The first thing you can do is not worry about how fragile he looks, Pomeranians are actually quite a sturdy little dog. As you familiarize yourself with your puppy and learn how to care for them, you'll find that they are full of fun and energy and they crave attention. Here are some of the things you will need to know about caring for your Pomeranian.
Stuff you are going to need
There are some basic supplies you will need to make sure your puppy can thrive at home. Some of these include:
- Good grooming brush
- High quality dog food (dry)
- Plenty of cold water
- Patience for training
- Crate
- Small toys appropriate for dog
- Training pads (or newspaper)
- Collar and Leash
Tips & Warnings
There are some things you need to know about your Pomeranian including:
- May be a picky eater
- Needs frequent brushing
- Watch for health problems
- Prone to luxating patella (dislocated knees)
- Requires daily walking and exercise
- Poms love attention
- Teeth need special care
- May suffer from low blood sugar
- Get vet checkup regularly and give any medications as directed (Heartworm meds may be required monthly)
- Bathing is not recommended more often than every 3 weeks so as to avoid dry skin
Arriving home
While your Pomeranian puppy probably weighs less than two pounds, you do not have to be worried about letting him down. Make sure that before you do that you have set a food and water bowl in the place where it is going to be permanently. Pomeranians are not particularly fond of change. Show your Pomeranian puppy where his food and water is (make sure you have asked what he or she will eat). Make sure that your dog does not overeat (they are not typically over-eaters). Once they are familiar with where the food and water is, allow them to explore any areas that are not off limits.
Crate training
When you start crate training your Pomeranian, remember to not use the crate for punishment. Should you do this you will find that your Pomeranian will be less likely to use his crate when you are away or at night. Crate training should start immediately, even if your Pomeranian objects!
You should not just put your Pomeranian into the crate and close the door. Instead, with the crate popped open, help guide him in and let him get familiar with the crate (with the door open) and talk to him and play with him. This will make him feel more comfortable. You may want to put in his favorite blanket or toy as well. Do not force him into the crate right away, instead, work with him until he is comfortable.
Leash training
Your first attempts at putting your Pomeranian puppy on a leash will most likely turn out to be very comical. Pomeranians have "barrier" issues which often result in them cringing when they feel a new (and unfamiliar) surface underfoot. This includes sidewalks. Familiarizing your Pomeranian puppy to a leash and the outdoors will require a great deal of patience.
Carry a small treat with you in the event that your puppy goes to the bathroom while you are outside - rewarding your Pomeranian puppy immediately for good behavior will result in more good behavior. Leash training will take plenty of patience - make sure you repeat the same path, several times until your Pomeranian is comfortable going out on his leash.
Remember, your Pomeranian is a high energy dog and a walk each day will help him burn off some of that energy!
Feeding and grooming your Pomeranian
Food and water
Judge feeding by how your Pomeranian treats their food. Some Pomeranians are likely to eat only until they have had their fill and then will walk away, no matter how much food is put down. If your dog tends to over-eat, put down only the recommended amounts of food and pick it up once they have finished. This small dog can gain weight very quickly.
Judge feeding by how your Pomeranian treats their food. Some Pomeranians are likely to eat only until they have had their fill and then will walk away, no matter how much food is put down. If your dog tends to over-eat, put down only the recommended amounts of food and pick it up once they have finished. This small dog can gain weight very quickly.
Do not allow your dog to eat table food - although there are some exceptions. Pomeranians tend to love celery, carrots and other vegetables and fruits. As long as you do not feed them raisins or grapes, small bits of fruit and vegetables will not hurt them. Again, remember to avoid overfeeding.
Grooming
You can easily groom your Pomeranian at home, simply talk to your veterinarian about the best way to do so. Water should be lukewarm at all times, you should carefully wipe away any caked debris around the eyes, do not get water in the ears, etc. If you dry your Pomeranian with a blow dryer, do so on a cool setting.
You can easily groom your Pomeranian at home, simply talk to your veterinarian about the best way to do so. Water should be lukewarm at all times, you should carefully wipe away any caked debris around the eyes, do not get water in the ears, etc. If you dry your Pomeranian with a blow dryer, do so on a cool setting.
Pay particular attention to your Pomeranian's rear end as they often will matt up in that area from feces and other debris. This can easily be remedied by regular cleaning. Brushing should be done carefully to keep mats out of your dog's coat and it will help the coat shiny as well.
Smart grooming and bathing
Like most dogs, your Pomeranian is going to need grooming. These special little dogs have beautiful fur that is very high maintenance. A Pomeranian has two coats, an undercoat that is soft and an overcoat that is far more coarse. Pomeranian's shed their undercoat depending on their sex. Females will shed the undercoat when they are under stress, gestating or when they are in heat. Males shed their undercoats one time annually.
Brushing your Pomeranian's coat
Your Pomeranian requires regular brushing. The Teddy Bear Pomeranian cut is the most popular among Pomeranian owners. These pint sized active puppies need regular grooming to keep their fur from being matted. Regular brushing helps their coat maintain a beautiful sheen. You can brush daily if you want, but certainly not less than two or three times weekly.
A good brush is required. Do not skimp on the purchase of a proper grooming brush. Pomeranian fur is very dense and therefore the bristles of the brush need to penetrate to the skin. Most Pomeranian pups love being brushed. By nature, these dogs are what we would term vain and they want to look good.
In between brushing your Pomeranian, you will want to watch for matting. Mats can easily be corrected by carefully brushing through them.
Bathing your Pomeranian
Pomeranian puppies should ideally be bathed every two to three months. If your dog is prone to getting very dirty you can bathe more often. Use a high quality dog shampoo. You may need to use a conditioning rinse to help keep the fur from becoming tangled. never use shampoo that is for use on humans on your Pomeranian (or any other dog). Human shampoo can cause serious skin problems.
Fleas, ticks and other worries
Fleas and ticks
All dogs are prone to fleas and if they go outside. If other pets are present in the home they may share fleas. Use of flea shampoo and dips should be limited to infestations. Use a monthly flea and tick treatment or a flea collar to keep your Pomeranian flea free. You should check your Pom frequently for ticks as their thick fur is an ideal hiding place. Pay special attention to the area behind the ears and below the chin.
Toenails
Your Pomeranian may grow very long hair between their toes. It is important to keep these hairs trimmed (especially in the winter) as they collect debris. Toenails should be clipped at a right angle. Be careful to avoid the quick which can cause bleeding.
Ears
Check your Pomeranian's ears regularly. Keep them clean and dry. The easiest way to clean them is with a small, damp facecloth. Check ears often for ticks, mites and other infestations.
Have fun!
Enjoy your Pomeranian and take good care of him. These are very affectionate dogs who will provide you hours of joy and delight.
Remember, proper care, feeding and training will help you enjoy every minute of your Pomeranian puppy. As a rule, these dogs live about 15 years.
Regular distemper shots, heart worm treatments and proper dental care can help ensure your Pomeranian stays healthy throughout his entire life.
Image credit: By José Reynaldo da Fonseca (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image credit: By José Reynaldo da Fonseca (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
