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Giving a Pomeranian a Bath

Overview

Giving a Pomeranian baths is an important grooming task. The timing of baths and the technique used will affect a Pom’s appearance, skin and coat health, whether or not they smell clean, and more. Let’s dive into all the details you need to know for baths to be as beneficial as possible.

Don’t need to read about the pre-bathing details? Jump right to: How to Give a Pomeranian a Bath.

The Benefits of Baths

In the simplest of terms, baths are given to clean a Pomeranian. But, there’s actually a lot that’ll be happening. When done with the right products and methods, baths will:

1. Remove perspiration odors. Canines perspire mainly through their paws and via panting, along with light perspiration that seeps from hair follicles. This has a certain chemical scent. Though perspiration will evaporate, the scent will linger on the coat and need to be washed off.

2. Remove accumulated body oil. Body oil is produced and excreted through a dog's hair follicles to serve as a natural lubricant and barrier on the skin. It does not evaporate, but rather, it coats the skin and hair roots. This can start to become very smelly when it has built up, as well as when water (like rain water) mixes with it. Accrued body oil can also cause the coat to look greasy and flat.

3. Remove other odors. The perspiration and body oil mentioned certainly can start to get stinky, but there are other smells including urine splashes, small bits of feces, and traces of scent gland (anal sac) oil that need to be washed off on a regular basis to keep a Pomeranian smelling nice.

4. Promote good skin health. Quality shampoos will contain moisturizing ingredients that work to keep skin hydrated and resilient. On the other hand, inferior bathing products can damage skin with harsh ingredients cause dryness and/or irritation (more ahead).

5. Promote good coat health. Quality shampoos will contain ingredients that moisturize and condition a Pomeranian’s fur. On the other hand, inferior bathing products can damage fur by stripping the hair cuticles which can lead to fizziness, dryness, and poor coat texture.

6. Loosen dead hairs. Adult Pomeranians shed quite a bit and it can take some work to pull out hairs from a Pom’s dense coat of fur. Baths can help in this regard since the scrubbing helps to free dead hairs that are barely clinging on so that removal can be even more effective the next time you brush.

7. Wash off dirt and debris. Of course, baths are the most effective way to fully wash off all sorts of fine dirt and debris particles that can cling to a Pom’s body and fur. This includes pollen and other allergen triggers.

8. Keep a Pom looking gorgeous. Once perspiration, body oil, urine splashes, bits of feces, traces of scent gland oil, dirt, and debris are washed off a Pomeranian and fur has been properly hydrated and conditioned, the coat will look healthy and full with a soft texture and nice shine. Some shampoos can also remove stains and naturally enhance coloring, for an extra ‘wow’ factor (more ahead).

How Often a Pomeranian Should Have a Bath

The timing of baths is dependent on a dog’s body oil production rate as well as expected accumulation of other debris and fine particles on the skin and coat. And, it's important to stick to a regular schedule.

If baths are given too frequently, body oil will be washed off much faster than the body can keep up with, which can lead to dry and/or irritated skin (even if really good products are used). And if baths are given too infrequently, the 8 benefits as previously listed will be overdue, leading to an untidy and smelly canine family member.

For these reasons, most Pomeranians should have a bath once every 3 weeks. And, of course, a Pom should have a full bath any time that they have gotten dirty enough that spot-cleaning will not suffice (for example, they ran through a muddy puddle). Baths can also be given more frequently if a specialized shampoo is temporarily required.

Should a Pomeranian be Bathed in a Sink or a Tub?

Puppies often do best when bathed in a sink. It is not so overwhelming and if a puppy can have good bathing experiences when young, they will be more prone to accepting baths when they’re older. If a puppy has a frightening experience, this can lead to a dog that is fearful of baths which can make this a very trying task.

Adult Pomeranians can be bathed in a sink or tub. Since spray nozzles are a great help in properly rinsing the coat, whichever location has one should play into your decision. You may find that it’s easier on your back and overall comfort level to have your Pomeranian up high in a sink. But for large Poms, and especially those that like being bathed, the tub can certainly work.

Bathing Supplies to Have

1. Two-level or wide-tooth stainless-steel comb, like the LilPals Double-Sided Dog Comb. This (and the brush, seen next) are used during the pre-bath prep (more details ahead).

2. Bubble-tipped or polished-tip slicker brush for adults; a soft bristle brush or short pin brush can be used on puppies. For adults, the PETPAWJOY Slicker Brush is a good choice.

3. Non-slip sink mat or bath mat. This is placed in the sink or tub to help prevent a Pom from slipping around.

4. A quality shampoo. It’s vital to use an all-natural shampoo with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5 with plant-based cleansers (no parabens, sulfates, or other additives). We love Earthbath All-natural Shampoo; there are several awesome options including a lavender coat-brightening formula for light to medium-color coats and an oatmeal & aloe formula which is a fantastic combo for good skin health for all Poms.

5. A quality conditioner. Never skip this; hair cuticles open up during the bathing process and a conditioner like Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Conditioner (which works well with all Earthbath formulas) is needed to smooth them back down for good fur health.

6. Cotton balls. It’s recommended to use cotton to prevent water from entering the ear canals (which can lead to ear infections).

7. A thin washcloth. This is used on the face and genital/rear end areas.

8. A thin, soft, and absorbent towel. Small high-quality microfibers towels like Polyte Professional Microfiber Salon Towels are recommended since the threads are open (not looped) and very small (hence the name) which is best for a Pom’s fur. If you are using a cotton or terrycloth towel, opt for a short pile.

9. Optional: a bowl or cup (only if the sink or tub does not have a nozzle).

Pre-bath Prep:

#1. Have all of your Pom’s bathing supplies right by your side.

#2. Comb and then brush your Pomeranian. The comb is used to check the coat for any mats or tangles and the brush is used to pull dead hairs from the coat and to separate hairs for a more effective bathing process (see previous 'Bathing Supplies to Have').

#3. Prep the bathing area by being sure the sink or tub is clean with no cleaning product residue and with the sink or tub mat in place.

#4. Start the water. Water should be warm; test the temperature using your inner wrist. You can allow for a continual stream of water or shut it on and off as needed. You can also allow it to drain down or monitor the level to remain between 1 and 2 inches.

#5. Place cotton in your Pom’s ears. Tear off appropriately-sized pieces of cotton from the cotton balls and gently place in the outer ear canal.

How to Give a Pomeranian a Bath: Step by Step Instructions with Photos

Step #1: Wet the entire body by using a nozzle.

A spray nozzle is highly recommended. If you do not have a nozzle, a small cup or bowl to scoop the water will have to do. At first, water may roll off the coat, not fully reaching down to skin level. So be sure that the coat is thoroughly wet before you go any further.

Step #2: Shampoo your Pom.

Add a generous amount of shampoo to the wet coat and gently work it into a soapy lather. Note that plant-based shampoos (recommended over those with synthetic soaping agents) may not bubble as much, but rest assured that the natural ingredients will be cleaning your Pom.

Scrub deeply into the coat. Remember that your main goals are to loosen dead hairs, remove dirt and debris, and cleanse off accumulated body oil, all while allowing the moisturizing ingredients to work on your Pom’s skin and fur.

Be sure to scrub all areas of your Pomeranian, including the underarms, belly, genital area and rear end (you can use the washcloth there), paws, etc.

Scrub for 4 to 5 minutes. If you are using a specialized shampoo for your Pomeranian, leave on as directed (which may be up to 10 minutes or so).

Step #3: Clean your Pom’s face using the washcloth.

Using the washcloth, gently clean your Pom’s entire face, including the eye area, muzzle, cheeks, forehead, and over the ears.

Step #4: Rinse the coat.

Now it's time to rinse off the shampoo. It is very important that all the shampoo residue is removed, so take your time to thoroughly go over every inch of your Pom’s body.

Step #5: Apply the conditioner.

Once your Pom is clean, it’s time to use the coat conditioner to close the hair cuticles (outer layer of the hairs) for a smooth finish, soft texture, and shine. Apply a generous amount to the coat and use your hands to work it in well from roots to tips. Allow the conditioner to do its magic for 3 to 5 minutes.

Step #6: Rinse out the conditioner.

Aim to wash out around 98% of the conditioner. The remaining 2% or so will serve as a protectant as you do a preliminary towel-dry.

Step #7: Allow your Pom to shake themselves off and then do a preliminary towel-dry.

Ideally using a microfiber towel (see previous ‘Bathing Supplies to Have’) gently wrap your Pom. If the sink is drained, you can towel-dry them there or transfer them to another area. If you used cotton in the ears, remove it now.

Never rub the coat with the towel; doing so can cause matting and tangles. Instead, use a blot and squeeze method by gathering small sections of fur and pressing on both sides with the towel, using light pressure. From there, you can finish things up by going over the coat with the comb and using a light spray of a leave-in conditioner, then either allowing your Pom to air dry or blow-drying the coat on a low setting.

Photos of Logan being bathed courtesy of Dawn of WolfPack Poms (one of our personally recommended breeders). WolfPack has AKC champion-lined Pomeranians of both traditional and exotic colors, including the very rare DNA-tested wolf sable.