Collar recommendations for "heavy mat-er"?

[Michele Kiss]

Fenway is 11 months old and still going through his coat change. Despite our best efforts to keep him well brushed, groomed, etc, we are brushing out mats all the time. I think it's garden-variety matting though, and pretty usual for this coat change duration. (Hoping it gets better in a few more months!) We've got some good brushes to deal with them. 

My question is about collars. His collar area typically gets a lot of mats - not shocking, since I think the fabric causes it. Are there any options for collars that are less apt to cause mats? Any recommendations? 

Right now he has a pretty basic collar (nylon, http://www.amazon.com/Hunter-MFG-Boston-Collar-Small/dp/B0009SX7JY/...) We've also tried one that is beaded and I think it caused more mats :-(  

Are there any better choices? Or is this the way it is, just keep brushing? 

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

What I did was cut the hair short where the collar hits. Emphasis on cut. Not shave. Cutting it short made a big difference.

[Chris & Abby]

A rolled leather collar will help. The coat mats much less around the rolled leather than flat ones..

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

That is absolutely not a good collar material for doodles who mat.  You need to get either a rolled leather collar that you can pick up at most pet stores.

Or a water collar.  I order mine from  http://shop.hotdogsalldressed.com/hydro-collars-decorated/   They don't mold or get stinky in or out of water.

These are the ones that my guys wear 24/7 and they do not cause matting. I guess it is because they are slick.  I also get the decorations put on - you can mix and match so that your dog's collar is uniquely theirs.

[Michele Kiss]

Thanks! I actually got one of the rolled ones on Amazon today, waiting for it to arrive, so we'll try that and hopefully it will work! I like the decorated ones too, how cute! :-D 

[Texas Doodle Mom and Molly Rose]

I planned to order one of these - can't resist the Longhorns!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I know! I think there is cactus also.

[Tracey & Spike]

I know I'm late to the comment game. For some reason I can't comment on my ipad or iphone anymore. I had to wait to dig out my old horse of a laptop.

Spike isn't a matter but he does get them around his neck. His puppy collar was one of the cute nylon ones. He outgrew it and we graduated Spike to his big boy collar. It's leather with.. wait for it.... spikes!!!. Not the mean inword facing one. The decorative outward ones. I'll attach a link to it below. Since we switched to the leather we haven't had any issues. Another key thing I found with the new collar.... it closes like a belt vs a clip. No hair whatsoever gets caught in it.

We still have a nylon collar but he only wears that going into the pool or around the yard when we KNOW he's going to get wet. This way he never ever has a wet collar around his neck. This too has helped to eliminate the neck matts.

 

http://www.petsmart.com/supplies-training/collars/bret-michaels-pet...

[Michele Kiss]

So we found a rolled leather one on Amazon that we're trying out. So far so good but I think it's too early to tell if it makes a difference for matting. I'll update soon!