When and how should a Spitz be cut?

Spitz has a long and surprisingly beautiful coat that needs delicate and regular grooming. One of its elements is a regular haircut. This article will look at how and when to cut your Pomeranian and whether or not to get a haircut at all.

It should be said right away that experienced breeders do not advise cutting these pets. It is only allowed in situations, some of which are described below.

• Regrown hair. Long hair clearly prevents the animal from running and playing calmly. This is especially true for stunted Spitz, in which the hairline is so long that it can impede movement.
• Dirt. After numerous walks, the animal's hair has become heavily matted, thick and dirty tangles have formed, which cannot be removed with a comb or washed off.
• Temperature threshold. With the onset of the warm season (early spring, summer), Spitz with their fluffy coat can be extremely uncomfortable under the sun. Due to the heavy weight of the coat, the dog quickly gets tired and suffocates.
• Diseases. Grooming is recommended in cases where the wool has become a refuge for harmful insects or bacteria that cannot be washed off with ordinary water. In addition, a large amount of dust and dirt often accumulates in long coats, which can cause inflammation or allergic processes on the skin.
• Molting... During shedding periods, young Spitz throw off a huge amount of wool. Usually, these processes begin to occur from the age of three months. Some owners prefer to simply cut their Spitz short so as not to be constantly cleaning.

It is not recommended to trim the Spitz for several reasons.

• Protection. Hair for Spitz, and especially for young individuals, is like a life jacket that protects them from frost, temperature fluctuations and annoying insects. If this cover is cut off, the Spitz is extremely vulnerable to colds.
• The claim that Pomeranians need a haircut before the summer season can be controversial. Dogs sweat differently from humans - not through the skin. With heat, they prefer to fight through their protruding tongue.

• Attempts to "cheat the molt" when, right during this process, the owners simply cut off the entire upper hairline, they are fraught with the same consequences. And against shedding, and against the summer heat, you can fight in another way - constantly comb your dog, using both an ordinary comb and a slicker.

• Mental condition. Any haircut causes attacks of fear and aggression in the Spitz, consider such a procedure a huge blow to the psyche of the animal, especially when it comes to cutting the abdomen.

On some resources, you can find information on exactly when you need to lead your pet to the very first haircut. However, from the above, you should already have realized that this procedure should be carried out only when urgently needed... The same applies to the regularity of haircuts for Pomeranians - if we take into account the situations in which the grooming of these dogs is really necessary, then a year you will have to take the dogs to the groomer no more than 2-3 times.

Grooming allows you to make the hair of dogs shorter, forms beautiful hairstyles, while not touching the undercoat, which has a protective function.

Not so long ago, a beautifully trimmed Pomeranian was an obligatory "attribute" of any self-respecting lady at social events in Germany and the USA. These dogs had long coats that allowed for amazing hairstyles.

• Under Boo... It is considered a very fashionable and successful haircut for dwarf Spitz breeds. Animals shorn in this way can often be found on social networks - they become heroes of jokes and different stories. In this haircut, the main emphasis is on the most miniature and plush body with uniform paws and a large round head with small, slightly protruding ears. With all its appearance, such a spitz resembles a little bear cub that escaped from the forest. Small black bear eyes and a small miniature nose give irony to the image.

• Short or home haircut. It is the simplest type of haircut, as it does not require any additional tasks from the owner. A certain layer of wool is simply removed from the pet, leaving no more than 3-5 cm along with the undercoat.

• Hygienic haircut. A simple type of haircut, however, requiring regular care from the owner to maintain a well-groomed look.

• Under the lion... It is the most controversial type of haircut, since in this case the hairline is removed so thoroughly that it is practically not restored in the future. A haircut involves the complete shaving of the hair on the body of the Pomeranian from the muzzle down to the shoulder blades.On the head, crown, back of the head and chest, as well as on the tips of the paws and tail, wool remains, forming a kind of mane and a semblance of a lion's exterior.

The choice of haircut for a Spitz depends on several factors. They are distinguished by experienced breeders who take their Spitz to various competitions, exhibitions and social receptions.

• Target... If you are cutting your Pomeranian solely for practical purposes, then you should choose the simplest haircuts that will not interfere with the animal itself and will not soon require adjustment. If your goal is an exhibition, then you should think about some extravagant hairstyle.
• The place of residence of the pet. For pets who spend most of their time at home, there is no point in choosing some intricate haircuts. Here, too, you do not need to especially monitor the length of the hairline - after all, it is very difficult to catch a cold at home. If your Spitz is constantly on the street, participating in competitions or exhibitions, then it is worth choosing at the same time an unusual, but also warm haircut, which will not allow him to get sick or injure his skin.
• A variety of Spitz. On some breeds, for example, on the German Wolfspitz, extravagant hairstyles will look just ridiculous - this is a watchdog breed that rarely participates in any competitions. You should also think about the breed of the animal and imagine if the hairstyle will contrast with this look.
• The color of the animal. Some types of haircuts only work well on animals with a certain shade of coat. For example, haircuts under the Lion will look great only with representatives of red and fiery Spitz. But the Boo haircut will look great with white and black individuals. You should also pay attention to the color of the animal's undercoat - this can greatly affect the overall image of the Spitz after a haircut.

Most often, a professional haircut, or grooming, is carried out in specialized salons by masters, however, even an inexperienced breeder can handle the simplest hygienic haircut at home. Those who have just got a dog and have no idea about grooming pets should still go to the salon for the very first time and just watch the grooming process.

The secret of a haircut for any Spitz is that it is carried out in three stages: combing, bathing, and the haircut itself.

Preparation implies the primary processing of the animal's hair. So that this stage goes as calmly as possible and does not cause excessive panic in the pet, try to follow the rules described below.

• Hair should always be combed against the growth of the hair, that is, from the tail to the crown. This is where you can get to the very bottom layers and the undercoat, which is often matted.
• Buy a soft, sturdy wooden brush in advance with fine, fine-toothed teeth. Make sure that the comb or brush is gentle on your hair - it should not pull out or break it.
• Don't overdo the brushing time. For full preparation, 10-15 minutes of quiet work is often enough. Try not to brush the undercoat especially with the brush, so as not to deprive the pet's fur coat of its natural fluff.
• Since any thorough brushing is dangerous to the skin, try to choose combs with gentle and rounded teeth. If wounds or scratches form on the skin of an animal, it is highly likely that they will fester, turn red and can cause, if not inflammation, then ordinary discomfort in the dog.
• Be sure to remove all tangles and knots in the coat. For a comfortable and quick removal, you can use a special spray.
• For all haircut procedures, you should choose a specific place where the pet would feel as safe as possible. If you are going to cut a puppy completely, then it is better to hold him in your arms during the procedure - so he will soon get used to the fact that there is nothing wrong with these actions and will be more calm in your arms.

After preparing and brushing, start bathing. Just like a haircut, it should be done very rarely and at your discretion - no more than 2 times in six months. If, after a walk, your pet's paws or bottom become dirty, rinse only certain parts of the body, without touching the main coat.

List of tools that you may need for water treatments.

• First of all, special shampoos on a liquid or dry basis, as well as conditioners for Pomeranian with a thick undercoat.
• Antistatic agent - useful at the time of hair cutting. Due to its length, the hair of a Spitz is often electrified and can cause electrical shocks that can harm you or the animal itself.
• Powders or bleaches, special shampoos for light hair, designed to return the natural color.
• An ordinary nap or linen towel that you do not mind.
• Spitz have rather long hair and thick undercoat, which dry slowly and difficultly. This is why a hairdryer is also useful.

The bathing procedure itself also takes place in 3 stages.

• Preparation. At this point, cover the dog's ears with cotton swabs (to avoid water ingress), then put the dog in the bathroom. The first step is to thoroughly rinse the pet's coat with plain water, selecting the appropriate temperature in advance. Try not to hurt your head or crown while doing this.
• Water procedures. After you moisten the entire body of the pet, apply a little shampoo to a sponge or cloth and apply it evenly along the entire length of the hair with smooth movements. Then, with your fingers, foam it a little and make sure that there are no tangles.
• Drying... After waiting literally half a minute, begin to slowly rinse off the shampoo under running water, apply conditioner, and thoroughly rinse all wool again. After the procedure, you should wipe your pet a little with a towel, and then use a hairdryer. Do not trust the drying of the Spitz itself - they will dry on their own for a very long time.

Follow these guidelines during the drying process.

• First, set the hair dryer to a comfortable temperature for your pet.
• Use a large, fine-toothed comb to lift your hair against its growth. Use a blow dryer to style and dry your hair.
• Dry the undercoat first and then dry the raised hairline.
• Do not hold the hairdryer in one place for a long time and in no case should it be brought close to the skin. The drying process with a hairdryer should be carried out very quickly - in just a couple of minutes.
• After drying, comb the pet again, but this time along the hairline - to check the cleanliness of the coat and prepare it for the haircut itself.

Tools that you may find useful during the haircut process (most of them can be found at home):

• small sharp scissors - to get to hard-to-reach areas;
• blunt scissors - for work near the very undercoat and delicate skin;
• thinning scissors - useful for thinning the thickest areas of hair on the chest, crown and abdomen;
• several combs with different lengths and different texture of teeth;
• also grab a massage brush - it can be useful for effectively combing the hair and calming the animal.

Below will be a step-by-step description of the haircut scheme for an ordinary Spitz. Remember that the order in which the coat is trimmed may vary depending on the type of haircut.

• Ears... Determine the edge of the animal's ears and pinch it between your fingers. The hair that protrudes on the sides should be carefully trimmed to the desired length. Hair rarely grows on the ears themselves, so you should not touch them.
• Collar. Typically, grooming professionals opt for a circular head trimming method. In this case, in the front, the hair is smoothed down with a comb, and in the back it is simply combed against the growth line at the back of the head. After you visually imagine the size of the so-called "mane", you should pinch the required piece of wool with your fingers and gently walk with ordinary scissors all over the back of the head to the crown. Try to choose the right length of the haircut so that as a result, the correct semicircle forms at the back of the head. To continue the circle, set the correct length for the chest and chin. As a result, you should have an almost perfect circle from the chest to the crown to the back of the head.
• Rear part... Since most Spitz breeds are very fond of tucking their tail towards the anus, you should raise it and place it on the back of the animal. After that, gently comb the coat along the hairline in different directions. Here, only the largest hairs should be cut, which can really interfere with the pet. Before the procedure, it is recommended to determine for the pet the boundaries of the back, along which you will move during the haircut. It is necessary to ensure that the length of the hairline near the anus coincides with the future length of the rest of the coat. For a haircut in this area, it is better to choose scissors with blunt or rounded teeth.
• Tail. In order to properly cut the tail, you must first carefully comb it along the hairline and place it on the back of the animal. Then divide it into two parts - left and right, and use scissors to remove the longest and most prominent coat from both sides. As a result, you should get an even, but fluffy and luxurious ponytail.
• Legs and legs. The hair on the paws is smoothed and combed in the same way, special attention should be paid to the hair between the pads. To do this, use small, blunt-tipped scissors.
• Since your Pomeranian may look unnaturally round or even sharp after these procedures, take advantage of normal thinning scissors to give the entire coat a neat and natural look.

For information on how to trim a Pomeranian, see the following video.