In recent years, the breed of Spitz dogs has gained immense popularity in our country and beyond. These are very kind and lovely pets that will appeal to all family members without exception. Representatives of the breed are owners of chic wool, and in this regard, haircut becomes an integral part of the well-groomed appearance of the dog. It is difficult to maintain a long and thick coat, therefore this beauty requires a careful approach.
Features, pros and cons of haircuts
In general, haircuts are divided into 3 types. The first is a hygienic haircut, which can easily be done at home, its main goal is to slightly shorten the hair. The second is an exhibition haircut, it is intended for dogs who will soon take part in the competition. Her main task is to create lightness and natural volume, emphasizing all the advantages. The latter type is model, most often used for dwarf dogs and is characterized by significant removal of hair.
Today, one of the most popular varieties is haircut under the Boo (the second name - under the teddy bear). Boo is the nickname of a Pomeranian spitz who was trimmed like a plush toy and won the hearts of millions of people. After the haircut, the owner of the dog began to upload photos and videos with the participation of his pet in them, and after a short time more than 100,000 thousand people viewed the publication data. It is safe to say: Boo has created a new trend in the world of grooming.
Let's figure out what this haircut is all about.The dog’s head is trimmed neatly to make a ball. The ears are rounded, and they turn out very pretty. The hair on the whole body is cut as short as possible. The result is a teddy bear that looks amazingly attractive and unusual compared to its relatives.
For those who are planning to start a Pomeranian or German Spitz in the near future, it is important to know that until the age of 3 months the dog's hair is only forming and in no case is sheared. During this period, the puppy is tamed to the hands and combing the hair. At the age of 3.5 months, the first molt begins, after which the pet can align the ears and paws. After the second change of wool, which takes place at the age of one, any haircuts are allowed, if only the specialist was experienced. An important feature: in the case of a haircut, the hair will no longer grow, so usually leave at least 3-5 centimeters.
Pros of haircuts:
- no warlocks;
- less hair in the house;
- unusual appearance.
Minuses:
- the pet is more sensitive to weather conditions;
- you will have to bathe the dog more often and comb out;
- the dog will be prone to biting bloodsucking insects;
- a short haircut is dangerous to health.
How to prepare pet hair?
The wool coat of the Spitz breed is represented by two varieties of hairs. The first one is the undercoat. It consists of long, but very soft hairs. The second is the core hair. As a rule, these are straight and stiff hairs perpendicular to the body of the animal.
Some representatives of the breed generally have no outer hair. The softest and thickest coat is in the area of the hind legs, tail and collar.
The main method of maintaining an attractive appearance of a dog is to carefully and regularly care for its hair. The dog needs to be combed 3 times during the week, not only during molting. Dead hairs are firmly held due to the thickness of the coat and do not fall out, thereby not polluting the room. However, due to the untimely disposal of them in some places, tassels can form, which will be difficult to get rid of.
Essential Tools
Before you start cutting, you need to prepare all the necessary tools, which you will need while working:
- hairbrush;
- crest;
- slicker;
- shampoo;
- towel;
- cotton buds;
- air conditioning;
- scissors;
- possibly a clipper.
Process description
The whole process includes 3 stages.
Combing out
This is an essential part of pet care. The owner can carry out this procedure independently using special tools. Regardless of whether the dog takes part in contests, exhibitions or not, it should be combed out at least once a week, during molting, this should be done more often - 2-3 times.
The first tool that the owner will use is a massage brush. Perhaps the use of ordinary human combs with teeth no more than 4 centimeters. The brush will help untangle the coat. It is also often used while drying with a hairdryer.
The following fixture with the understandable name of slicker. For Spitz breeds, medium sized sumpers are used with moderate tooth rigidity without rounding at the end. This helps to comb the hairs from root to tip well. When molting a pet is a salvation from wool.
The last tool is the comb. It gives a greater volume of wool and removes excess fluff. The device is actively used in the grooming process.
From early childhood, the puppy is taught to comb out the hair to avoid discomfort. When molting begins, vitamins must be used to strengthen the coat and speed up the process.
Bathing
Use only specialized shampoos. Water should be non-hot so as not to burn the skin of the furry pet. It’s worth applying evenly on the whole body, including head, tail, paws. Avoid contact with eyes. But if this happened for some reason, then gently but thoroughly rinse them and, if necessary, consult a veterinary clinic.
Only plus if you will use air conditioning. It makes the hairs soft and silky, after which the hair is easier to comb. Hold for a few minutes for a better effect and rinse with water.
After that, dry the dog with a towel, then a hairdryer. In general, caring for an ordinary dog is slightly different from the same process, but for the exhibition, as there are many different means to soften hair, sprays and oils. Before the haircut, the dog is first clipped and cleaned.
During the change of wool, that is, molting, it is contraindicated for the owners to bathe their pets. At the moment, the hair is already very weak, and water procedures will only provoke a more active loss and tangling of the hair, which subsequently leads to the formation of tangles. If absolutely necessary, a dry spray can be used for the animal.
Direct haircut
Adult dogs can be trimmed on a specialized table. It is important that the surface is non-slip. Before starting the procedure, the animal is fixed with a ring attached to the stand so that at the wrong time the pet does not twitch, and the person does not accidentally injure him in the process.
The ears of the animal are trimmed along the contour. In order to do this with due accuracy, it is necessary to determine the edge of the ear and pinch it with 2 fingers. Then trim the protruding hairs and round off along the entire edge. To create a voluminous tail, you must first comb up and lay on the back, dividing into 2 parts. The tail should look like a single whole - no hairs should not protrude.
From the front, the hair is combed down and cut so that in full face it turns out a semicircle. On the back of the head, the hair is combed against the growth of hair and neatly leveled with scissors. In the anus, the hair is combed along the hairline and cut. The butt should also look like a semicircle. On the paws, the hair is combed down and cut off at the same length, and the professionals in their field do not forget to remove the excess hair between the fingers.
At home
If in your city there are no professional groomers or you do not want to pay a lot of money, then you can cut your pet yourself. True, for this you need to have the necessary skills, otherwise this haircut cannot be called full. If this is your first removal of hair from an animal, then you should start with simpler varieties. However, before that, it is better to study the specialized literature and watch instructional videos.
Before grooming, you should also comb and wash the dog. In addition, the animal must be immobilized in order to avoid adverse effects.
It is also important to remember that a proper haircut stimulates rapid growth and improves the overall condition of the coat, so this is not only a desire to improve the appearance of the pet, but in some cases a necessary measure.
Groomer selection
Due to the demand for this profession, there are specialized institutions in almost all more or less large cities. Everyone has a different price, ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 thousand rubles. When choosing, you should pay attention to experience in this field, what tools are used and what tools. In order not to regret your choice, you should read reviews in advance and ask friends about a specialist.
Ask your master if he knows about the features of your pet's breed that you need to consider. In the modern world, many experts have a narrow specialization. Inspect the place of work where the procedure will take place. The place should be neat and clean, and all equipment should be of good quality.
One of the most important qualities of a groomer is the skill of finding contact with pets.The process itself is a huge stress, provided that this is the primary experience. Do not leave the animal alone, first attend and see how the dog will react to everything that happens. Rude treatment of our smaller brothers is simply unacceptable, if you become an eyewitness to a neglect, then urgently leave the salon and tell everyone you know so that none of them are hurt.
Below, watch a video about the process of cutting a spitz under a teddy bear.
