How to Prevent Goldendoodles from Matting? A Complete Guide

Goldendoodles are a cross between golden retrievers and poodles. They have unique and beautiful coats, however, they are prone to suffer from matting which can cause them a lot of discomfort and other health issues.

So, how to prevent Goldendoodles from matting? To prevent Goldendoodles from matting, you need to brush their coats daily right down to the skin. You can also prevent matting by dealing with any minor knots or tangles in the dog’s coat as soon as they appear. Make sure to use the proper tools when brushing or detangling your dog’s coat and pay extra attention to areas where tangles commonly occur.

Keep reading to learn more about what causes Goldendoodles to get mats, how to prevent them from matting, and how to detangle any mats formed.

What Kind of Coats Do Goldendoodles Have?

Goldendoodles could have three kinds of coats which are straight, wavy, or curly. The kind of coat any Goldendoodle will have will mainly depend on its bloodline.

These dogs don’t shed excessively, however, they still need to have a regular grooming routine that includes bathing and brushing in order to remove any loose hair and prevent severe matting.

What Causes Goldendoodles to Get Mats?

Mats refer to severe knots and tangles in the dog’s undercoat. They are different from regular surface knots and tangles because the matting extends right down to the dog’s skin.

They start out with just a couple of strands of hair getting knotted or tangled into small clumps then over time these clumps will become larger and denser.

Goldendoodles can get mats due to multiple causes.

The main cause is lack of grooming as it will cause the loose hair in the dog’s coat to form clumps that will eventually become matted.

Another cause is constant friction on certain parts of the dog’s body as it causes the hair in these parts to tangle forming a small clump that will continue to get larger and denser until it forms a mat.

Does Matting Harm Goldendoodles?

Matting can harm Goldendoodles as it causes them severe discomfort. It also makes them vulnerable to various skin conditions and health problems.

Let’s take a look at some of the health problems that matting can cause:

• It will prevent proper airflow through the dog’s coats which will trap moisture. This will cause the dog’s skin to become irritated and trigger ulcers or sores. It will also make your Goldendoodle dangerously hot during the summer months.
• It will make the dog more vulnerable to infection as the dense clumps of hair will be a breeding ground for parasites and bacteria.
• If the dog’s hair is severely matted around its rear end, it will lead to an accumulation of feces in the hair which can cause infection and make defecating more difficult for the dog.
• In severe cases, matting around the dog’s limbs can cut off the blood circulation to its skin, causing hematomas. It might even slice through the tissues right down to the bone causing severe damage that will require amputation.

How to Tell If Your Goldendoodle Has Mats?

As a responsible Goldendoodle owner, you need to maintain a regular grooming routine for your dog and constantly check if it has any mats in its coat.

Large mats will be very noticeable as they often part the hair, while smaller mats will often go unnoticed until your start stroking your dog and find your fingers trapped in the dog’s hair.

The Common Areas On a Goldendoodle’s Body Where Matting Occurs

Matting can occur anywhere hair grows on the dog’s body, however, there are some areas where matting occurs more severely.

So, let’s take a look at the common areas on a Goldendoodle’s body where matting occurs:

• Behind the ears – This is one of the most common areas for hair to get matted as it’s frequently scratched by the dog as well as humans which causes the hair to get knotted and tangled.
• Hips/Joints/Armpits – These areas are very prone to matting as they are exposed to constant frictions which causes the hair to get knotted and tangled
• Right before the stomach – When you run a hand along your dog’s side and down towards its stomach, you will feel a loose flap of skin where the hips transition into the belly area which can be very prone to matting.
• The base of the tail – The base of the tail where it meets the body is another area that’s very prone to matting. You can usually tell it has a mat if your dog is excessively licking or digging at its tail.

How to Prevent Goldendoodles from Matting?

Preventing Goldendoodles from matting will be much easier than detangling any mats formed.

The most efficient way to prevent matting is to brush your Goldendoodle’s coat right down to the skin every day. You can also prevent matting by dealing with any minor knots and tangles in your dog’s coat as soon as they appear to prevent them from getting denser.

Make sure to use the proper tools when brushing your dog and pay extra attention to areas where tangles commonly occur.

What Kind of Brushes Do You Need for Grooming Goldendoodles?

There are three kinds of brushes you will need for grooming Goldendoodles, let’s take a closer look at them:

A Steel Comb

This kind of comb is useful for parting your dog’s hair into smaller sections before brushing through it. You can also use it to style the hair after you’re done with the grooming process.

It’s not recommended to use it on any mats, as it might get stuck and cause your dog a lot of pain.

A Slicker Brush

This kind of brush is most ideal for grooming Goldendoodles with curly coats.

It has wiry tines that bend slightly at the end which will help loosen any small knots and tangles in the dog’s hair.

It’s recommended not to use directly on the dog’s coat if there are no knots or tangles.

A Pin and Bristle Brush

This kind of brush is most ideal for grooming Goldendoodles with wavy or straight coats.

The bristle side of the brush will help loosen any knots or tangles as well as spread any detangling product through the dog’s hair.

The pin side of the brush, on the other hand, will help remove any loose hair remaining on the dog’s coat.

Make sure to stop to clean the brush and remove excess hair every few minutes. For a complete recommendations list, check out the recommendations later in this article or jump straight to this complete recommendations guide to grooming your dog.

How to Brush Your Goldendoodle to prevent Matting?

In order to properly brush your Goldendoodle and prevent matting, here are some tips you can follow:

• Make sure that your dog is completely dry before brushing your dog and that you’re using the right kind of brush for your dog’s coat type.
• Start by dividing your dog’s hair into smaller sections from head to tail using the steel comb and work through each section slowly using the slicker brush.
• Brush in the direction of hair growth and get right down to the dog’s skin where mats are most likely to form.
• If you encounter any small tangles or knots in the dog’s hair, use short and quick strokes to work the hair loose.
• Make sure to stop to clean the brush and remove excess hair every few minutes.
• Be careful not to pull or tug at the dog’s hair and don’t press down too hard on its skin or you might scratch it.
• Once you’re done brushing all of the dog’s coat, make sure to pick up all the loose hairs sitting on top of the coat using a bristle brush.

How to Detangle Mats on Your Goldendoodle’s Coat?

In case the mats were already formed on your Goldendoodle’s coat, here are some tips you can follow to detangle them:

• Do not bathe your dog because getting its coat wet will only make it more difficult to detangle the mats.
• Check which areas of your dog’s coat contain mats and try to separate them from the areas without tangles.
• Part the dog’s hair upwards and away from using a steel comb and make sure you can see your dog’s skin as this will help you get as close as possible to the base of the mat.
• Use your fingers to gently split the mat, then carefully comb it out, working from the root of the hair to the tip. You can also apply some detangling spray to make the mat easier to loosen.
• Continue working on all areas of the do’s coat that contain mats until they’re all detangled.
• If some mats won’t come, or your dog is in pain, stop and do not try to tackle this area by yourself as this is a sign that the mat might be too severe. In this case, the best course of action is to take your dog to a professional groomer and have that area shaved to remove the mat completely.

How to Apply Detangling Spray On Your Goldendoodle’s Coat?

Detangling spray can be used to make brushing your Goldendoodle’s hair a lot easier and to help loosen any mats.

It can be applied on wet or dry hair, but it’s generally recommended to apply it on dry hair as you need the dog’s hair to be dry before brushing it.

To apply detangling spray on your Goldendoodle’s coat, you need to start spraying from the back of its ears to the tail and avoid getting it in its eyes and mouth.

 Then, you need to gently massage the spray deep into the areas of the dog’s coat that contain the most tangles before brushing through them.

If the mats are more severe, you can try applying the detangling spray on the brush as well to maximize its effect.

When Do You Need to Shave Your Goldendoodle?

Ideally, you want to get your Goldendoodle groomed by a professional every four to six weeks. You will only need to shave your Goldendoodle maybe two times a year at most, sometimes three if your Goldendoodle’s coat regrows really fast.

You should not shave your Goldendoodle too often as this may cause their coats to not regrow properly.

The length of time between your trips to a professional groomer depends on several factors such as:

• The length and type of your dog’s coat –  If your dog has a longer or curlier coat, then you will need to visit a professional groomer more frequently.
• The frequency at which brush your dog – If you brush your dog daily, you will prevent more mats from forming which means you won’t need to visit a professional groomer too frequently.

How Long Does It Take for Goldendoodle’s Hair to Grow Back After Being Shaved?

It can take around two to three weeks for your Goldendoodle’s hair to start growing back after being shaved, then it will take about two to four months for the hair to reach its full length.

However, keep in mind that the speed of your dog’s hair growth will also depend on various factors including the dog’s genetics as well as the cause of hair loss. So, If the dog loses hair due to shedding or shaving, it will typically grow back faster than if the dog loses its hair due to a medical condition.

The Best Grooming Products to Prevent or Detangle Mats for Goldendoodles

If you prefer not to go to a professional groomer, here are some of the best grooming products that will help you prevent or detangle mats at home:

Andis Pet Steel Comb

This Andis Pet comb is one of the best combs on the market when it comes to grooming Goldendoodles.

It is made from a high-quality stainless steel material that won’t bend or rust over time.

It has an ergonomic design, so it will be comfortable to hold and use even during long grooming sessions.

It has two sides – the coarse side can be used to fluff up the coat, separate the hair, as well as stimulate skin and hair follicles while the fine side can be used on the dog’s more sensitive areas such as the face, rear end, and paws.

It comes in multiple sizes, so it’s suitable for use on different coat types and lengths.

Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush

This Hertzko self-cleaning slicker brush is designed to save you time and effort while providing excellent results.

It has a strong handle covered with non-slip rubber and a thump rest which makes it comfortable to hold and use for long periods of time.

It has flexible bristles that will easily glide through your dog’s coat without snagging or breaking. The bristles are also smooth, so they won’t scratch at your dog’s skin.

It has a self-cleaning feature that allows you to push a button to retract the bristle and empty the loose hairs into the trash. This feature will also help prevent any damage to the bristles when the brush is in storage.

Coastal Pet Safari Pin and Bristle Combination Brush

This Coastal Pet Safari brush will save you some money as it combines a pin brush and a bristle brush.

It has a strong handle made from high-quality bamboo which makes it comfortable to hold and use during long grooming sessions.

The bristles on both sides have rounded ends so they will smoothly go through your dog’s coat to remove any tangles on the knot without breaking or scratching the dog’s skin.

It comes in multiple sizes, so it’s suitable for use on different coat types and lengths.

 Coastal Pet Safari De-Matting Comb

This Coastal Pet Safari De-matting comb is designed specifically for use on complicated mats on your dog’s coat in order to avoid having to shave your dog’s hair.

It has an ergonomic handle made from durable plastic material which makes it comfortable to hold and use for long periods of time,

It has serrated blades made from high-quality stainless steel that helps cut through and break up the mat. However, it’s highly recommended not to use it on any part of your dog’s coat that is not matted.

It comes in multiple sizes, so it’s suitable for use on different coat types and lengths.

Related Questions

Will Bathing Help Remove Mats from Your Goldendoodle?

Bathing will not help remove mats from your Goldendoodle’s coat. That is because the moisture will be trapped in the dog’s coat which will make the mats more difficult to detangle. To remove mats from your Goldendoodle, you can brush them out or shave them off completely,

How Often Do You Need to Bathe Goldendoodles?

You need to bathe your Goldendoodle at least once a month or once every three months. This will help keep their coats clean from any dirt or grease as well as prevent matting. Make sure to use a dog-friendly shampoo that doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that would irritate your dog’s skin

How to Bathe Your Goldendoodle?

To bathe your Goldendoodle, you need to wet its skin from the neck down, then apply the shampoo and distribute it evenly on its body. Make sure to rinse off all of the shampoo as any remains might cause skin irritation. Finally, dry your dog thoroughly and pat away any excess water.

Can You Use Cornstarch to Detangle Mats?

You can use cornstarch to detangle mats in your dog’s coat. All you need to do is apply some dry cornstarch to the mat, then use a bristle brush to loosen it. There are other natural ingredients you can use to detangle mats such as coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oil.

What Causes Goldendoodles to Lose Their Hair Excessively?

There are various causes for Goldendoodles to lose their hair excessively including allergic reactions, manage infection, seasonal alopecia, black hair follicular dysplasia, hypothyroidism as well as rash or hives. It’s important to identify the cause of hair loss to provide your dog with the proper treatment.

Helpful Resources 

Dog’s Hair in Knots? How to Get Them Untangled and Under Control

Best Way To Get Rid Of Matted Dog Hair

Why Your Dog’s Coat Gets Matted — and What You Can Do About It

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