Does A Short Haired Pomeranian Exist?

You’re the proud owner of a Pomeranian, one of the fluffiest dog breeds. They’re well-known for having an amazing thick coat that can even be described as luxurious. However, why is it that your dog is a Pomeranian with short hair?

This question’s importance can only be recognized by lovers of Pomeranians and they also know that his look isn’t the only factor you need to consider when choosing a Pomeranian.

It’s natural to be surprised when or if your Pom doesn’t look like the puppy or adult dog you fell in love with at the breeder’s home, the rescue venue or wherever you found him. The truth is that when you want a new dog, what he looks like generally plays a major part in your decision-making process.

When thinking about what your new Pomeranian will look like, you should also consider his size, color and the length of his coat. In this article I’ll explain the reasons why there might be confusion about a short haired Pomeranian and the things you could do in each scenario.

There Are 5 Possible Reasons For Short Haired Pomeranian Dogs

Number 1: Pomeranian Puppies with Short Hair

Age may be the deciding factor. Newborn puppies virtually have no coat at all and, at the 8-week point, when you may have bought your new puppy, his hair will be very short.

His hair feels silky soft and is approx. 1 – 2 inches long but this can certainly vary. Your Pomeranian Puppy won’t grow long hair until he becomes an adult, complete with an adult’s coat length. The changes are usually finished once he is a one-year-old but, in some Pomeranians, it will continue until he’s 14 months old. Take good care of your puppy, make sure he’s groomed regularly and his coat will eventually grow out.

Number 2: The Growth Phase

If your puppy is aged 4 – 8 months old and you’re requesting information on this topic, the main reason is that he’s experiencing the “puppy uglies,” a term that’s used to describe a Pomeranian puppy with unusual looks. He may have normally short hair covering most of his body. However, there can be slightly longer hairs in small patches, as well as some bald areas; hence the name, “puppy uglies.”

How does a short haired Pomeranian dog finally end up growing an amazing, soft fluffy coat?

It’s because he sheds his Pomeranian short hair as a puppy so he can grow his adult long coat. Some owners may be concerned by all the changes but there’s no cause for alarm. It’s a painless process that all Pomeranian puppies go through. It usually starts any time between the 4 -8 months and will be finished by the time he’s one year old. However, in some cases, it will continue until he is 18 months old.

By the time your Pomeranian is 18 months old, he should have his full adult coat.

Your dog may have areas (such as elbows and knees) that usually don’t have thick hair protecting them, so sores can easily be formed. It’s wise to put a soft clean blanket on the floor that he can lie on whenever he wants to do so without hurting himself.

Buy a high-quality conditioner and shampoo. Bath him at least once a week unless he has been playing or running through a muddy puddle.

Regularly brush and groom him because it will get rid of dead hairs that have been shed, and this will help improve his circulation and that encourages new growth and leaves a place for the new coat to come in.

Always use a blow dryer. Softly blot away excess water with a very soft towel. Then use the dryer to remove all the water and any dead coat.

The Pomeranian Handbook

Then you just have to wait…until his adult coat is fully grown. Keep grooming gently and he’ll turn into a big soft ball of fluff.

Number 3: Pomeranian Black Skin Disease (BSD)

BSD is a common Pomeranian health issue. It adversely affects a dog’s coat. He loses hair and it can fall out in clumps all over his body, often in uneven areas and amounts.

If a Pomeranian has BSD, there might be indicators before any hair is lost. His coat doesn’t look normal but it can be hard to explain what is wrong at that stage. It’s not a painful problem for your Pomeranian but, sadly, there’s currently no cure for this disease.

Alopecia X can happen to a Pom dog of any age but is mostly likely to occur when he’s approx. two years old. If your Pomeranian has short hair all over his body, don’t assume he has this disease…Usually it’s simply caused by age, as previously mentioned.

If you Pom does have BSD, his skin may be highly sensitive. You’ll need to gently dab the balding spots with a sunscreen if you’re taking your Pom outside in the warm to hot weather for 15 minutes or more.

Number 4: Genetics

Your Pom could have a gene that causes BSD. Sometimes a dog or puppy isn’t a purebred Pomeranian. If there’s a mix of some kind in his bloodline, perhaps a few generations earlier, the appearance of a dog can be affected. This is a vital reason for purchasing a puppy only from a reputable, established AKC Pomeranian breeder.

Puppy mills are being eradicated in numerous parts of the country, which is great news for new owners and for the dogs themselves. Unfortunately, many Puppy mills are now selling online.

Pet stores often claim they only deal with small home-based breeders. This may very well be the truth but if they won’t allow you to see the sire and dam, or check out the environment and living conditions where the puppy was being raised from birth until at least 8 weeks old, you must be wary of making a purchase as it’s likely to be a big problem.

It’s always wise to buy from a reputable breeder because you’ll be able to see one or both parents and will be able to visit the breeder’s home to see just how well the dogs and puppies are treated.

Another issue with genes is one where a dog might be a purebred but may still not meet the standard. A responsible, serious, caring breeder only breeds “to better the breed” and aims to create litters that do meet the AKC standards.

Unfortunately, there are some people who ignore the standards and produce litters with coats that aren’t good quality, as well as various other flaws. Even if some breeders follow the standard most of the time, they still produce a strange, unique puppy from time to time.

Number 5: Pomeranian Shedding

Pomeranians usually shed twice a year. They have two distinct layers of fur – an outer coat and an inner coat.

A Pom’s undercoat is thick and as it sheds, a great deal of thinning occurs; this is interpreted by many people as short hairs are also shed. The reality is that after most of the inner hair layer has gone, the dog’s guard hairs won’t stand up, making the coat lay flat against his body and that eliminates the fluff. The amount of hair that gets shed can be affected by the temperature and weather.

If your Pomeranian lives in a cold winter climate, less hair is shed than normal. However, it’s different if the season alters and cold weather arrives. If your Pom stays inside the house, where the heater is on 70 degrees Fahrenheit and he uses pee pads as his bathroom instead of going out into the cold weather, there will be a lot more shedding and it might also be more obvious when it happens.

Regardless of how much hair is shed, it’s best to regularly brush his coat often so you can get rid of dead hairs. Remember that it’s only temporary, it’s not a negative fact. It’s just part of your Pomeranian’s process of renewal.

Final thoughts About a Short Haired Pomeranian

All dogs are lovely, especially all Pomeranian dogs whether they have huge coats or not. It can be regarded as normal that there might be times lasting for months during your Pom's life that he does not have a full coat and other times where he has a huge coat.

References and Further Reading:

[1] Denise Leo “The Pomeranian Handbook”.