How to Groom Your Pomsky or American Shepherd Properly

When you buy a dog, whether long-coated, medium-coated or short-coated, it is important to think about grooming your Pomsky or American Shepherd. It is essential to their wellbeing. In this article we will cover the important points: the risks to your dog of an ungroomed coat, how often to groom, what equipment to use, the technique itself, and bathing.

What are the risks of poor grooming for your dog?

If your dog does not get the right grooming — in other words, if you do not brush them properly, or at all — the first thing that happens is what is known as packing: dead coat that stays against the dog’s skin. If it stays there too long, it turns into mats, which stop the skin from breathing.

That can cause dandruff and dry skin. And if your dog’s skin stays matted for longer still, the risk is serious long-term skin problems.

Why groom your Pomsky or American Shepherd in summer as well as winter?

In summer, this is the main reason your dog feels the heat. If packed coat or mats are spread over their whole body, temperature regulation is impaired, so no matter what you do to cool them down, they will still suffer in the heat.

In winter, if you walk your dog in the rain, packed coat and mats will this time stop your dog drying properly, so they will be cold for longer.

Here, then, are a few tips to avoid all these unpleasant, even harmful, consequences for your dog’s health:

How often should you groom your Pomsky or American Shepherd?

The ideal frequency is a good brushing session every week for long- and medium-coated Pomskies and for American Shepherds, whose coat is very dense. Your dog will find it pleasant if it is done regularly, because the mats will not have time to form. Just as for us, having mats removed is not a great pleasure for them.

For shorter-coated Pomskies, and for American Shepherds generally, it can be done every fortnight if you are short of time.

It is also important to pay attention during moulting periods, particularly with the Pomsky, when the coat tends to produce more dead hair, so packing and mats appear all the faster. Moulting periods in dogs come with big temperature changes, at the start of winter and of summer.

What equipment should you use to groom your Pomsky or American Shepherd?

The equipment used is also worth covering, because with the wrong tools, brushing your animal will be pointless. You do not need full professional kit. All you need is what is called a slicker brush and a comb.

Be careful: most pet shops will try to sell you a Furminator. It obviously removes a lot of hair, and you will have the impression of grooming your dog thoroughly, when in fact it cuts the undercoat and damages the coat. It was designed exclusively for smooth coats, and so is not suited to the Pomsky or the American Shepherd.

Having the right equipment is one thing — but how do you use it?

The best technique for detangling your Pomsky or your American Shepherd is to start with the slicker brush, in order to clear as much as possible. The slicker will not remove everything, though. You then need to use a comb; you will probably find this slow, and so will your dog, but this technique is what lets you get rid of all the packing and mats.

As for technique, lift the coat properly with one hand so that you can see the skin and part the coat in two. Then, with your other hand, brush in the direction of the coat, right against the skin.

Obviously you should not press down roughly, but there is no point stroking your dog with the brush either. Your movement should be firm and confident.

Brushing is not something you do on certain parts of the body only. It is important to brush everywhere, right down to the ends of the paws, because some dogs have packed coat where you would not expect it.

Once the brush has been over everything, it is the comb’s turn, and by repeating the same movement as with the brush you will remove whatever is left.

Whether you are using the brush or the comb, when you hit a mat, pick up the comb only. The aim is to remove the mat while hurting your dog as little as possible, which is why you need to be patient and gentle. Always work back over the mat and slide it from the skin to the end of the hair, without ever pulling at it in one go.

Once the whole body has been combed through, the grooming session is finished.

Small areas not to forget: the inside of the legs, the armpits, behind the ears, under the tail. These are often the little areas people forget to brush.

Some advice on bathing

Grooming your Pomsky or American Shepherd also means looking after their cleanliness. For bathing, once every six months is plenty, except in exceptional cases — a dog with skin problems whose treatment is a specific shampoo to be used monthly, or a clever soul who had the bright idea of rolling in all sorts on a walk.

Do be careful, though, to always brush your dog before bathing them. Water tightens mats, so brushing afterwards will be harder.

Above all, do not use your own shampoo on your dog. It is essential to use suitable products, because dogs have far more sensitive skin than ours.

Has the Pomsky won you over, and would you like to learn more about these magnificent dogs? Do have a look at our website: Pomsky kennel in the Paris region

Article written by Lola Chatel