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Many Pomeranian breeders will confirm that many people do not know this breed as "Boo". Other people often ask how and where they can get their Pomeranian clipped into that popular fluffy teddy bear that looks like a stuffed animal. Where did this cut come from and is it even safe to have your dog cut like this?
What or who is Boo the dog?
Boo the dog was a Pomeranian. It is probably the most famous and popular individual of the breed. He had a lot of health ailments, including major coat problems, which led his owner to have him cut short in the shape of a teddy bear. That's why this cut was called BOO. At that time, he probably had no idea that this grooming would become a worldwide phenomenon and that everyone would want a cute teddy bear at home. This dog had his own instagram, twitter and facebook profile and was very popular in the media world. That's why when he died, millions of people mourned him.
Suitable and unsuitable coat types for grooming
Dogs that are suitable (even necessary) to be clipped are breeds with curly coats - such as the Poodle, Kerry Blue Terrier or Bichon Frise. This spiral coat has no undercoat and grows almost continuously, so it is advisable to clip them, otherwise the overgrowth causes problems.
The silky coat has little or minimal undercoat and is very similar in texture to hair. Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese and Shi-tzu, for example, have it. It is commonly maintained by different types of haircuts.
On the other hand, the unsuitable type of hair for trimming is, for example, the coarse hair typically found in trimming breeds such as the Border Terrier, Griffon or Rough-coated Dachshund. It is not ideal to clip them, as the hard covering coat loses its function after clipping. The hair becomes soft, so the coat stops repelling water, making the dog more prone to colds. If the dog's groomer chooses a very short haircut, there is a risk of sunburn in the summer.
What about Pomeranians?
Pomeranians (spitz, husky, Samoyed...) have a self-cleaning undercoat. The cover coat protects them from moisture and also prevents sunlight from reaching their skin. The undercoat serves as an insulating layer - it prevents both the escape of heat produced by the dog and the penetration of cold or heat to the dog's skin. Proper grooming of the Pomeranian involves frequent brushing - this is to keep the coat from matting and to get rid of dead undercoat. Before the show it is advisable to trim the paws and ears - an experienced groomer will help you with the grooming.
If you bathe your dog (or if it gets wet, for example), it is necessary to dry and blow-dry it properly, otherwise the coat can become matted - yeast, mould and bacteria do not wait long and the subsequent veterinary care is a long haul.
So is the "BOO" cut evil or just a harmless fashion trend?
Although it may seem that your Pomeranian would look stunning in a BOO cut, keep in mind that if you cut it this way - i.e. at least half the length of its coat, you and your dog will face the following problems:
- Loss of thermoregulation - your dog is at great risk of catching a cold in the winter and overheating to sunburn in the summer.
- Without the covering hair, the dog will be constantly dirty - the coat will lose its self-cleaning function.
- High risk of alopecia - if the dog is shaved with a clipper, there is a risk of destruction of the hair follicles causing the coat to never grow back.
- The coat may never get back to its original condition - problems after this coat intervention can last for several years.
- Prone to hair matting - after a haircut the coat is fine - the finer the coat, the more difficult it is to maintain.
- Clipping will not prevent shedding, just make the shorter coat harder to groom.
Another fact is that in the form of a BOO plushie, your dog will last until about the first walk. In addition, not every dog has a genetically determined beautiful coat, so even the best groomer/cutter may not be able to get the BOO cut you know from social media.
Still think it's worth going through with this trend?
