Grooming and Clipping

[Sharon]

I would like to know if anyone has their Pom clipped and if so how long does it take for the coat to grow back. Thanks!

[jlamiller]

Yes! I had Chloe clipped (butcher job) last September. I requested a TRIM and the lady buzzed her down to 1".....all her shine was gone, her tummy was shaved (she missed a spot between horizontal swipes across her tummy, but hit one of her nipples). It was awful!!!!! I had to work on Chloe's haircut as soon as I got her home (former human hair stylist here). Did I mention that Chloe came home with fleas, too. She certainly didn't go there with fleas!!!!! I had to bathe her several times and treat her bedding.

It took 4-5 months for Chloe to start looking good again and get her shine back; for her color to once again be the deep auburn that I love! Chloe's length still isn't completely grown out ( 6 months later). Chloe will never be clipped again..except my me.

[Sharon]

Thanks for the reply! I have heard of styles that keep the long fur "mane" aruond a poms head and shoulders but shorter tummy and legs. Sounded easier to keep up with but I was worried about how long it would take to grow back if I didn't like it!

[Claire Armbruster]

I love short hair on my Pom, which makes a 13 year old dog look like a puppy! It's much easier to care for and starts getting long in about 2 or 3 months, but I keep it short.

[Sharon]

Thanks Claire, your "puppy" is just adorable! I took Dewey in a few weeks ago to get him trimmed and think I may have to go even shorter. As the weather is warming up he is swimming in our creek. This guy is full of surprises!

[Karen Moody]

I had a pom named Gretel who last year was 12 years old. She had several medical issues that made her less tolerant to heat, so for the first time ever, I had her shaved like a lion. She LOVED it and looked so precious. I kept her shaved that way for the entire summer. I believe her last cut was in September and by Thanksgiving her coat was back and just a full as before.

I did tons of research before doing this and 95% said NOT to cut or clip a poms fur. But I decided her comfort was so much more important and I am so glad I did it. I had her done again March 31, and sadly, she passed away April 5th. I have attached pictures of her.

My avatar is of my NEW pom puppy, Camille. I got her on April 10th. She has helped me deal with Gretel's death.

[Sharon]

Hi Karen,

Thank you for the reply, your pictures are adorable and a big help in giving me an idea what my guy will look like. I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your Gretel, I do know how hard it is to lose a pet.

[Karen Moody]

Thanks Sharon. Gretel's death was devastating. She went EVERY where with me. I took her to work everyday, vacations were planned according to hotels that accepted pets, our days were planned around her feedings and medications. She was diagnosed with Cushing's disease a little over 3 years ago. My vet told me then that average life span was diagnosed was 18 months.....Gretel made it 3 yrs & 4 mos! I was "anal" about her meds and schedules. When she died, not only was my heart broken, I was at a "loss" as to what to do my time! I kept looking at the clock thinking "time to take Gretel out" or time to feed or medicate or water ..... I decided the best thing for me to do was to get another one! When I took my puppy in to be checked over, he said he was soooo glad I had gotten one so fast. LOL I am just a "nuturer" at heart I suppose.

Anyway, I have some tips for you to consider if you do choose to get your little guy clipped/shaved/ whatever. If you choose the lion cut, be sure the groomer has done MANY of them, and ask for pics of ones they have done. The lion cut is interpreted differently by many groomers. I wanted to keep Gretel's mane, so I used my hands and gave explicit instructions for where the cut was to STOP. Also, I kept her tail and and "boots" on her legs. So if you choose to do the same thing, be very verbal and visual with the groomer so that there are no surprises.

If you like the way Gretel's cut was done, print her pic and take it with you.

Please come back and let me know what you did and post pics if you choose to have your boy trimmed up!

[Sharon]

Thanks Karen! The groomer I have taken him to has never done this type clip. I am glad I found this forum to ask. Dewey is the same color as Gretel (I have posted a few more pictures of him) and I was not sure how the clip would look with the very light undercoat. I think she looks gorgeous and will take her photo with me. I will send you a picture in a couple weeks. It is still chilly up here in PA and I have an appt for him at the end of the month.

Dewey is such a character, he loves to play in the snow and in the warm weather swim in the creek. I wanted to be sure his coat would grow back in by next November to keep him warm. He loves to be outside and hikes with me 2 miles a day!

[Sharon]

[Cheryl Garcia]

I have had pomeranians for over 20 years (I have 3 now) and never had them clipped. Once you do their coat does not grow back the way it is suppose to be. I have them trimmed but that's it.

[Karen Moody]

Cheryl, I have heard people say the same thing about the coat not coming back the same whether it be color or texture.

I can only tell of my personal experience which was Gretel's came back fast- in fact had to have her cut redone every 4 weeks, and it came back exactly the same.

But as I said early, I had never done it before, but decided her comfort was more important than her looks. I live in Georgia and the summers here can be miserable to a heavy coated, senior pomeranian. I am glad I did it because last spring and summer was the happiest I had seen her in a long time.

But I would not do it for any other reason, the thing I love most about poms is their beautiful coats.

I just now saw how to post a pic in the message so I am going to post pics of Gretel:

Here is her last summer:

And here she is this past November (I had her last shave done in September):

And she always sucked her paw! We called it her "passe" LOL But I took this pic in March:

[Cheryl Garcia]

AW She was adorable. I live in Southern California and the summers are hot here too. My dogs are inside all day.

I attached a picture of my oldest Pom. She is 18 1/2, has cancer, can't hear and I sware has altimers (sp) God love her. I was told 7 years ago she'd last me 6 months. I have other pictures on my computer at home so I'll send ya those at a later time.