De-matting & Coat Recovery.

Careful, dog-first removal of mats. Severe matting assessed honestly on the day — coat health comes first.

from £50

From 1 hour, +£10 per extra 30 mins

De-matting & Coat Recovery at Keith's K9 Care, Hall Green WF4

The detail

What's involved in a de-matting & coat recovery.

Mats happen. Doodles, cocker spaniels, golden retrievers — any heavy-coated breed can develop matting between grooms, especially after wet walks or growth spurts in young dogs. We don't judge, we just help.

Light matting (small, surface-level tangles) we can usually work through during a normal full groom — we'll add a fee from £10 for the extra time. Brush, conditioner, gentle line-brushing, done.

Moderate matting (firmer, closer to the skin in patches) needs a dedicated de-matting session — from £50. We use de-matting spray and patient line-brushing, working in small sections, with breaks for your dog. This can take an hour or more, depending on coat condition.

Severe matting (pelting — when the coat has felted close to the skin) is harder. Brushing through a heavily pelted coat is genuinely painful for the dog, and not always safe — it can pull on skin and cause sores. The kindest, fastest option is usually a strip-clip down to a short, healthy length and start fresh. We'll always show you what we're seeing, talk it through, and never carry on if your dog is becoming distressed. From £60, often less for smaller dogs.

Either way, you'll leave with a clear plan for keeping the coat right between grooms — usually a more frequent groom cycle, plus a brushing routine that takes 3-5 minutes a day. We're happy to recommend a brush type for your specific coat.

What's included

Every de-matting & coat recovery includes:

Coat assessment
De-matting spray & gentle line brushing
Bath & blow-dry
Strip clip if welfare requires
Aftercare guidance to keep mats away

Pricing

From 1 hour, +£10 per extra 30 mins.

Light matting (add to Full Groom) from £10
Moderate matting from £50
Severe matting (clip-down) from £60

Surcharges where applicable — matted coats from £10 · nervous, anxious or reactive dogs +£10–£20. Full price guide.

Frequently asked

About de-matting & coat recovery

Will it hurt my dog to remove the mats?

Mild matting, no — it's a slow, gentle process with conditioner. Severe matting, yes — pulling on pelted coat hurts and can damage skin. That's why we offer the strip-clip alternative for badly matted coats. Welfare always wins over aesthetics.

How do I stop matting happening again?

Two things — slightly more frequent grooms (every 5-6 weeks instead of 8), and a daily 3-minute brush with the right tool. We'll show you the tool and the technique before you leave.

Why is de-matting more expensive than a normal groom?

Time, and skill. A normal full groom is 1.5-3 hours. A heavily matted dog can take 2-4 hours plus a recovery period for the skin. The price reflects that — not the difficulty of brushing.

My dog won't stand still to be brushed at home. What do I do?

Start in tiny sessions — 30 seconds, lots of treats, increase gradually. We can talk you through the routine when you come in. Often the issue is the brush type, not the dog.

More general questions on the full FAQ page.

Also offered