The Pomeranian is a small dog with a luxurious coat.
Her ancestors are server sled dogs, and her closest relatives are the Eskimo dog and the Samoyed husky.
The breed originates in Iceland and Lapland.
However, active breeding began in the German province of Pomerania, hence the name.
At the moment there are 4 types of oranges - fox, bear, mini and toy.
Why does a Spitz need a haircut?
In the first months of a puppy’s life, the owner doesn’t have to think about going to the groomer or mastering hairdressing skills. The coat of small Spitz dogs is fluff. A dog develops full hair at the age of 1 year. This is the guard hair, the undercoat.
The Pomeranian has a fluffy collar and shorts on its hind legs.
A dog's fur coat can turn into solid icicles if it is not combed or cut. These procedures are necessary for Spitz dogs. Without hairstyle correction, the dog will look unkempt.
Neglecting hygiene measures will contribute to the development of various types of dermatitis, since the Spitz’s skin will be deprived of proper ventilation. It is also possible that if the animal is not properly cared for, fleas may appear.
This is interesting: Proper care and washing of the Pomeranian Spitz
Dramatic change of image
Do you want to completely change the appearance of your Spitz? Then go to a grooming salon, where your pet will be made into a “bear cub” or “lion” and painted in any colors with harmless paints. If you have special wishes, the craftsmen will make any of your fantasies come true using professional tools and cosmetics.
However, in an effort to distinguish a dog from the “gray crowd”, do not get too carried away. First of all, think about the animal, and then about the dictates of fashion. Too short hair will not be able to protect the Spitz from bad weather, and possible disturbances in the structure of the skin can easily lead to dermatitis or cancer. In addition, a short-haired dog is an excellent target for mosquito bites and fleas, which can cause allergies or an infectious disease.
If you don’t want to have a bald creature instead of a fluffy dog, don’t even think about cutting its hair. After all, after this the hairs practically stop growing. To ensure that a model haircut does not harm the health of the Spitz, it is necessary to leave at least three to four centimeters of fur.
Types of haircuts for Spitz
There are more than 10 options for Spitz haircuts. The owners choose them based on their needs. For one, it is important to present the animal at an exhibition, which requires a classic hairstyle. Others tend to experiment with haircuts, so they create different looks for their pet.
Exhibition
With this haircut, the Spitz will not look pretentious. The hairstyle focuses attention on the dog’s advantages and veils its shortcomings.
The silhouette, in the classic form of grooming, is given a clear outline. The collar takes on a spherical shape.
Using regular and thinning scissors, the hair around the ears is trimmed, exposing the ear canal. The Spitz's paws are made round in shape, following the contour of the claws. Remove regrown hairs between the pads. Correct the area under the tail. The hairstyle is equally suitable for boys and girls.
Modern
An option akin to the classics. The haircut is preferred by dog owners who are trying to preserve the visual uniqueness of the breed and simplify subsequent care for their pet.
Modern implies a deeper edging of the silhouette than in the classic version. The Spitz's coat takes on a plush appearance. The structure of the hairline is not affected.
Interesting article: Nutritional characteristics of German and Pomeranian Spitz
Boo
A dog cut this way resembles a teddy bear and looks cute. However, after a bold hairstyle, the original length of the hair may no longer be there. This is a feature of the pile of some individuals of the breed.
If the quality of the dog's coat is poor, the Boo style - like a teddy bear - may be the best option.
The trend setter for plush was a Pomeranian named Boo, who quickly gained popularity on the Internet. The haircut began to be copied in different countries of the world, due to which the number of bear-type dogs increased sharply.
Read also: All about the Pomeranian breed
a lion
The belly, back to the shoulder blades, hips are shaved like a machine. A brush is left at the end of the Spitz's tail. The shape of the collar is carefully aligned with the lion (acts as a mane). In this form, the dog resembles the king of beasts in miniature.
This is interesting: Is the wool of a Pomeranian and a German Spitz different?
Which dog is suitable for "Little Fox"
The most important rule is to cut “fox-like” better than fox-type oranges. These minis make excellent fox cubs. Some breeders ask groomers to make a fox cub from a Bear Spitz, but usually the result is not very good. The dog becomes cuddly and bears little resemblance to a red fox.
Bear or fox
Grooming experts argue that the shape of the muzzle and the quality of the fur are different among the subspecies. In this form, it is quite easy to distinguish a dog from a fox.
At the same time, regardless of the result, you will pay a rather high price, but you will not achieve the desired result. A haircut can cost from 1.5 thousand rubles.
Features of grooming
Spitz dogs have an unusual coat structure. In order not to spoil it, you must adhere to several rules:
- Do not cut your dog's hair until 3 months of age. It is enough to comb it regularly;
- For the first time, trim the hair only on the paws and frame the collar.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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In a year, the second period of hair change begins. This is a signal - the dog can be trimmed.
Dog pedicure
Spitz claws need to be trimmed as they grow: for a puppy - with tweezers, for an adult dog - with nail clippers. It is advisable to do this after bathing, when they have softened. If your dog is afraid, distract him with affectionate conversation and his favorite treat.
Be careful to trim just a little at a time so as not to damage the blood vessel that is located inside each claw. If you do hurt it, immediately pour hemostatic powder or drop hydrogen peroxide onto the wound. These funds should always be at hand. Treat trimmed claws with a nail file to prevent possible cracks.
How does your dog feel about grooming? Tell us about it in the comments.
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How to cut ears, butt and back
Learning how to trim your ears correctly is easy. The main thing here is not to injure your pet. When framing the hearing organ, you need to determine its edge and pinch it with your fingers. Protruding hairs are removed with an appropriate tool, making the four-legged friend look like a fox.
To tidy up the butt, you will need a helper to hold the dog's tail up. It is important to comb the fur around the butt along the hairline. Long hairs are cut off.
It is recommended to correct the Spitz's back using thinning scissors. It carefully removes unevenness and loose hair.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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The coat of the Pomeranian, a German Spitz, grows quickly. To prevent the dog from becoming overgrown, grooming is organized for him at intervals of no more than 3 months.
Before an important event
When preparing and trimming your Spitz for an exhibition, follow these rules:
- for water treatments, choose a completely rinsable shampoo and a leave-free conditioner;
- the undercoat should be lightly trimmed, not clipped;
- Use scissors to carefully shape the dog to the standard;
- With the help of a haircut, try to hide the shortcomings of the Spitz, while simultaneously emphasizing its advantages.
The most important thing about an exhibition haircut is that no judge should notice it. If you do not have experience, it is better to contact a professional groomer.
Grooming your pet at home
The best option is a simple, fashionable hairstyle. It can be performed in any conditions.
Home haircut
To work you will need:
- combs - frequent, rare teeth;
- scissors – thinning, with rounded ends;
- massage brush;
- low table with a non-slip surface;
- hair clipper.
This is interesting: Basic rules for training a Pomeranian at home
All accessories must be sharp, otherwise the scissors will chew the dog's hair.
Stages
Before your dog takes on a well-groomed appearance, you need to perform several steps.
Spitz transformation steps:
- combing;
- bathing;
- blow drying;
- repeated combing;
- a haircut.
By following the step-by-step procedures and thoroughly approaching each stage, the result will differ little from the salon one.
Step-by-step diagram:
- Prepare a professional machine designed for animal hair, or regular and thinning scissors.
- Trim the hair around the base of the dog's tail.
- Remove excess from collar and ears.
- Remove the fur with your Spitz fingers.
- Correct the work by milling.
Making a beautiful haircut with your own hands is possible. The technique will improve over time.
After each stage, the wool must be combed out.
If you follow the step-by-step instructions, you will be able to quickly master the art of cutting hair.
Comb, bathe, dry
Before bathing, spray your Pomeranian's coat with detangling spray and comb through with a wide-tooth comb. Then, to prevent water from getting in, cover your dog's ears with cotton balls. Place the prepared pet in the bath and wet its fur using a shower with medium pressure of warm water. Lather your Pomeranian with a solution of five parts water and one part shampoo. It is not necessary to wash your hair. But if you decide to do so, do it carefully so that the shampoo does not get into your eyes.
Wash all dirty areas, then rinse off the soap thoroughly. Dry your pet's fur with a towel and apply conditioner, balm or moisturizing oil to the fur. Then place the dog on the table and blow dry using a cold setting and a massage brush. It is not advisable for Spitz dogs to dry out naturally. At the base, the wool takes too long to dry, which can create a favorable environment for the development of fungi and bacteria.
You should not bathe your Spitz during the molting period, when the fur becomes soft, tangled and tangled. Water procedures will only bring discomfort to the dog. Lubricate severely bald areas with vitamin A oil and castor oil mixed in a 1:1 ratio.
After bathing, you can have one of three haircuts for your German Spitz: show, model or traditional.
Haircut care
The dog’s appearance does not require any special care after a visit to the groomer or a home makeover. However, you need to know a few nuances.
- It is recommended to regularly comb the dog’s lush, classic hairstyle once every 3 days.
- In rainy weather, it is not recommended to walk your pet without overalls, as it is difficult to tidy up the fur, which is soaked in street dirt.
These problems are less common for short-haired Spitz dogs. But they have other difficulties. The dog has no sweat glands, modest hair, leaving it without protection for the summer and winter. During hot periods, the dog may overheat. Burns, dermatitis, and allergic reactions are possible. Therefore, it is a mistake to consider a pet’s short hairstyle to be the best summer option.
The golden mean is a coat length of 3.5 – 4 cm.
Combing
To accustom the animal to the procedure, you must first sit it on your lap and place a soft cloth under the puppy. The Spitz should feel comfortable.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
Ask a Question
It is necessary to comb the dog against the grain. This will make the fur coat more voluminous.
Tangles in representatives of the breed rarely occur and only in the armpits, groin, and toes. First they are carefully plucked, then cut.
To avoid electrification of the hair, it is allowed to use antistatic agents. Sprays and conditioners moisturize the coat well.
the washing up
Bathing your pet more than once a month is harmful. An exception is allowed in the run-up to the exhibition. After a walk, just wipe your paws with a wet cloth.
It is allowed to use dog shampoo twice a year. After the water procedure, the wool is treated with a dry concentrated aerosol for animals.
Dry your pet's hair with a warm stream of air from a hair dryer.
Operating principle
Once your Spitz gets used to being brushed, repeat the process no more than two to three times a week. Otherwise, you will remove all the undercoat and deprive the dog of its beauty. Comb the fur carefully, in different directions, trying not to cause discomfort to your pet.
To make combing easier and improve the quality of the coat, use special sprays. Don’t skimp on your pet – choose companies that produce high-quality cosmetics. The Italian Iv San Bernard and the American Crown Royale have proven themselves well. Finish the procedure by moving the comb against the grain to return the guard hairs to a vertical position.
Pay special attention to areas with soft fur: armpits, behind the ears, in the groin area, under the throat, between the toes. In such places tangles can form. If you cannot comb them, do not hurt your Pomeranian - use a tangle cutter.
Daily brushing will be needed during shedding, when there is especially a lot of dead hair. To prevent the hair from splitting due to frequent brushing, before each procedure, spray it from a spray bottle with a solution of five parts warm water and one part dog conditioner. After carefully combing all the wool, fluff it with your hands so that the hairs do not mat or tangle.
Shedding
This is a natural process that cannot be avoided. It is repeated at certain intervals throughout the dog’s life.
The first coat change in Spitz dogs occurs at 3-3.5 months. Molting occurs 2 times a year. First the core hair goes away, then the undercoat. At this time, your furry pet may lose half of its coat.
Sharpening
When the question of sharpening arises, everyone decides for themselves whether the moment has come that means the scissors need to be sharpened. The main thing is not to let it get to the point where the hair is not cut but broken, this will cause inconvenience.
Of course, it is not advisable to sharpen it yourself , you can only make the situation worse, it is better to take the tool to a professional, he will know what to do. This is especially true for thinning scissors. It is advisable not to overload the tool with work for 10 days after purchase or sharpening; it should break in.
In order for the tool to serve you for a long time, you need to remember a few rules:
- When you take a break or finish work, be sure to close your instrument. They should be placed on a flat surface covered with soft cloth or suede;
- If you drop an instrument, it is difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to restore it;
- After a working day, wipe the blades of the scissors with a soft cloth soaked in special oil, without touching the cutting edge;
- Do not use scissors for cutting nails, paper, fabric, etc., only for wool;
- Monitor the tension of the canvas.
Cost in showrooms
Going to a groomer is an expensive pleasure, since professional care includes:
- haircut;
- bathing;
- drying;
- tidying up claws and ears.
The lush hair of a mini Spitz allows the owner to choose any look for his pet. For clarity, salons have catalogs with photos of four-legged models.
Prices:
| Dog size | Cost of service (RUB) |
| Dwarf | 3 200 |
| Small | 3 500 |
| Average | 3 800 |
| Big | 4 100 |
You can save money. A haircut without other procedures will cost 2,000 rubles. In this case, before visiting a specialist, your four-legged pet will have to be washed, dried, and combed yourself.
Compound
All scissors are made from high carbon steel. After heat treatment at 440C, they achieve increased strength and wear resistance. Professional, even stronger, Rockwell scale, 58-62HRC. But if the figure goes beyond 62HRC, the instrument will become very fragile.
To increase hardness, vanadium is added to the alloy, and chromium and nickel are added so that the steel does not rust. Some groomers coat their tools with titanium - this is, of course, expensive, but it provides increased wear resistance, hypoallergenicity and corrosion protection. The antibacterial effect of titanium coating has also been proven.
Photo and video review
The attractiveness of representatives of the fox-type breed, their miniature size, and their beautiful fur surprises not only in real life. Spitz dogs look impressive in photos and videos.
Proper care of an animal will make it the pride of its owner. A dog’s healthy, shiny coat is not just beauty, but an indicator of the quality of health of your four-legged friend.
Required age for the first procedure
Some owners are sure that the puppy should not be cut. This opinion is fundamentally wrong. A simple hairstyle will not harm the puppy's fur, but will instead create an addiction in the dog. Grooming should be carried out from 3-4 months. If you start the procedure at a young age, the dog will not become nervous in the future.
The puppy experiences its first molt between the ages of 3 and 8 months. Up to 3 months, the dog is simply combed thoroughly without bathing or grooming.
But a model haircut for a puppy is unacceptable. The coat at a young age is not sufficiently formed. A complex hairstyle for a pet can only be done from 11-12 months. Before this, you should remove some hair from the ears, paws, and slightly shorten the hair under the tail. Otherwise, the baby will look sloppy.
