Pomskys coats can be very different, they could have a husky coat or a pom coat or a mixture, Whichever it may be they tend to be very easy to maintain.
Many may see grooming as a chore, it shouldnt be. Grooming is an opportunity to spend some quality time with your pet. Pomskys are fairly easy to maintain. Similar to their Siberian Husky side they are by nature extremely clean dogs and free from body odour. Siberians clean themselves a lot like cats, and most pomskys do this too. Bathing requirements are minimal and many owners only bath their dog once or twice a year. That being said we do have some rather pampered Pomskies, they enjoy a bath and are bathed far more frequently. This doesn’t do them any harm as many huskies and pomskies love water. Providing you use a gentle shampoo, like Animology Puppy Shampoo you should be fine. They do have a tendency to roll in faeces, and this does stink regardless of how much they clean themselves so a bath may be required! Animology Fox Poo Shampoo is good for these occasions as well as their Muky Pup Dry Shampoo Spray which will leave your doggie smelling lovely and clean.
More importantly grooming time provides an opportunity for you to explore your Pomsky in a calm and controlled way. Use the time to play with his/her paws, ears and tail – all are sensitive areas and grooming time is a good way to desensitise him to touching these areas. This also preps them for any vet examinations so they remain calm during these situations. In addition it gives you the opportunity to check for any lumps, bumps or odd patches on your dog. The earlier anything out of the ordinary is identified the quicker you can address it with your vet.
Like the Siberian a Pomsky very often has a double coat of hair, underneath is a soft downy undercoat, protected by a harsh outercoat/topcoat – Guard Hairs, which actually grows through the undercoat. The outercoat is ‘water-proof’ and protects the Siberian from rain, dirt, thorns, etc. The undercoat serves to provide insulation from hot and cold environments and aids in regulating their body temperature. For this purpose NEVER cut your Pomsky’s fur. Even during the heat of summer, they may seem hot but cutting their fur will be very detrimental to your Pomskys health. They shed their fur for this reason and their undercoat serves to protect from heat as well as cold!
Shedding
Pomskies will shed their undercoat at least once per year sometimes twice depending on the weather. Even given their small size they lose a lot of hair, so much you are not sure how they are not yet bald. If that is an issue for you a Pomsky is the wrong choice of dog.
The shedding process can last for several weeks. All dead hair needs to be brushed out to enable quick and strong re-growth. A warm bath and a blow dry will encourage the hair to drop out evenly and easily – making it easier to comb out. Many people recommend a furminator for this process, however these types of brushes have been known to cut hair and damage the guard hairs. We would recommend a Mikki Undercoat Rake, these are available at Pets at Home as well as other major pet stores/suppliers including amazon. This will remove the hair easily and evenly with no pain or discomfort to your dog. My Pomsky sleeps through this process and loves to be brushed and groomed. In addition, a good velocity dryer will help to ‘blow’ all that coat out. These are available on Amazon at a reasonable cost. If you feel you don’t want to invest in one then a visit to your local groomer for a bath and de-shed blow out. Remember to ask if they use tools that can cut the guard hairs as you will need to ask them not to use them tools.
Environment Lesson: Siberian Huskies, In their natural climate of Siberia do not shed during the year (except when they blow their coats) due to the cold and dry environment. But if you don’t live in Siberia you will find that the husky tends to shed throughout the year. Shedding is a natural process. Dogs perspire only through their paw pads so getting rid of extra hair in the summer is an absolute necessity to prevent heat stress. If you live in a warm house and have the heating on often you may find your dog will shed throughout the year. Do not panic about this they are simply controlling and regulating their body temperature to suit their environment.
Quick Fact: Puppies go through a major shedding process from 10-14 months when their puppy hair is shed and replaced by the coarser hair of the adult dog.
Never clip your Pomskys whiskers – they are sensory devices that your dog needs. Whiskers vibrate as a warning to the dog when they come into contact with something solid.
Brushing
The key to happy grooming is to teach your Pomsky to accept being brushed and standing or laying quietly while it is being done. Quick Fact: Wild dogs perform grooming sessions on each other frequently, it promotes social cohesion and reaffirms the hierarchy. I tend to do this when we have our evening cuddles after her long walk as she is calm and resting.
Regular short grooming sessions should be undertaken at least once a week to keep their
coat healthy and shiny. Some people tend to forget about grooming as the winter turns cold and this is a big mistake. In the wet months the coat can begin to mat if it is not regularly brushed, matting destroys the insulating properties of the undercoat and makes for a very cold husky.
When brushing start with a wide toothed comb, preferably one with rounded teeth – this will help break up any mats. Then proceed to brush the coat vigorously, following the way the hair grows. Do small sections of the coat at a time.
Be sure to groom the whole Pomsky, including the belly and underneath the tail where mats often hide!
This should be a very enjoyable process for you both, and is far easier if started as a puppy. You can buy smaller puppy brushes, and even smooth your pup while sat with you playing with ears, feet and tail to get them used to be fiddled with.
