Answer

Hello,

Yes, cutting down to a lion cut is not good and we are not happy with "professional" groomers who dare say yes when people ask, “Can you shave a Pomeranian?”

Since Poms have a double coat of fur, having that inner layer shaved is not natural for this breed.  The inner layer made up of thick, dense, short hairs…And the outer layer is made up of long, thinner, hairs that create that fluff appearance.  The longer hairs can be slightly trimmed to create a neater appearance and in certain places such as under the tail for hygiene reasons and under the paws so that there are no hairs that the dog walks on.  However, when that layer is shaved off and the clipper goes down even further and shaves into that thick, protective inner layer…This is when problems occur.  Doing that, in most cases, will affect how and even if the outer layer ever properly grows back again.

With this being said, there are some things that you can do to help a shaved Pomeranian with fur growth.  These methods can also help for anyone who is looking for help with Pomeranian hair growth (after the reason for the loss has been diagnosed and treated).

The 7 elements that will help with Pomeranian hair growth are:

1.  Massaging the skin when grooming

2.  Taking care of any matt immediately

3.  Using a high quality and proper canine shampoo and condition

4.  Using a leave-in conditioner

5.  Using the proper grooming tool to help with any extra fur loss that could occur otherwise.

6.  Providing baths a bit more often than normal.

7.  Eliminating elements that may interfere with fur growth.

During this time of hair growth, we would suggest that you give him a bath every 2 weeks as opposed to the recommended every 3 weeks.  The reason that every 3 weeks is usually recommended is to prevent any potential dry skin issues.  However, during this time when all other elements are brought in, this will be beneficial.

One of the important keys to this is that when you are bathing your Pomeranian, you will want to make sure to set aside enough time so that you do not need to rush through the process.  

A hypoallergenic, moisturizing canine shampoo should be used.  You will not want to use a harsh shampoo, as the goal will not be to remove dirt, but rather moisturize the fur (and the skin).

While shampooing your Pom, you will want to give his body a good massage.  Most dogs enjoy this when done in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Be sure that there is not a lot of foot traffic or distracting noise.  Talk to your Pomeranian while you are doing this. Be sure that the water is not hot nor cold...It should be luke warm and you should test the water with the inside of your wrist before placing your Pomeranian in the bath. Also, depending on his size, he may feel more comfortable and safer if this is done in a clean kitchen sink, as opposed to a bath tub which may seem intimidating.

So, your goal will be to massage him as you are soaping him up.  This massage should last 3-4 minutes.  The next step will be to massage the skin for a much longer time while the canine conditioner is in his fur.  Please use a hypoallergenic conditioner.  Talking in a happy, soothing voice to keep him still and calm, massage the conditioned fur and skin for 10 minutes.

This will stimulate blood flow, which in turn helps feed the hair follicles. 

Be sure to rinse very well when washing off both the shampoo and the conditioner.

It is vital to pat him dry as opposed to rubbing the fur.  If you have a thin towel, you can gently squeeze water out of various sections…Rubbing the coat however and potentially cause split ends and that would be detrimental to Pomeranian hair growth.

Afterward, you will want to use a leave in canine hair conditioner.  This will also aid in preventing split ends and keep the fur healthy.  

Brushing and combing will be of great importance.  You will want to mainly stick with a wide toothed comb for now.  It is important to go over each section of the coat without missing a spot.  Go slow.  As you go through each section, you will want to be ready for any tangles or matts.  

Grooming in this way should be done every single day.  This issue began with a matting problem and the goal will be to never reach that point again and also to fix any tangles when they are small and controllable…And this will release that previously tangled fur, allowing it to grow longer and help fill in the coat.

Any tangle found should be spritzed with a mixture of ½ water and ½ conditioner.  Comb aside any surrounding fur so that you can clearly see what you are dealing with.  With your hands covered in the water/conditioner mixture, slowly, by hand, untangle the matt.  This is not a job to be rushed. It takes time.  Simply gently pull through each strand, one at a time, until all are free.  

Make sure to check the entire body….the belly, the legs and so forth.  Keeping the coat tangle free is a key element in promoting Pomeranian hair growth.

While you are in this process of trying to help the fur grow, you will not want to use a blow dryer to dry the fur. Allow it to air dry.

If your dog likes to lie down on the floor, whether it is carpeted or is hardwood, you will want to place a soft, clean baby blanket down first.  Be sure that it has been washed with hypoallergenic laundry detergent first.  If your Pom has several areas in the house that he generally sets down to rest, have a blanket there already in place for him.  This will provide him with a soft, gentle surface that will not irritate the skin (particularly the elbows) and will help with Pomeranian hair growth.

One last thing that may, and we emphasize the word may, help with Pomeranian hair growth is to make sure that the vitamin and supplement that you are giving to him each day contains Omega 3. If not, you can obtain Omega 3 by itself.  It can be found in powder form, which can be sprinkled on his food each day.  This has proven to work with some Pomeranians.

Finally, time is what your dog needs right now.  It may take months, even up to a year for the fur to grow back in.  There is a chance that it will never look as it once did. Only time will tell.  If you keep up with the above suggestions and are consistent in your efforts, you will have the best chance of success.