Why Do Pomeranians Have So Much Fur (All About Dog Fur)

Pomeranians may be best known for being little balls of fluffy fur but, why do Pomeranians have so much fur?

Pomeranians have so much fur because they are double-coated dogs with a genetic background that goes back to being artic working dogs. A dog’s genetics will determine if they have hair or fur, the length of it, the color it is, and its shedding cycle.

What Is Dog Fur

Fur and hair are both made from a protein called keratin and dead skin cells.

The fur or hair starts growing from follicles in the dermis (the inner layer of the skin).

The follicles of human hair grow one hair each. Dogs may grow several out of each follicle. This depends on what type of fur they have and what it is used for.

Most hair and fur follicles each have their own oil gland that helps keeps the skin pliable and the hair or fur smooth.

Dog breeds that are bred to retrieve game from the water like labrador retrievers have extremely active oil glands. The active oil glands help coat the dog’s fur and almost make them waterproof.

What Are The Different Types Of Dog Fur

The majority of dogs have three different types of fur. An undercoat, guard hair and whiskers.

What Is A Dogs Undercoat

The undercoat is closest to the dogs skin and grows in clusters from one follicle.

The undercoat has a very soft, fluffy and downy texture.

The dog’s undercoat helps keep the dog warm in the winter. Your classic sled dogs and Spitz breeds will always have double coats.

What Are Guard Hairs

Guard hairs are considered a dogs primary coat.

A guard hair is much longer than the under coat and is harder and thicker in texture.

Guard hairs are needed to help protect the dog from injuries and as an added layer in keeping the dog warm.

Are Whiskers Considered Fur

Whiskers are hair but, they are not the same as the fur or hair in the dogs coat.

A whisker is called vibrissae, their follicles are embedded deeper into the skin compared to the hair or fur in the dog’s coat.

Whiskers are also shed like fur and will grow back.

What Is A Single Coated Dog

Dogs with a single coat only have the outer layer of fur or guard hairs.

How Is A Single Coated Dog Different Than A Double Coated Dog

The appearance of single-coated dogs is different than a dog with a double coat. You will notice the following things on a single-coated dog.

The hair or fur texture is more coarse
The dog will have bare skin on its belly and under its forearms
Shorter hair or fur length
Single-coated dogs are prone to losing hair around their collars.
Single-coated dogs will have tighter skin.

What Dog Breeds Have A Single Coat

Dashound
French Bulldog
Boxer
Greyhound
Dalmation

What Is A Double Coat

Dogs that have a double coat have both the soft and fluffy undercoat and the outer layer full of guard hair.

How Is A Double Coated Dog Different Than A Single Coated Dog

Double coated dogs are very different in appearance compared to a single coated dog.

Double-coated dogs have a much softer hair or fur texture.
Their hair or fur is much longer
Double-coated dogs have looser skin
Dogs with a double coat are more prone to allergies
Double-coated dogs are more prone to skin irritations.

Does A Short-Haired Pomeranian Exist?

Should I Trim, Clip , Or Shave A Double Coated Dog

You can trim the outer guard hairs on a double coated dog to keep them neat and tidy looking.

You should NEVER shave a dog with a double coat. If you happen to shave the undercoat your dog’s fur may never grow back the same. Shaving a double-coated dog can cause permanent damage and should never be done.

We’ve all seen the cute Pomeranians that are shaved like teddy bears or lions. I’m sure you’ve also heard of the famous Pomeranian Boo. As adorable as this appears it’s sending the wrong message and should not be done.

What Causes Hair Loss In Pomeranians?

What Dog Breeds Have A Double Coat

Many of our Artic dogs breeds sport double coats in order to keep them warm.

Siberian Husky
Chow Chow
Akita
Norweigan Elkhound
Pomeranian
Akita
Shetland Sheepdog
Alaskan Malamute
Keeshond
Bernese Mountain Dog
Great Pyrenees
Newfoundland
Golden Retriever

Do Single Coat Or Double Coated Dogs Shed More

Single-coated dogs tend to have much less fur than double-coated dogs do so they naturally shed less.

What Dog Breeds Have The Most Fur

The dog breeds with the most fur are generally large dogs with a double coat.

Samoyed
Chow Chows
Bernese Mountain Dog
Old English Sheep Dog
Keeshond
Collie
American Eskimo Dog
Saint Bernard
Australian Shepherd
Newfoundland

Why Are Some Pomeranians Fluffier Than Others

Does Dog Fur Grow In Season Cycles

All dogs shed year-round but, there are two times of the year when it’s at the worst.

In the Spring a dog will shed its winter coat in preparation for its lighter-weight summer coat to grow in.

In the Fall a dog sheds its summer coat and the thicker winter coat grows in.

This seasonal shedding change is most obvious in dogs with double coats. Shedding will also vary from breed to breed.

A dog’s hair or fur goes through a growth cycle in four phases.

Anagen- a phase where the fur or hair is actively growing.

Catagen- the phase where the fur or hair is fully grown.

Telogen– a phase known as the resting phase, where the hair or fur is fully grown and still attached to your dog in a dormant state.

Exogen- This is the phase where the hair starts to fall out, after the hair or fur falls out the cycle starts all over again.

Do Pomeranians Shed In Summer? (Includes Summer Coat Tips)

Do Pomeranians Shed In Winter? (Includes Winter Coat Care)

Where Does A Dogs Fur Color Come From

The color of a dog’s fur comes from the cells within the skin that produce melanin.

The dog’s specific genetics will determine what color their coat is.

Some breeds have only a few fur color variations when Pomeranians have over 25 fur colors.

Do Some Dogs Have Hair Instead Of Fur

At least 36 breeds have hair instead of fur.

What Is The Difference Between Dog Fur And Dog Hair

When a dog has hair the hair will continuously grow and doesn’t stop at a certain length.

Dogs with hair shed less frequently but, they do require more grooming so their hair doesn’t get too long.

When a dog has fur the fur grows to a certain length then stops.

A dog with fur goes through the four stages of fur growth faster than a dog with hair.

What Dog Breeds Have Hair Instead Of Fur

Standard Poodle
Portuguese water dog
Irish water spaniel
Airedale
Giant Schnauzer
Standard schnauzer
Xoloitzcuintli
Miniature coated xolo
Peruvian inca orchid
Miniature Poodle
Bedlington terrier
Kerry blue terrier
Logatto romagnolo
Wirehaired fox terrier
Polish lowland sheepdog
Tibetan terrier
lhasa apso
Lowchen
Soft-coated wheaten terrier
Basenji
Bergamasco
Bichon frise
Yorkshire terrier
Maltese
Shih-tzu
Havanese
Bolognese
Brussels griffon

Do All Dogs Shed

All dogs shed. Some dogs shed more than others depending on the type of fur or hair that they have.

Do All Dogs Have Dander

All dogs have dander.

Dander is particles of skin that are shed from animals that have skin or feathers similar to dandruff.

Do Pomeranians Have A Lot Of Dander (13 Ways To Reduce Dander)

Should I Groom My Pomeranian

Pomeranians are fluffy little dogs with double coats, they require some grooming to maintain their beautiful coats.

The majority of your dog’s grooming can be done by you at home.

Brush your Pomeranian daily or weekly
Bathe your Pom every once in a while, around every 8 weeks
Clip your dog’s nails as needed

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

Final Thoughts

Pomeranians are small little lapdogs with a distinct fluffy double coat.

Just like all of us we are a product of our genetics. Pomeranians have a unique genetic code that makes them petite in stature with a full fluffy coat of fur.