The Pomeranian requires careful grooming due to its length, texture and thick undercoat. All this can create great difficulties for the owner. To create a beautiful, neat look, you should trim your pet's hair. This can be done in different ways. An experienced groomer will advise you on the best option for cutting your Spitz after examining the condition of the fur.
Features of the coat
Pomeranians resemble small teddy bears with round eyes and a gorgeous mane. Thanks to the thick and soft undercoat and coarse long guard hairs, a spectacular appearance is achieved. The roundness of the shape is given by the frequent hairline, which is located perpendicular to the skin.
Grooming allows the dog to remain plush. Regular hairdressing procedures include not only shortening the fur, but also combing at least once a week. More frequent trimmings can cause hair to fall out of the undercoat and create unsightly bald patches. Most tangles form in the area of the ears, crotches, and armpits, so these parts of the body need to be combed especially carefully.
Grooming a Spitz allows you to give your fur coat a beautiful, neat shape. The manipulation should be carried out no more than once every 2-3 months. The hairdressing service will make the dog's exterior original, and the coat will be even, smooth, shiny and well-groomed.
Pet shedding
The pet begins to shed at the age of 3-4 months. During this period, the appearance of the fur changes greatly, and puppy fluff gradually becomes permanent. Before the age of two, the amount of hair on the animal’s body becomes larger; by the age of three, the thick fur coat becomes fully formed. The furry friend stops growing and stops shedding. From now on, it's time to take him to the dog hairdresser or get a Pomeranian haircut at home.
Formed individuals molt twice a year. Hair loss is associated with the change of seasons, so it occurs in spring and autumn. During the shedding process, dogs lose their undercoat and outer coat. This happens very slowly, so there are no scraps of fur scattered around the house. However, you need to remove fallen hairs 2-3 times a week during shedding by combing. After a haircut, the animal almost never sheds.
When should you trim your pet?
When purchasing a representative of the Pomeranian breed, you need to understand that he will require careful care. Bathing, fur trimming, and combing are carried out not only for exhibitions and shows, but also for personal hygiene. Haircuts for Spitz dogs help prevent:
- formation of tangles;
- tangling of fur;
- severe shedding;
- breakage, loss of spine;
- bald areas.
A beautiful fur coat is not only a decoration for a dog. It also performs a protective function: it protects against heat or cold. Therefore, cutting your pet almost bald will not help relieve your pet from the heat of the sun. Moreover, exposure of the skin leads to burns and heat stroke. A coat that is too short cannot grow back quickly, so experienced groomers leave 3-4 cm in length.
Why not?
If you, despite the advice of experts, still decide to cut your pet’s hair short, then you may encounter many problems. It’s not for nothing that your pets are naturally given such rich fur.
What will happen?
Here are some of the most common problems that may arise after cutting your pet's hair short.
A dense coat helps a dog regulate body heat. Protects her from hypothermia and heat. By losing it, your pet becomes defenseless against heat, moisture and cold.
When a dog undergoes short haircuts, he loses guard hairs . All that remains is the undercoat, which will very often and quickly fall into one lump, which will give the Spitz a not very well-groomed appearance. Such wool will get dirty quickly and constantly, so it has lost its protection. Be prepared to constantly bathe your dog.
The Pomeranian's exposed skin will be exposed to ultraviolet rays. Even heat stroke, burns, etc. . And this will take a very long time to treat and will be expensive.
Heat stroke will have the following effects on your dog: lethargy, possibly seizures and fainting. Take precautions by allowing your dog to be in the shade to avoid the negative effects of the sun.
You will have to thoroughly comb your pet .
The floor of an apartment, house, or any home will be strewn with small hairs .
If you decide to give up short hair and decide to regrow your dog's hair, it will take a long time. In most cases, you have to wait out several molting cycles . This takes about two years. But there is also a danger that the wool will not return to its original appearance.
Short-haired Spitz dogs become a delicacy for mosquitoes, midges and other blood-sucking creatures . Their bites can cause allergic reactions in dogs.
The worst outcome of constant short haircuts is mechanical alopecia . It will take a long period of time to recover from baldness.
Before subjecting animals to such a test. Weigh the pros and cons. Perhaps a couple of months of beauty will cost you years of treatment and recovery.
Preparing the dog for the procedure
It is especially important to prepare your pet if you are going to the salon for the first time. The same applies to the first haircut within the walls of his own home - the dog may become nervous due to the abundance of unfamiliar tools.
For everything to go well, by the time of the haircut the baby should know what bathing and blow-drying are. People are accustomed to water procedures from childhood.
It is ideal if the dog already knows the master - for example, you went to him for a nail trim. If not, you can bring the dog to the salon, introduce it to the groomer and take it away, after giving it a treat - this will cement a positive attitude towards the salon.
At home, before the procedure, you need to bathe the Pomeranian and praise him. Let your dog sniff the laid out tools - let him understand that they do not pose a danger.
With a machine or just with scissors?
To create a hairstyle, professionals mainly use scissors; a machine is only needed for minor adjustments in some places. But, if there are no other options, and you only have a machine at hand, then use only the largest nozzle.
Keep in mind that a regular human clipper is not suitable for grooming a dog, as the animal's hair is coarser. You need a special dog clipper.
Attention! You should not cut your dog's hair shorter than 1.5 cm.
Types of Spitz haircuts
The hairdressing procedure can be carried out at home or in specialized salons. The main thing is not to forget to comb and bathe the animal before the process.
Classic haircut
This option is used for exhibition representatives. The dog must be cut in such a way that all the advantages of the breed are emphasized, and the shortcomings are invisible.
The ears are given a rounded shape at the tips using scissors. You can use regular or thinning tools. The hair inside the ear also needs to be cut out. The dog should have round, cat-like paws. Excess vegetation is removed around the fingers and between the pads.
At the end, careful thinning is carried out along the entire contour of the body. The collar is given a spherical shape. The area around the tail is also trimmed.
Art Nouveau style
This option is not very different from the classic type. This is an ideal option for those owners who want to minimize the hassle of maintenance. Modernism will allow you to fully preserve the features of the dog’s breed exterior.
The distinctive features of Art Nouveau are a stronger shortening along the contour of the silhouette. As a result, the animal acquires a cute and completely plush appearance. Correctly performed manipulation does not harm the structure of the spine.
Haircut like Boo, or like a bear cub
With a bear haircut, the pet looks like a very cute plush toy. This is currently the most popular hairstyle for small dogs. The trendsetter was a Pomeranian named Boo. This dog became famous on the Internet and gained popularity all over the world.
The disadvantage of this exterior is the effect of pruning on the original exterior and length of the cover. Therefore, it is recommended to think carefully first and consult with an experienced groomer. The specialist will determine the condition of the coat, tell you about the characteristics of the breed and tell you how to trim your Spitz without harming its coat.
Grooming like a lion
This option is also very common among owners of decorative breeds. I remove the hair with a clipper all over the body up to the area of the shoulder blades. This is where the mane collar begins, which is only shortened a little. The thighs are shaved to the hocks, and the forelimbs to the pasterns. The belly is completely shaved.
A round brush is left at the tip of the tail for a third of the length. The tip is shaped into a ball using scissors. It is important for the owner to remember the same precautions when choosing this hairstyle as in the previous case.
Hygienic haircut
This option is suitable for those who want to keep the appearance of the orange as close as possible to what nature gave, and at the same time avoid problems with care. The dogs' fur is carefully trimmed on their ears, paws and near the anus, ensuring a clean and tidy appearance.
This type of grooming is very simple, so most owners perform it at home with a minimal set of tools.
Differences for boys and girls
There are no strict differences based on gender. However, bitches are almost never cut like a lion or like a bear cub - they are more suitable for hairstyles that are close to their natural look.
For exhibitions, both females and males are cut in the traditional (classical) style. In this case, you can emphasize individuality with jewelry, clothes and a leash. For boys, choose accessories in a restrained style, and for girls, brighter things. Sometimes females get a colored manicure.
How to choose a groomer
Finding a good groomer is similar to finding a good hairdresser. Unprofessional mistakes will take a very long time to correct.
Good groomer:
- Has a diploma of completion of courses. It is highly desirable to have various certificates confirming the continuous improvement of skills.
- The groomer must know the characteristics of the breed. If the master does not cut the Spitz, you should not give him the dog. Especially if she is going to perform at an exhibition.
- It is imperative to have high-quality tools that are kept clean. The work area is also clean and tidy.
- If you decide to cut your Pomeranian short (boo or lion), a professional groomer is obliged to inform you about all the consequences of such a haircut.
- The groomer must be able to establish contact with animals. For many dogs, a new place and the procedure itself causes great stress. Rough treatment will only make the situation worse. And rudeness in itself is unacceptable in any salon.
It is important to take care of such a high-maintenance breed. Otherwise, the luxurious dog turns into a shapeless ball of hair. Beautiful coat is an indicator of the health of the Spitz and the quality of care on the part of the owner.
Grooming a Spitz at home
The best option for furry couch potatoes is simple, model or hygienic pruning. It can be done independently, without visiting a salon. Pros - you will save your pet’s money, time and nerves, especially if he does not like to visit salons.
Tools needed
To work, you need to prepare regular and thinning scissors with rounded ends, a comb with long teeth, a massage brush and a grooming machine. In addition, it is necessary to use a low, stable table with a non-slip surface. All tools must be clean and sufficiently sharp.
It is advisable for the dog to become familiar with the tools in advance - to sniff them and understand that they do not pose a danger.
Stages of work
With proper skill, the process goes quickly, and both the dog and its owner enjoy it. The stages of manipulation are as follows:
- Before starting the procedure, the dog is thoroughly combed, starting from the paws, washed and dried with a hairdryer at low temperature.
- Next, the pads, fingers, and then the space between them are treated. This is done using thin scissors. The resulting tangles and dirt are removed. In order to create the effect of a cat's paw, the fur is removed along the entire contour of the paw.
- After shortening the fur on the paws, they proceed to forming “pants” using a machine. They do this from top to bottom, strictly along the hair growth lines. At the base of the ponytail, the hairs are shortened with scissors in the direction of growth.
- Then the anus and genital area are put in order.
- The abdominal area is carefully processed with a machine, leaving at least 3-4 cm of length.
- The tail must be processed extremely carefully so as not to spoil its exterior. If you have no experience in the procedure, then you just need to trim your hair with scissors.
- Next comes the treatment of the ears. They are cut especially carefully so as not to damage the dog’s delicate skin. First, the regrown hairs at the tips are shortened, then the ears are given a rounded shape. After that, small tweezers are used to pull the grown hairs on the inside of the shell. This is a very delicate process and requires special skill and dexterity.
- The back and sides are processed first with ordinary scissors, and then with thinning scissors. The owner's movements follow the contours of the dog. The back of the back is especially carefully processed so that nothing can prevent the tail from bending into a free position.
- After creating the pet's hairstyle, comb it according to hair growth, and then in the opposite direction. The remaining particles are blown off with a hairdryer.
After you have managed to trim your Spitz at home, you need to thank both the master (that is, yourself) and the handsome little guy. He deserved praise and treats.
For boys and girls
As a rule, owners of male Spitz dogs prefer haircuts:
- Classic.
- Modern.
- "Under Boo"
- Under the lion.
The first two emphasize the natural beauty of the pet, but do not indicate its gender. Therefore, they are suitable for both boys and girls.
As for the “Under Boo” hairstyle, it is often preferred by owners of boys . She is neat and does not require special care.
The Lion Hairstyle can be called the most masculine of all Pomeranian haircuts.
Owners of female Spitz prefer:
- Classic haircut.
- Modern.
- "Like a fox."
These hairstyles maximize the beauty of your pets. They do not deprive the dog of its natural decoration - a fluffy coat.
NOTE!
Some owners use various decorations (hairpins, bows and other accessories) to create hairstyles, and some use bladeless coloring.
Grooming Basics
In order for your pet to look neat, it should be combed, bathed and trimmed in a timely manner. During seasonal molting, these processes need to be given maximum attention. This is due to the peculiarities of the structure of the baby’s coat: when it falls out, the spiral base clings to the surface of the coat and remains there. If you neglect care, tangles will form on your body. They are difficult to remove or comb without damaging the animal's appearance. There may be areas of baldness that are unevenly covered with fur, so you need to know some grooming tricks.
Brushing a dog
The regularity of the procedure does not depend in any way on the purpose of the fluffy. It may be a regular exhibitor or a homebody, but it should be brushed at least 2-3 times a week. This process can be carried out at home without turning to a professional for help. For this you will need:
- Massage brush.
In this case, a regular comb with teeth no shorter than 3 cm will do. The tool will help untangle hair clumps and will be useful during blow-drying.
- Pukhoderka
. The device should be of medium size, not very rigid, with elongated teeth without plastic tips. A slicker is carried out from roots to ends, dividing the hair into clear partings. The tool is especially useful during shedding.
- Crest
. The final stage of the process is the use of a fine comb, which lifts the hairs, removes remaining fluff and creates beautiful volume.
The grooming procedure should not cause pain or other unpleasant sensations to the pet. To avoid this, it is important to choose the right tools and teach combing from an early age. Then the adult will perceive the process calmly.
Bathing your pet
The frequency of washing depends entirely on the purpose of the animal. Thus, exhibition representatives wash themselves before each show. For dogs not taking part in competitions, one bath per month will be enough. Washing is divided into 3 stages:
- Washing with shampoo
. You should only use special products for long-haired breeds. A small amount of the product is diluted in water and applied to the body, head, neck, tail and paws of the animal. Avoid contact with ears or eyes. Wash off the washing solution with warm water from top to bottom, starting from the pet’s head.
- Application of air conditioner
. The care product restores the structure of the spine, prevents the appearance of tangled lumps, and makes the Spitz fur smooth and shiny. Use the product as a shampoo, only you need to wait a while before rinsing.
- Drying
. The wet animal is wrapped in a large towel and then dried with a hairdryer on a cool setting. You can use a special compressor. It is important to dry the entire body of your four-legged friend, without leaving wet areas. This will help avoid colds.
Show dogs are treated with professional products that tone, moisturize and make combing easier. However, if you wish, you can use them for your own pleasure.
