When can you bathe for the first time?
For the first time, you can bathe the puppy before the first shedding. Bathing a Spitz during the period of active shedding of its coat is fraught with the formation of tangles that cannot be combed.
Also, breeders do not recommend bathing a Spitz puppy until he has received basic vaccinations. After vaccination, the dog is not subjected to hygiene procedures for another 2 weeks. During this period, the puppy’s body is weakened; after washing, the baby may catch a cold and get sick.
The optimal age when you can bathe a Spitz for the first time is 2.5-3 months.
A small puppy should be washed with a special hypoallergenic shampoo intended for babies under 1 year of age.
Spitz bathing
You shouldn't bathe your dog often, as this has a bad effect on the quality of the coat. Basically, owners wash their pet depending on how dirty the fur is, but not more than once every one and a half to two months.
If the dog gets very dirty during a walk, it needs to be washed, even if little time has passed since the last wash. During exhibitions, the dog is bathed more often.
It is not recommended to wash Spitz dogs during shedding, because bathing provokes increased hair loss and the appearance of mats.
It is difficult to comb the fur, and the dog will not experience pleasant sensations from water procedures.
Every Spitz owner should have a special dog shampoo, conditioner and antistatic agent in his arsenal of grooming products.
Human shampoos should not be used; their formula is not designed with dogs in mind.
It is advised to purchase a hypoallergenic shampoo that is safe for mucous membranes, gives volume and silkiness to the coat, and also protects against dangerous bacteria and ultraviolet rays.
How to prepare a Spitz for a bath?
It is carefully combed using a metal comb, trying to untangle all tangled areas, but without pulling out the undercoat. It is not recommended to comb dry wool, so before combing it is moistened with water from a spray bottle.
If tangles are found on the animal's body, the fur is treated with an anti-tangle spray to make the combing process painless and as comfortable as possible for the dog.
Before bathing, tightly rolled cotton swabs are inserted into the Spitz's ears.
Spitz takes a shower
Place the dog in the bathtub and gradually wet all the fur with warm water of medium pressure.
. Shampoo is diluted with water in a container (in most cases, dog shampoos are sold concentrated, so mixing with water is necessary), and evenly distributed over the coat.
When soaping an animal, be sure to watch its eyes - do not allow shampoo to get into the eyes.
After the shampoo is slowly distributed over the coat and foamed, the process of rinsing off the soap solution begins. After completely getting rid of the shampoo, apply conditioner.
, then the wool is easily wrung out, allowing the Spitz to get rid of the remaining water on its own.
When the Spitz has shaken itself, it is finally blotted with a short-nap towel and begins to dry.
Drying after swimming
A hairdryer is often used for drying. It is recommended to use a special hair dryer for dogs.
If there is no table for grooming, the dog can be placed on the washing machine
, laying something on the surface to prevent slipping.
The hairdryer is used very carefully. First, you need to decide on the temperature of the air flow: you cannot dry with hot air, otherwise you can burn the baby.
The process begins with the paws, gradually moving to the whole body. During drying, use a massage brush.
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The mane is dried using a flat comb, which makes it easy to separate thick strands for thorough drying. After drying a little, take the massage brush again and continue the process until the wool is completely dry.
Watch a video of a Pomeranian taking a shower.
Preparatory procedures
Before washing your Spitz, you need to comb it thoroughly and remove all dead hairs and tangles. What you will need for swimming:
- rubber mat;
- container for diluting shampoo;
- specialized shampoo and conditioner;
- foaming sponge;
- 2 towels;
- hair dryer;
- crest;
- slicker
Before washing your Pomeranian, you need to dilute the shampoo with water according to the instructions for use. Immediately before washing, the mixture should be thoroughly shaken until a rich foam is obtained.
Grooming
The Spitz's coat needs care. Look at the pictures - this is the same dog - before and after grooming. Groomer - Lyubov Sheveleva.
A well-groomed Spitz is, first of all, clean, combed wool, trimmed claws, paws and ears. You need to comb the coat as often as possible. I do this at least once every 2-3 days. You can't comb the coat when it's dry. Before combing, be sure to moisturize it with any conditioning agent, preferably one that makes combing easier and increases volume. As an option - Gliss kur extreme volume. Just soft water (rain) will also work well.
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To comb wool you need to have three types of combs.
1. Comb. The best thing I've ever held in my hands is Chris Christensen 004.
2. Brush. Either Chris Christense or MaxiPin with 27mm teeth.
3. Puffers. There must be no droplets on the teeth. For paws, the simplest one is enough.
For wool – you can use this (mainly used during puppyhood and during heavy shedding)
The combing procedure is as follows: Spray with conditioner, then carefully comb the fur with a comb from the very base. Then use a slicker brush to comb the paws against the growth of the fur to make them fluffier. And we fluff up the finish with a massage. Here is a diagram of the final combing direction:
Nail trimming:
Claws need to be trimmed at least once every two weeks. Cut down to the blood vessel. If the dog is a show dog, they are cut shorter. If the vessel is damaged and blood begins to flow, you need to quickly use a hemostatic agent - ordinary dry potassium permanganate is what you have at hand. Place it on a cotton swab and burn the claw at the bleeding site. After the bleeding stops, you need to wash off the potassium permanganate so that the dog does not lick it itself. There are ready-made hemostatic agents. I use Bio-Groom Sure Clot - Bio-Groom hemostatic powder. Very convenient and does not need to be washed off.
Now about how to cut your hair:
Small scissors are suitable - such as in the picture:
Trimming Spitz paws:
To cut the paws, you will need straight scissors - directly for the haircut itself, and thinning scissors - to give the final shape and volume. I use regular hairdressers. You need to carefully trim the fur between the paw pads and cut off any hair sticking out from the top of the claws. The picture shows the foot on the left before cutting, and on the right after. Although I would shorten the one on the right further.
Here is a neatly trimmed Spitz paw:
Ear trim:
A Spitz's ears should have a rounded shape. To do this, they are also trimmed once a week. Using your index finger and thumb, we feel the edge of the skin of the ear, pinch and trim all the hair down to it.
Here are the properly trimmed ears:
Spitz coat trimming:
The first thing a Spitz owner should understand is that he is no hotter in such a wonderful coat than you are without it on a hot summer day. Heat exchange in dogs does not occur through the skin, as it does in us. The most effective method of heat exchange in a dog is the evaporation of moisture. This is exactly the process we see when a dog sticks out its tongue and pant on a hot day. The Spitz's coat has two types of hair - fluff and awn. It is their combination that creates a cushion around the skin that prevents the skin from freezing in winter and overheating in summer. By cutting your Spitz's coat short, you deprive him of this protection. Second. When the hair is cut short, the hair stops growing properly. The fluff does not allow the awns to break through, falls off and the dog goes bald. Do you like the fashionable “booty” haircut? Cute, isn't it? Now look - what you have to pay for such fashion. The picture shows the unkempt fur of a dog that was once cut short...
A very short haircut can cause baldness - a disease called BSD. Do you want to get a dog like this? The question is brewing: where can a Spitz be cut correctly? Under no circumstances in grooming salons. A Spitz should be cut exclusively by a master breeder who knows the characteristics of the coat, does not cut it short, does not use a furminator or clipper, and cuts only with scissors. Look for just such people or learn on your own. Here is a beautifully and correctly trimmed dog:
Washing the Spitz:
You should wash your Spitz no more than once every two to three weeks. The water should be slightly warm. Too hot water provokes shedding. Before washing your Spitz, you need to comb it thoroughly with a comb. For washing we use two products - shampoo and conditioner. When choosing a product, be sure to take into account that it should be for dogs with long hair with a thick undercoat and preferably increasing volume. As an option - series Iv San Bernard. Banana shampoo and conditioner. I buy here.
Wash with shampoo twice, rinse thoroughly and apply conditioner for a few minutes. Thoroughly rinse off the conditioner, give the dog a shake and wrap it in a towel for a few minutes. Then we comb the dog with a comb, moisturize it with Gliss kur conditioner and start drying it with a hairdryer, fluffing the fur with a slicker or brush. The coat must be completely dry. If your dog has dry, brittle, coarse fur, you can use hair masks. In the Iv San Bernard line, for example, this is a restorative mask with grapefruit. Among more expensive washing products, I can recommend Chris Christensen, Isleofdogs, STARFIRE'S cosmetics.
Remember, the wealth of a Spitz is its coat. And it requires good care - then it will delight you with beauty and health.
How to wash properly: step-by-step instructions
An adult dog is washed in the bathtub. You can bathe the puppy in a basin. At the same time, the kitten is securely fixed so that it cannot jump out of the container and damage its joints.
Place your dog on a rubber mat in the bathtub. This precaution is necessary to ensure that the animal’s paws do not slip. Using rubberized bedding will protect your pet from accidental injuries. You can replace the mat with a regular cloth diaper or towel.
The optimal temperature of water that can be used to wash a dog is 38-39 degrees. The fluffy fur coat is generously wetted from the shower head.
When bathing, you need to make sure that liquid does not spill into your pet’s ears. To do this, you can use cotton swabs, which are first inserted into the animal’s ears.
Wash the dog, starting from the middle of the body, gradually approaching the head. Pouring a stream of water on the head is prohibited, as this may frighten the animal.
During bathing, attention is paid not only to the coat, but also to the Spitz’s eyes. The dog is washed with warm water, soaked and any dry crusts that have formed in the eye sockets are removed.
After the pet's fur coat is abundantly moistened, distribute soap suds evenly over all areas except the area of the muzzle and eyes. Shampoo is applied from withers to tail. Then they move on to the stomach and paws. At the end, soap your head and neck.
Do not lather the wool in a circular motion, as this will lead to matting of the hairs and the formation of tangles.
The wool is thoroughly washed under running warm water. Be sure to repeat the washing procedure with shampoo. This allows for a deeper cleaning of the integument.
Additionally, many groomers recommend using conditioner. The product is used to shine a fur coat and create a protective layer for the skin.
The conditioner is also diluted with water, according to the instructions for use. The product is whipped until a rich foam is obtained, which is used to treat the hair of the Spitz. Leave for a couple of minutes to take effect.
The conditioner must be completely dissolved in the water. The presence of lumps and clots will make the wool difficult to comb, and tangles will form during drying.
The conditioner is thoroughly washed off with water. Then smooth or shake the wool with your hands so that all the water drains out. After this, gently blot the hairs with a towel to remove excess water. It is forbidden to rub the fur, as it can become very tangled.
The pet is wrapped in a spare dry towel for 10-15 minutes. Before blow-drying, the fur coat should be slightly damp.
Content
Modern Miniature Spitz guard, protect and graze only at their own request - now these breeds are decorative. Miniature dogs decorate our interior and life. Although their warm fur allows them to withstand moderate frosts with dignity, they are still indoor pets, and they are supposed to live next to their owner - in an apartment or house. Tiny size, delicate build and sociability do not contribute to long-term loneliness of a representative of this breed. And, of course, there can be no talk of any enclosures or chains. It’s not for nothing that we included the Pomeranian Spitz in our list of the best breeds for keeping in an apartment.
This breed is also good because it does not require long walks or great physical activity. Of course, they also need walks, but if necessary, a Spitz can frolic or do its business without leaving the threshold of the house. These dogs are smart and easily learn to go to the litter box or on an absorbent diaper - you just have to want to teach them.
It is advisable to prepare for the arrival of a puppy in the house ahead of time: purchase bowls, towels, diapers, a bed, a tray, etc. Think about where the dog’s “official” place will be (he will come up with unofficial ones himself). Ideally, the bed should be located away from heating devices, not in the aisle or in a draft (Spitz can tolerate cold, but a draft causes them to catch a cold). The bed should not be very soft, with a removable mattress cover.
Find out more about what a new friend will need from our article.
Of course, you will be tempted to take your cute baby into your bed, but it is better not to do this: there is a risk of injuring the baby. And it will be very difficult to get a dog out of the owner’s bed once it gets there!
How to dry properly
It is important to know not only how to bathe a Spitz correctly, but also how to dry a dog’s coat. Before proceeding to drying, the pet's fur is combed with a comb and moisturized with a conditioning spray after washing.
The procedure is carried out using a hair dryer and powder brush. Instead of the last tool, you can use a massage brush. Adhere to the following rules:
- During drying, the hair dryer is directed against the hair.
- The air should not be too cold or hot.
- The hairdryer should not be held too close to the wool.
- The air stream should not be too strong.
The wool is dried until completely dry. If all manipulations were carried out correctly, the animal’s fur coat will be fluffy and shiny, without tangles.
Important Tips
There should be no drafts in the room where the Spitz is bathed, even if the procedure is carried out in the summer.
For bathing, you should use only specialized shampoos designed for Spitz or long-haired breeds.
During shedding of bitches, which is especially pronounced before estrus or after childbirth, the dog is not bathed. The animal actively changes its fur, and water procedures help to cause dead hairs to fall into tangles. The active molting period for Spitz dogs also occurs in spring.
Frequently bathing your pet is not recommended, as this can lead to skin and coat problems.
It is necessary to accustom your Spitz to water procedures in comfortable conditions. The water should not be hot or cold. If the puppy is washed under a watering can, the water stream should not be strong. Excessive pressure can frighten the puppy and discourage him from bathing in the future.
At first, it is advisable to bathe your Spitz together. One person holds the pet, calms it, and the other washes it.
After all procedures are completed, it is important to praise the dog and treat it with a treat.
If you properly accustom your puppy to water from early childhood, the pet will be happy to “take a bath” and look forward to “bath day.”
Proper and infrequent bathing of the Spitz will make the fluffy look perfect.
Caring for a Pomeranian or German Spitz at home is a very troublesome task. What procedures need to be carried out to ensure the health of your little friend. How to properly bathe a Spitz and how to clean its ears - everything in order. Go!
