Pomeranian coats are thick and long, so brushing them can be difficult. But regular brushing is essential to prevent matting and keep your Pomeranian's coat looking its best. A good brushing routine is essential for your pomeranian.
I have decades of experience with champion Poms and will show you how to brush your Pomeranian properly. I'll break down exactly how one should go about doing just this.
If you don’t already understand Pomeranian fur types, this information will explain why certain methods and tools are necessary when brushing a Pomeranian dog’s hair.
How to Brush a Pomeranian Dog's Coat
If you have a Pomeranian, you know how important it is to brush their fur. Unfortunately, it cannot be easy to find the right brush for them, so we've compiled this list of our favorite brushes that are perfect for your Pom.
I recommend using a slicker brush or a pin brush with metal pins. These types of brushes work well on getting out dirt and dead hair from deep within the coat. They also help remove tangles in long coats.
The coat of a Pomeranian dog is two layers. He has a dense undercoat that’s woolly and holds the outer hairs off the body. Then there’s the outer coat which is coarse and long and is known as a guard coat.
You'll need to use the line brushing method with your Pomeranian. The coat of these dogs must be brushed correctly to avoid tangles developing and remove shedding fur. I will explain the line brushing method in detail further down, so read on.
Pomeranian Coat Stages
Having a good understanding of Pomeranian fur stages will assist with Pomeranian brushing techniques and all facets of grooming Pomeranian hair.
When they’re young, a Pomeranian pup's fur usually lacks substantial guard hairs and is virtually a single coat. This Pomeranian fur is very soft and, although it grows, it won’t get too long because, inside his first year, it all falls out. Hairs won’t shed much and they’re usually not long enough to get tangled.
Older Pom puppies, from around 4 – 6 months of age, move into the “Pomeranian puppy uglies” phase (so named because the fur often looks quite patchy), where their puppy fur will fall out and be replaced by a new adult coat.
By the 12-15-month point, Pomeranians are regarded to be adults and have grown a huge double coat. Pomeranian undercoat is short, soft, fluffy fur that’s tightly packed on his body. The outer layer is made of guard hairs that are noticeably longer.
The whole coat is dense and a significant amount of shedding takes place (although you might not notice it) and there will be a lot of tangles that need to be brushed regularly to avoid problems.
Puppy Pomeranian Grooming Tips
The secret to training your Pom to enjoy brushing and all types of grooming procedures is to start early on Pomeranian puppy grooming. Pomeranian dog first grooming sessions need to commence with the breeder. The new owner should continue with the grooming regime started by the breeder.
Train your Pomeranian to lay quietly on each side, as well as on his back for brushing and toenail trimming. Helping the puppy to understand he should be comfortable on his back is a very important part of training for grooming.
If your Pomeranian is uncomfortable in these positions, a simple alternative is to brush your Pomeranian on your lap.
The Pomeranian shouldn’t be allowed to get up if he’s struggling to getaway. Once he’s fully relaxed and soothed by the owner’s voice, then he can be allowed to get back on his feet and be rewarded with a treat.
Quite often a puppy will prefer to remain on his back once he understands there’s no danger and will enjoy the extra attention.
Pomeranian dogs coats require regular attention. Make grooming part of a routine with your dog, and you’ll both come to enjoy this special bonding time.
How Often Should You Brush a Pomeranian?
Ideally, you would brush your Pomeranian each day, either as a form of relaxation or while watching TV. However, most people’s lives aren’t always ideal. You can still get great results if you brush your dog every second day.
This will provide all the benefits mentioned previously. It’s critical to use the right sprays, brushes, and combs.
When in doubt, your breeder or groomer should be your first source of information. You can’t “over-brush” him so you can even do it every day. Pomeranian brushing and/or combing prior to baths is essential so you can separate any tangles and separate them prior to using shampoo.
Pom puppies need to get brushed 2 – 3 times per week. This helps improve blood flow, distributes body oil, stimulates hair follicles, lets puppies get used to being brushed which is a bonus for both of you, especially when he becomes an adult and he will need to be brushed with greater intensity.
Every dog sheds hair and it must go somewhere. It may become entangled in the outer coat and cause a clump of Pomeranian hair knots. It may blow down your hall. It can get onto furniture, bedding, clothes, or even you. When you brush your dog, it catches a lot of the shed hair. For that reason, it is wise to groom every day, if possible.
Pomeranian Grooming Tips
Pomeranians are a long-haired breed of dog, and because of this, they require more grooming than other breeds. So if you're looking for some tips on how to brush their fur, we can help.
We'll start with the basics: brushing your Pomeranian's coat will reduce shedding by removing dead hair. It will help if you also brushed them after walks to eliminate any dirt accumulated during those activities. There are two important grooming tools for doing this - one is with a slicker brush or a pin brush; it's helpful as well.
It is important to work in sections. It does not matter where you start brushing or what order, do not miss any parts of this body: underbelly, tail etcetera.
Never brush dry dog hair. Always mist the coat as you brush. Use a light mist of spray and hold about 6 inches from your Pom to evenly distribute it throughout the undercoat and topcoat. Be sure not to use too much spray.
You could purchase a grooming spritz or use just one tablespoon of conditioner in an empty spray bottle with some rainwater or other pure water to give your dog's fur that perfect shine. Avoid using tap water, as it may have chemicals that could damage their skin.
A comb is a great tool for styling all the tiny hairs on your pup. Use it carefully to go over any areas that weren't covered by brush, like their head area, the dog's ears and between paws.
Best Way to Groom a Pomeranian
It’s simple to brush the outer coat so your dog looks great. However, you must also brush the undercoat to prevent it from becoming matted. Here is where line brushing your dog can be very helpful.
How to Brush a Pomeranian: A Step-by-Step Guide
I apply the following 3 steps prior to either bathing or trimming my Pom dog. Applying these steps helps to ensure there are no mats, snags, tangles and each and every hair is separated.
- Step 1 is completely brushing the entire coat using the line brushing technique. Line brushing is a basic technique used to brush most long coated dog breeds. Using a pin brush commence from the shoulders and separate the coat in a line down to the skin from shoulder to base of the tail. Brushing one layer at a time. Pay attention to the areas that matt, tangle and knot easily; behind the ears, under the front legs and the groin area.
- Step 2 is repeating the first step using a soft slicker brush.
- Step 3 is repeating step 1 using a metal comb to completely comb through the Pomeranian's coat. When the comb easily glides through the Pom's coat, preparation is complete. The comb is the last Pomeranian grooming tool to be used on the coat.
How to Make Pomeranian Fluffy by Line Brushing
Best results are obtained by using a brushing method called line brushing. Laying your Pomeranian on his side, work in rows down each side of the body, then repeat on the chest area, rump area, and underneath the Pomeranian. Brushing each layer of hair from the skin outwards.
Pomeranian Brushing Helps Maintain Coat Health in 7 Ways
1. Pomeranian Hair Knots and Pomeranian Matted Undercoat
Pomeranian hair knots that form in his hair. Matted undercoat consists of thicker knots of weaved hair that’s very close to a Pom's skin. These problems can occur and grow rapidly; they can be hard to remove unless you cut off some of his fur, and the process can cause your Pomeranian pain when his hairs get pulled in and his skin is pinched. You need to create a regular routine whereby you brush his coat to stop these issues from happening and, while you brush, check for small mats and tangles.
2. Body Oil Is Distributed
A dog’s natural body oil seeps out of his pores and can quickly build up. When you brush his coat, that helps to distribute the oil more evenly. It dissipates the smell that can exist when oil just sits there on his skin. It also gives his fur that healthy shine.
3. Pomeranian brushing Removes Hairs That Have Been Shed
Pomeranians shed their hair all the time but there are usually two main seasonal sheds and most of the loose hair falls out from his undercoat. If you don’t pull out dead hairs, they can stop the circulation of air, attract accumulated body oil (which will make him smell bad) and they’ll twist with live hairs and cause mats to grow.
4. Improved Health for Skin and Coat
When you brush your Pomeranian’s skin, it’s like a massage and it improves the flow of blood and stimulates hair follicles which leads to better fur growth.
5. Tiny Debris Gets Removed
Brushing gets rid of microscopic debris and bits of food that get collected by his coat.
6. Golden Opportunity to Use a Leave-in Protective Spray
While brushing, it’s the perfect time to use a conditioning spritz. A good quality spray will ensure his coat is moisturized properly, adds extra shine, stops mats and split ends, and repels contact irritants and allergens, and any urine “splashback.”
7. A Well-Groomed, Tidy Pomeranian
Brushing helps your Pomeranian look presentable all the time and helps him feel better about himself. A healthy dog is a happy dog.
How To Brush A Pomeranian Conclusion
A Pomeranian's coat is beautiful when it shines, but to keep their coats healthy and shiny, you will need to brush them regularly. Brushing your Pom will help distribute the natural oils throughout the fur, avoid matting of hair, remove dead hairs that can cause skin irritation or allergies for both you and your dog.
In this blog post, we've provided a step-by-step guide to brushing your Pomeranian. We hope that you find it helpful! If there is any additional information or other grooming tips that you think would be useful for owners of Pom pups, please let me know.
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References and Further Reading:
[1] Official Standard of the Pomeranian (AKC). American Kennel Club, 2011.
[2] English Kennel Club Pomeranian Breed Standard, 2017.
[3] Denise Leo, The Pomeranian Handbook.
[4] Milo G. Denlinger "The Complete Pomeranian".
[5] Kimbering Pomeranians "1891-1991".
[6] William Taplin "The Sportsman’s Cabinet".
[7] E. Parker "The Popular Pomeranian".
[8] Lilla Ives "Show Pomeranians".