It's hot, the dog is shedding everywhere, and there are those knots you can't undo anymore. Shaving your Pomeranian looks like the simplest solution. For this breed, it's also one of the riskiest.
Here's why, what can happen after a shave, the rare cases where it's justified, and what you can do instead.
Why you're tempted to shave
- The heat: you imagine such a hairy dog must be stifling in summer.
- Hair everywhere, especially during shedding.
- Knots, which end up forming mats that are impossible to untangle.
- The look: photos of Pomeranians shaved into a "Boo" or "lion" cut are all over social media.
These reasons are understandable. The problem is that on a double coat, shaving doesn't solve any of the first three for long, and it creates another one.
A double coat isn't a winter jacket
The Pomeranian wears a dense undercoat under a longer topcoat. Together, they form an insulating layer that works both ways: it keeps warmth in during winter, and limits the skin heating up in summer, while also protecting it from the sun.
What really bothers a Pomeranian in the heat is packed-down dead undercoat that no longer lets air circulate. So the solution isn't to cut, but to remove that dead undercoat by brushing. A well-brushed dog copes with the heat better than a shaved dog with exposed skin.
What can happen after a shave
Hair that takes months to grow back
Veterinary dermatology texts describe post-clipping alopecia: after a shave, the hair doesn't grow back in the usual time. In a healthy dog, the coat normally comes back in three to four months. With post-clipping alopecia, regrowth can take 12 to 24 months. This is seen more often in breeds with a dense double coat, including the Pomeranian and other Spitz breeds.
The most widely accepted explanation: shaving doesn't destroy the follicles, but they stay abnormally long in the resting phase. In most cases, the hair does eventually come back in a healthy dog, but it often takes a lot of patience.
A coat that comes back different
When it grows back, the coat can return patchy, more cottony, or with an undercoat that grows faster than the topcoat. The dog can then lose the breed's typical look for a long time.
A sign not to ignore
Hair that hasn't grown back after several months should be shown to a vet. A hormonal disorder (hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease) or alopecia X needs to be ruled out, a condition particularly common in Spitz breeds that shaving can sometimes reveal.
Exposed skin
Closely shaved skin is more sensitive to sunburn, cold and minor irritation.
When shaving is justified
Shaving isn't always a mistake. Sometimes it's the best option for the dog:
- A completely matted coat, with mats stuck to the skin: detangling would be painful and endless. The groomer shaves to free the skin, and you start again from scratch with regular brushing.
- A medical reason: surgery, a wound, skin treatment, on the vet's decision.
- The hygiene trim: small areas (under the feet, around the anus), which aren't a problem.
In these situations, the shave isn't the problem, it's what made it necessary. Hence the value of regular brushing.
Alternatives to shaving
For the heat
Remove the dead undercoat with the dematting rake, especially at the start of summer. Keep your dog cool during the hottest hours, with water available, and adapt your walks.
For hair everywhere
Daily brushing during shedding, twice a week the rest of the year. Dead hair ends up in the brush rather than on the sofa. A shaved dog, meanwhile, keeps shedding: the hairs are just shorter.
For knots
Line brushing down to the skin, and a pass of the comb to check. The whole method is in our guide how to brush a Pomeranian.
For a shorter look
Ask for a scissor cut that keeps several centimetres of hair on the body, like a teddy bear cut done without clippers. We compare all the options in Pomeranian haircuts.
Has your dog already been shaved?
Don't panic, and don't feel guilty: many owners didn't know about this risk. To support regrowth:
- protect the skin from sun and cold;
- brush gently as soon as the hair comes back, because knots form fastest during regrowth;
- avoid shaving again "to even it out";
- if nothing has grown back after three to four months, talk to your vet.
Frequently asked questions
Can you shave a Pomeranian in summer?
It's not recommended. Its double coat also protects it from heat and sun. Removing the dead undercoat by brushing is more effective and carries no risk for regrowth.
Does a shaved Pomeranian's hair grow back?
In most cases yes, but sometimes very slowly: from a few months to one or two years in cases of post-clipping alopecia, seen more often in double-coated breeds. It can also come back with a different texture.
My Pomeranian has short hair, has it been shaved?
Not necessarily. A puppy in the middle of its coat change, a shedding adult or a scissor cut can all give a "short hair" look. The breed standard is a long, fluffy coat.
How long does hair take to grow back after a shave?
Normally three to four months in a healthy dog. Beyond that, it's best to see a vet.
Discover the Pom Routine Kit: slicker brush, dematting rake and comb, to care for the double coat without ever having to shave.
Source: University of Minnesota, Canine Post-clipping Alopecia. This article is for information only and does not replace a vet's advice.