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The Pomeranian is the smallest breed of Spitz dog. This dog is petite, but very friendly and loving in nature. They have a very fox-like face, which the breed enthusiasts love.
Unlike what you may have thought before, Pomeranian grooming has more to do than just keep your dog looking good.
Grooming your Pom can help improve their health and comfort. It also helps in preventing certain problems before they become visible.
For example, if your dog has a matted coat, you know it can look unsightly, but the other danger is that it can trap moisture against the skin.
Such a coat can have painful pulling or even lead to skin infections if care is not taken early enough.
Learning how to groom a Pomeranian is one of those things you should never ignore if you own this cute little breed.
In this guide, we are going to take you through the Pomeranian grooming process and everything you need to know.
The Cute Pomeranian’s Coat
Before you learn the tricks of grooming a Pom, we think it’s a good idea to remind you about the Pomeranian coat.
Pomeranians have what’s called a double coat. This means they have a dense, soft undercoat topped by longer, harsher guard hairs.
This double coat is what gives them the puffball look that we all admire. It also means that Pomeranian care will need extra attention than what you may give short-haired breeds.
The undercoat is where most of the action happens. It sheds constantly, and if you’re not brushing regularly, that loose fur gets trapped and turns into mats.
On the topside, the guard hairs provide protection and that beautiful outer appearance, but they can’t do their job if the undercoat underneath is a tangled mess.
Long-haired Pomeranian grooming has a set of unique challenges because there’s simply more coat to manage.
Some Pomeranians have that exceptionally thick coat, especially intact males and dogs bred for show purposes.
No matter how demanding Pom grooming may turn out to be, you should avoid shaving your Pom down to the skin, unless warranted for medical reasons.
Their double coat actually helps regulate body temperature in both hot and cold weather, and shaving can cause permanent damage to the coat texture.
Yes, you can trim and tidy, but never give that full body shave just for the sake of it. To learn more about these cute little dogs, check out our post on Pomeranian dog breed info.
Essential Grooming Tools You’ll Need
Having the right Pomeranian grooming tools at hand can make all the difference during the process.
The good news is that you don’t need a full drawer of tools. Here are some of the most reliable tools that will get you 90% done when grooming a Pom:
- Slicker brush: This should be your workhorse tool. The fine wire bristles penetrate through the guard hairs to remove loose undercoat and prevent mats.
- Pin brush: Great for finishing and fluffing. Use this after the slicker brush to make the coat stand up and look its best.
- Metal comb: A fine-toothed comb catches anything the brushes miss and is essential for working through smaller tangles.
- Undercoat rake: This tool is especially helpful during shedding season when loose undercoat seems to multiply overnight.
- Detangling spray: Finding the best detangler for Pomeranian hair could be what you need to deal with stubborn mats.
- Quality shampoo and conditioner: We’ll talk more about Pomeranian shampoo choices in the bath section.
- Rounded-tip scissors: This tool is needed for tidying up paw pads, sanitary areas, and stray hairs. It won’t harm your dog.
How to Groom a Pomeranian
Once you have the tools ready for the job, your next step should be the main business. In the following sections, we’ll share practical Pomeranian grooming tips to get you started.
Brushing Your Pomeranian
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If there’s one habit that makes the biggest difference in a Pom’s coat, it’s brushing. You should always aim to do it the right way.
In a perfect world, you’d brush your Pom daily. And once you’ve got the routine down, it may take about ten to fifteen minutes while you’re watching TV or unwinding in the evening.
But life gets busy. At a minimum, aim to brush your dog at least twice weekly. When you skip much longer than that, you may be inviting mats.
Pomeranian puppy fur doesn’t tangle quickly, but still you should aim to brush them for about two to three times a week.
What Is Line Brushing?
Most people brush the top of the coat and call it done. The fur looks smooth on the surface, so they might think their mission is accomplished.
Underneath that pretty outer layer, the dense undercoat is quietly forming mats that you won’t notice until they’re a real problem.
Line brushing works differently. You part the coat in horizontal sections, like you’re drawing lines across your dog’s body, and brush each layer from the skin outward.
It’s more thorough, reaches the undercoat where tangles form, and removes loose fur instead of just pushing it around.
To do it properly, lay your Pom on the side and start at the shoulders and work in rows down the body toward the tail.
Brush each section from the skin out before moving to the next row. Then flip your dog and repeat on the other side. Don’t forget the chest, the rump, and the belly.
A Simple Brushing Routine That Works
Here’s a straightforward process you can follow to brush your Pom. It may take a bit longer than a quick glide, but the results are worth it.
Step 1: Start with a comb.
Lightly mist it with your leave-in spray and slowly work through the entire coat. At this point, you’re also checking for tangles, mats, and any spots that need extra attention on that coat.
Use the wide-tooth side for larger areas like the back and chest, and the fine-tooth side for tricky spots like behind the ears and the tops of the paws.
Step 2: Address any tangles you find.
If your comb snags on something, you should immediately pause. Isolate the tangle, spray it with detangler, and work it out with your fingers or the comb.
Some groomers swear by the best detangler for Pomeranian dogs being a simple mix of conditioner and water in a spray bottle. Others prefer commercial formulas.
For stubborn mats close to the skin, you may need a mat splitter. If you notice widespread tangling, we recommend seeking professional help.
Step 3: Move to the slicker brush.
The slicker brush should be your main tool, especially for adult Poms. Work through the entire coat section by section using the line brushing technique we discussed earlier.
Keep misting as you go, and you’ll also want to make sure you’re reaching the undercoat part. Commonly missed areas include under the tail, the armpits, and the backs of the legs.
Step 4: Comb small areas.
Go back with your comb to carefully work through the face, around the eyes, and the tops of the paws or just anywhere the slicker brush couldn’t easily reach.
Step 5: Finish with a pin brush.
Make that one final light mist of spray, then glide the pin brush from roots to tips to smooth everything out and add that fluffy, polished look.
Bathing Your Pomeranian
When it comes to Pomeranian baths, some pups tolerate them. A few even seem to enjoy them. And then some may dislike it.
Wherever your dog falls, there’s a right way to do this, and a lot of wrong ways that can leave you with skin problems or coat damage.
How Often Should You Bathe?
Here’s where a lot of people mess up. They either bathe too often or not often enough. For most adult Pomeranians, bathing once every three weeks is good enough.
Why three weeks? Your Pom’s body produces natural oils that keep the skin healthy and the coat protected.
When you wash them too frequently, even with great products, you’ll strip those oils faster than the body can replace them. The result is you get dry, flaky skin with a less shiny coat.
On the other end, when you wait too long between baths, you’ll be dealing with accumulated body oil, perspiration residue, and all the things dogs pick up.
Of course, if your Pom gets in a particular muddy situation, you can always give them a quick bath to remove the dirt.
Before You Bath Your Pom
For the best results, you should always aim to brush your Pom thoroughly before the bath. This should be every single time. No exceptions.
When Pomeranian fur gets wet, any existing tangles tighten up and become nearly impossible to remove.
Comb through the entire coat first. Check for mats. Address any tangles you find. Only when the comb glides through smoothly should you even think about turning on the water.
The steps to bathing your Pomeranian
To start with, fill the sink with a couple of inches of warm water, enough to reach your Pom’s elbows, not deep enough to freak them out.
Test the temperature with your inner wrist or elbow. It should feel comfortably warm, not hot. Dogs are more sensitive to heat than we are.
If you’re using cotton balls in the ears to prevent moisture, you should place them gently place them at this point.
Don’t call your dog over and then surprise them with a bath because that can be a quick way to create negative associations.
Instead, pick them up calmly, wet their paws first, then ease them into the water. You’ll also want to talk to them in a soothing voice.
Wetting the coat
This process may take longer than you’d expect. Pomeranian fur is dense, and water tends to roll right off the top layer at first.
Use a spray nozzle if you have one. It’s more effective than scooping water with a cup. Make sure you’re getting all the way down to the skin before moving on.
Shampooing
Work a generous amount of Pomeranian shampoo into the coat, starting at the neck and moving down the body.
Some people prefer to dilute their shampoo with warm water first because it helps spread more evenly.
Massage it all the way down to the skin and remember, you’re cleaning the undercoat too, not just the surface.
Don’t forget the belly, the armpits, the genital area, and the paws. We suggest you scrub for a solid four to five minutes.
The face
For a Pomeranian in bath situation, you should avoid using the shampoo on the face. Use a damp washcloth to gently clean around the eyes, the muzzle, the cheeks, and over the ears.
Also, remember to wipe any Pomeranian tear stains using a damp cloth or tear stain wipes during the time.
Rinsing
The shampoo residue left in the coat causes itching, dullness, and skin irritation. You’ll want to rinse until you’re sure it’s done. For every inch of the body, the water should run clear.
Conditioning
Apply conditioner generously and work it through from roots to tips, and let it sit for three to five minutes.
Then rinse out most of the conditioner. Leaving about two percent behind is fine and may actually help protect the coat during drying.
Dry Your Pomeranian After the Bath
A Pomeranian’s thick double coat holds moisture for a surprisingly long time. If you quickly towel it off, that trapped dampness can lead to skin issues, a musty smell, or fungal problems.
You should let your dog shake off first, then wrap them in a towel and use a blot and squeeze method.
Gather small sections of fur and press gently from both sides. Never rub vigorously back and forth. Rubbing creates tangles and can damage the coat.
From there, you can either air-dry or blow-dry. Air drying works, but it takes forever with a double coat, and your Pom will be damp for hours.
Blow drying, on the other hand, is faster and gives you that fluffy, show-ready finish, but you need to be careful. Use a cool or low heat setting. Keep the dryer moving.
Never hold it in one spot. If you’re using a human hair dryer, keep it at a distance and test the air temperature on your own skin periodically.
Brush while you dry to prevent tangles from forming as the coat dries and help the fur stand up properly for maximum fluff.
Clean the Ears, Nails & Paws
Moisture caught in the ear canal may lead to ear infections. Remove any cotton balls you may have used and inspect the ears once the bath is completed.
If they look wet/damp, use a soft cloth or cotton ball to dry the outer ear flap.
If your Pom vigorously shakes their head or scratches at their ears in the days after bathing, this could be a sign that moisture was trapped inside.
You’ll want to monitor the situation, and if redness or odor develops within a few days, we suggest going to the vet.
You’ll also want to trim or grind your Pom’s nails a little and often, and brush teeth a few times a week to protect that tiny mouth.
Don’t forget paws. Trim long hair between paw pads so your Pom has better traction on tile, and wipe
paws after dusty walks so grit doesn’t work its way into the coat.
Grooming Styles and Trimming
Choosing Pomeranian grooming styles and haircuts can be simpler than you think, or vastly complicated, depending on how you look at it.
There are as many options on how to groom a Pomeranian at home. It depends on what you want, how your Pom’s coat is doing, and of course, your own preferences.
Some owners like the natural look. Leave the coat long and full everywhere except for slight trimming around the feet, ears, and sanitary areas.
The teddy bear cut is very popular these days. It keeps the coat trimmed to one even length all over gives your Pom that cute stuffed-animal look.
It’s easier to maintain than a full coat, but still incredibly cute. The lion cut is shaved everywhere except the hair around the head (mane) and a puff of hair on the tail.
Pretty flashy but not recommended by many groomers and breeders. Shaving your Pom can cause problems with temperature regulation and may ruin their undercoat.
However, if you are looking for ways on how to groom a Pomeranian for a show, then the techniques need to be professional.
Show grooming strives to mold the dog into the breed standard with a rounded/square profile and balanced proportions.
It uses safe scissoring techniques to perfect the dog’s outline, while paying closer attention to coat care. It’s an art that takes years to perfect.
The best Pomeranian grooming style for everyday pets depends on what fits your schedule best while keeping your dog happy and healthy.
To see examples of the different styles you can try on your Pom, check our article 20 Adorable Dog Grooming Styles for Pomeranians.
We include photos and clear descriptions for each look so you can decide if it might be a good fit for your furry friend.
Conclusion
We hope this article has been of great help in teaching you how to groom a Pomeranian dog at home.
Remember Pomeranian are one of the few dog breeds that are synonymous with hygiene, so it helps to keep yours looking good.
Please feel free to drop a question you may have in the comment box below, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Laura is the founder of Furs'n'Paws. She is a also a pet writer and expert with more than 20 years of experience of working with dogs and cats. She developed a very strong love for animals at a young age. Her passion led her to establish a thriving pet sitting and dog walking business in Dubai. As an expert in pet training, behavior, and nutrition, Laura is committed to helping pet owners and pet lovers by offering high-quality information on a wide range of topics.
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