For some people, the notion of grooming their pet can conjure up images of their canine pal with strategically placed bows, and their hair: fluff dried to perfection. However, dog grooming is not a luxury and is more of a necessity as it is vital for their overall health and well-being, especially when choosing the best brush for Pomeranians.
This is especially true for long-haired dogs because they need a little extra care and attention to keep their coat from turning into tangled mats. A Pomeranian has a very special coat that looks simply amazing when groomed properly. To choose the best brush for Pomeranians, it’s a good idea to know about the options and to consider the different issues that arise with a Pomeranian coat.
Establishing a Regular Hair Care Routine
Brushing your Pomeranian regularly will not only strengthen your bond with them and keep them clean and healthy; but if done properly, it could also turn into a daily activity that your pet will eagerly look forward to. Brushing stimulates and improves blood circulation to the hair follicles and helps keep your dog’s hair looking healthy.
Regular brushing sessions can also help draw early attention to anything unusual that might be going on such as bumps, parasites or infections. It is also very important to initiate the routine of regularly brushing their hair at a very young age so that they get accustomed to it. These are important reasons for choosing the best brush for Pomeranians.
Choosing the Best Brush for Pomeranians
Much like your dog, the best brush for Pomeranians in terms of grooming come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This can render the task of picking the right ensemble of brushes and grooming tools that are perfectly suited for your dog’s coat type, a rather herculean one.
The wrong choice of brush can even weaken their coat and make it an uneasy experience for them. Since a Pomeranian has a short soft undercoat with a fluffy Coarse topcoat, there are many types of brushes that may help you groom them well.
Types of Brushes for Pomeranians
Pin Brushes
Pin brushes for dogs are very similar to the hair brushes we use every day. These usually come with a loosely-arranged set of flexible wires with pins which have a plastic or rubber tip. These are ideal for pets with long hair. These brushes offer the duality of being able to penetrate the entire length of the dog’s hair, thereby offering a firm grip; while also providing a soft touch, which can prevent the formation of rashes and skin irritations.
These are one of the most commonly used types of brushes and they come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. A pin brush with a small, rounded head is most ideal for a Pomeranian’s topcoat. A wire-pin brush is one type of brush you should always have with your Pomeranian grooming supplies.
Slicker Brushes
Slicker brushes have a flat or curved surface with rows of closely and evenly spaced, slender wire bristles. These brushes are especially useful in removing light to moderate mats and tangles. It is recommended to be gentle while using the slicker brush, as forceful pulling might lead to uneasiness for the dog.
Care must be taken not to attempt forcefully untangling heavily matted parts of the coat with a slicker brush, as this can cause scratching of the skin. Slicker brushes are recommended for almost all breeds of dogs with medium or long hair but have limited uses. With that said, they are a good candidate for being the best brush for Pomeranians.
Undercoat Rakes
Undercoat rakes are excellent for maneuvering past the outer coat of long-haired dogs with double coats and reaching the undercoat for removing any fallen/loose hair. These rakes when regularly used can also prevent matting and tangling of hair. You should have one of these on hand as these are among the best brushes for Pomeranians due to their ability to get down to the Pom undercoat.
Dematters
Dematters or mat-breakers often have a rounded and blunt, outward facing edge (for the dog’s safety) with rows of sharp blades on the inside which are meant for safely cutting through heavily matted or tangled portions of a Pomeranian’s coat. Dematters are a better alternative to cutting as it does not alter the length of the hair.
For dogs with long and smooth hair, which are easily susceptible to matting, slicker brushes and dematters can be used to ensure that the dog’s coat is free of mats and tangles. Mats are not only painful for the dogs, but they can also restrict their free range of motion. If your Pomeranian is kept brushed at all times you may not need one of this, but this depends on your grooming routine. Either way, they are a good candidate for being the best brush for Pomeranians.
Bristle Brushes
Although bristle brushes are great for working with dogs that have short or wiry coats, they are an excellent choice as a finishing brush for long-haired dogs as well. They aid in evenly spreading out the natural hair oils and gives the hair a smooth and glossy finish. This brush type can be made of either natural or synthetic bristles.
Brushes with long and widely spaced bristles are ideal for dogs with long hair. For dogs with coarse coats, it is a good idea to use a brush with firm bristles. A Pomeranian has a long coarse outer coat that works perfectly with a bristle brush. This brush type is another must-have for a Pomeranian, especially when considering which is the best brush for Pomeranians.
Double-Sided Brushes
As the name suggests, double-sided brushes typically have two different types of brushes on either side. For example, a bristle-pin brush has a pin brush on one side and a bristle brush on the other. To be usable with dogs of several, different hair-lengths; these brushes come in a wide variety of bristle/wire length and spacing between them.
The pin brush side can be used for removing food particles and debris which the dog might have picked up from the flooring or carpet. The bristle brush side can then be used to bring out the natural luster and shine of the coat. These can be handy for Pomeranians if you want to keep just one brush for the general brushing and the final touches.
Grooming Tools
Other tools such as grooming gloves and glove shaped curry brushes are made of rubber or flexible plastic with rubber bumps all over their surface for massaging and removing shed hair. Apart from being used for brushing, a curry brush that is entirely made of rubber- can also be used for shampooing your dog.
The above-mentioned brushes come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, materials and added features. For example, slicker brushes can have either a rigid or flexible design. The material of the characteristic, extra-fine bristles of a slicker brush can also be different: from rubber bristles to plastic or metal/stainless steel bristles.
Several factors need to be kept in mind while choosing the appropriate features for your product, such as sensitivity of your dog’s skin, dog’s size, length of dog’s coat, the softness of coat, number of coats, as well as your comfort level with using the product.
A general rule of thumb while choosing the maximum length of the bristles for a brush is for it to be the same length as your pet’s hair. This can reduce instances of scratching and uneasiness for your pet.
Having a variety of brushes and tools is great. At a minimum, you will want a pin brush and a bristle brush to manage Pomeranian fur. The undercoat rake is also highly recommended for ensuring your Pomeranian has a healthy coat.
