About Pomeranian 

Pomeranian puppies are friendly, affectionately, and, like all small dogs, have special needs. Pomeranian puppies have an unusually high metabolism. It’s important that they eat often to maintain a healthy body weight of 3-7 pounds by 6 months.

Pomeranians have delicate bones that make them more susceptible to physical injury; puppies should be handled with care. Your puppy will need a safe, cozy place to sleep, with easy access to fresh water.

New Pomeranian puppies are very curious, and full of energy.  Therefore, it’s important for owners should take steps to puppy-proof their home to prevent curious puppies from sticking their noses where they shouldn’t.

Small dog puppies, like the Pomeranian are prone to separation anxiety and may chew furniture, or bark excessively if left alone and not adequately exercised. Your new Pomeranian puppy will also require at least 30 minutes of exercise each day.

Pomeranians are also known to dart off in pursuit of any interesting scent or leaf that peaks their interest. Fenced in yards, leashes and a watchful eye are always recommended.

Pomeranians are generally considered to be a healthy breed, more susceptible to physical injury than medical condition. However, Pomeranians are susceptible to a number of genetic health issues, and conditions that commonly affect small dog breeds.

Life Expectancy

Pomeranians are relatively long-lived when compared to many large breeds, with most living to be 13 to 15 years old.

Care

Pomeranians are spunky, friendly and love to be the center of your attention. Though we wouldn’t describe caring for a Pomeranian puppy as “low-maintenance” it is an incredibly joyful and rewarding experience. As with most small breeds, there are a few breed-specific characteristics that owners should be aware of before adopting a Pomeranian puppy.

Avoid Injury – Toy dog breeds, such as the Pomeranian are susceptible to back, hip and joint issues which can cause pain, bladder and bowel control problems, and even partial paralysis. To avoid future spinal issues, it’s best to prevent your Pomeranian puppy from leaping off furniture or stairs.

Barking – Pomeranians have a tendency to bark when left alone for extended periods, and when strange dogs, people or leaves enter their territory. Regular socialization and exercise can reduce stress and a Pomeranian’s urge to bark.

Eye Care – It is common for Pomeranians to develop a small discharge which can cause mild discomfort when not removed. Wet a washcloth with warm water and soften the mucus before gently wiping it away.

Dental Care – Your Pomeranian’s teeth generate a substantial amount of tartar which can accumulate and cause a litany of dental issues. That’s why it’s important for owners to regularly brush their Pomeranian’s teeth.

Stay Cool – Pomeranians are sensitive to heat, especially heat stroke, which can be fatal for dogs. It’s important to keep an eye on your puppy’s heat level, and to find a cool, air-conditioned room when you notice lethargy, drooling and excessive panting. Also be sure your Pom always has access to plenty of cool water.

Children & Pets – Pomeranians are intelligent, affectionate and friendly. They are generally great with children, but owners should still be cautious when allowing their Pom to play with children. Its diminutive size makes it more susceptible to injury from roughhousing.

Nutrition

We recommend that you feed your Pomeranian puppy a nutritious brand of dog food twice per day. Keep away from dog food brands that use artificial ingredients, preservatives and fillers like grain, wheat and brewers rice.

You can prevent your Pomeranian puppy from becoming obese by implementing a feeding schedule. At 8 weeks your puppy should learn that food won’t be provided constantly throughout the day.

Be sure to monitor your new puppy’s health and wellness. If they appear skinny and eagerly finish every meal, then you may need to increase the amount of food in their diet. Conversely, if you notice that your puppy is gaining too much weight for their age, you may need to limit the amount of food in their diet.

Pomeranians have small stomachs, so it is important that they not eat spicy or salty foods which can cause digestive issues. There are some foods you should never feed any dog, including:

• Chocolate or Candy
• Alcohol
• Onions and Garlic
• Caffeine
• Grapes
• Diary
• Nuts
• Pitted Fruit
• Salt
• Yeast

Grooming

There’s no way around, the Pomeranian’s one-of-a-kind coat is high-maintenance, but that doesn’t mean grooming has to be difficult. It’s playful and affectionate personality makes grooming a fun bonding experience for you and your puppy.

Your Pomeranian will need frequent grooming to keep their beautiful coat from growing out of control, becoming matted, brittle and dry. A solid grooming routine and perfecting your grooming skills can go a long way to ensuring your Pomeranian feels as good as it looks.

Pomeranian puppies should be brushed at least two times per week so it can become accustomed to the feel of the brush. Adults should be brushed at least 3 times per week, but every day is the ideal. It’s important to address any tangles or mats as soon as possible. Brushing on a regular basis will help stop tangles from forming. Never brush a dry coat, as it can destroy the fur over time.

The Pomeranian’s coat is water resistant due to oils imbedded in their undercoat. These oils are essential to the dog’s skin health. Frequent bathing, harsh soaps and shampoos can remove these oils; therefore, we recommend bathing your Pom only once per month.

To bathe your Pomeranian simply lather up their coat using lukewarm water and dog shampoo. Rinse their coat thoroughly and repeat. We recommend applying dog conditioner after the second wash.

Blow-dry your Pomeranian when bath time is over. Rubbing the towel onto the coat can create multiple tangles within seconds and can completely ruin the coat. Instead, use a dab and blot patting motion to absorb moisture.

Exercise

Inactivity can lead a Pomeranian to become obese, which can have a devastating effect on the dog’s overall health. We recommend that Pomeranians receive at least a two 15-minute walks per day.

Exercise also improves circulation and provides opportunities for your Pomeranian to socialize and explore its environment, which is critical to proper socialization. Though your Pomeranian is more than happy to stay inside they will never turn down a chance to play outside, but make sure they stay on a lead.

Training

Pomeranians are as cute and snuggly as a puppy can be, and like every puppy, they require proper training in order to grow into a well-behaved adult dog. As your Pomeranian grows, it will enter several developmental stages, in which it will exhibit certain behaviors. Though puppies typically grow out of these behaviors, other behaviors may be present for the dog’s entire life.

With time and dedication, your Pomeranian can will be an obedient, friendly member of your family, and society. The key to training any puppy is consistency, reward and lots of patience. Remember, Pomeranians respond best to positive, reward-based training methods, not fear of punishment.

Housebreaking

Pomeranians are intelligent, eager to please, and ready to begin housebreaking as soon as they arrive in your home. In fact, the earlier you can begin housebreaking your Pomeranian, the better. Pomeranians are fast learners, but like any dog, it takes time to fully housebreak a Pomeranian.

Begin housebreaking by watching your Pom for indications that they need to do their business. If you see that they are about to go inside clap your hands loudly or call out their name to give them pause.

Hussle your puppy outside to your designated area and let them do their business. When your puppy is about to do its business say something similar to “go potty”, then praise them once they go in the right area. Repeat this process until your puppy associates “go potty” with going outside to do its business. Avoid punishing your puppy for accidents inside the house. Simply ignore it, then clean it up.

Crate Training – Crate training a Pomeranian is easy and quick to achieve. Start with a crate that is big enough for an adult Pomeranian to stand, turn around, and sit or lie down without any hindrance.

We recommend placing its crate in your bedroom for the first few weeks, so they associate the crate with the comfort of your presence. Introduce your Pom to the crate by placing a few treats inside and around the crate.

We also recommend feeding your Pom puppy several times from inside the crate so that they associate food with the crate as well. Well before bedtime, place your Pom puppy in their crate and give them a treat. Then shut and lock the crate. Then leave the room. Your Pom puppy will likely bark once you leave the room. Wait to enter the room again until they have stopped barking.

Avoid petting or praising them when they bark inside their crate or their desire to be let out of the crate will become stronger. Start the process over again after 30-45 minutes. Don’t forget, puppies need a toy, and easy access to fresh clean water when inside their crate.

Socialization

Pomeranians are social, affectionate and friendly. If not socialized early, however, a Pomeranian can develop several undesired behaviors. That’s why it’s important to socialize your Pom from an early age so it can experience positive social interactions with other pets, new family members and strangers.

Start socializing your Pomeranian by assembling the family on the floor and letting the puppy greet them. It’s best to introduce any other pets, quietly and slowly, but treats tend to ensure a positive experience for any puppy.

Remember, the key to socializing any puppy is ensuring it feels safe in its environment. If your Pomeranian does not feel safe it will be prone to defensive behavior when presented with new situations, people, or pets.

Obedience Training

Pomeranians are incredibly talented and obedient when properly trained. They are typically non-aggressive, happy little pups, but they do tend to excessively bark. Obedience training can help to stifle some of your Pomeranians urge to bark.

The best way to obedience train a Pomeranian is to spend time with it. Spending quality time with your puppy will strengthen your relationship, and provide opportunities to learn, train and bond together.

As with all thing’s puppy, we recommend that obedience training began as early as possible in the puppy’s life. Start with basic reward-based training principles like “sit” and “stay. Use the same words and phrases to indicate when, where and how you want your puppy to execute a command.

Issue your command. Pause. Then reward them with a snack when they get it right. Do not punish your Pom when they fail a command. Simply regain their focus and try again until they get it right.