Pomeranian puppy care guide

Pomeranian information
Video: pomeranian pet profile | bondi vet
Keeping your pomeranian healthy
Pom puppy care basics
Video: how to care for your new micro teacup puppy & prevent hypog
A little extra help
Video: pomeranian puppy training
Related pages............

A straightforward guide to Pomeranian care that will help you keep your Pom happy and healthy!

Pomeranians (often called `Poms`) might look like adorable powder puffs, but they`re spunky little dogs who have a whole lot of personality crammed into those cute little bodies!

They`re highly intelligent, confident, lively and definitely extroverts, but can be suspicious of strange dogs and people, and think they are`guard dog` material.

Generally pretty health and robust little dogs, Pomeranians can make great family pets - but as with many tiny breeds, if you have young children you will need to be very vigilant in order to keep the pup from being hurt by accident.

Quick Links:

General Pomeranian Info.

Keeping Your Pom Healthy

Puppy Care Basics

So, let`s start your journey right now......

Pomeranian Information

The original ancestors of these charismatic little dogs were considerably larger than today`s Poms.

Originally used as sheep herders and sled dogs inareas of what is now Germany, they once routinely weighed around 30 lbs or more.

Video: Pomeranian Pet Profile | Bondi Vet

Recognized by the AKC in 1888, today the Pomeranian is included in their` `Toy Group`, and the breed standardputs the average weight of a Pom today at between 3 and 7lbs.

Althoughtoday`s tiny Poms aren`t physically big enough to herd sheepor pull sleds, their personalities are still huge!

As with several other Toy breeds, some breeders have attempted toproduce smaller and smaller dogs, and you may see Pomeranian puppiesadvertised as `miniature, toy or teacup` in size.

BUT, there are nosuch recognized classifications, and breeding for extra-small size isn`trecommended!

It can cause an increase in health problems, and puts thepup at greater risk of injury.

When choosing a puppy, always buy from a reputablebreeder, as it will give you a much better chance of getting a happy,healthy companion.

You may also want to consider rescue or adoption, rather than buying a puppy.

These organizations are a good place to start.....

Adopt A Pet - Pomeranians
PomPosse.com
PomeranianRescueGroup.org

...... and of course, there`s always the national organization,Petfinder.com.

You can use the handy tool below to search listings ofdogs and puppies available for adoption in your area - or nationwide:

If you`re thinking about puppy adoption but you want to find out more about how it works, what to look for and whatpitfalls to avoid, check out my Puppy Adoption Guide for all the info. you need.

Keeping Your Pomeranian Healthy

An important part of pomeranian care is keeping your pup/dog healthy.

Although they`re usually quite health and robust, this breed does have a few health issues that you need to be aware of, including:

collapsed trachea
luxating patellas
PDA (patent ductus arteriosus) - a congenital heart problem
hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Hypoglycemia can causeweakness, disorientation, lethargy or even loss of consciousness orseizures. Keeping some Karo syrup, or a tube of Nutri Cal close to hand is critical, and it could possibly save your puppys` life.

One of the risks with small breed pups such as Pomeranians,Chihuahuas, Yorkies etc., is that they can so easily be accidentallyhurt or injured.

Being dropped, even from relatively low heights, roughhandling, being played with too roughly by a larger dog, being steppedon.... all of these can end in trouble.

This is one of the reasons that tiny dogs aren`t usuallyrecommended as ideal pets for a home with young children.

Your littleones could quite easily hurt their new four-legged friend when playing,holding or rough-housing, and even if they`re super-gentle, their highvoices and quick movements can overwhelm a teeny pup.

For help choosingthe best breed for a young family, visit my Best Dog Breeds for Children page.

It`s a really good idea to get your small dog covered by Pet Health Insurance, so that any accidents, injuries or serious illnesses won`t have you emptying your savings account!

Pom Puppy Care Basics

In many ways, taking care of a puppy is the same, whether it`s aPomeranian, or a Mastiff, however there are also some importantdifferences.

For general puppy care tips and advice check out these pages...

Choosing A Healthy Puppy

Bringing Home A New Puppy

Puppy Kibble

Puppy Vaccinations

Potty Training

Basic Puppy Training

Owners need to know that `toy` and very small breed puppies can be slow to grow and developto begin with, but they reach adulthood faster than the large or giantbreeds.

It`s usually recommended that a puppy stay with its` caninefamily for at least 8 weeks, but with these tiny breeds it`s better towait until they are 10 - 12 weeks old.

House-training

A hugely important part of puppy care is house-training (orpotty training). A pup who doesn`t learn to eliminate appropriately,grows up into a dog who is difficult to live with.

Small and tiny breeds are notoriously difficult to house train,because they have tiny bladders and control over their eliminationhabits is slow to mature.

The `plus` side of them being so small is thatany `accidents` that they do have are easy to clean up quickly.

It`svery important though to keep a close eye on your pomeranian puppy whenhe/she isn`t crated or confined. It`s quite simple for a tiny pup tosquat and pee in the blink of an eye, and if you`re not supervisingclosely enough you just might miss it!

Patience and consistency are the keys to successful housebreaking. Set up your routine, use a crate consistently, and be loving but firm in following theprocedure daily.

Puppies learn through repetition and association, andneed you to show them, clearly ,what is expected of them.

Feeding

Video: HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR NEW MICRO TEACUP PUPPY & PREVENT HYPOG

Small breed pups have very tiny tummies, and fast metabolisms(this means that their bodies use up their food very quickly), and it`simportant to feed them `little and often`.

Feed your new pup at least 3 times a day, maybe even 4 times if that fits with your schedule.Without frequent feedings, your little pup could suffer fromhypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and become quite ill.

Because your Pompuppy is so small, it`s vitally important that the food she eats is ofthe highest quality, and provides all the nutrients her growing bodyneeds.

Choose a premium puppy foodthat is specifically formulated for small breeds. That way you knowthat each small meal contains the nutrition that she needs to grow uphealthy and strong.

Make sure that your pup has easy access to freshwater, in a shallow, tip-proof bowl, at all times.

Puppy Behavior

`Pom` puppies are adorable, fluffy little bundles, but don`t bemisled by their looks. They are NOT docile little stuffed toys, who willsit quietly on your lap (not for too long anyway).

Pomeranians areactive, intelligent and can be stubborn and independent. You`ll need tobuild daily exercise and regular training and socialization into your daily routine if you want your precious puppy to reach his full potential.

Although they look so cute that it`s hard not to `ooooh andaahhhh` over them, don`t be tempted to spoil your new puppy.

A Pom is intelligent enough to manipulate you if he gets thechance, so make sure that you set appropriate limits and correctlovingly but firmly, if he misbehaves.

This breed tends to bark a lot, andthis is something you need to control early on. You`ll find tips andadvice about this on my Puppy Barking page.

Grooming your Pomeranian

Due to their thick, dense coats, Pomeranian care includes quite a bitof grooming.

You`ll need to be prepared to brush your Pomeranian puppyat least 3 or 4 times a week to prevent tangles and matts. Occasionaltrimming will help to keep him looking neat and tidy too.

These little dogs are pretty heavy `shedders`, and if you don`t wantdog hair on your clothes, furniture, carpet etc., then this may not bethe best breed for you!

You`ll find that your Pomeranians` coat will go through severalheavy sheds as he matures, and there will be times when his hair looksthin, straggly or just downright messy.

This is normal, and if he`shealthy and happy in every other respect, don`t worry too much about it.Once he matures, his coat will be beautiful.