Best way to remove huge mat ball from behind ear

[Julie & Wrigley]

This mat seems to have appeared over night. It's behind his right ear and feels like it's a good silver dollar size. I can't seem to brush it out since he won't sit still (I'd image it doesn't feel very good) and I'm worried if I just cut it out he'll look ridiculous because it'll be a large chunk of hair off his face. Any ideas?!

[Terri H and Kramer]

try Cowboy Magic, its like liquid silk and when applied to a mat, helps the fur to untangle. Use a comb and start furthest away from the skin and untangle small sections at a time. Its expensive, but the BEST product I have found so far!  The groomer used it on Kramer during his last grooming and he has been mat-free for weeks which is unheard of for him! Given that I am working, commuting and going to school, it enables to me to be less diligent about brushing and still keep his fur the longest it has been in a long time!

[Nancy Pyzynski]

Coco tends to get mats under her ears since we pat her and rub her ears quite a bit there. We have used a Safari Mat Remover and it works really well. Its a little curved comb with protected inner blades the "shave" the mat out as you comb. I usually find the mat and hold it while I comb it out. As long as we don't pull on her skin too much when we do it, she almost seems to enjoy it and it really take almost no time to get it done. We then give her an extra good scratch or rub down and maybe a treat. Haven't tried the Cowboy Magic but have seen it posted over and over so we may give that a try as well sometime. Good luck!

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

Two really, really good detanglers I like are Chris Christensen Ice on Ice www.chrissystems.com and Isle of Dogs' Detangling Spray www.groomers.com (they have the best price on it). Neither leave any residue. The Isle of Dogs' spray has a jasmine/vanilla scent which is pretty strong at first but dissipates pretty quickly. If you spray on the IofD, rub it in with your fingers, let it sit about 2 minutes, it is sooo much easier to get the tip of a comb and your fingers into the mat and break it right up. It is amazing even tho' it smells strong. :-)

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I always shave behind my dog's ears. The hair there is usually finer and not of the same quality as other parts of the dog. This is one of 3 places I always shave. Under the neck, under the front legs...ie armpits... and behind the ears. It does not leave a hole in the coat as long as you don't shave too much. The longer the coat, the more you can get away with shaving. Especially under the chin in the neck crease.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

You have to be very careful but take some small scissors, take the mat in your thumb and fingers and feel down to where the mat meets the skin.  Pinch and make sure you have only the mat in your fingers and that there is no skin what so ever drawn into the mat.  Then carefully and slowly snip into the mat at different angles.  Then see if you can break it up with your fingers or the end of a comb.  Working slowly at this you should be able to break up the mat and get it removed.  It becomes painful when it starts pulling on the skin and eventually pulling the skin into the mat.  You can also use Cowboy Magic Detangler to make it soft and slick so it will break up easier.  There was a discussion on different products to mats a few months ago.  I think another product is called Ice on Ice or something like that.  Try typing in some of the tag names in the archives of the Grooming Group and see if you can find the conversations.  It has been discussed many times as well as the different methods for removing mats.  Try Mats, Conditioners, Mat Removal and see what comes up.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

If you don't have access to the de-matting products right now - none of the suggested ones are from the usual pet stores but either at feed stores or on-line, you can get BEDHEAD for kids (not the dog one) at the grocery store.  It helps a lot also.

[Julie & Wrigley]

Thanks guys...so many options! I did use scissors last night and cut most of it out, then I combed the rest. I think it's gone...we'll see what happened when he slept last night!

[Lynda Kamrath]

I just got through with mat removal with my ALD.  He had several large mats on the back of his head above his collar.  I used a comb and took little strokes with the comb starting the furtherest out from his head, but then had to used a mat cutter to finally get the main part of the mat closest to his head.  Now we call him Flathead.  It will grow back, but looks kind of funny now.  I want to cord him so this will be an ongoing process with me.

[Kate C Pappas]

Cowboy Magic user here, I agree! That stuff is great. I would hold the mat and gently pull out strands of hair until the mat is smaller. Then I would take my scissors, pinch the skin around the mat and gently cut outward away from the skin. Continue brushing and or combing until the mat gets smaller and smaller and then voila....it's gone!