Does it hurt to brush out matted hair?

[ShowGirlLola]

Lola has silky hair and she usually doesn't mat, but sometimes I find very small ones. I cut the small ones out and if she has a big one I saturate it in coconut oil and work on it while she eats a treat.

She got the bad mats because I didn't brush her one day.

[Maximo]

It hurts to brush tangled hair if you don't use the proper technique. My father, having never had long hair, had to be taught not to take the brush and start at the topline and pull.

Always hold a section of hair with one hand while working the brush/comb with your other hand. When you hold the section of hair, you prevent it from tugging at the skin.

For serious tangles, I use a rat-tail comb with a metal tail to pick it apart. I apply Pet Silk silk serum to give the hair slip. You can use corn starch applied to dry hair, brushing sprays, or something like Cowboy Magic.

Pulling hard on the comb or brush makes detangling more difficult. Often a lighter touch gives the hair more opportunity to untangle as the teeth of the comb or brsitles of the brush move through it.

[Teegy]

I just bought a metal comb and it's awesome, Teegy doesn't mat but Tufty does and I find it was great on his nots and tangles. Yes there is some tugging and pulling but I try to be as gentle as possible and Tufty is a bigger drama queen than any human I know so he has to make a spectacle even if it doesn't hurt

[Wylie's Mom]

Yup, it hurts just like it hurts us too. Like others, I sometimes use a detangling spray and pick at a mat until I can loosen it and then brush it. I definitely know when I'm 'pulling' too hard or working too hard on a mat bc I can tell by how they hold their bodies...so I always try to be gentle.

[theporkieyorkie]

It hurts to pull their hair, but I think how bad it hurts also depends on the area. My boys have super sensitive spots like their arm pits or tummys and beards.

I personally use a pin brush and not a slicker. I've always assumed a slicker was used more on dogs with undercoats because it gets out the excess hair. Yorkies don't have an undercoat,and really don't shed much....and some, esp. the silky coats, have really think hair. A slicker can definitely do damage to any dog if it's used too roughly...but since our little guys that don't have thick, fluffy undercoats like some other breeds(malamutes, newfoundlands, collies, goldens etc et), I think it could do damage way more easily. I've accidentally poked myself under my fingernail with a slicker and it made my finger bleed.

I try to be gentle when brushing the boys. I use spray in conditioner when I brush them as well. I groom them myself because I've seen first hand, how some groomers can get too rough. Some of them are in a hurry because they are busy...others just forget to be gentle...and some get irritated and short tempered if they've been fighting to get dogs to stand still to get groomed. I think I am way more patient and sensitive than someone else because they are my kids.


I took my little guy to Petsmart a few months ago to get his toenails trimmed and that was enough for me. Of course, my little guy was a wiggle worm and wouldn't sit still....that's why I brought him there...to make matters worse, the groomer was in a hurry and instead of asking for help, the kid just man handled my dog... I was so scared he was going to break my little guys long skinny legs. Needless to say, he now gets his nails done at the vets.