The Pomeranian is a toy breed that is a descendant of the Spitz. One of the most distinctive characteristics of a Pomeranian is its lovely, puffy coat. In fact, Pomeranian actually have two coats, a protective outer coat and a dense undercoat.
A Pomeranian’s full coat of hair may look like it would be high maintenance, but grooming a Pomeranian is relatively easy if you are diligent and take a little time everyday to keep its coat in tip-top shape. Follow these steps for grooming a Pomeranian.
1. Wash your Pomeranian’s coat at least once a week. Some owners prefer dry shampoos that won’t dry out their Pomeranian’s coat. If you choose a liquid shampoo, select a high-quality detergent formulated for dogs. It should be moisturizing and hypo-allergenic. Take care not to get water in your Pomeranian’s eyes, nose or ears when you bathe her.
2. After bathing, dry your Pomeranian with an absorbent towel. Don’t rub her dry. Pat her coat gently or wrap her in a towel so that it can absorb as much of the excess water as possible.
3. Use a blow dryer to gently dry your Pomeranian’s coat. If you use your personal hair dryer, be sure to turn it on low. You can also buy a hair dryer designed especially for pets, like the hands-free Metro Air Force Flexi Dry dryer at www.drsfostersmith.com, which allows you to comb or brush your Pomeranian while her coat is drying.
4. When you Pomeranian’s coat is dry, trim any excess hair. Be judicious in your snipping since you’ll want to maintain your Pomeranian’s trademark puffy-hair look. Pay special attention to her ears, hocks, paws and anus.
5. Trim you Pomeranian’s nails as often as needed, but at least every month or two. Use clippers designed for small dogs or for cats. You’ll find a wide selection of clippers, including some for small dogs, at www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com.
6. To keep your Pomeranian looking good between baths, brush and comb her coat at least two or three times a week (and preferably every day) to remove excess hair and avoid matting. Use a wide-tooth comb or a matting comb to find and comb out tangles and eliminate any mats that are beginning to form, then brush her entire coat, including the hair on her paws.
Your Pomeranian’s coat should be damp when you brush it, so spray it with a mixture of 90% water and 10% dog fur conditioner before brushing. Since your Pomeranian has a two-layered coat, be sure to lift her outer layer and to thoroughly brush her undercoat. And don’t forget to brush her belly hair.
When brushing your Pomeranian, brush down and out to remove shedding hair, then finish by brushing up and out to “puff” her coat.
7. Do not shave your Pomeranian in hot weather, although you can, if you want, give her a trim. On the hottest days, try to keep her where it is cool and be sure she has access to plenty of water.
