Do Pomeranians Shed

Pomeranians are known for their fluffy coats of fur. If you are considering adding a Pomeranian to your family it’s common for future owners to be concerned with a Pomeranian’s grooming needs and the amount of shedding. Do Pomeranians Shed?

Pomeranians do not shed a lot. Although, Pomeranains have thick double coats of fur they are not known as heavy shedders. You can expect some shedding during seasonal changes, hormonal changes after weaning puppies, and during the puppy growth stage known as the “puppy uglies”.

In this article, I dig deep into Pomeranian shedding. I share every detail on how much, when, what to expect, and reasons for, along with my personal experience with two Pomeranians.

Do Pomeranians Shed A Lot

Pomeranians are one of the fluffiest dog breeds but, are not heavy shedders in comparison to other popular dog breeds like Labrador Retrievers.

Although Pomeranians are not considered a breed that shed a lot, they do have times when they shed more than usual.

What Colors Do Pomeranians Come in?

How Much Do Pomeranians Shed

How much your Pomeranian sheds depends on a variety of factors including the size of your dog, the climate you live in, your lifestyle, and the thickness of your dog’s undercoat.

Why Do Pomeranians Have So Much Fur

When Do Pomeranians Shed

Pomeranians like all dogs (except hairless breeds) will shed all year long.

The amount of shedding will depend on the time of year.

Do Pomeranians Shed All Year

A Pomeranian’s shedding is very minimal during the year except when your dog is “blowing its coat”.

Pomeranians go through a seasonal shedding change in the Fall preparing for Winter and in the Spring in preparation for Summer.

Why Do Pomeranians Shed

Pomeranians shed their fur as a natural process in preparing their coat for a new season.

A dog’s coat serves as protection from the weather. A thick coat grows in for the Winter to keep your dog warm and dry. In the Summer your dog will have a thinner coat that is better suited for warm weather.

All About A Pomeranians Coat

Pomeranians have a beautiful double coat similar to other Arctic dog breeds like the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute.

A Pomeranian’s undercoat is made up of soft, thick, and dense fur called “ground hairs”.

The undercoat protects your dog’s skin and keeps your dog warm.

The outer layer of fur is made up of “guard hairs”. The guard hairs are longer and more coarse in texture compared to the undercoat.

Guard hairs help protect your dog from the elements like rain and snow.

Why Are Some Pomeranians Fluffier Than Others?

What Are The Reasons Why Pomeranians Shed

There are three main reasons why Pomeranians shed.

Adult Pomeranian Shedding

Adult Pomeranians will go through a natural seasonal shedding cycle in the fall and spring.

The seasonal shedding cycle can last from six to eight weeks.

During this time your Pomeranian will shed its dense undercoat in preparation for a new coat to grow in.

Luckily, the shedding of the old coat and the growth of the new coat happen simultaneously so your dog isn’t missing a coat layer all at once.

Pomeranian Shedding In Puppies

Pomeranian puppies are known to go through a stage that’s lovingly called the “puppy uglies”.

While no Pomeranian is ugly in my opinion they do go through a teenage phase of fur growth that can be quite shocking if you are unaware.

During this phase, your puppy’s soft fur is shed in preparation for its adult double coat to grow.

It sounds straightforward, but where things get ugly is the fact that hair loss and hair growth happen at an inconsistent rate. Your puppy will no longer look like a little fluff ball and possibly have random patches of fur that are much longer or shorter than others.

Luckily, this stage only lasts for a short period of time, starting around four to six months of age ending by the time your dog is around a year old.

Hormonal Shedding

Female Pomeranians can experience hormonal shedding during their heat cycle or after they have weened a litter of puppies.

You can expect a new mom to fully return to her fluffy self within six to eight months after giving birth.

Do Male Or Female Pomeranians Shed More

Unspayed female Pomeranians will shed more than male Pomeranians.

If your female Pomeranian has been spayed you should not expect a difference in shedding between a male and female.

Can Poor Nutrition Lead To Shedding

If a dog’s diet is poor in nutrients or if your dog is allergic to any ingredient in their food it can lead to increased shedding.

Just like us what our dogs eat is highly impactful on their health and outward appearance.

Many dog foods lack the proper nutrients our dogs need. Many brands come up short on Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty acids.

In addition to what’s lacking in our dog’s food, many foods include fillers, corn, and wheat.

Luckily, If your dog has been shedding due to a poor diet or allergic reaction changing their diet can improve their overall health and coat.

Can Stress Make My Dog Shed

Stress can cause your dog to shed more.

When a dog is stressed just like humans, the stress hormone epinephrine or adrenaline is released.

For unknown reasons, epinephrine happens to release hair or fur causing it to fall out.

Your dog may have experienced a stressful situation like going to the vet or could be experiencing chronic stress.

Some of the signs of stress include.

Pacing
Shaking
Drooling
Yawning
Licking
Whining
Barking
Dialated Pupils
Panting
Cowering
Hiding
Ecsaping
Changes In Urinating Behaviors

If your dog seems stressed, try to figure out the root cause or the trigger for the stress and eliminate it or avoid it if possible.

If you are concerned about your dog’s stress levels it’s best to visit your vet.

Can Medical Conditions Cause Shedding

You shouldn’t immediately panic if your dog is shedding a lot since it is a natural process that occurs.

That said, there are many medical conditions that can cause an increase in your dog’s shedding.

What Medical Conditions Can Cause Your Dog To Shed

There are many medical conditions that your dog can have that will increase your dog’s shedding.

Reactions to medications
Skin contact with irritants
Alopecia (black skin disease)
Sunburn
Infections (bacterial and fungal)
Fleas, lice, mites
Allergies
Immune disease
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Adrenal disease
Thyroid disease
Cancer

What Are The Signs Of Abnormal Shedding

There are many symptoms that you should look for if you suspect that your dog’s shedding is not normal.

Bald Spots – the shedding is not evenly spread out on your dog’s body, with visible bald spots.
Severely Thinning Coat- has the thickness of your dog’s coat become extremely thin?
Skin Irritation- your dog’s skin is irritated which includes rashes, bumps, redness, and/or scabs.
Open Sores- does your dog have any open sores?
Excessive Itching- is your dog itching all of the time?
Excessive Face Rubbing- is your dog rubbing its face more often?
Excessive Licking- does your dog lick itself all of the time?

If you notice anything that seems abnormal it’s best to visit with your vet to rule out or determine if your dog has a medical condition that is contributing to their shedding.

Can A Pomeranian Shed Too Much

It is possible that your Pomeranian is shedding an abnormal amount.

Pomeranians are prone to developing Alopecia or Black Skin Disease.

Alopecia is a disorder that causes hair loss. The hair loss does not include other symptoms like itching, infections, or inflammation.

Alopecia can come from an inherited adrenal gland defect that causes abnormal hormonal levels and possibly abnormal hormone receptors on the hair follicles.

Luckily, Alopecia is mainly cosmetic. Sometimes neutering or spaying your dog can cause a hormonal change that sparks regrowth.

Veterinarians do not often recommend treatments due to unnecessary and undesirable side effects.

Should My Pomeranian Get A Haircut To Stop Shedding

Some people will recommend shaving your Pomeranian or giving it a haircut to reduce shedding.

You should never shave or cut a Pomeranian’s fur down to the undercoat. Cutting into a Pomeranian’s undercoat can damage the fur and possibly stunt it for future growth.

We’ve all seen adorable pictures of Pomeranians with shaved coats. Like Boo The Pomeranian, who was once named “The Worlds Cutest Dog”.

It’s important that Pomeranian owners know the risk of shaving their Pomeranian before they have it done to their dog. In some cases, a Pomeranian may have a skin disease like alopecia where shaving its coat is best for its appearance.

Pomeranians are beautiful with all of their natural fluffy fur.

What Are The Different Pomeranian Haircuts?

should my pomeranian get a haircut to stop shedding

Do I Need To Groom My Pomeranian

Grooming your Pomeranian can help control the amount of fur that ends up around your home and on your clothing.

When your dog is shedding I recommend brushing him or her every day to help control the mess.

If your dog isn’t shedding brushing only a couple of times a week will do.

Making sure that you are using the best tools and techniques can help ensure a reduction in fur and dander in your home.

What Does Dog Grooming For A Pomeranian Cost (13 Examples)

Can Grooming Cause Shedding

In some cases, grooming can cause your dog to shed more.

It’s not the grooming practice that can cause additional shedding but, the specific shampoos and products being used on your dog’s fur.

Many shampoos even though they are made for dogs can contain harsh chemicals that can lead to skin irritation and hair loss.

Be careful not to over-bathe your Pomeranian. Your dog should only need a bath once every six to eight weeks unless it comes into contact with something that needs immediate attention like a skunk spray.

Why Doesn’t My Pomeranian Shed

It is possible for your Pomeranian to shed very little.

If you live in a warm climate as we do, your Pomeranian will not need as heavy of a winter coat compared to a dog that lives in a cold climate.

If your dog happens to be indoors the majority of the time, similar to the lack of natural seasonal changes your dog may adapt to the consistent climate and not shed as much.

Brushing your dog regularly will drastically reduce the appearance of shedding to the point that you don’t notice a significant seasonal change.

Do Teacup Pomeranians Shed

Teacup or miniature Pomeranians are not their own dog breed.

The term teacup, miniature, or mini Pomeranian is used when referring to a very small adult Pomeranian that is smaller than the breed standard of 3-7 pounds and 6-7 inches in height.

If you have one of these tiny Pomeranians it will not shed more or less than a standard-size Pomeranian.

Of course, if your dog is smaller like my Willow who is half the size of my big boy Murphy there will be less fur to shed.

9 Dog Breeds That Shed More Than Pomeranians

Our Pomeranian naturally sheds but, it’s less than you would assume from such a fluffy dog.

There are many dogs that shed more than Pomeranians. Here are nine dogs breeds that may surprise you.

Siberian Huskies
Labrador Retrievers
German Shepherds
Bernese Mountian Dogs
Newfoundlands
Corgis
Chow Chow
Akitas
Boston Terriers

Final Thoughts

Some may have been surprised to find out that our fluffy little Pomeranian doesn’t shed as much as you would expect.

I personally, think it’s just another wonderful reason why Pomeranians are as special as they are.

Every Pomeranian will have a different coat that is unique to them. My dogs aren’t huge shedders but, it is more noticeable in our cream male in comparison to our black female.

Our little females’ fur on the other hand is more vulnerable to little mats.

Each dog will be different and require to customize care for their coats.