How To Groom A Pomapoo [Step By Step Guide]

Have you recently brought home a Pomapoo? Then you’ve probably read or been made aware that you are going to need to groom them. But how do you do so? What do you even need to do, when, and how often? Well, this guide is going to be covering all here today. 

So, how do you groom a Pomapoo? To groom a Pomapoo, you will need to provide them with regular brushing (preferably daily) and infrequent bathing, nail trimming, teeth brushing, and light hair trims (from time to time). Pomapoos often benefit from trips to a professional groomer about every six weeks. 

If you follow this guide, you will know exactly how to groom your Pomapoo – so keep on reading!

What Type Of Coat Do Pomapoos Have?

In general, you can expect Pomapoos to have a coat that is short to medium in length, dense, and very soft to the touch. Some Pomapoos may be quite curly, while others will have a gentle wave to their fur, and very few have completely straight hair. 

Alongside this, they often have fluffy tails and legs with feathering -wispy hairs along the back of the legs. 

Pomapoo Coat Texture

Because Pomapoos are a blend of Pomeranians and Toy Poodles, they have coats that can vary quite a bit between individual dogs.

Each Pomapoo’s specific coat type will depend on which parent they take the most after. 

Due to one parent being Pomeranian, many Pomapoos have a thicker and fluffier coat than their Toy Poodle side of the family.

On the other hand, the Toy Poodle parent is often able to be seen in the way a Pomapoo’s coat has waves or curls that their Pomerania parent lacks.

The fur around a Pomapoo’s ears will also depend on which parent they take after.

If they show more Poodle traits, the ears will be floppy with long soft hair covering the ear.

Commonly a Pomapoo will have ears that stand up and are rounded at the tip, covered in shorter, softer hair like a Pomeranian. 

Pomapoo Coat Color

Pomapoos come in a wide range of colors. Pompapoos often have a reddish brown coat color like a traditional Pomeranian. 

It is not uncommon to see Pomapoos that are black, white, true brown, or a light tan color is known as fawn.

You can also have Pomapoos that have multiple colored coats with patches of white on their stomach or feet.

Many Pomapoo owners think that the availability of a wide color range is one of the most fun parts of choosing your own Pomapoo.

A Note About Allergies

Some people may try to sell Pomapoos as no-shed dogs but be warned that most Pomapoos do shed to a certain degree.

Often the amount of shedding each Pomapoo will do isn’t apparent until they reach adulthood.

 With that in mind, it is wiser to plan that your Pomapoo will do some shedding – even if it is less than a full-bred Pomeranian.

If you have allergies to dogs, Pomapoos may cause you irritation. 

If you know you have dog dander sensitivities, try to spend time with several Pomapoos to see how your body reacts before bringing one home.

How Often Should You Groom A Pomapoo?

To care for your Pomapoo’s coat, you should brush them at home every day. Tooth brushing should be done weekly, whereas bathing, nail trimming, and hair trimming will likely be every 2-4 weeks. On top of this, your Pompapoo will maintain the healthiest coat quality when they see a professional groomer every six weeks.

Pomapoos are small dogs, but that doesn’t mean their coats can be ignored. 

A Pomapoo who isn’t regularly groomed can develop painful mats in the fur closest to their skin. 

Other hair, such as on their legs, tail, or face, can become tangled if not groomed on a regular schedule.

To help guide you in scheduling your grooming care, let’s take a closer look at exactly how often you should perform grooming steps.

Brushing

For several important reasons, you should plan to brush your Pomapoo every day. 

Brushing your Pomapoo every day prevents painful mats and tangles from being able to form in your Pomapoo’s coat. 

Mats, which are thick, tight patches of tangled hair, can irritate the skin, cause sores, and can become impossible to brush out. 

When you brush your Pomapoo every day, you won’t give mats a chance to form and can save your pup from needing spots of their fur shaved to remove them.

Daily brushing allows you to keep grooming sessions short. 

We want our dogs to enjoy their time with us and look forward to being brushed. 

Grooming sessions that regularly last for long amounts of time could become stressful for your dog, which makes grooming them more difficult.

Last, brushing your dog every day builds a predictable routine of care for your Pomapoo. 

Dogs thrive in environments where they feel secure. 

Your young Pomapoo may take some time to get used to brushing, but if done every day, they will settle and learn it is a part of their normal routine.

This makes everything better for both owners and their dogs!

If you think of brushing as a bonding time for you and your dog, it will become an enjoyable daily task.

Your dog’s coat will stay tangle free, your pup will enjoy the short massage-like experience of being brushed, and you will build a close, reliable relationship with your Pomapoo.

Need a brush for your Pomapoo? -> Best Brush For Pomapoo [My #1 Pick And Buyers Guide]

Bathing

Pomapoos can benefit from full baths every three to four weeks.

Your Pomapoo should get a deep cleansing shampoo bath at a groomer about every 6 weeks.

Halfway between grooms, your Pomapoo may need a bath at home. 

While it may be tempting to give your Pomapoo a heavy-duty bath every week or two weeks, fully bathing your Pomapoo with shampoo more than once every three weeks can be drying and irritating to their skin.

If you find that your Pomapoo has become muddy on their feet or belly, washing the specific area with a cloth and warm water will often do the trick of washing away mud and dirt.

You can also wipe down your Pomapoo’s face with a wet cloth and clean off their tail with water between full baths if needed.

Tooth Brushing

Tooth brushing at least once a week is recommended in small dog breeds such as Pomapoos.

Small dogs are more likely to experience tooth decay and tooth-related problems than larger dogs. 

Toothbrushing can be done more often than once a week in a daily or every other day schedule.

At a minimum, weekly brushing will be helpful in preventing tooth and gum problems for your Pomapoo as they age.

Nail Trimming

How often you need to trim your Pomapoo’s nails will change over time. When Pomapoos are puppies, their nails will be quickly growing and very sharp.

Puppy nails should be examined weekly for tips that are sharp and likely to injure floors, furniture, or people.

As your Pomapoo ages, its nails will become thicker and grow less slowly. Nail checks every two to three weeks at this time are appropriate.

The frequency you will have to perform an actual trimming procedure will depend on your specific dog and personal taste. 

At your Pomapoo’s grooming appointments, about every six weeks, a groomer will usually be happy to trim down your Pomapoo’s nails.

At home, you may find you need to trim them once or twice between appointments depending on your personal nail length preference.

When To Begin Grooming Your Pomapoo

Because people adore the natural fluffiness of their Pomapoo puppy, many wait too long to begin grooming routines, grooming your Pomapoo at home with daily brushing should start as soon as the day after you bring your dog home.

Brushing your Pomapoo early in life and on a regular basis helps them quickly fall into a positive grooming routine.

Keep brushing sessions short, and be sure to do things such as gently inspect your puppy’s paws and run your fingers over their ears and mouth to help them get used to being handled in these areas. 

Baths can be done at home once your Pomapoo has had a week or so to adjust to your home and routine.

Pomapoos should visit your chosen groomer for the first time soon after getting their puppy shots – typically around 12 weeks of age.

First visits to the groomer are a chance for your Pomapoo to build a happy relationship with your groomer, get used to grooming tools at an early age, and begin to feel comfortable in a grooming salon.

Starting this process early helps relieve stress on your dog as they continue visits through their life.

How To Groom A Pomapoo

Fully grooming a Pomapoo includes brushing, bathing, drying, tooth brushing, nail trimming, and sometimes trims of facial or body hair.

Hearing all these steps listed out can feel overwhelming, but if you follow our suggestions below, you’ll find home grooming is a breeze in no time.

Begin With Brushing Your Pomapoo

The first step in grooming is to brush your Pomapoo from head to tail. Brushing loosens dirt and removes debris and tangles before your dog gets wet in a bath.

Daily brushing should be done even on days when you will not be performing any other grooming steps.

The best brush to use for grooming a Pomapoo is a small slicker brush.

With small dogs, the size of the brush matters. A smaller brush allows you to brush out areas around your Pomapoo’s chest and legs carefully. 

A slicker brush has fine pins closely packed together on a flat, angled surface that gently but efficiently pass through each layer of a dog’s hair.

The pins are close enough together that they catch and remove even small bits of debris from the coat.

A good slicker brush is gentle enough to be used every day and durable enough to hold up over time.  

Always brush your Pomapoo by brushing the same direction their hair lays – usually with strokes from their head towards their hind end.

Move slowly and work in small sections to make sure you don’t miss any tangles or forming mats.

Use medium pressure to help the brush pass from the base of the hair close to the skin, out to the ends.

Pomapoos shed in different amounts.

If your Pomapoo is a noticeable shedder, you may need to occasionally use your hand to clean the hair from the brush bristles before continuing to brush.

A clogged brush will not work properly.

Do not use a slicker brush on your Pomapoo’s face.

For their face, you can use a soft bristle brush or a single-tooth comb to gently brush out tangles and shape the hair.

If you find tight mats in your dog’s hair as you brush, do not panic but do not try and brush out large mats.

Instead, give your groomer a call and ask for a consultation on how best to remove the mat without causing your dog pain.

Always brush your Pomapoo before bathing them.

If your Pomapoo has tangles and mats that become wet, they can become hard to remove without trimming or shaving the tangled hair.

Give Your Pomapoo A Bath In Warm Water

Every few weeks, you will want to follow up brushing with a warm bath. Baths are an exciting experience for young dogs.

If your Pomapoo is a puppy, treat the first baths as a learning experience and be prepared to get wet.

Over time this process because easier for both you and your dog.

Because Pomapoos are so small, they are easy to bathe in a deep sink, medium-sized plastic tub, or standard bathroom tub.

I like to bathe small dogs in a deep sink, such as a farm kitchen sink or laundry sink.

This allows me to stand at a comfortable height while having easy access to my dog during bathing.

If you fill a sink or tub with water, make sure to only add water that reaches the bottom of your Pomapoo’s chest.

Deeper water is not necessary and increases the chance that soapy water gets in your Pomapoos eyes, nose, or ears.

Most of the time, a spray nozzle or shower head with warm flowing water works great for dog bathing.

When bathing your Pomapoo, use water that is comfortably warm without being scalding hot.

Always test the water temperature with your hand before you use it on your Pomapoo.

If the water is comfortable to your touch, it will likely be comfortable for your dog.

Start by wetting your dog from the front shoulders/feet, across their back and belly, and down their hind end and tail. 

Do not spray water on your dog’s ears or face.

This can scare your dog, make their eyes burn, or increase their risk for ear infections if water is trapped in the ear.

Instead, plan to use a wet cloth to gently wet and wash your dog’s facial area.

Once your dog is wet, use a quarter size amount of dog shampoo to lather your Pomapoo in the same order you wet them down.

Rubbing the soap with a bit of water between your palms will help the soap foam up and cover more of your Pomapoo.

Only use bath soaps that are designed for use on dogs. Shampoos designed for humans may contain harsh chemicals or ingredients that are not best suited for a dog’s unique fur/hair and skin.

Many dog soap options are available at pet stores in a wide range of styles, scents, and prices.

To loosen the most dirt from the coat, use your fingertips in small circular motions through the dog’s fur to work in the soap.

Your dog should look rather foamy during this process.

Once your dog has had soap worked into its coat, it is time to rinse it with warm water.

Take the rinsing process slowly, starting at the shoulder and working back over your dog toward its rear and tail. 

Rinsing in a set pattern helps push soap and dirt back and off your dog and keeps already clean areas from becoming dirty and soapy again.

Make sure to rinse until the water runs clear. Soap left behind in the coat can build up and make your dog itchy.

Dry Your Pomapoo With A Towel

To help speed up drying, use a towel to rub your Pomapoo dry.

Pomapoos are small enough that they can often be wrapped in a beach towel and gently rubbed to remove excess water from their coats.

While it might seem like a good idea to use a hair dryer on your Pomapoo, most household hair dryers run the risk of being too hot for safe use on your dog.

Sticking to a towel-drying method prevents burns and overheating while keeping your dog from having a frightening experience with a home hair dryer.

Professional groomers may use a dryer on your dog, but they will have purchased ones specifically designed for grooming and have trained in how to protect a dog from the heat. 

If you strongly desire a blow dry option, meet with a reputable local groomer to discuss options for what to use at home on your dog.

Pay Careful Attention To Your Pomapoo’s Eyes

Pomapoos are one of several breeds that easily develop tear stains underneath their eyes.

These stains are not harmful but do affect a Pomapoo’s appearance.

If your Pomapoo has excessive staining, check with your veterinarian about helping your Pomapoo experience less eye irritation.

For mild to moderate eye staining, you should use a soft cotton ball or cloth with warm water and wipe gently beneath the eye along the stain. This can be done once or twice each day to help lighten and remove stains.

Do not use soap directly in the hair around the eyes. This can get into your dog’s eyes and be painful or irritating.

Some pet stores and groomers may sell a special liquid to help remove eye stains. These should be applied carefully according to manufacturer directions.

Brush Your Pomapoo’s Teeth

While your Pomapoo finishes drying from their bath or directly before or after brushing, you have a great opportunity to brush your Pomapoo’s teeth.

Brushing can be done with a soft child-sized toothbrush found at most major drugstores. Pet stores may also sell specially shaped or designed pet toothbrushes. 

Toothbrushing should only be performed with toothpaste that is designed for use on dogs. Human toothpaste is not safe for dogs.

Only use enough paste to lightly coat your dog’s teeth as you brush.

Brush the outsides of the teeth from the back teeth to the front, lifting the lips around the teeth as needed. Brush in small gentle circles all the way to the gums. 

At first, your Pomapoo may try chewing on the brush or licking off the toothpaste quite dramatically.

Remain patient and give praise for even small successes.

A short bit of toothbrushing is better than none at all, and soon your dog will come to expect this grooming step.

Trimming Your Pomapoo’s Nails        

After a bath is a great time to take a close look at your Pomapoo’s nails; when your Pomapoo’s feet are slightly wet, the hair around the nails is less likely to be fuzzy and block your view of the full nail.

Nails that are noticeably sharp or appear sharp enough to easily snag fabrics or cause scratches on human skin may need to be trimmed.

Nails that are long enough to curl under and impact a dog’s ability to walk properly on their feet need immediate trimming.

Nail trimmers for dogs are designed to make home trimming easier than ever. Some pet stores also sell electric files that gently smooth out or grind away small bits of the nail to remove sharp points. 

To trim the nails, you will want to focus on just removing the tip of the nail. If you cut back too far, you may trim the sensitive interior part of the nail, known as the quick.

If you trim this part, your dog will likely let you know with a yelp, and the nail may bleed.

To stop nail bleeding after trimming to the quick, apply baking powder or cornstarch to the bleeding nail.

Then apply pressure until the bleeding stops. If bleeding continues for more than 5-10 minutes, it is wise to consult with your vet about taking the next steps.

Major injury from careful nail trimming is rare. If you are nervous, start by trimming only very small amounts frequently.

You may also ask your groomer to show you how they trim your specific dog’s nails.

Your groomer should trim your dog’s nails every time they are in for a regular grooming appointment.

If your dog needs trims between appointments and you are uncomfortable trimming them yourself, many groomers accept appointments for nail trims only at a lower fee than a full groom.

Finish Up With One More Brushing

Now that you have bathed, towel dried, brushed the teeth, and trimmed nails, your Pomapoo should be mostly dry and ready for a final brushing.

This final brushing is done the same as the first. Its job is to remove any tangles that form during the bathing or drying process.

Give your dog plenty of praise, a few treats, and some cuddles for a job well done.

How Do You Groom A Pomapoo Face?

The best way to groom a Pomapoo’s face will depend somewhat on which parent (Pomeranian or Poodle) they take most after. Pomapoos have small, delicate features that require a steady and gentle hand for grooming. 

Regardless of which parent your Pomapoo looks like, a small single-tooth comb and small soft bristle brush are useful face grooming tools. 

A Pomapoo with a Pomeranian-inspired face may simply need brushing of the fluffy fur around and behind their ears and along the edges of the face.

Pomapoos such as this are often considered “lion-like” in their appearance, meaning the hair on the muzzle and around the eyes is shorter than the fluffier hair around the outside of the face. 

A soft bristle brush is great for brushing out a Pompaoo whose facial hair is straight to wavy and on the thicker fluffy side.

A Pomapoo that looks more like its Poodle relatives may need a mix of combing and trimming to keep their face looking nice.

Pomapoos that favor their Poodle parents are likely to have floppy ears with plenty of long, soft hair. This hair can sometimes get too long and tangled. 

To trim and shape ear hair, you will want to brush the hair gently with a comb or bristle brush. Then you will want to use your fingers to feel where the ‘leather’ or skin of the ear stops. 

Slide your index and middle fingers down the inside and outside of the ear leather, stopping where it ends.

If you have a lot of extra hair still hanging down or hair that is tangled, use sharp shears to trim back the extra hair into a less tangled shape that follows along the edges of the ear leather.

Pompaoos that appear like Toy Poodles may also have a bit of a ‘beard’ or collection of longer fluffy hair across the bridge of the nose and muzzle.

This hair can be kept tangle free with regular combing and brushing. If it gets very long, hair shears can be used to trim back the hair to line up with your dog’s jaw.

What Is The Best Cut For A Pomapoo?

The three main cuts for Pomapoos are the puppy cut, the teddy bear cut, and the lion cut. Each cut is cute but slightly different than the other two cuts. 

Puppy Cut

The puppy cut is a great cut for an owner who wants a cut that is easy to keep neat and brushed.

It is considered a low-maintenance cut because the hair is shaved to one length over the main part of the body. 

The hair length is usually 1 – 1.5 inches long, which is enough to be soft like a puppy but short enough to avoid tangling and matting.

Around the face, the hair may be left longer or fuller to create a youthful sweet facial appearance.

Teddy Bear Cut

The teddy bear cut has a lot in common with the puppy cut. This is another cut that keeps the main body fairly short without looking shaved down.

The difference is that in a teddy bear, cut areas like the legs, feet, and face are left a bit longer.

This creates a softer overall appearance and gives your Pomapoo a stuffed animal-like essence.

Lion Cut

The last of the three popular cuts is the lion cut. The lion cut is most popular in Pomapoos, which carry a lot of Pomeranian traits.

This cut features the extra dense, fluffy hair around the neck and ears that Pomeranians and many Pomapoos possess. 

In the lion cut, the hair on the front ⅓ to ½ of the body is left near full length.

This includes the hair on the head, neck, shoulders, front legs, and chest. The hair on the back section of the body, including the belly, legs, hindquarters, and tail, are shaved very short.

Some groomers create a more blended look, while others prefer a sharp contrast in length from front to back. The end of the tail is usually left fluffy and full. 

Overall the lion cut does exactly what it sounds like it should and makes your Pomapoo resemble a tiny brave lion.

If you have a haircut you would like to try for your Pomapoo, it is okay to take in picture examples to your groomer of what you do and don’t like.

A reputable groomer will talk through with you what they can offer you and your dog, what to expect your dog to look like, and how to maintain your dog’s look at home.

Finally

Taking on dog ownership is a commitment to maintaining their health and beauty through grooming. 

Pomapoos are small, which makes grooming a manageable task – but that doesn’t mean it should ever be neglected.

Besides, a well-groomed dog leads to a happy dog. And it’s also a good time for bonding!

Just make sure you opt for a durable and high-quality brush:

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