Babara Bush
Pomeranians are famous, in addition to their inherent qualities of the breed, for their unique appearance. Reminiscent of teddy bears, these decorative dogs instantly delight even those with little interest in dog breeding. And in many ways, these pretty pets owe their beauty to the peculiarities of haircuts for Spitz – grooming, which is available both in salons and at home.
However, the decorative component of such procedures is not at all the most important, and the owners of dogs of this breed almost always carry out a hygienic haircut for the Spitz. Depending on one of these two goals, the preferences of the owner of the dog and the immediate purpose, the type of haircut, and the conditions for its implementation are selected.
Pomeranian coat features
The coat of this breed of dogs is quite thick, and the undercoat is dense. The softness of the undercoat, along with its strength and density, allows you to keep the spines of the main hair in a straight position. This explains the “plush” effect of the Spitz coat.
From about 3-4 months of age, puppies of this breed begin the process of the first molt. During this period, the first changes occur: the outer coat appears, and instead of the primary fluff, a permanent undercoat is formed. And after a few months, the shorn Pomeranian looks more elegant than in his natural fur outfit.
The process of molting and the formation of a coat in dogs of this breed continues and subsequently – up to three years of age.
The owners of such dogs should be aware that the hair and undercoat play the role of a thermoregulator since the skin does not have this physiology. Thus, the wool protects the animal from intense heat, sunburn, and in frosty weather – from hypothermia.
Another feature of the Pomeranian’s coat is the intensity of the shedding. In the first two to three years, it happens very slowly, with an interval of six months. And in the room where the dog is kept, there are almost imperceptible traces of molting in the form of fallen hairs and wool.
When should you trim your Pomeranian?
Groomers believe that the optimal time to trim a Pomeranian for the first time is around 3 months of age. During this period, it is already possible to slightly remove the protruding ends of the hairline.
If the hair does not grow very quickly (especially in dogs after three years), then the haircut can be done two to three times a year. In the case of regular participation in exhibitions, more frequent visits to the grooming salon are allowed – perhaps even before each such event.
However, such care for the coat makes sense for a hygienic purpose. It allows you to maintain a decent appearance and prevents the following reasons for its deterioration:
- broken guard hair;
- loss of undercoat and hair;
- frequent molt;
- felting of the coat;
- the formation of tangles in the hair;
- the baldness of local areas of the skin.
Timely cutting off excess wool will allow it to perform its physiological functions – to maintain body temperature, to level out the influence of solar ultraviolet radiation.
Preparing for the procedure
The pet should not be afraid of such a procedure, because he has to transfer it repeatedly throughout his life. Therefore, the very first trip to the grooming salon should end with the most positive emotions of the dog. After a haircut, the Pomeranian should remain calm and cheerful. This largely depends on the preliminary preparation of the animal by the owner:
The first thing to do is to teach your pet to bathe;
The second condition: the dog must respond positively to the master himself and to his office. To this end, it is better to visit a groomer in advance (perhaps even a couple of times). It is good if the animal receives a small treat from the owner in the salon – this will inspire confidence in the new environment and avoid internal stress;
The third point of preparation is getting used to the noise of the hairdryer and tools, which should not cause any negative emotions and anxiety in the dog.
Be sure to bathe the dog and comb the coat on the day of the procedure or on the eve of the procedure – after bathing, the coat is cut much easier.
Types of haircuts for the Pomeranian
All of them can be classified according to certain characteristics and purpose. So, four types of haircuts are formed:
- very short;
- short;
- exhibition;
- classic.
Very short haircuts (“Boo”, “Bear”)
The Pomeranian Spitz, trimmed to look like a bear, became popular after the publication of pictures and videos of a representative of this breed named Boo on the Internet. For a long time, the fashion for this haircut has been kept up to the present day.
It features a very short coat, trimmed evenly over the entire body. In this case, the head area is processed in such a way that it acquires a spherical shape.
With slight changes, the procedure for trimming a bear cub is carried out – the differences relate to some details of the exterior. In both cases, you should consult your veterinarian and groomer if it is possible to make the Spitz these types of haircuts. The fact is that a very shortened undercoat and guard hair can disrupt thermoregulation and protection of the skin. In addition, these haircut patterns in Spitz can provoke baldness. The undercoat does not recover after shearing, and short haircuts subsequently lead to the fact that the coat consists of only guard hair.
Short haircuts (“fox”, “lion”)
The image of a decorative lion cub is one of the most charming and popular. To implement it, the dog’s body is cut short to the level of the rear edge of the shoulder blades. The head and withers are slightly trimmed in front. The front legs also remain with the hair. At the same time, the hind legs are almost completely shaved to the level of the hocks. A small brush of wool is left at the very tip of the tail.
The fox haircut is no less attractive. The length of the coat remains at the level of 3-4 cm, this length is uniform over the entire body of the dog.
Classic haircut
This option is more suitable for everyday walks. The coat is clipped to a length of about 5-6 cm, while it is advisable not to touch the undercoat.
The shapes are also standard-rounded, with smooth configurations in the area of the head, paws, and nape. Such a haircut can even be performed independently, having the necessary tools and an assistant – one of the family members.
As a result, the pet becomes almost round and resembles a plush toy.
Show haircut
The characteristic features of a Spitz trimmed in a show manner are:
- rounded paws;
- the absence of protruding hairs throughout the body;
- the area of the gate is rounded.
The basis for an exhibition haircut is hygienic. Usually done at the same time as nail trimming, eye cleaning, and ear cleaning. Helps maintain dog coat health and appearance.
What to do if after grooming the hair does not grow well?
The breed’s short coat problem always puzzles Pomeranian owners. If you cut the undercoat too short, then it is almost impossible to restore it – only the guard hair grows. The pet owner can use the methods and means recommended by veterinarians. As a rule, these are hygienic cosmetics, lotions, sprays, special shampoos with vitamin supplements for hair growth.
To combat the problem of baldness and poor coat growth, the following set of actions on the part of the owner is recommended:
organization of correct, balanced nutrition, in which the content of vitamins D, E, calcium, and sulfur components will be increased;
frequent long walks – some substances necessary for hair growth are produced in the body only in the presence of sunlight;
checking for the presence of lice and fleas, and, if found, sanitizing;
plentiful drinking is necessary for intensive water exchange, which ensures the transport of useful components to the wool cells.
If these efforts do not bring results, you should contact your veterinarian for advice and a prescription of a therapeutic course.
How to trim a spitz at home?
Is it possible to cut a Pomeranian on my own? If the pet does not show a positive attitude towards visiting the groomer, or if the condition of its coat makes it possible to get by with a light haircut, you can trim the Pomeranian at home. And this is not particularly difficult while avoiding stress – for both the dog and the owner.
What tools do you need?
Before you cut a spitz yourself, you need to stock up on the following tools:
- long scissors with rounded ends;
- comb with long teeth;
- massage brush;
- thinning scissors;
- comb with frequent teeth.
Also, in case of accidental cuts, you should have an antiseptic solution and a cotton swab on hand.
Sequence of work
Before starting a haircut, you should establish the places of the most problematic and disheveled wool – they are subject to deep shearing. To do this, a wooden comb with large teeth should be carried along the coat from the head to the croup. In places where the undercoat falls, the comb will get stuck – here you will have to especially carefully carry out a hygienic haircut.
Before the very beginning, a base shampoo is applied to the coat all over the body, as well as a shampoo with a conditioner effect. After bathing and rinsing off cosmetics, the wool is dried with a hairdryer.
The procedure begins with the smallest and most inaccessible areas – such are the paws of a Spitz. First, claws are cut off on them and then, carefully spreading their fingers, they cut the hair between them.
Bending the paw, trim the wool around its circumference.
Next is the turn of the head. In the area of the upper part of the skull, the guard hair is shortened, and on the cheeks, the hair is cut evenly and shortly. In the area of the ears, the entire area is also leveled. On the ears, the haircut is carried out from the bottom up. Before trimming the Spitz in this part, you need to carefully fix the position of the ears with your fingers, pulling them up. With the utmost care, the protruding guard hairs in the auricles and along the contour of the ear are removed.
Since this procedure can be traumatic, it requires an assistant.
In the area of the collar, a thorough combing is carried out beforehand – here the coat is especially thick. Here you need to choose the right direction of styling: under the bottom of the hair it goes to the paws, at the back of the head towards the tail. The collar should be cut long to give the shape to the fullest.
The hair on the tail is smoothed with a comb, parted and trimmed by 2-3 cm.
For a uniform cut, a comb is used to lift and hold the hair in one line. A comb is also used in conjunction with scissors to shorten the fluff. With the help of thinning scissors, hair and coat are neatly trimmed in hard-to-reach places.
After completing all the steps, you need to make sure that in all areas the hair is styled in the specified direction, the shape is with the correct configuration, and nowhere separately protruding hair is visible.
How to care for its coat?
The main conditions for maintaining the physiological condition of the coat are correct regular bathing and brushing. This will help to avoid tangling, felting of the undercoat, and loss of natural shine.
How to comb a Spitz correctly?
Combing is carried out every week, and during the shedding period, this procedure will have to be carried out three times more often.
A grooming spray is recommended to relieve static stress. The procedure itself is carried out using a slicker and a massage brush. Combing is done against the direction of hair growth. At the same time unravel the tangles.
How often should you bathe your Spitz?
It is better not to carry out water procedures too often – an interval of 5-6 weeks is enough. You will have to swim before the haircut.
When bathing, it is recommended to use shampoo and conditioner – this will make the coat soft, pliable and will make it easier to cut.
It is better to dry in two stages: first, wrap in a warm towel, and then dry with a hairdryer with a stream of air at room temperature. In order not to provoke the brittleness of the coat, it is better not to dry it with hot air.