The Pomeranian is one of the most popular miniature or toy dogs in the world. Due to its sweet expression and cuddly appearance, many end up captivated by this breed and decide to adopt it to enjoy a loyal, affectionate and intelligent dog. However, very few know that the character of this dog also stands out for being strong, active and curious, which is why it also requires exercise, attention and special care.
To ensure that your furry companion is comfortable and happy, in this article on our site we will talk about the basic care of the puppy, adult and elderly Pomeranian, keep reading!
Pomeranian hair care
Without a doubt, the abundant, silky and long coat is the most characteristic feature of the Pomeranian. However, its beauty must be worked on through proper care.
Pomeranian puppy hair care
Between four and eight months, the Pomeranian puppy experiences a significant hair loss, losing practically all his hair. This process is carried out with a clear purpose: to shed its puppy coat to make way for adult hair. It is something natural, so we should not be alarmed if we see that our Pomeranian puppy loses a lot of hair during this period of time. Likewise, with this same process, we observe color variations in some specimens. In general, white, black or tan dogs do not usually feel this color change, however, those that are more like cream, orange or reddish can notice it.
During the Pomeranian puppy's first moult, it is advisable to start daily brushing both to favor it and to speed up the process. In this way, in addition, we will be able to get the animal used to this habit and we will make it a pleasant activity for him.
Adult Pomeranian hair care
From the age of eight months it is considered that the Pomeranian already has its adult coat, however, it can continue to fill up until it reaches three years of age. The hair of this breed of dog consists of two layers, the outer one, with a long and smooth coat, and the inner one, denser, shorter and woolly. Thus, the care of the hair of the adult Pomeranian must be focused on maintaining both layers, avoiding those products and brushes that may harm any of them. In this sense, the brush known as "furminator", despite its excellent results with most dogs, in dogs with the characteristics of the Pomeranian can cause the breakage of the fur. For them, we will use several brushes with different purposes:
- Soft card, double layer brush or long bristle brush for daily brushing. These tools allow us to keep the coat in perfect condition, always brushing in favor of the hair, in layers and without pulling.
- Metal rake or comb to untangle the hair. If there is a knot, we will have to remove it with these tools, being very careful and avoiding damaging the animal.
If we cannot brush our dog every day, it is essential to do it at least twice a week. And, during times of shedding, which tends to accumulate a large amount of dead hair, it will be essential to do it daily.
In addition to brushing, it is advisable to go to the canine hairdresser so that the excess hair is trimmed and the coat is kept in its proper measure. In this regard, it should be noted that it is not recommended to shave the Pomeranian, since we would leave the animal exempt from its main function, protecting its skin, and we would damage the hair follicles of the coat.
Hygienic care
After brushing, and to continue with the basic care of the Pomeranian, we will check his ears to clean them if necessary. Likewise, we will check the state of your eyes and we will remove the accumulated crust every day, because this canine breed is prone to them. Finally, we will check the length of their nails, since, like most small dogs, they tend to grow quickly and, therefore, we must cut them often to prevent the animal from developing he alth problems or having difficulties walking. To do this, we recommend consulting our article on "How to cut a dog's nails at home", or going to the dog groomer.
The Pomeranian bath
Of course, to keep your Pomeranian's hygiene in perfect condition, you need to bathe it regularly, or do it when it's really dirty. In general, it is recommended to bathe every month or two months, since if we carry out this practice too often, the Pomeranian's fur could be damaged.
If you have just adopted a puppy, it is important to note that the first bath cannot be done until the animal has all its vaccinations and is properly dewormed. Likewise, we recommend using a specific shampoo for puppies.
Once they reach adulthood, we will use shampoo and conditioner to keep their fur properly hydrated. When selecting products, we recommend opting for quality products, specially designed for long hair and, if desired, to offer more volume to the coat. Before proceeding to bathe the Pomeranian, we will brush its fur and carefully untangle it. Once this is done, we will wet all the hair and apply the shampoo all over the body, gently massaging the skin and avoiding the area around the eyes, ears and mouth. Then, we will rinse with plenty of warm water and repeat the process again. Finally, we will administer a little conditioner, let it act for five minutes and rinse.
After bathing, it is necessary to dry the Pomeranian's hair to prevent it from catching a cold. To do this, we can use the dryer and place it at least 30 cm away, monitoring the temperature to prevent it from burning or feeling uncomfortable. As a trick to give volume to the dog's hair, start drying against the grain and then in favor of the hair. If you want, you can help yourself with one of the brushes intended for combing, and not untangling.
Teeth care
The Pomeranian is a dog with a tendency to excessive tartar formation, as well as the development of dental problems. Therefore, maintaining the hygiene of your teeth in perfect condition is essential if we want to prevent you from losing your teeth in the future. To guarantee it, it is necessary to accustom the animal from puppyhood to clean its teeth frequently and, if necessary, perform dental hygiene at the veterinary clinic.
On the other hand, during the puppy stage, and due to the growth of its teeth, we can see how the animal tries to bite absolutely everything. At these times, it is necessary to teach the Pomeranian both to inhibit its bite and to use the appropriate objects by providing toys for this purpose.
Emptying the anal glands
As is the case with all dogs, the Pomeranian's anal glands store a lubricating substance that, if not emptied, can lead to serious infections. In general, it is recommended to do it once a month, in charge of the veterinarian, the canine groomer, or yourself if you know how to do it. If you prefer the latter option, we recommend checking out our article first: "Everything you need to know about anal glands."
Walks, exercise and fun
Despite his adorable appearance, the Pomeranian is an active and intelligent dog, who needs walks, exercise and lots of games to stay well stimulated. In this way, it is recommended to carry out two to three daily walks, occupying a total of 45-90 minutes a day in the case of adult dogs.
Puppy Exercise
During the puppy stage it is important not to force the animal to perform very intense exercise or for a very long time, since we could harm the development of its joints. Thus, we will carry out shorter walks in order to start his socialization and get him used to his new environment, to the presence of other people, animals, objects, landscapes and noises. Otherwise, the Pomeranian could become distrustful, fearful and barking as a consequence.
If you still do not have the required vaccinations, we can take you out on the street but with more caution. This means that we can take him outside in our arms so that he begins to get acquainted with him, or let him walk in a place that we know is safe, without other animals or risks for the little one.
Adult Pomeranian Exercise
Once they reach adulthood, we will have to guarantee the aforementioned daily time and intersperse it with games at home. To do this, we can make use of intelligence games, which will keep your mind stimulated, just like toys adapted to your jaw. In this sense, food-dispensing toys like the kong are perfect, since they guarantee that the animal is entertained, associates the activity with a positive stimulus and keeps it active. We can even use it if we are going to leave the house for a few hours.
Veterinary care
Due to the excessive crossing between members of the same family to reach the breed we know today, the Pomeranian tends to suffer from genetic problems, dislocation, eye diseases and, as we have already mentioned, dental problems. To prevent them and detect them in time, it is essential to attend regular visits to the vet, as well as keeping the vaccination and deworming schedule up to date.
Especially if we have just adopted a puppy, we must guarantee proper deworming to prevent the arrival of fleas and ticks, as well as vaccinate it to prevent the spread of diseases that attack mainly during this stage, such as canine parvovirus.
Attention, affection and love, but without stress
The Pomeranian is an affectionate dog that requires a lot of attention from his human companions. However, this does not mean that he likes to always be in arms, since it is not like that. Despite being an animal that demands a lot of love, it also prefers to be respected in its space and not feel overwhelmed, so the most appropriate way to meet its emotional needs is through caresses, good words and, above all, positive reinforcement.
Especially when the Pomeranian is elderly, it is essential to offer all the attention and affection that the animal demands.
