New Pomeranian "Handbook"
Usually I send all my puppies and their new families home with all this information. I've decided to put all this info on my website for your viewing pleasure. If you would still like a packet with this info to be included in your puppies folder for you to take home just let me know!
Bringing your new puppy home!
A canines personality is very much shaped by it’s early life experiences and with proper care, training and planning, both dog and owner can thrive. Following are 5 steps to help ensure a lifetime of happiness for both you and your puppy:
1. Prepare Your Home
Puppies are naturally curious; so setting up your home in advance is essential. Lock away all household chemicals, keep any potentially poisonous houseplants out of reach, try to tie back any electrical cords and keep doors closed. It’s also important to create a specific “home base” for the new puppy by using portable gates or an indoor kennel to keep the puppy away from trouble as well as helping the puppy to feel safe without the sense of abandonment that comes from being locked alone in a room. Don’t give in to the occasional whine and mix solitude with together time.
2. Diligence Now Brings Happiness Later
Dogs have incredible memories and they’ll never forget something that is fun or rewarding. It only takes one time getting on the couch or finding scraps in the garbage for them to learn that the sofa is really comfortable or there’s free food in the trash. If they do, they will remember those pleasant things forever; so it is better if your dog never learns the wrong things at all.
3. Stay Positive
Right from the start it’s crucial to always use positive reinforcement to train your puppy. A reward and praise for waiting at the door will be a lot more effective than chasing them down the street trying to teach them they shouldn't have run out. Showing puppies things they have done wrong, especially with an angry voice, makes them hide and virtually eliminates the ability to teach them what’s right. So remember, avoid letting them learn to do something wrong and praise them immediately for a job well done.
4. Proper Socialization
A young puppy must have enough positive, happy, and fun experiences with a wide variety of different life experiences before it is 3 months old. Although your vet might have told you not to take your puppy out due to risk of disease, it is critical for your dog to be socialized before the shots are completed. The truth is that more dogs are euthanized due to behaviors that stem from fear issues than are lost to illness. Proper socialization will ensure that you have a balanced, well-adjusted pet as an adult. So don’t hesitate to take your dog to different place, introduce them to a variety of environments, and meet lots of people, but be safe and careful choosing how to introduce your puppy to other dogs. Play dates and puppy classes are great, but dog park visits need to wait until all vaccinations are completed.
5. Be Patient
Puppies are products of their environment and will behave in accordance with what they see and hear. Your early days and months with your new puppy will be filled with teaching moments. And while there will be moments of frustration, like that “present” you find in the middle of the kitchen floor or a well-chewed slipper, just remember that how you react now will make a huge difference later. Patience, love, and guidance go a lot farther than aggression, anger, and unrealistic demands.
A canines personality is very much shaped by it’s early life experiences and with proper care, training and planning, both dog and owner can thrive. Following are 5 steps to help ensure a lifetime of happiness for both you and your puppy:
1. Prepare Your Home
Puppies are naturally curious; so setting up your home in advance is essential. Lock away all household chemicals, keep any potentially poisonous houseplants out of reach, try to tie back any electrical cords and keep doors closed. It’s also important to create a specific “home base” for the new puppy by using portable gates or an indoor kennel to keep the puppy away from trouble as well as helping the puppy to feel safe without the sense of abandonment that comes from being locked alone in a room. Don’t give in to the occasional whine and mix solitude with together time.
2. Diligence Now Brings Happiness Later
Dogs have incredible memories and they’ll never forget something that is fun or rewarding. It only takes one time getting on the couch or finding scraps in the garbage for them to learn that the sofa is really comfortable or there’s free food in the trash. If they do, they will remember those pleasant things forever; so it is better if your dog never learns the wrong things at all.
3. Stay Positive
Right from the start it’s crucial to always use positive reinforcement to train your puppy. A reward and praise for waiting at the door will be a lot more effective than chasing them down the street trying to teach them they shouldn't have run out. Showing puppies things they have done wrong, especially with an angry voice, makes them hide and virtually eliminates the ability to teach them what’s right. So remember, avoid letting them learn to do something wrong and praise them immediately for a job well done.
4. Proper Socialization
A young puppy must have enough positive, happy, and fun experiences with a wide variety of different life experiences before it is 3 months old. Although your vet might have told you not to take your puppy out due to risk of disease, it is critical for your dog to be socialized before the shots are completed. The truth is that more dogs are euthanized due to behaviors that stem from fear issues than are lost to illness. Proper socialization will ensure that you have a balanced, well-adjusted pet as an adult. So don’t hesitate to take your dog to different place, introduce them to a variety of environments, and meet lots of people, but be safe and careful choosing how to introduce your puppy to other dogs. Play dates and puppy classes are great, but dog park visits need to wait until all vaccinations are completed.
5. Be Patient
Puppies are products of their environment and will behave in accordance with what they see and hear. Your early days and months with your new puppy will be filled with teaching moments. And while there will be moments of frustration, like that “present” you find in the middle of the kitchen floor or a well-chewed slipper, just remember that how you react now will make a huge difference later. Patience, love, and guidance go a lot farther than aggression, anger, and unrealistic demands.
House training Your Pomeranian
Preparing to Housebreak Your Pomeranian
A Pomeranian is known to be easy to train, whether this be for housebreaking, heeling or performing tricks. The most important element to successfully housebreaking your Pomeranian will be consistence from you. A dog does not have any instinct to run outside of your home to potty. Therefore, your Pomeranian counts on you to show him or her what is acceptable.
If you keep changing your plan of training or you change rewards for good behavior, this will confuse your Pomeranian. How can you expect a dog that urgently needs to potty and is confused, to do the right thing?
How Often
It is recommended that you take your dog outside to show them where to go:
1. Immediately after any confinement (From their cage right outside)
2. When he/she first wakes up & before bedtime
3. Ten to fifteen minutes after your pet eats
4. Every 2 hours for a 2 month old, every 3 hours for a 3 month old, etc.
Your choices for Housebreaking
It is a popular notion that toy breed dogs can easily be trained to use a litter box or pee pads (I do not recommend either of these). While this is possible, this is not as easy as it sounds. A puppy may resist or have a hard time using a litter box or pads because canines have a natural instinct to want to “choose just the right spot” to urinate or eliminate feces. Expecting a pup to use pads forces that puppy to have to resist their urge to choose a spot.
However, indoor training can be done if you are persistent and you have a puppy that is cooperative.
It is important to choose one housebreaking method and then stick to that training. For example, if you want your dog to use a pad when it is cold outside but to go out in the yard when the weather is warm, your puppy will become very confused. It is almost impossible for a dog to know that they are supposed to use different methods depending on the weather.
Therefore, one method should be chosen and then implemented all the time until your dog knows exactly what to do.
Your choices will be:
• Outside Method – Your dog is trained to go to a certain area outside to urinate or eliminate feces. It will be your job to always supervise him or her. Even if you have a fenced in yard, you will want to keep an eye out in case your puppy decides to try and dig under the fence, finds a small hole to crawl through or another animal gets into your yard. In some locations, there are known reports of hawks swooping down, picking up and carrying away toy breed dogs. One must remember that these things do happen; therefore your dog should always be supervised.
• Indoor Method – This is the best method if:
• You will normally be gone for more than 8 hours, for most days (long work days – including travel time- of 8, 9, even 10 hours – most days of the week and no other family member will be home to take the dog outside
• Or you live in a home in which the outside yard area is not easily accessible
• Or, for personal reasons, are not able to easily bring your dog outside
Not Sure Which Method to Choose
It can be tricky, because teaching two methods can be confusing. It comes down to: what is the maximum time that your puppy (soon to be an older dog) will be home alone?
If the maximum time is 7 or 8 hours, then training him to go outside is best, since by one year old or so, he'll be able to hold his needs while home alone.
If you will normally gone from home more than 8 hours, say 9 or 10 most days, no dog will be able to consistently hold his needs for that amount of time. It is then that you would want to train for the indoor method, since no matter his age, the indoor method will be used on most days.
So, if you will normally be gone for 8 hours or less: Train outside. When leaving your puppy home alone, have him/her in a gated off area, with a pee pad. (he/she may or may not use the pad) But no, worries. Keep up with the training- training for this every moment you are home – before and after work – all weekends, etc. And soon you will have a 1 year old dog that is able to hold his/her needs for the 8 hours and will only go to the bathroom outside.
And, if everyone in the house will normally be gone for more than 8 hours…9 or even 10 hours of a Pom being home alone… Train inside. Because no dog will ever be able to consistently hold his/her needs for such long periods of time. In this case, train for indoors only… that will be his bathroom area for those long days home alone and training outside will be wasted time. In this case, place the pad, (with the box around it if that is helpful with him/her) inside in the exact area that you plan on having him/her be when he/she is home alone... If he/she is to normally be home alone for more than 8 hours in a gated off area, put the pad in the gated off area (leaving the door to the gate open) and train him/her to go there.
Use your time wisely, training your puppy for where his/her permanent bathroom area will be.
Outside Training
Training your Pomeranian to go outside with you to urinate or eliminate feces will usually be easier than the litter box or pee pad method. The most important aspect will be to choose one area for your puppy to use the bathroom. If you bring your puppy to a new spot each time, this will confuse them. Being consistent and always going to the same area will make this much easier for both of you.
Note: A dog has a strong urge to “choose just the right spot”. Therefore, you should:
• Choose an area, but allow your Pomeranian to choose the exact spot by themselves. This can be done by standing in the exact center of your chosen area, having your Pom on a 6 foot leash and allowing your puppy to roam around in that entire diameter. Even if you have a fenced in yard.
• Be very patient. All dogs are different. Some will only take a minute to choose and then want to run back inside the home. Other dogs will take 5 to 10 minutes to choose the spot to urinate and 15 to 20 minutes to choose the spot to eliminate feces.
One of the most common issues that owners complain about is that a puppy goes to the bathroom as soon as he/she comes back into the house. This is because:
A: The puppy was taken outside before the need to pee/poop…time was taken to allow the pup to find the right spot, but not needing to go, nothing was done…so much time was taken, that the urge to pee/poop happened after coming back inside the home…OR
B: The owner was too impatient…
Standing there, a bit bored, 5 minutes can feel like 20 minutes. It is important to give your Pom plenty of time to choose the perfect spot, for bladder/bowel muscles to relax and for the dog to release… If it helps, keep an outdoor chair in the center of the designated area… Sit, read some of a book. Keep a watch on you and be sure that 20 minutes goes by before you decide that you were outside long enough…And don’t worry, as your Pom grows, bathroom times will be quick and fast… perhaps lasting just a minute or so.
When home with your Pom, it is VERY important to keep an eye on him/her at all times. If not, pee and poop will surely be everywhere…
You can keep an eye on your puppy by:
• Using the Umbilical Cord Method – With this method you will attach a leash to your puppy’s harness. Using a collar is not recommended. Why? Because if you are not careful at every moment, you may walk too quickly or turn a corner before your puppy can keep up with you… when a Pomeranian is connected to a dog collar and leash and there is a sudden “jerking”, this can cause the Pom to have a collapsed trachea – a very serious condition in which the cartilage in the dog’s trachea literally collapses inward causes serious breathing problems and pain.
With this method, your puppy will be connected to you with a leash approximately 6 feet long. This allows you to walk around the home while keeping your puppy close enough to notice if they are about to have an “accident”
• Using the Confinement Method – With this method, you will place your puppy in a playpen, gated off area or crate. A crate is not recommended, as living in a crate all day and only coming out to urinate or eliminate is not much of a fun life for your puppy. Your Pom and you need to spend time together to bond. Placing your puppy in a playpen or in a gated off area of the home allows you to keep checking on your puppy while offering your Pomeranian plenty of room to play and to be part of the household – hearing noises, seeing people and being involved in the home environment.
To recap, you will take your Pomeranian outside at the designated times and each time you see that your puppy is about to urinate or eliminate feces.
It is very important to offer your puppy tons of praise each time they successfully go to the bathroom in the designated area. Act as if your Pom just did the most wonderful thing in the world. Praise him or her; give him/her a small treat, kiss, cuddle, pat and talk to him in an excited and happy voice.
If You Must Leave Your Pomeranian Home Alone
Ideally, you will want to spend a couple of months with your new puppy so that you can properly housebreak him/her. However, there are many owners who must work during the day and must leave their Pomeranian home.
It is recommend to stay home at least until your puppy is 12 weeks old, as a Pomeranian is prone to Hypoglycemia (a fast drop in blood sugar which can be fatal if care is not given immediately).
When you leave your Pomeranian home, do remember your puppy’s limits. (A 3 month old can only hold their needs for 3 hours, a 4 month old for 4 hours, etc., up until the age of 1 year with a maximum time of 8 hours).
Knowing this limit, it is unrealistic to assume that if you leave your Pomeranian in a crate for the day, that your puppy will be able to hold its needs if you are gone for 8 hours.
The best method to use if you will be gone for an extended time is to gate off an area or to place your puppy in a canine play pen.
The area that you choose should have room for the following:
The "Puppy Pees"
It is normal for some dogs to pee when excited. This is most common with puppies who simply become overwhelmed with your hugs, pats & kisses. The puppy will then have excitement urination behavior. Most puppies will grow out of this phase.
However, in the meantime, you may find a couple of things helpful:
1. Try to play with your puppy outside
2. Bring your Pom outside or to their wee pad or litter box to urinate before playtime
3. For dogs who are simply over-excited, whether young puppies or older adult dogs, it is best to approach the dog from the side and slowly introduce play time
4. Puppies who display this behavior, should not be directly picked up. It is best to kneel beside your puppy, pat them a bit and then gently roll them onto your lap. This eliminates the sudden excitement of being picked up and hugged.
Marking
A Pomeranian, just like any other dog breed, may urinate inside the home...but because they do not understand where they are supposed to urinate...but because of territorial marking behavior. You will know this is marking and not a house training issue, if your Pom always does this in the same spot and does not fully empty their bladder, only spraying out just a bit.
Helpful Hints
Some owners say that their dog just insists on going potty in one spot and it is not the spot that the owner wishes for. If your dog is having a lot of training accidents, make sure there is not a medical issue. Loss of bladder or bowel is a very serious medical condition. Only if your dog is deemed 100% healthy, should you then implement training. There is help for house training a stubborn dog.
Your Pomeranian can be trained to go potty in any area you choose, within a matter of a week or two an can be done even with the most stubborn dog.
First, you must decide exactly where you wish for him or her to go. Next, be sure to have a dog leash that is approximately 8 feet long. After any nap, 15 to 20 minutes after every meal, in the morning & in the evening and any time your dog shows a sign that he or she is about to pee or poop....put your dog on the leash and bring him/her to the area you wish for him/her to use. Remember that a 3 month old can only hold his or her needs for a maximum of 3 hours, a 4 month old for 4 hours and so on. Stand in the middle of the area, allowing your Pom to roam the length of the leash. Give your dog plenty of time to find "just the perfect spot". If he or she only has that area to choose from, your dog can not possibly go potty elsewhere.
Make sure to be patience, as your Pom sniffs around for what may seem like forever. Let your dog have the freedom to choose any place within the selected area. Reward your Pomeranian with happy, excited and kind words when they are done. Never slip and allow your dog to roam elsewhere for potty needs. Within 2 weeks, the area you chose will be the only place that your dog considers to be the bathroom.
Preparing to Housebreak Your Pomeranian
A Pomeranian is known to be easy to train, whether this be for housebreaking, heeling or performing tricks. The most important element to successfully housebreaking your Pomeranian will be consistence from you. A dog does not have any instinct to run outside of your home to potty. Therefore, your Pomeranian counts on you to show him or her what is acceptable.
If you keep changing your plan of training or you change rewards for good behavior, this will confuse your Pomeranian. How can you expect a dog that urgently needs to potty and is confused, to do the right thing?
How Often
It is recommended that you take your dog outside to show them where to go:
1. Immediately after any confinement (From their cage right outside)
2. When he/she first wakes up & before bedtime
3. Ten to fifteen minutes after your pet eats
4. Every 2 hours for a 2 month old, every 3 hours for a 3 month old, etc.
Your choices for Housebreaking
It is a popular notion that toy breed dogs can easily be trained to use a litter box or pee pads (I do not recommend either of these). While this is possible, this is not as easy as it sounds. A puppy may resist or have a hard time using a litter box or pads because canines have a natural instinct to want to “choose just the right spot” to urinate or eliminate feces. Expecting a pup to use pads forces that puppy to have to resist their urge to choose a spot.
However, indoor training can be done if you are persistent and you have a puppy that is cooperative.
It is important to choose one housebreaking method and then stick to that training. For example, if you want your dog to use a pad when it is cold outside but to go out in the yard when the weather is warm, your puppy will become very confused. It is almost impossible for a dog to know that they are supposed to use different methods depending on the weather.
Therefore, one method should be chosen and then implemented all the time until your dog knows exactly what to do.
Your choices will be:
• Outside Method – Your dog is trained to go to a certain area outside to urinate or eliminate feces. It will be your job to always supervise him or her. Even if you have a fenced in yard, you will want to keep an eye out in case your puppy decides to try and dig under the fence, finds a small hole to crawl through or another animal gets into your yard. In some locations, there are known reports of hawks swooping down, picking up and carrying away toy breed dogs. One must remember that these things do happen; therefore your dog should always be supervised.
• Indoor Method – This is the best method if:
• You will normally be gone for more than 8 hours, for most days (long work days – including travel time- of 8, 9, even 10 hours – most days of the week and no other family member will be home to take the dog outside
• Or you live in a home in which the outside yard area is not easily accessible
• Or, for personal reasons, are not able to easily bring your dog outside
Not Sure Which Method to Choose
It can be tricky, because teaching two methods can be confusing. It comes down to: what is the maximum time that your puppy (soon to be an older dog) will be home alone?
If the maximum time is 7 or 8 hours, then training him to go outside is best, since by one year old or so, he'll be able to hold his needs while home alone.
If you will normally gone from home more than 8 hours, say 9 or 10 most days, no dog will be able to consistently hold his needs for that amount of time. It is then that you would want to train for the indoor method, since no matter his age, the indoor method will be used on most days.
So, if you will normally be gone for 8 hours or less: Train outside. When leaving your puppy home alone, have him/her in a gated off area, with a pee pad. (he/she may or may not use the pad) But no, worries. Keep up with the training- training for this every moment you are home – before and after work – all weekends, etc. And soon you will have a 1 year old dog that is able to hold his/her needs for the 8 hours and will only go to the bathroom outside.
And, if everyone in the house will normally be gone for more than 8 hours…9 or even 10 hours of a Pom being home alone… Train inside. Because no dog will ever be able to consistently hold his/her needs for such long periods of time. In this case, train for indoors only… that will be his bathroom area for those long days home alone and training outside will be wasted time. In this case, place the pad, (with the box around it if that is helpful with him/her) inside in the exact area that you plan on having him/her be when he/she is home alone... If he/she is to normally be home alone for more than 8 hours in a gated off area, put the pad in the gated off area (leaving the door to the gate open) and train him/her to go there.
Use your time wisely, training your puppy for where his/her permanent bathroom area will be.
Outside Training
Training your Pomeranian to go outside with you to urinate or eliminate feces will usually be easier than the litter box or pee pad method. The most important aspect will be to choose one area for your puppy to use the bathroom. If you bring your puppy to a new spot each time, this will confuse them. Being consistent and always going to the same area will make this much easier for both of you.
Note: A dog has a strong urge to “choose just the right spot”. Therefore, you should:
• Choose an area, but allow your Pomeranian to choose the exact spot by themselves. This can be done by standing in the exact center of your chosen area, having your Pom on a 6 foot leash and allowing your puppy to roam around in that entire diameter. Even if you have a fenced in yard.
• Be very patient. All dogs are different. Some will only take a minute to choose and then want to run back inside the home. Other dogs will take 5 to 10 minutes to choose the spot to urinate and 15 to 20 minutes to choose the spot to eliminate feces.
One of the most common issues that owners complain about is that a puppy goes to the bathroom as soon as he/she comes back into the house. This is because:
A: The puppy was taken outside before the need to pee/poop…time was taken to allow the pup to find the right spot, but not needing to go, nothing was done…so much time was taken, that the urge to pee/poop happened after coming back inside the home…OR
B: The owner was too impatient…
Standing there, a bit bored, 5 minutes can feel like 20 minutes. It is important to give your Pom plenty of time to choose the perfect spot, for bladder/bowel muscles to relax and for the dog to release… If it helps, keep an outdoor chair in the center of the designated area… Sit, read some of a book. Keep a watch on you and be sure that 20 minutes goes by before you decide that you were outside long enough…And don’t worry, as your Pom grows, bathroom times will be quick and fast… perhaps lasting just a minute or so.
When home with your Pom, it is VERY important to keep an eye on him/her at all times. If not, pee and poop will surely be everywhere…
You can keep an eye on your puppy by:
• Using the Umbilical Cord Method – With this method you will attach a leash to your puppy’s harness. Using a collar is not recommended. Why? Because if you are not careful at every moment, you may walk too quickly or turn a corner before your puppy can keep up with you… when a Pomeranian is connected to a dog collar and leash and there is a sudden “jerking”, this can cause the Pom to have a collapsed trachea – a very serious condition in which the cartilage in the dog’s trachea literally collapses inward causes serious breathing problems and pain.
With this method, your puppy will be connected to you with a leash approximately 6 feet long. This allows you to walk around the home while keeping your puppy close enough to notice if they are about to have an “accident”
• Using the Confinement Method – With this method, you will place your puppy in a playpen, gated off area or crate. A crate is not recommended, as living in a crate all day and only coming out to urinate or eliminate is not much of a fun life for your puppy. Your Pom and you need to spend time together to bond. Placing your puppy in a playpen or in a gated off area of the home allows you to keep checking on your puppy while offering your Pomeranian plenty of room to play and to be part of the household – hearing noises, seeing people and being involved in the home environment.
To recap, you will take your Pomeranian outside at the designated times and each time you see that your puppy is about to urinate or eliminate feces.
It is very important to offer your puppy tons of praise each time they successfully go to the bathroom in the designated area. Act as if your Pom just did the most wonderful thing in the world. Praise him or her; give him/her a small treat, kiss, cuddle, pat and talk to him in an excited and happy voice.
If You Must Leave Your Pomeranian Home Alone
Ideally, you will want to spend a couple of months with your new puppy so that you can properly housebreak him/her. However, there are many owners who must work during the day and must leave their Pomeranian home.
It is recommend to stay home at least until your puppy is 12 weeks old, as a Pomeranian is prone to Hypoglycemia (a fast drop in blood sugar which can be fatal if care is not given immediately).
When you leave your Pomeranian home, do remember your puppy’s limits. (A 3 month old can only hold their needs for 3 hours, a 4 month old for 4 hours, etc., up until the age of 1 year with a maximum time of 8 hours).
Knowing this limit, it is unrealistic to assume that if you leave your Pomeranian in a crate for the day, that your puppy will be able to hold its needs if you are gone for 8 hours.
The best method to use if you will be gone for an extended time is to gate off an area or to place your puppy in a canine play pen.
The area that you choose should have room for the following:
- An area for toys
- A dog bed or other comfortable area to rest and nap
- Areas for both water (dispenser is best to prevent spills) and food (non-skid bowl)
- Pee pads, placed in the corner
The "Puppy Pees"
It is normal for some dogs to pee when excited. This is most common with puppies who simply become overwhelmed with your hugs, pats & kisses. The puppy will then have excitement urination behavior. Most puppies will grow out of this phase.
However, in the meantime, you may find a couple of things helpful:
1. Try to play with your puppy outside
2. Bring your Pom outside or to their wee pad or litter box to urinate before playtime
3. For dogs who are simply over-excited, whether young puppies or older adult dogs, it is best to approach the dog from the side and slowly introduce play time
4. Puppies who display this behavior, should not be directly picked up. It is best to kneel beside your puppy, pat them a bit and then gently roll them onto your lap. This eliminates the sudden excitement of being picked up and hugged.
Marking
A Pomeranian, just like any other dog breed, may urinate inside the home...but because they do not understand where they are supposed to urinate...but because of territorial marking behavior. You will know this is marking and not a house training issue, if your Pom always does this in the same spot and does not fully empty their bladder, only spraying out just a bit.
Helpful Hints
Some owners say that their dog just insists on going potty in one spot and it is not the spot that the owner wishes for. If your dog is having a lot of training accidents, make sure there is not a medical issue. Loss of bladder or bowel is a very serious medical condition. Only if your dog is deemed 100% healthy, should you then implement training. There is help for house training a stubborn dog.
Your Pomeranian can be trained to go potty in any area you choose, within a matter of a week or two an can be done even with the most stubborn dog.
First, you must decide exactly where you wish for him or her to go. Next, be sure to have a dog leash that is approximately 8 feet long. After any nap, 15 to 20 minutes after every meal, in the morning & in the evening and any time your dog shows a sign that he or she is about to pee or poop....put your dog on the leash and bring him/her to the area you wish for him/her to use. Remember that a 3 month old can only hold his or her needs for a maximum of 3 hours, a 4 month old for 4 hours and so on. Stand in the middle of the area, allowing your Pom to roam the length of the leash. Give your dog plenty of time to find "just the perfect spot". If he or she only has that area to choose from, your dog can not possibly go potty elsewhere.
Make sure to be patience, as your Pom sniffs around for what may seem like forever. Let your dog have the freedom to choose any place within the selected area. Reward your Pomeranian with happy, excited and kind words when they are done. Never slip and allow your dog to roam elsewhere for potty needs. Within 2 weeks, the area you chose will be the only place that your dog considers to be the bathroom.
Pomeranian Puppy Uglies
Overview
This is such odd terminology, isn't' it? Does this mean that your puppy will actually be ugly?The answer is a huge NO!
A bit scraggly looking in a cute way, during a temporary phase. But certainly not ugly. The Pomeranian breed is one of the most beautiful dogs in the world and this is known as a "necessary evil". It is a step that leads your wonderful dog into the ball of fluff that he or she was meant to be!
Some Pomeranian owners hope that they can escape the fate of the Puppy Uglies with a dose of good luck. Others have heard of this phrase and do not understand the sometimes shocking results of this Pomeranian term. Still other owners have puppies that are currently in this stage and mistake the symptoms for more serious medical issues.
Let's put to rest some of the myths regarding this issue and discuss all of the aspects of what exactly this term means and how it will and will not affect your Pom. What are the Puppy Uglies, can you avoid them, what happens during this time and how long does this last? We will discuss all of these issues to help clarify the Puppy Uglies.
General Overview
Poms are born with wonderfully fluffy coats of fur; this is one the features that makes this dog breed so amazingly special and unique. There is a brief interruption where the fur will fall out. This is only temporary; once the adult coat comes in, you will have your ball of fluff back.
The Puppy Uglies is simply a stage that all Pomeranian dogs go through as they are growing. Just as humans enter different stages of growing, this is a phase in which your Pom is losing its baby fur. The "Uglies" will be the stage in which the baby fur is gone, but the adult fur has yet to grow in. The phase will end when the adult fur has fully grown in.
A Pom puppy is born with just one coat of fur. It is soft and so heavenly smooth. After the Puppy Ugly stage is done, the Pomeranian will have its adult 2 coats of fur: undercoat and overcoat. The undercoat will be short and thick, the overcoat will be longer, soft and gorgeous.
Can I Avoid This Stage?
You may, if your Pomeranian is in the 20th percentile of Poms that do not appear to go through this stage. This 20% will actually enter the stage during winter months and not have a full-blown phase; therefore not appearing to have this.
The other 80% of healthy Pomeranian dogs will go through this stage. Please note that we stated "healthy Pomeranian". This process, in which the puppy coat is shed and the adult coat grows in is an elemental part of a growing Pom. You will want to take extra good care of the coat and skin.
How Can I Be Sure My Pom is Having Puppy Uglies?
This is an important element because there are many medical issues, some serious, that cause a dog to lose fur. If your Pomeranian is losing its fur and they are not at the correct age of having Puppy Uglies, this would be a red flag to bring your dog to the vet ASAP.
The 80% of Poms that enter this stage will do so at the age of 4 to 8 months old. The phase will end when the Pom is 10 to 14 months old. If there is a substantial amount of coat loss, enough to show patches of skin and the dog is not between 8 and 14 months, you will want to bring them to the veterinarian as soon as possible as it may be a separate Pomeranian hair loss issue. Note: BSD is a completely different issue, as it lasts for life.
What Else Can Cause Fur Loss?
Beside the Puppy Uglies, fur loss can occur from food or environmental allergies, thyroid problems and a host of other medical issues. Most can be resolved with treatment; which is why it is so important to have your dog checked out. However, if your Pom is at the right age to lose its baby fur, there is no reason to rush to the vet. The veterinarian will not be able to stop this stage, nor should they! It is a necessary step to your dog becoming an adult and having that wonderful permanent fluffy fur.
When Does this Occur?
This will vary from dog to dog. While we would never begin to think that a Pomeranian could actually be ugly, the fur loss can occur in strange areas, thus making the dog look very odd for a while!
The fur loss may be only on the legs, causing the dog to look a bit like a Poodle shaving gone awry. The Pom may lose fur just around the eyes, causing the dog to look like it got a bit too close to a flame that sizzled off their "eyebrows". It is suggested to take this phase for what it is and have a bit of humor. Your Pom is not really ugly, he or she is a beautiful little creature who is going through a very large change.
What Can I Do to Help?
Your Pom only needs your love and also a bit of care concerning grooming. Do not stop giving your dog baths and brushings, thinking that this will help slow down fur loss. The baby fur must come out and your dog must be kept clean. You will want to be careful when you are brushing your dog; the skin that has little hair or is completely bald will be sensitive. Brush carefully around those areas. You will want to brush your puppy every day to every other day.
Be sure to use a high quality dog fur conditioner, as this will help keep the skin soft as well. Make sure that your Pomeranian has soft elements to lay on, such as a soft doggie bed, pillows and cushions. If the dog has lost hair on the legs, sores may appear if your Pom is laying on hard surfaces. Keep your eyes out for any sores or red areas that seem irritated and bring these to the attention of your Pom's vet if your effort to provide a soft home is not working.
Overview
This is such odd terminology, isn't' it? Does this mean that your puppy will actually be ugly?The answer is a huge NO!
A bit scraggly looking in a cute way, during a temporary phase. But certainly not ugly. The Pomeranian breed is one of the most beautiful dogs in the world and this is known as a "necessary evil". It is a step that leads your wonderful dog into the ball of fluff that he or she was meant to be!
Some Pomeranian owners hope that they can escape the fate of the Puppy Uglies with a dose of good luck. Others have heard of this phrase and do not understand the sometimes shocking results of this Pomeranian term. Still other owners have puppies that are currently in this stage and mistake the symptoms for more serious medical issues.
Let's put to rest some of the myths regarding this issue and discuss all of the aspects of what exactly this term means and how it will and will not affect your Pom. What are the Puppy Uglies, can you avoid them, what happens during this time and how long does this last? We will discuss all of these issues to help clarify the Puppy Uglies.
General Overview
Poms are born with wonderfully fluffy coats of fur; this is one the features that makes this dog breed so amazingly special and unique. There is a brief interruption where the fur will fall out. This is only temporary; once the adult coat comes in, you will have your ball of fluff back.
The Puppy Uglies is simply a stage that all Pomeranian dogs go through as they are growing. Just as humans enter different stages of growing, this is a phase in which your Pom is losing its baby fur. The "Uglies" will be the stage in which the baby fur is gone, but the adult fur has yet to grow in. The phase will end when the adult fur has fully grown in.
A Pom puppy is born with just one coat of fur. It is soft and so heavenly smooth. After the Puppy Ugly stage is done, the Pomeranian will have its adult 2 coats of fur: undercoat and overcoat. The undercoat will be short and thick, the overcoat will be longer, soft and gorgeous.
Can I Avoid This Stage?
You may, if your Pomeranian is in the 20th percentile of Poms that do not appear to go through this stage. This 20% will actually enter the stage during winter months and not have a full-blown phase; therefore not appearing to have this.
The other 80% of healthy Pomeranian dogs will go through this stage. Please note that we stated "healthy Pomeranian". This process, in which the puppy coat is shed and the adult coat grows in is an elemental part of a growing Pom. You will want to take extra good care of the coat and skin.
How Can I Be Sure My Pom is Having Puppy Uglies?
This is an important element because there are many medical issues, some serious, that cause a dog to lose fur. If your Pomeranian is losing its fur and they are not at the correct age of having Puppy Uglies, this would be a red flag to bring your dog to the vet ASAP.
The 80% of Poms that enter this stage will do so at the age of 4 to 8 months old. The phase will end when the Pom is 10 to 14 months old. If there is a substantial amount of coat loss, enough to show patches of skin and the dog is not between 8 and 14 months, you will want to bring them to the veterinarian as soon as possible as it may be a separate Pomeranian hair loss issue. Note: BSD is a completely different issue, as it lasts for life.
What Else Can Cause Fur Loss?
Beside the Puppy Uglies, fur loss can occur from food or environmental allergies, thyroid problems and a host of other medical issues. Most can be resolved with treatment; which is why it is so important to have your dog checked out. However, if your Pom is at the right age to lose its baby fur, there is no reason to rush to the vet. The veterinarian will not be able to stop this stage, nor should they! It is a necessary step to your dog becoming an adult and having that wonderful permanent fluffy fur.
When Does this Occur?
This will vary from dog to dog. While we would never begin to think that a Pomeranian could actually be ugly, the fur loss can occur in strange areas, thus making the dog look very odd for a while!
The fur loss may be only on the legs, causing the dog to look a bit like a Poodle shaving gone awry. The Pom may lose fur just around the eyes, causing the dog to look like it got a bit too close to a flame that sizzled off their "eyebrows". It is suggested to take this phase for what it is and have a bit of humor. Your Pom is not really ugly, he or she is a beautiful little creature who is going through a very large change.
What Can I Do to Help?
Your Pom only needs your love and also a bit of care concerning grooming. Do not stop giving your dog baths and brushings, thinking that this will help slow down fur loss. The baby fur must come out and your dog must be kept clean. You will want to be careful when you are brushing your dog; the skin that has little hair or is completely bald will be sensitive. Brush carefully around those areas. You will want to brush your puppy every day to every other day.
Be sure to use a high quality dog fur conditioner, as this will help keep the skin soft as well. Make sure that your Pomeranian has soft elements to lay on, such as a soft doggie bed, pillows and cushions. If the dog has lost hair on the legs, sores may appear if your Pom is laying on hard surfaces. Keep your eyes out for any sores or red areas that seem irritated and bring these to the attention of your Pom's vet if your effort to provide a soft home is not working.
Grooming Your Pomeranian!
The first step in grooming a Pomeranian successfully is early preparation. Since the Pomeranian requires routine grooming, it is important the puppy learns early to accept the process. Teaching the puppy to stand for grooming and lie on ones side or back when he/she is a puppy helps make grooming pleasurable for the puppy and the groomer. He/she should enjoy the bonding time associated with grooming and not dread it.
Brushing
Brushing the Pom daily is ideal, since his thick, double coat will get matted and tangled. However, not every pet owner has an extra 30 minutes a day. In this case, two to three weekly brushings is the minimum you can get by with to maintain his soft coat. Using a curved-bristle slicker brush, start with the hair on the Pom’s back and hold a section in your free hand. Brush downward from the part using a method referred to as “line brushing.” When brushing your Pom, make sure you don’t bear down too hard and scratch his skin. Follow up with a metal comb, and make sure all mats and tangles are gone. If any remain, hold the hair out from the skin and work them out using the comb, starting at the end of the hair and working toward the skin.
Bathing
The Pomeranian requires a bath about once a month. After a thorough brushing, wet the Pom and apply a dog shampoo for sensitive skin, such as Bio Silk shampoo for dogs. Rub the shampoo in until it forms suds. Rinse the Pom well. Next use Bio Silk conditioner for dogs and rinse. Finish up his bath by blotting his coat dry with a towel. Dry the Pom completely using a K-9 hairdryer. Use a slicker brush to enhance the coat’s shine.
Clipping and Trimming
The long thick soft coat of a Pomeranian is a beautiful thing provided you take good care of it. Many Pomeranian owners choose not to worry with grooming the thick coat. In this case, they choose a lion cut or teddy-bear cut. Although, this may look cute and may be a low-maintenance solution; it takes away from the natural protection. There are no scientific studies to support that cutting a dog's coat shorter will make it feel cooler. Also, once the Pom’s coat is cut short, it may never grow back with the same thickness and shape it had previously. There are numerous online videos on Youtube showing you what can happen if your Pom's coat is mistakenly cut too short. Therefore, scissoring only the anal area and hair under the paws is recommended. Additionally, cleaning Pomeranian’s ears helps prevent ear infections. I use a 50/50 Apple Cider Vinegar and water solution once a week and store bought ear cleaner for all other ear cleanings. A groomer or vet should clip the Pom's toenails, unless you are certain you can do it without hurting the Pom.
The first step in grooming a Pomeranian successfully is early preparation. Since the Pomeranian requires routine grooming, it is important the puppy learns early to accept the process. Teaching the puppy to stand for grooming and lie on ones side or back when he/she is a puppy helps make grooming pleasurable for the puppy and the groomer. He/she should enjoy the bonding time associated with grooming and not dread it.
Brushing
Brushing the Pom daily is ideal, since his thick, double coat will get matted and tangled. However, not every pet owner has an extra 30 minutes a day. In this case, two to three weekly brushings is the minimum you can get by with to maintain his soft coat. Using a curved-bristle slicker brush, start with the hair on the Pom’s back and hold a section in your free hand. Brush downward from the part using a method referred to as “line brushing.” When brushing your Pom, make sure you don’t bear down too hard and scratch his skin. Follow up with a metal comb, and make sure all mats and tangles are gone. If any remain, hold the hair out from the skin and work them out using the comb, starting at the end of the hair and working toward the skin.
Bathing
The Pomeranian requires a bath about once a month. After a thorough brushing, wet the Pom and apply a dog shampoo for sensitive skin, such as Bio Silk shampoo for dogs. Rub the shampoo in until it forms suds. Rinse the Pom well. Next use Bio Silk conditioner for dogs and rinse. Finish up his bath by blotting his coat dry with a towel. Dry the Pom completely using a K-9 hairdryer. Use a slicker brush to enhance the coat’s shine.
Clipping and Trimming
The long thick soft coat of a Pomeranian is a beautiful thing provided you take good care of it. Many Pomeranian owners choose not to worry with grooming the thick coat. In this case, they choose a lion cut or teddy-bear cut. Although, this may look cute and may be a low-maintenance solution; it takes away from the natural protection. There are no scientific studies to support that cutting a dog's coat shorter will make it feel cooler. Also, once the Pom’s coat is cut short, it may never grow back with the same thickness and shape it had previously. There are numerous online videos on Youtube showing you what can happen if your Pom's coat is mistakenly cut too short. Therefore, scissoring only the anal area and hair under the paws is recommended. Additionally, cleaning Pomeranian’s ears helps prevent ear infections. I use a 50/50 Apple Cider Vinegar and water solution once a week and store bought ear cleaner for all other ear cleanings. A groomer or vet should clip the Pom's toenails, unless you are certain you can do it without hurting the Pom.
~New Puppy Must Haves~
Quality Food
Your puppy is currently on The Honest Kitchen (THK) and a raw diet with NuVet Plus vitamins daily. I recommend continuing this diet into adult hood with the necessary adjustments. If you decide to switch the brand introduce them to it slowly and purchase a few cans or a bag of the food to ensure that the transition goes smoothly before spending a lot of money on food that your dog may not enjoy.
Quality Food
Your puppy is currently on The Honest Kitchen (THK) and a raw diet with NuVet Plus vitamins daily. I recommend continuing this diet into adult hood with the necessary adjustments. If you decide to switch the brand introduce them to it slowly and purchase a few cans or a bag of the food to ensure that the transition goes smoothly before spending a lot of money on food that your dog may not enjoy.
Bedding
When they are not in your lap all snuggled up, looking adorable your Pom Puppy will seek out the most comfortable place to curl up and sleep. Purchase a dog bed so your puppy can relax during the day or sleep at night.
When they are not in your lap all snuggled up, looking adorable your Pom Puppy will seek out the most comfortable place to curl up and sleep. Purchase a dog bed so your puppy can relax during the day or sleep at night.
Crate Training
Housebreaking a new puppy is a lot easier if you use a crate. They don't have to sleep in it all of the time but you will find that many Poms love their crates as a go-to place of comfort and security especially if you load it up with cushy blankets and toys. The crate should be large enough for them to stand and move about freely.
Housebreaking a new puppy is a lot easier if you use a crate. They don't have to sleep in it all of the time but you will find that many Poms love their crates as a go-to place of comfort and security especially if you load it up with cushy blankets and toys. The crate should be large enough for them to stand and move about freely.
Toys & Treats for Training
The trick to great training is learning your dog's currency and when they are little pups their currency will surely be toys and treats. You will find that rewarding your dog for good behavior or when learning new tricks or commands will help reinforce that good behavior.
The trick to great training is learning your dog's currency and when they are little pups their currency will surely be toys and treats. You will find that rewarding your dog for good behavior or when learning new tricks or commands will help reinforce that good behavior.
Cleanup Supplies
Accidents are bound to happen, especially with a new puppy until your puppy learns to potty outside. A pet-safe bottle of stain or odor remover may come in handy. If you take your puppy on walks ensure that you have a supply of poop pickup bags. A responsible dog owner always picks up after their dogs.
Accidents are bound to happen, especially with a new puppy until your puppy learns to potty outside. A pet-safe bottle of stain or odor remover may come in handy. If you take your puppy on walks ensure that you have a supply of poop pickup bags. A responsible dog owner always picks up after their dogs.
Grooming Supplies
You want your Poms coat to look luxurious and soft. Invest in good quality brushes such as a curved slicker bristle brush and comb. A daily brush of your dogs coat will keep it free of matting and help your puppy look its best. A good pair of clippers is also important to keep your puppies nails at a desirable length as an indoor dog won't wear down their nails as easily as an outdoor dog.
You want your Poms coat to look luxurious and soft. Invest in good quality brushes such as a curved slicker bristle brush and comb. A daily brush of your dogs coat will keep it free of matting and help your puppy look its best. A good pair of clippers is also important to keep your puppies nails at a desirable length as an indoor dog won't wear down their nails as easily as an outdoor dog.
Nu-Vet Plus Vitamins
I can not stress this enough please continue giving your puppy NuVet once they are in your care! This is a great vitamin to keep your puppy healthy and happy through all life stages. Read more about it in the NuVet section of my website. Don't forget to use code 14082.
I can not stress this enough please continue giving your puppy NuVet once they are in your care! This is a great vitamin to keep your puppy healthy and happy through all life stages. Read more about it in the NuVet section of my website. Don't forget to use code 14082.