Pomeranian Hair Care

A Pomeranian should be brushed at least twice per week with a slicker brush, which is a small brush with curved wire bristles. Twice a week will keep fur mats at bay, but daily brushing will keep sticks and yard debris from collecting in your Pom Pom's fur, and therefore keep said items out of your couch. When you brush your dog, make sure you get all the way down to the skin. It doesn't do a lot of good to just brush the topcoat of a Pomeranian, you need to get down into that fluffy undercoat and remove the loose hair and dirt.

You could bathe your Pomeranian daily if you wanted to—though with all the work that goes into bathing a Pomeranian, that might not leave time for much else. The point is, unlike with some other dog breeds, you don't have to worry about over-bathing the Pom Pom. On the other hand, you should make sure you do bathe your dog at least once per month. To avoid drying your dog's skin or tangling his hair, use a good-quality dog shampoo and a detangling conditioner. Make sure you thoroughly brush your Pomeranian before the bath.

After the bath, use a blow dryer to completely dry your dog's fur while you brush him out. Make sure you blow the air in the same direction that you are brushing. Blow-drying can tangle the fur, so it is important to brush while you blow. Don't make your job any harder than it has to be. Also, be sure that your blow dryer is on the cool setting so that you don't accidentally burn your dog. Using a blow dryer might seem like too much, but the undercoat of a Pomeranian can trap moisture and irritate your dog's skin, so you need to be sure he is completely dry.

The truth is, mats happen. Rain, wind, snow and sticks all contribute to the formation of fur mats. If you catch them early, when they're small, you can get them out with your slicker brush. Work the mat from the outside in. Pick at it with your slicker brush and don't be afraid to change your angle of attack often. Be patient and keep at it until it is completely gone. If the mat is too big for you to tackle, go to a professional groomer. Groomers can cut the mat into smaller sections and work it out that way, or they can cut the mat out of the fur altogether.

To give your Pomeranian a show dog look, you can trim the fur every couple of months so that the dog has an overall round appearance. If you are inexperienced or nervous about using scissors on your dog, you may want to have a professional groomer handle the cutting. If you aren't looking for that full-fluff show Pomeranian look, you can have your dog's hair trimmed shorter. Since the Pomeranian is a double-coated dog, you cannot shave him. That would damage his undercoat and leave him unprotected from the elements. You can, however, have the fur trimmed to about 2 inches. The shorter coat will need less grooming and be less prone to matting.