The short answer: to remove mats from dog hair at home, work on a dry coat, loosen the mat with your fingers, then hold the hair between the mat and the skin and pick through it a little at a time with a dematting comb or slicker brush, starting at the outer edge. Finish with a comb to check it is fully out. Go slowly, give breaks and treats, and stop if your dog shows pain. Mats that sit tight against the skin or cover a large area are a job for a groomer.
Mats are clumps of loose hair that twist around living hair and tighten over time. They pull on the skin every time your dog moves, so getting them out gently (and stopping new ones from forming) makes your dog more comfortable. Here is how to do it safely, step by step.
Where mats form and why
Mats grow wherever hair rubs, gets damp or traps shed undercoat. Check these spots first:
- Behind the ears and under the collar or harness.
- Armpits and the inside of the legs, where legs rub with every step.
- The belly, groin and back of the thighs ("the trousers").
- The tail and between the toes.
Long, curly and double coats mat most easily, and mats form fastest after baths or rain when a damp coat dries without brushing. Loose undercoat that never gets brushed out is the usual starting point.
What you need
- A dematting comb. Rounded blades cut through the tangle so you don't have to pull. Our MatAway dematting comb has a 12-blade side for mats and a 23-blade side for finishing.
- A slicker brush for small tangles and for smoothing the coat once the mat is out.
- A metal comb to check your work: if the comb glides from skin to tip, the mat is gone.
- Treats, good light and a towel or non-slip mat.
Skip scissors. Mats sit closer to the skin than they look, and skin often tents up into the mat, so a scissor cut is one of the most common ways owners nick their dogs.
Step 1: Check the mat and your dog's skin
Part the hair and look at the base of the mat. If you can slip a finger or comb between the mat and the skin, you can usually work it out at home. If the mat is tight to the skin, covers a large patch, or you see redness, sores, a smell or your dog flinches when you touch it, stop and see a groomer or your vet instead.
Step 2: Make sure the coat is dry
Water makes mats tighten, so never bathe a matted dog first. Work on a dry coat. A light spritz of dog-safe detangling spray or a little cornstarch worked into the mat can help the hairs slide apart.
Step 3: Loosen the mat with your fingers
Gently pull the mat apart into smaller sections with your fingertips, working from the outer edge in. Even splitting one big mat into two or three smaller ones makes the rest much easier.
Step 4: Hold the hair, then pick through it
- Pinch the hair between the mat and the skin with one hand. This takes the pull off your dog's skin.
- With the other hand, use short, gentle strokes with the wide side of a dematting comb, starting at the tip of the mat and working toward the skin.
- Use moderate pressure, not heavy pulling. Let the blades do the work.
- Once the mat breaks up, switch to the finer side or a slicker brush and brush in the direction of hair growth.
Step 5: Comb to check, then take a break
Run a metal comb through the spot from the skin out. If it catches, go back to Step 4. Give your dog a treat and a break every few minutes. It is fine to do one or two mats a day rather than the whole dog at once. Short, calm sessions keep grooming from becoming a fight.
How to stop mats coming back
- Brush a few times a week, all the way down to the skin, with extra time on the friction spots above. A self-cleaning slicker brush makes regular sessions quicker.
- Brush out loose undercoat during shedding season. Our guide on how to deshed a dog at home covers the tools for each coat.
- Brush before and after baths and dry the coat fully. See how to bathe and dry a dog at home.
- Check collars and harnesses and take them off at home when you can.
Find dematting combs and brushes for every coat type in our coat care collection.
FAQ
Does removing mats hurt dogs?
It shouldn't if you hold the hair between the mat and the skin and work slowly from the outside in. If your dog yelps, pulls away or the skin looks red, stop and let a groomer take over.
Should I cut mats out with scissors?
It's safer not to. Skin can be pulled up into the mat and is easy to cut by accident. A dematting comb, or clippers used by a groomer, is the safer route.
Can I bathe my dog to loosen mats?
No. Water tightens mats. Remove them on a dry coat first, then bathe and dry thoroughly.
How often should I check for mats?
A quick check of the ears, armpits, belly and tail every few days is enough for most long or double coats, and after every bath or wet walk.
When should I go to a groomer instead?
If mats are tight to the skin, cover a large area, or your dog is very stressed, a groomer can safely clip them out. Ask your vet if you see sores, redness or broken skin under a mat.