Pomeranian Grooming Guide: 10 Tips for a Healthy and Beautiful Coat
Pomeranians have thick, luscious coats that can get tangled, matted, and infected. To help your pup maintain their soft, strong coat there are important grooming aspects that must be performed frequently. Read this article to gain a quick, easy, and essential Pomeranian grooming guide.
Benefits of Grooming Your Pomeranian
Grooming your Pomeranian has more benefits than just a nice-looking coat such as:
- Strengthen the bond between you and your pup.
- Establish trust between a rescue Pomeranian and yourself.
- Prevent painful matting.
- Avoid skin problems such as dry, or itchy skin. Accordingly, irritated skin and mats can cause agonizing skin infections.
- Prevent dental problems. While this guide is focused on coat care, brushing their teeth is just as important. For this reason, brushing their teeth will help prevent serious gum or teeth issues in the future. Furthermore, it also helps eliminate stinky breath.
Pomeranian Grooming Tools Guide
Are you confused about what to use to keep your puppy’s coat clean? Below is a guide to provide you clarity on what tools are best.
Good-Quality Dog Brush
A dog brush will help you remove mats, and knots without causing your pup unnecessary pain. An example of a good quality dog brush is a soft bristle brush which can groom fur and keep your dog relaxed as well. Plus, brushes can help remove pesky debris such as burs.
Comb or Pin Brush Made for Dogs
Pin brushes will help you gradually lift knots out of the fur that are harder to brush. However, you must remember to use the right amount of pressure. Pressing too hard will cause your dog pain while pressing too soft may cause ticklishness.
Dog Clippers
Clippers are needed so that you can trim the fur on your dog’s feet. If the hair on their feet isn’t trimmed, they can slip and injure themselves. Plus they allow you to give your Pomeranian a haircut just in time for the holidays!
Dog-Safe Shampoo and Conditioner
Never use shampoo or conditioner that is meant for humans. Although it is safe for human use, it is not the same for poms. Human shampoo and conditioner can cause burns, allergens, and in some cases death. Finally, you may want to consult your vet or local groomer to see what shampoo and conditioners they recommend.
Doggie Nail Clippers
Your Pomeranian has nails that must be trimmed every month or every other month. If you are squeamish or have unsteady hands you may want to have a local groomer, or veterinarian clip the nails for you.
Paw Pom
Your Pomeranian’s paws are delicate. The padding on the bottom of their paws can become burned, cracked, and dried from the environment and the seasons. Cracked paws are very painful and irritating for a pup. By rubbing a little paw pom in, you will help prevent irritating and painful paws.
Treats
Treats are not necessary. However, they can help you to train puppies and adults by rewarding them for good behavior. Furthermore, it can help your pup associate good things with grooming and reduce their fear.
First Aid Kit
First aid kits are a must in any grooming kit. It takes a split second for your pup to move the wrong way, become startled, or pull away during a nail trim. This is why you must be prepared by including a doggie first aid kit.
Finger Brush for Doggie Teeth and Toothpaste
An essential part to grooming your Pomeranian is to brush their teeth. Consequently, it protects them from rotting teeth, gum disease, and other serious health conditions.
Pomeranian Grooming Tips
Before you start primping your pup, here are 10 tips that you may wish to follow.
Don’t Use a Human Hair Dryer
Human hair dryers are not formulated for pups. Plus, they can cause burns which can ruin the grooming experience. Make sure that whichever dryer you choose is specifically for dogs to prevent any unpleasant experiences.
Be Patient
Not all dogs and puppies enjoy being groomed. But over time they will become accustomed to it if you are willing to be patient. If you see that your dog or puppy is becoming irritated it is best to back off and try again once they are calm.
Don’t Use Baby Powder
Baby powders can irritate and disrupt the natural oils that your dog produces to maintain a healthy coat. It is best to just ditch the powder instead of causing irritants or disrupting the natural growth of your dog’s coat.
Groom Your Dog Every Two Weeks
For optimal skin, hair, and nails, you must groom your dog every two weeks. This will stimulate the hair follicles and ensure that your dog’s coat is growing correctly.
Don’t Force It
Grooming is supposed to be an enjoyable event for you and your dog. Being pushy or trying to force your dog to sit through grooming will ruin the experience for both the pup and the owner.
Show Dogs Require More Grooming
If you plan on showing your Pomeranian then they will require a bath at least twice per week. Ideally, baths should be in between showings.
Professional Grooming is Needed
Grooming your pom may be a great way to maintain overall grooming health. On the other hand, professional grooming will still be needed to maintain a great coat. Your dog should be taken to the groomer every 4 to 6 weeks.
Start Them Young
To help the grooming process go smoother, you will want to start grooming your puppy at 10 to 12 months old. Every 2-3 weeks you should repeat grooming to help them get used to the process.
Don’t Forget the Eyes
Every day you should wipe your Pomeranian’s eyes with a washcloth to prevent staining or yeast infections. If any wetness is left around their eyes it can lead to serious eye and skin infections as mentioned.
Clean the Ears
To ensure proper hearing, end ear health cleaning your pom’s ear is a must. Ideally, you may wish to clean their ears every month. On the other hand, if they are prone to ear infections you may need to clean them every 2-3 weeks. Similarly, you should consult with your vet to find a brand of ear wash that won’t sting or burn their ears.
Pomeranian Grooming Guide: How to Brush Your Dog
- Begin by placing your Pomeranian on their flank.
- Working in small sections, comb one side and then the other.
- Work in small sections along the underbelly, tail, and chest.
- Do not use a hard brush on their head or face. Always use a soft-bristled brush on the face and head if needed.
- Remember to brush with the natural way the hair grows. Do not brush against it.
Bathing Your Pomeranian
- Gather your bath supplies and set them up in the bathroom.
- Adjust the water to lukewarm or warm. DO NOT let the bath get hot.
- Dissolve shampoo with warm water before applying it directly to their coat.
- Apply diluted shampoo, being careful not to get it on their face or eyes.
- Rinse.
- Apply conditioner and rinse.
- Use a towel to gently dry your Pomeranian off or you can use a dog-safe hair dryer.
Brushing Their Teeth
- Apply a doggie toothbrush to the finger scrubber, or toothbrush.
- Gently trace the brush around their mouth to get them accustomed to the feeling.
- Once they allow it, gently brush the teeth in quadrants.
How to Clean The Ears
- Grab a non-alcohol-based ear drop and apply 1-2 drops into the ear.
- Massage the outer parts of the ear.
- Repeat on the other ear.
How to Clip Your Pup’s Nails
- You may need to start with holding their paws for a few weeks before moving on to cutting their nails.
- Once your dog has become accustomed to having their paws held, pick one paw to start with.
- Gently squeeze one toe between your thumb and forefinger.
- Clip a small part of the nail until you see a white or black tip. The tip is the quip and you do not need to cut anymore.
- Repeat on each toe and paw until all nails have been clipped.
- If you accidentally cut the quip, apply cornstarch to the nail to stop it from bleeding. If the bleeding does not stop, bring your pup to your local vet immediately.
Pomeranian Grooming Guide and When to Groom Them
Grooming Task | When to do it |
Cleaning the eyes. | Daily. |
Ear Washing | Weekly. |
Coat Brushing | Daily or Weekly. |
Nail Clipping | Bi Weekly. |
Bathing | Monthly. |
Professional Grooming | 4 to 6 Weeks. |
Grooming your Pomeranian is not just for looks, but rather to improve overall health. Follow this guide to maintain good health.