How Many Coats Does the Pomeranian Have?
Poms have two coats, as most Spitz breeds do. The Pom originated from larger, cold-weather sled dogs of the Arctic. That is why it’s a bit of a challenge when keeping a Pomeranian’s fur healthy. The trait of having 2 layers is common with outdoor dogs and even though the Pom was drastically bred down in size during its development; the trait of 2 layers stayed with the breed.
An adult Pomeranian has a short undercoat of dense hairs and a long top coat of guard hairs. These 2 layers blend into each other.
Puppies will have a much different appearance than adults. Puppy coats are soft and short. As the Pom matures, there is a drastic change. The soft puppy coat falls out and is replaced by the 2 layered adult coat.
The Age a Pom Grows His Adult Coat
Over the course of the first year, a Pomeranian puppy will have a gradual loss of puppy fur that is replaced by his adult coat.. When a Pom is just about 1 year old, he will have his adult coat.
Color Change
It is extremely normal for a Pomeranian’s fur to change color as the Pom matures. It happens more often than not. This element is one of the exciting things about owning a Pom. That is why keeping a Pomeranian’s fur healthy is a very important thing to do. He will be one color as a pup and a different color as an adult dog. Many things can happen to the fur, sabling or brindling may lighten or darken, the whole coat of fur can fade (brown to cream) or become deeper (orange to red) and so forth.
Tips in Keeping a Pomeranian’s Fur Healthy
Without proper care, a Pom’s fur will become very dry, brittle and end break off. Proper care will keep it fluffy, healthy and able to grow. Here are some things you can do when keeping a Pomeranian’s fur healthy:1) Never brush a dry coat – Always mist the fur with a light leave-in spray before you do any brushing at all
2) Groom the coat on a regular basis, whether or not it appears to need it or not. Since the fur is so dense, there will be matted pieces and dirt & debris near the skin where you cannot see it.
In addition, regularly brushing out dead hairs from the coat will improve skin health. Dead fur stuck near the skin blocks healthy air circulation and promotes build up of body oils. This can lead not only to an odd smell, but also skin issues. And if the skin is not healthy, the fur will not be either. For this reasons, brushing at least every other day is recommended.
3) Protect the fur from the damaging sun of the summer and the damaging dry air of the winter by using a light leave-in conditioner. This also protects the coat from static that can build up and protect fur strands from friction (fur against carpeting, etc.)
4) Fur can grow too long and this can make the coat flat. If your Pom’s fur does not have the fluffy look that you wish for, this is often the reason. A nice trim – not too much – but just enough to tidy things up, will allow the outer guard hairs to stand out as they should.
5) Omega 3 fatty oils are super great in keeping a Pomeranian’s fur healthy. Break open a capsule and drizzle this on 1 meal per day.
6) Be very choosy regarding which products you apply to your Pomeranian’s fur. This includes shampoo, conditioner and leave-in spray. Also, be very choosy regarding what tools touch your Pom’s fur. This includes both the brush and the comb. A cheap dog brush can rip the hairs and ruin a coat in one grooming session.
*** If you’d like to see our recommendations for fur grooming products, look to the Pomeranian Specialty Shoppe.
Fur Loss as a Puppy
Puppy Uglies – If an owner is not expecting it, this can be a shocking growth phase. This breed – as he matures – has a drastic loss of fur during the time that the puppy coat is falling out to make way for the adult coat. This is referred to as the Puppy Uglies. Though, one must always be aware that other issues can cause this as well (more ahead).
Before – A 5 month old Pomeranian with severe fur loss. No worries! This is just the ‘Puppy Uglies’ stage. Photo courtesy of Keen Pomeranians
After – At 11 months old, the adult coat is growing in nicely. The fur will still grow a bit longer; however this Pom made a major change from the ‘before’ photo! Photo courtesy of Keen Pomeranians
Many owners become nervous during this time, because the pictures of Pomeranians with super fluffed fur are splattered everywhere, but not so much when a Pom temporarily looks like this. At such, finding answers in keeping a Pomeranian’s fur healthy starts to kick in.
When does a Pomeranian first lose its fur? It usually happens when the puppy is 4 to 6 months old. This is not set in stone. Fur loss from Puppy Uglies may happen early, at 3 months or late at 7 months. When the fur falls out, it does not always happen evenly. You may see a severe loss of hair just around the eyes. You may see patches all over the dog’s back. There is no rhyme or reason for this; it is a natural part of growing up. Thus, keeping a Pomeranian’s fur healthy is extremely crucial at this stage.
While this is the most common cause of fur loss during the puppy stage, do keep an eye out for other signs that may point to another cause. Severe allergies and other conditions may also have symptoms that include: red, irritated skin, loss of appetite, water eyes and/or scratching. Next up, can Pomeranians eat nuts?
Note: Fur is what the Pom is known for…their most outstanding feature! For this reason, an owner should be aware of every fur issue that affects this dog breed. Find out more in our eBook.
