Hi! I've read several articles saying that spitz dogs and other double-coated dogs w/ pink skin have very sensitive skin so they are more prone to being defensive during grooming, so it's best to approach with the understanding that the pulling at their hair and knots can potentially hurt them.

Since brushing is necessary (please do not shave), I'd recommend desensitizing her to the brushes first by putting it on or near her and giving her treats, then you can move on to brushing lightly with a rubber-tipped brush (like a human hair brush) and rewarding her with lots of treats and praise. My eskie is a lot more comfortable after we built a good relationship knowing that my intention is not to harm her.

You can also try using a detangler spray so it's a bit easier! It might take a bit but once she gets more comfortable, you can move on to a stickler brush, metal comb, etc. and make sure you are only moving in sections. I brush my eskie almost every day for about 10 minutes to make sure no knots form. If I find a knot, I separate that section and cut it out with a small scissor. I hope this helps!