We recommend bathing a Pomeranian every week — two weeks at most. Pomeranians should be bathed quite frequently. It’s a myth that this will damage the coat or skin. In reality, it stimulates hair growth, it’s the best way to keep the skin and coat healthy. Flaky, dry skin, often attributed to excessive bathing, is more often the result of inadequate nutrition.

When show puppies start shedding their undercoat, we suggest bathing them every two or three days, sometimes daily. It does wonders to get that puppy coat out, so the new one can start coming in.

A kitchen sink or laundry tub is the perfect size for bathing a Pom. Place a nonskid mat in the bottom, and use a bath restraint to prevent him from jumping out and injuring himself. Use a spray attachment to completely wet the coat with warm water, rather than hot.

Apply the shampoo, being careful to avoid getting it into his eyes, ears, nose or mouth. Don’t be afraid to scrub the shampoo into his coat. You must get the soap all the way through the coat to the skin. The objective is to clean the hair and the skin.

If your Pomeranian is currently shedding, comb through the coat before rinsing out the soap. The bath will loosen a surprising amount of dead hair. Don’t use conditioners more than once a month because it will soften and flatten your Pom’s coat. Rinse thoroughly.

If you notice your Pomeranian scratching himself after a bath, soap residue may be causing the problem.

Once thoroughly rinsed, let your dog have a good shake, towel dry him and use a hair dryer to complete the job. Keep a hand between the dog and the dryer to make sure the temperature is cool to warm, not hot. Don’t allow your dog to jump off a table or bed while you are drying him. A grooming table with a post and a leash restraint is a good alternative. It will leave your hands free to brush, comb and hold the dryer.

Note: There are two important things to remember when bathing a Pomeranian. Poms must be brushed and combed down to the skin before bathing or else the coat will tangle. After bathing, they must be blow-dried completely, brushed all the while, to avoid possible fungus growth.

Cleaning The Ears

Take time to also inspect and clean your Pomeranian’s ears during his bathing session. Thoroughly cleaning them after a bath will ensure that no moisture is left inside that could lead to an infection. Massage a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil or ear cleaner into each ear. This will dislodge any debris, which you can then wipe away with a cotton ball.

Scratching, head shaking, redness or odor may be signs of ear mites or a yeast or bacterial infection. Consult your vet for a definite diagnosis and appropriate treatment.