The Pomeranian’s glory lies in its thick, remarkable double coat, with an undercoat of soft, thick, fluffy hair and an upper layer of long, straight, shiny hair that is harsh to the touch. The longer hair around the neck and chest forms a ruffle, enhancing the Pom’s proud appearance. The Pom’s tail is another notable feature of the breed.
The feathery tail with its profusion of hair lies flat and extends across the dog’s back. Interestingly, when Poms are born, their tails don’t look like this. It can take months for the tail to grow this way. One of the best things about Pomeranians is that they come in every color or pattern you can imagine in dogs, including black, black and tan, blue, blue and tan, chocolate, chocolate and tan, cream, cream sable, orange, orange sable. , red, red sable, sable (black-tipped hairs on a silver, gold, gray, fawn, or brown background), brindle (a gold, red, or orange base color with strong black cross stripes), and white.
White pom poms with spots of any other color are called “particolors”. Pom poms are considered to shed moderately. Males usually shed their undercoat once a year. Unspayed females often lose their undercoat when in season, after giving birth, and whenever they are stressed. To keep hair out of your clothes and furniture, brush and comb your Pom at least twice a week with a wire brush and metal comb. This distributes the skin’s natural oils, keeps the coat and skin healthy, and prevents matting or tangling. Be sure to brush and comb down to the skin to remove any shedding undercoat.
Start brushing your Pom at head level, then separate the coat and brush it forward so it falls back into place when you’re done. If you like, you can trim your Pom from time to time for neatness, especially around the feet, around the face and ears, and around the rear. You can give him a bath as often as you like, whether daily or monthly, as long as you use a gentle product dog shampoo and conditioner. If he starts to smell a little like a dog between baths, sprinkle some baby powder on his coat, let it sit for a few minutes, then brush him out. Other grooming needs include dental hygiene and nail care. Tassels are prone to dental problems, so this is something you need to be especially careful about. It’s a good idea to brush your teeth at least once a week, and better yet, daily.
Trim nails regularly if your dog does not wear them out naturally. If you hear them clicking on the ground, they are too long. Short, neatly trimmed nails keep your legs from scratching when your Pom jumps excitedly to greet you. Start getting your Pomeranian used to being brushed and examined as a puppy. Handle his paws frequently – dogs are sensitive with their feet – and look inside his mouth and ears. Make grooming a positive experience filled with praise and rewards, and you’ll set the stage for veterinary exams and other easy handling when he’s an adult. While grooming, look for sores, rashes, or signs of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation of the skin, ears, nose, mouth, eyes, and feet. The ears should smell nice, without too much wax or gunk inside, and the eyes should be clear, without redness or discharge. Your careful weekly exam will help you detect potential health problems early.