Last Updated on 04/05/2024 by Denise Leo. Post first published on May 4, 2024.
Learning how to brush a Pomeranian is a good idea for any owner. This comprehensive guide provides essential tips on maintaining your Pom’s unique coat. Regular brushing keeps your Pom’s coat healthy and enhances your bond. Start your grooming routine on the right foot with these expert insights.
Brushing your Pomeranian is a cornerstone of regular grooming that ensures a healthy coat and overall health. Due to their double-layered coat, Pomeranians require specific grooming tools and techniques. This guide aims to provide Pomeranian enthusiasts with a structured approach to brushing their Pomeranians effectively.
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 Pomeranians and will show you how to brush your Pomeranian properly. I’ll explain exactly how to do this.
Proper brushing is essential for a Pomeranian’s coat health. Start with a high-quality slicker brush to detangle, always brushing gently to prevent skin irritation. Regular grooming not only enhances their appearance but also promotes overall skin health.
Advises Pomeranian expert Denise Leo.
Pomeranian Coat Stages
A good understanding of Pomeranian fur stages will assist with brushing techniques and all facets of grooming Pomeranian hair:
Young Pomeranian Pups:
A Pomeranian pup’s fur usually lacks substantial guard hairs and is virtually a single coat when they’re young. 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 are usually not long enough to get tangled.
Older Pom Puppies:
From around 4 – 6 months of age, they move into the “Pomeranian puppy uglies” phase (so named because the fur often looks quite patchy), during which their puppy fur falls out and is replaced by a new adult coat.
Adult Pomeranians:
Pomeranians are considered adults by 12-15 months and have grown double coats. The Pomeranian undercoat is short, soft, fluffy fur tightly packed on his body. The outer layer is made of noticeably longer guard hairs.
The whole coat is dense, 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.
Pomeranian Brushing Helps Maintain Coat Health in 7 Ways
1. Pomeranian Hair Knots and Pomeranian Matted Undercoat
Pomeranian hair knots form in his hair. A matted undercoat consists of thicker knots of weaved hair 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 hair gets pulled in and his skin is pinched. It would be best if you created a 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. Brushing his coat helps distribute the oil more evenly. It dissipates the smell that can exist when oil sits there on his skin. It also gives his fur that healthy shine.
3. Pomeranian Brushing Removes Hairs That Have Been Shed
Pomeranians always shed their hair, 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 air circulation, attract accumulated body oil (which will make him smell bad), twist with live hairs, and cause mats to grow.
4. Improved Health for Skin and Coat
Brushing improves the appearance and stimulates the skin, promoting healthy skin. This is especially important for show Poms, as a shiny, well-groomed coat is essential. Improving blood flow and stimulating hair follicles, leading to better fur growth.
5. Tiny Debris Gets Removed
Brushing removes microscopic debris and bits of food 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, 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.
Choosing the Right Tools
If you have a Pomeranian, you know how important it is to brush their fur. Unfortunately, finding the right brush for them is difficult, so I have compiled this list of my favorite grooming tools.
Selecting the best grooming tools is crucial. For a Pomeranian’s thick coat, a slicker brush is generally considered the best tool because it effectively handles long hairs and prevents mats.
- GROOM LIKE A PROFESSIONAL – A high quality brush for those who demand quality and perfection. Ideal for delicate and fragile coats!
- QUALITY MATERIALS – Made of lightweight, durable Beech wood body, Made in Germany.
- PINS – High quality stainless steel pins with ground and polished tips are the smoothest available.
- EFFORTLESS – Ground and polished stainless steel pins glide through the coat with ease, Shape and contours of handle do all the work for you, Unique shape means your wrist is no longer at a constant angle.
- WHY CHRIS CHRISTENSEN – It all started in 1996 when Chris Christensen developed the first true color correcting shampoo for canines and felines. White on White was a catalyst in the evolution of canine coat care. The momentum that followed has allowed Chris Christensen Systems to bring you the finest grooming products ever available in the dog show and pet care worlds.
I recommend using a slicker brush and a pin brush with metal pins. These brushes remove dirt and dead hair deep within the coat and help remove tangles in long coats.
A pin brush can be an essential tool for grooming your Pomeranian. Select a high-quality pin brush with smooth, polished tips to prevent skin irritation. Avoid brushes that have plastic knobs on the tips, as these can damage the coat.
- GROOM LIKE A PROFESSIONAL – A high quality brush for those who demand quality and perfection. Ideal for delicate and fragile coats!
- GROOM LIKE A PROFESSIONAL – A high quality brush for those who demand quality and perfection. Ideal for delicate and fragile coats!
- QUALITY MATERIALS – Made of lightweight, durable Beech wood body, Made in Germany.
- PINS – Gold-plated stainless steel pins with ground and polished tips are the smoothest available, has 30% more pins than traditional pin brushes.
- EFFORTLESS – Ground and polished gold-plated stainless steel pins glide through the coat with ease, 30% more pins than traditional pin brushes makes for a finer brush stroke, ergonomic handle feels wonderful in the hand.
For a thorough grooming session, use a wide-toothed comb to finish the body, ensuring an even and gentle treatment, and a fine-toothed comb for precise detailing around the face and paws. A comb is a great tool for styling your pup’s hair. Use it carefully to go over any areas that weren’t covered by the brush, like the head area, the dog’s ears, and between the paws.
Brushing Technique
The coat of a Pomeranian dog has 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. These dogs’ coats must be brushed correctly to avoid tangles and remove shedding fur. I will explain the line-brushing method further down, so read on.
Direction and Technique
It’s crucial to always brush in the right direction—from the skin out. This technique will help prevent the coat from matting.
It’s simple to brush the outer coat so your dog looks great. However, it would be best to brush the undercoat to prevent it from becoming matted. Here is where line brushing your dog can be very helpful.
Never Brush Dry Dog Hair
Use a leave-in conditioner to protect their coat during brushing; misting it during brushing can help prevent hair breakage. Always mist the coat as you brush. Use a light spray mist 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 rainwater or other pure water to give your dog’s fur that perfect shine. Avoid tap water, as it may have chemicals that could damage your dog’s skin.
Brush In Sections
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, such as the underbelly, tail, etcetera.
Frequency
Regular grooming sessions, occurring several times a week, are essential for maintaining your Pomeranian’s coat health. This frequency should increase during shedding seasons. Even Pomeranian puppies should get accustomed to regular brushing to avoid a negative experience later.
Professional Grooming
While regular home grooming is vital, consulting a professional groomer can provide additional insights and care, particularly if your little dog is also a show dog.
Preventing Problems
Regular brushing is essential to avoid accumulating dirt, which can cause skin issues in Pomeranians. Complementing brushing with baths helps maintain a healthy coat but ensures that baths are manageable to avoid drying out the dog’s skin.
Special Considerations
Remember to check and care for your Pomeranian’s nails.
How to Brush a Pomeranian: A Step-by-Step Guide
I apply the following three steps before bathing or trimming my Pom dog. These steps help ensure no mats, snags, or tangles and that every hair is separated.
- Step 1 is completely brushing the entire coat using the line brushing technique. Line brushing is a basic technique for brushing 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 repeats step 1 using a metal comb to comb through the Pomeranian’s coat completely. Preparation is complete when the comb easily glides through the Pom’s coat. The comb is the last Pomeranian grooming tool on the coat.
How to Make Pomeranian Fluffy by Line Brushing
The 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.
Common Brushing Mistakes
Choosing the right brush is one of the most crucial aspects of grooming a Pomeranian. Using the wrong brush can damage your dog’s coat and skin, leading to serious consequences. Investing in high-quality grooming brushes is smart, especially when your Pomeranian is still a puppy.
Investing in quality brushes for your Pomeranian pays off in the long run. When properly maintained, these brushes can last throughout your dog’s lifetime. This ensures effective and safe grooming for your dog’s fluffy coat from a young age and proves to be a cost-effective choice, eliminating the need for frequent replacements.
Regular and appropriate brushing is key to maintaining your Pomeranian’s coat health. Brushing too infrequently or vigorously can lead to issues like matting and skin irritation. It’s crucial to incorporate different types of brushes into the grooming process and to brush regularly, adjusting the intensity and tool according to the needs of the dog’s coat.
How Often Should You Brush a Pomeranian?
Ideally, you would brush your Pomeranian daily, 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 that you can do it daily. Pomeranian brushing and/or combing before baths is essential so you can separate any tangles and separate them before using shampoo.
Pom puppies need to get brushed 2 – 3 times per week. This helps improve blood flow, distributes body oil, stimulates hair follicles, and lets puppies get used to being brushed, which is a bonus for both of you, especially when he becomes an adult. 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. Therefore, it is wise to groom every day, if possible.
Puppy Pomeranian Grooming Tips
The secret to training your Pom to enjoy brushing and all grooming procedures is to start early on Pomeranian puppy grooming. A Pomeranian’s first grooming sessions need to commence with the breeder, and the new owner should continue with the grooming regime started by the breeder.
Train your Pomeranian to lie quietly on each side and his back for brushing and toenail trimming. Helping the puppy understand that he should be comfortable on his back is a very important part of grooming training.
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 get away. Once fully relaxed and soothed by the owner’s voice, he can get back on his feet and be rewarded with a treat.
A puppy often prefers to remain on his back once he understands there’s no danger and will enjoy the extra attention.
Pomeranian coats require regular attention. Make grooming part of your dog’s routine, and you’ll both come to enjoy this special bonding time.
How To Brush A Pomeranian Conclusion
This guide emphasizes that as a responsible pet owner, your role in routine grooming is crucial for keeping your Pomeranian fluffy coat healthy and visually appealing. Regular care is vital for your small dog’s well-being and is a testament to your commitment.
As a caring pet owner, you should invest in high-quality grooming tools tailored to your Pomeranian’s small size and specific coat type. This investment ensures your pet’s comfort and reassures you about their well-being.
Regular use of these grooming tools keeps your Pomeranian’s fur in top condition and fosters a stronger bond between you and your pet.
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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’s “The Sportsman’s Cabinet.”
[7] E. Parker “The Popular Pomeranian.”
[8] Lilla Ives “Show Pomeranians.”