This is an example of a mat that is at 2 finger width.  Other mats in this picture are from 1 to 2 fingers wide.  This area is the back side and upper hip region.  Some people like the mats a little larger here but this is our preference.  Notice how we keep the mats somewhat thinner so they will dry faster when wet.

This is the stifle (knee) area of the leg.  Notice how the mats are about 1 to 1 1/2 finger width.  If you look at the right hand side of the photo, you will see the lower section of the leg where the mats are even smaller.  You can make these size separations much easier as the mats get longer.

In the center of this photo you will see 2 mats that have grown back together.  Actually it is more like a felting of the 2 mats as they rub together from natural movement.  Some people would leave this alone, which is fine, but we decided to separate them as seen in the next photo.

Just pull them apart and now you have 2 mats again.

Here is another example of 2 mats that have felted together.  This mat is wide but very thin and could be left alone.  Although in the next photo you will see we pulled them apart.  Also, take a close look at the base of this mat.  Here you can see how the first 1/2 inch of hairs are growing on their own before the matting starts.  This growth is as it should be...

The separated mat.

Take a close look at the base of this mat.  It starts as 1 and then separates into 3.  The 3 have felted or matted back together.  We will most likely pull them apart or separate 2 out of the 3 depending on what it looks like after separating the first pair.