Taming the Fluff: Your 5-Step Emergency Guide to Defeat Labradoodle Matting
You adore the curls, but every Labradoodle owner knows the fear: running your fingers through that luxurious coat only to find a solid, felt-like clump of hair. Congratulations—you’ve found a Mat Monster.
Labradoodle matting isn’t just a cosmetic problem; it can be painful for your dog, pulling at their skin and even trapping moisture that leads to skin issues. Ignoring it means an expensive, stress-filled shave-down at the groomer.
Don’t panic! With the right tools and technique, you can battle most knots at home. Here is your essential 5-step emergency guide to safely removing mats and keeping your doodle’s coat healthy.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you tackle the mat, make sure you have the proper gear. Using the wrong brush or a pair of kitchen scissors is a recipe for disaster.
A Quality Slicker Brush: The large, square brush with thin, bent wire pins is essential for breaking apart the mat’s core. We highly recommend the CHRIS CHRISTENSEN BIG G SLICKER BRUSH for its large surface area and strong pins.
A Steel Greyhound Comb: Your most important tool for checking your work. The comb must be able to glide through the coat easily. Look for one with both wide and narrow teeth, like this METAL GROOMING COMB.
Detangling Spray or Conditioner: Never brush a dry coat! A good spray adds slip and prevents breakage. We recommend BIOSILK THERAPY DETANGLING PLUS SHINE PROTECTING MIST FOR DOGS.
Blunt-Tipped Scissors or a Mat Splitter: Only for cutting through tight mats, never out of the mat. A quality MAT SPLITTER TOOL makes the splitting process safer and easier.
5 Steps To Safely Remove a Labradoodle Mat
Step 1: Prep and Isolate the Mat
Find a comfortable spot where your dog is relaxed. Lightly spritz the entire matted area with your detangling spray. This lubricates the hair and reduces static, minimizing pain for your pup.
Gently hold the hair at the base of the mat (closest to the skin) with your fingers. This is called “holding the root” or “bracing the skin.” It ensures that as you pull on the mat, you aren’t pulling on your dog’s skin, which is the painful part!
Step 2: Pick and Split the Clump
Do not try to yank the mat out all at once! You need to break the large clump into smaller, manageable sections.
Using the corner or edge of your slicker brush, start picking at the very tip of the mat. Use a repetitive, flicking motion—don’t drag the brush. Work slowly, breaking the mat horizontally into thin strips. If the mat is very tight, you can use a mat splitter or your blunt scissors to slice through the mat (like cutting a piece of toast), but always cut in the direction of the hair growth.
Step 3: Brush Out the Smaller Sections
Once the mat is split into smaller, thinner sections, switch to line brushing. Use the slicker brush to brush down through the hair, starting from the tip of the section you created and working your way down to the root.
Remember the rule: Brush small sections at a time, and always stop brushing when you hit resistance. Go back to picking at the knot until it loosens.
Step 4: The Metal Comb Check (The “No Mat, No Lie” Test)
The slicker brush makes the coat look fluffy, but the steel comb is the final truth-teller.
After you think you’ve removed the mat, take your metal comb and gently run the teeth through the area. The comb must glide easily from the root to the tip. If the comb snags or stops, there are still mats present, and you need to go back to Step 2. If the comb glides through, you’ve won that battle!
Step 5: Prevent Future Mats with a Daily Routine
The best way to defeat the Mat Monster is to ensure it never forms in the first place. Dedicate 15–20 minutes every day to line brush your Labradoodle, focusing on high-friction areas:
Behind the ears
In the armpits
The “pants” (the hind legs)
The tail base
A little bit of effort daily is infinitely easier than a weekend spent detangling. Your Labradoodle will thank you for the pain-free fluff!
