it falls out. Don’t try to cut toward the skin again.

FAQ: Quick Answers on Dog Mat Removal

Q: How long does it take to remove a small mat?
A: A small, loose mat (about the size of a quarter) should take 5 to 15 minutes, depending on your skill and the dog’s patience.

Q: Can I use human hair detangler on my dog?
A: It is best to use a product specifically designed for dogs. Human products can sometimes have ingredients that irritate a dog’s sensitive skin or are toxic if licked off. Always use a dedicated dematting spray for dogs.

Q: How often should I brush my long-haired dog?
A: For thick, long coats (like a Poodle or Old English Sheepdog), daily line brushing is required. Shorter-haired dogs might only need a thorough brush two or three times a week.

Q: Will shaving out mats cause skin problems?
A: Shaving mats close to the skin can sometimes cause razor burn or irritation because the skin beneath the mat has been protected from air and has thickened. It is vital to keep the clippers cool and never force them over hard lumps. Proper bathing and moisturizing afterward help the skin heal.

Q: Are mats painful for the dog even if they are small?
A: Yes. Even small mats pull on the hair follicles. If a mat is tight, it restricts blood flow and causes constant tension, which is very uncomfortable or outright painful for the dog.