Do Pomeranians Have Hair or Fur? The Truth About Their Fluffy Coat
Pomeranians have hair rather than traditional dog fur, though their thick double coat can be confusing. Pomeranians have hair or fur that grows in cycles with long guard hairs and a soft undercoat, giving them their signature fluffy look. Their coat behaves like hair in growth and texture, requiring regular grooming to stay healthy and tangle-free.
Pomeranian Dog Hair vs Dog Fur
Owning a Pomeranian can often be confusing due to how its coat looks. The coat differentiates itself from other dog breeds because it looks fluffy like fur but grows and sheds like hair. To start answering whether Pomeranians have hair or fur, we need to start with the defining differences.
Hair tends to be longer and go through cycles, while fur is shorter, denser, and acts like it’s insulating the coat. Pomeranians have hair, but because it’s so thick and soft, and in all likelihood most people call it fur.
The coat, in fact, is made up of two layers, and both of these layers behave and function more like hair instead of typical dog fur.
Understanding Dog Hair and Fur
Dog hair and dog fur are both made of keratin, but hair is oftentimes smoother and longer. Hair grows through cycles which include anagen and telogen phases. Fur, on the other hand, is more compact, shorter, and tends to shed more fur quickly.
There’s a more distinct difference between the two as hair comes from deeper hair follicles, which is the reason it grows longer before it’s shed. This difference is the reason why Pomeranians have a fluffy, airy look, while still being a breed with a double-coated hair structure.
What Even Is Hair?
Compared to fur, hair grows slower and sheds in smaller quantities. In double coats like that of a Pomeranian, the topcoat has longer, coarser guard hairs, and the undercoat consists of a much softer, and finer strand measured in microns. These strands, however, grow at varying speeds, which is why shedding occurs year-round, but is heavily concentrated in certain seasons. Because of this growth pattern, regular upkeep is also required to ensure that the coat stays healthy and does not become matted.
What Types of Coats Do Pomeranians Have?
Pomeranians have a double coat that consists of longer guard hairs, and a fluffy, and thick undercoat. Because the strands in this, grow hair-like as opposed to fur-like, the coat behaves differently and is maintained differently. This coat type is a large reason as to why this breed has a fluffy appearance and also a reason as to why more intense grooming is required to remove the undercoat.
Benefits of The Double Coat
Double coats like that of a Pomeranian function like a natural insulator. The outer coat reflects things like heat, UV rays, and cold weather while the undercoat also is a source of insulation. Because of this, as a reason why a double-coated Pomeranian needs to only have their coat maintained, and not cut at all.
Getting a Pomeranian with Allergies
Pomeranians are a good dog to get when there are household allergies since they shed hair, which does cause less reaction than fur. They are not 100% hypoallergenic, however. Allergies are often caused by dander and dirt off of skin and are not related to dog hair. Streamlined cleaning, and dog shampoos during baths can help to reduce methods to reduce allergic reaction triggers in the home.
Changes in Dog Coats
Pomeranians experience a variety of natural coat changes during their life. The double coat has texture, thickness, and color changes throughout the dog’s life. These alterations are part of normal natural growing to adjust to environmental factors.
Change in Color
There are Pomeranians with one color of fur but then they change to a different color. This occurs when the dog is a young puppy and their coat is replaced by an adult coat of hair, which can cause an entire change in color and often has different hues. The coat color can also get even slightly darker, have more hues, or even have less color than before throughout the dog’s life.
The Color of the Pomeranian’s Fur
The color and coat of the Pomeranian is determined by the dog’s genetics and how much color the dog has in the hair. The coat may become richer and have more dark colors, or have a mix of different colors in the hair. The coat and the color often won’t be established until after the dog’s adult life.
The Age a Pom Grows His Adult Coat
Most Pom’s start to grow their adult coat at around 4 to 6 months. This is when the soft puppy fluff begins to fall out, and new, longer guard hairs begin to form. These guard hairs are for the adult coat. The full adult coat usually develops and is fully present by 12 to 15 months.
How Many Coats Does the Pomeranian Have?
Pomeranians actually have two full coats. The first coat they have is a soft, fluffy undercoat that is much denser, and the second is a slightly rough topcoat that is their protective coat.
The protective coat gives their coats more structure and shields their skin, and the undercoat will provide warmth and insulation. Both coats work together to make the breed’s signature fluffy look and will provide protection and weather-filtration.
Shedding Patterns and Solutions
The breed has unique shedding patterns and solutions. The breed will shed throughout the whole entire year, but their shedding patterns will greatly change depending on the seasons and their coat cycles.
The dogs have a double coat that is genetically inclined to always release loose undercoats to help the breed to regulate temperature. Because of these coat patterns, the dogs require more regular daily grooming, and they shed a lot to prevent getting too much coat length to help the pup regulate temperature properly.
Fur Loss as a Puppy
This is a very normal coat-loss pattern and Pomeranians do go through shedding cycles, and most puppies will ache the shedding of their fluffy coat around the 4 to 6 month marks. This stage is sometimes called puppy Uglies. The adult coat will start gradually replacing the puppy coat and will eventually fill out the entire look dramatically.
Additional Factors for Fur Issues
Stress, a poor diet, allergies, and hypothyroidism can all cause problems with a dog’s fur. Issues with fur growth can lead to some fur being missing. Finding the cause of the problem quickly enough can help maintain the overall quality of the fur.
Skin
The quality of the skin impacts the coat as well. Weak hair follicles get caused by infections and irritations which also lead to excessive shedding. With the right pet care products, the skin can be restored to a healthy and balanced state.
The Fur Should Be Growing Back
If a pet sheds a lot of fur, there can be issues with the fur growing back. Sometimes this is due to problems like post-clipping alopecia. Other issues can stem from hormonal problems or damaged hair follicles. Issues slowing the normal regrowth of fur can be pinpointed by a vet.
The Ways to Improve a Pomeranian’s Fur Coat
The coat of a Pomeranian can be improved with proper skin care, nutrition, and grooming. Simple daily tasks can lead to a substantial increase of fur quality. The growth cycles of the double coat can be assisted by keeping the coat clean.
Tips to Keep a Pomeranian’s Fur Healthy
Brushing a few times a week helps circulation around the hair follicles and removes loose undercoats. Fur grew better and brighter on the pups that were offered a balanced diet containing quality proteins and fatty acids. Mats and buildup were reduced with regular grooming sessions.
Other Things You Can Do Yourself
Prevention is the best tool we have to avoid damage caused by the routine tasks we do. For example, wiping the coat after walks, trimming the fur around the paws, and checking for tangles are simple tasks to incorporate. For extra softness, a gentle conditioning spray can be used and staying consistent will help to a fluffier look.
Dog Shampoos and pH
Dog shampoos that are more alkaline will cause dry, irritated skin, so always choose a shampoo with lower pH levels. Natural oils that are produced can be stripped by using harsh shampoos. A mild shampoo should be used to prevent the skin from becoming irritated and the coat from becoming dirty.
Will Shaved Pomeranian Hair Grow Back?
A Pomeranian’s double coat can be harmed by the act of shaving and in some cases, the hair will not grow back at all, or grow back with a pattern. Post-clipping alopecia can occur after the growth cycle is disrupted and is a common condition. Light trimming is always the best option over shaving.
People also ask:
Pomeranians generally require bathing every 3 to 4 weeks. Although, if you have more active Pomeranians, you might find bathing them every 2 to 3 weeks helps them stay clean and fresh.
Shaving a dog’s coat is generally not recommended. Shaving a Pomeranian will remove their protective topcoat and expose their skin to uv damage and insects. Sometimes, there is poor skin regrowth which results in a condition known as post-clipping alopecia.
Some dog breeds have hair which consists of longer and slower-growing strands while dog breeds that have fur will have shorter and denser strands that are softer to the touch.
Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, and Shih Tzus often have hair, not fur, and these dog breeds require more frequent grooming.
No. Both hair and fur are made of keratin, but fur is often more dense, shorter, and more compact. In contrast, hair grows longer and comes from deeper follicles. Hair is more prone to sheath in cycles in a process known as anagen and telogen.
You may also like
Get a Custome Care Checklist
Build the Perfect Care Routine for Your Pomeranian
Select your Pom’s age, coat type, and activity level to instantly get a custom care checklist — it’s fast, free, and made with love!
Give your Pom the daily care they truly deserve.