Dog Grooming Tips for Pomeranian Show Dogs

Pomeranians are very fluffy dogs because of their dense, woolly undercoat and coarse top coat. If you plan to show a Pomeranian, you'll need to groom it to reflect these two distinct hair coat types. Grooming a Pomeranian takes time and dedication, but you and your dog will be rewarded with a beautiful coat.

  1. Supplies

    • To groom a Pomeranian for show, you'll need the proper supplies. Both a slicker brush and a metal comb will help you brush the dog's coat. Scissors or shears will allow you to do any trimming that might be needed. You'll need a gentle shampoo for bathing, and you may want to pick up a specially formulated stain removing product for dogs for stubborn urine or grass stains that may not come off during the bath. You may want a forced air dryer for quick drying, but if you prefer to let the dog air-dry, prepare a blow dryer with a cold air setting so that you can fluff up the coat efficiently.

    Trimming

    • Before you bathe, brush or style the dog, you'll need to do some trimming. The AKC allows "trimming for neatness and a clean outline," but you shouldn't actually shorten the hair length or thin the coat. You may want to lightly trim the hair around the Pomeranian's anus and genitals to avoid unsightly stains. Some Pomeranians have excess hair on their paws, giving them a "bedroom slippers" look. Simply comb that hair straight up, and then take your shears parallel to the dog's paw and snip off the excess hair. Also trim the Pomeranian's nails. Do not trim them too short, or you will cut the quick, which is very painful for the dog. Sometimes you can see the quick, but if not, just trim the pointy ends of the nails.

    Bathing

    • Shampoo the Pomeranian's coat all over, and rinse well. If shampoo is left on the dog's coat or skin, it could become itchy and dull the hair. Bathe the dog before a show and every three weeks in between. After you've rinsed all the shampoo out of the dog's coat, put the dog in a kennel and dry with the forced air dryer or allow it to air dry, and fluff the coat with a hair dryer set on cold before brushing.

    Brushing and Styling

    • Gently work any mats or tangles out. Because the Pomeranian's coat contains several different textures, it tangles easily. To avoid pulling on the dog's skin, hold the hair at the root and work out the tangles and mats from the tip toward the root with the metal comb. Next, use the slicker brush to get hair that the dog has shed out of the undercoat. Work from the root out with the slicker brush, making sure not to force hair out. If you do this, the undercoat will become too thin. Only use the slicker brush to remove shed hair and smooth the undercoat. Finally, brush the coat upward. The judges want to see that the Pomeranian's coat is sufficiently full, so brushing upward will fluff the coat and expose some of the undercoat. Pay special attention to the fore and hindquarters, where hair should be thicker. Make sure that the hair from the backs of the legs through the tail is brushed upward, showing the dog's stance and the tail plumage.