KUSA Member Number: 1023765
Bringing home a new Pomeranian puppy is a happy and exiting event for both you and your new puppy. For this to flow smoothly, it is best to be fully prepared, so make sure you are ready!
Poms adore their masters and this tiny ball of fluff needs special care, plenty of attention and a lot of love as reassurance. Knowing as much as possible about pomeranians ahead of time, will help you care for your new puppy better.
I strive to provide you with all the information needed to help you care for your Pom throughout his or her entire life!
What will you need?
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Feeding Bowls
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Food
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Bedding
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Toys
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Pee Pads
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Grooming & Dental care supplies
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Collar, harness & leashes
Having proper supplies will be beneficial. There are some dog supplies that you would need and some that you don't need to obtain until your Pom is older. Some of the supplies will be provided and for the other supplies you will receive discount vouchers. Feel free to Contact me if you want to know what is included in your puppy pack.
Feeding Bowls:
Feeding bowls can differ in numerous ways. It is best to get a shallow bowl for your puppy as he might find it difficult to eat and drink from a bowl that is too deep. Make sure to buy a bowl that cannot tip easily and spill his food and/or water. It is best to use ceramic or stainless steel bowls for both food and water.
Food:
A good quality food must not only supply energy, but it also has to build and maintain the body's cells, preventing eventual digestive, joint and age-related problems. To fulfil these objectives, the diet must contain the right amount of proteins, minerals, carbohydrates, vitamins and fats. A quality food must meet these demands and contain at least 50 different nutrients!
Here at Meyn-Adel your puppy will start on Royal Canin Mother & Baby to give him the best possible start. At the age of 8 weeks he will continue with the Royal Canin Mini Junior.
Bedding:
Buy a warm and comfortable bed for your new puppy that is easy to access.
Meyn-Adel will send you a soft and cuddly blanket, covered with a familiar sent that will help your pup through his first night.
Toys:
Choosing the right toy for your Pom is a huge part of proper care. Toys will be needed to soothe teething discomfort and provide security when alone and to encourage in depended play. Toys must be small and/or light enough to drag or carry around to create the satisfaction of a claimed item. The toys must be durable enough to withstand chewing but soft enough to prevent gum injuries.
Pee Pads:
This is not always the best training method but can be the best solution in certain situations. It can be placed down in the indoor designated area when your puppy is home alone or unattended. Pee pads come in a wide variety from exposable to reusable grass patches and can come in handy, so have it ready when your puppy arrives.
Grooming & Dental care supplies:
With this breed, you need to be very careful of what you choose in regard to grooming supplies. The wrong products can delay hair growth at best and ruin a coat at worst. You'll need quality shampoo & conditioner, leave-in spray, brushes, combs, eye wipes and nail care accessories. For the dental care you will need a canine tooth paste and a finger tooth brush. You can find some of these items at Wampum on my Links page. Contact me for more information.
Collar, Harness & Leashes:
Collars and harnesses should fit correctly and is best bought after you received your puppy. It is also best to buy both as it is not advisable that a leach should be attached to a collar alone.
What will I receive from Meyn-Adel?
Your new Pom puppy will arrive with a puppy pack that will include the following:
800g Royal Canin Junior, Blanket, Toys & discount vouchers to purchase most of the above and more.
Welcome Home
Puppies Corner & Sleeping Arrangements:
Puppy care, unfortunately, does not end when the sun sets. You may be tempted to crawl into bed with your fluffy in your arms BUT a feather weight with small bones is fragile! While you are asleep, you could roll over your pup or he could get stuck under the blankets or fall off of the bed. For this reason it is best that your puppy will have his own special sleeping area. Your pup may not immediately understand that you want him to sleep in his new bed, but over time he will learn and get used to sleeping safely in his own bed, including the daytime naps. Meyn-Adel will send you a soft and cuddly blanket, covered with a familiar sent that will help your pup through his first night.
At Last! You have waited so long and now your Pom has finally arrived. This is a new start of a wonderful, harmonious relationship - without his mother and his siblings - one that is based above all on respect. He will soon feel at home in his new environment and identify the person in authority and his new guardian.
In the first few days, your pup can be effected considerably by stress so to feel save and get used to his new home, it is best to place the bed in a designated and quiet area where he will spend the time that he is left alone at home as well. Keep the door open at all times so that he may come and go as he pleases, but close it when you are unable to keep an eye on him during the night or when you are not at home. Teach your puppy that it is ok to be alone because you will always return. Implement this routine slowly so that he may get used to the idea of being alone.
Feeding time:
Decide from the first day where your puppy will eat and keep his food and water in that same spot. Make sure that the bowls are cleaned daily to prevent bacterial infections.
A young puppy until the age of at least 5 months old, should eat three times a day to prevent hypoglycemia. Melt just enough food for one meal and give this to your puppy three times a day. A tiny puppy may eat as little as 30g per day. If there should be left over's, make sure to pick it up and throw it away. Leftover food can get contaminated and will cause health issues. Always leave dry food out so that your puppy can eat in between meals if he gets hungry. You can slowly wean him of the wet food over to dry food if you wish to do so, as this will encourage him to chew. Only put him permanently on dry food if he is eating kibble well. If you decide to change the food after a certain period of time, make sure that this transition to a new brand must be done slowly. If the transition is done to quickly it can cause health issues. Please Contact me for more advice on the transition and/or the new brand of food.
Is it safe?
Curious and inexperienced, your puppy will prove to be a tireless little explorer around the house and in the yard! Make sure that your house and yard is puppy proof and safe. Remember this is a very small dog and can fit easily through small open spaces. They are confident and very inquisitive, so they might get lost if proper precaution is not taken.
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Windows and balconies: Avoid leaving any windows and doors open to areas that can be potentially life threatening. Remember, he is very small and can fit through any bars and topple out of a window or of a balcony.
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Stairs: A puppy can easily slip and/or fall of stairs and get seriously hurt. You need to assist him until he is able to do it by himself. Do not leave him unattended until he can negotiate the stairs by himself.
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Dangerous objects: Puppies use their mouths to explore their world. He will nip and chew and possibly swallow any small objects he finds. Take care to keep small items, detergents, chemicals, electrical leads, and toxic plants out of his way.
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Swimming pools & Ponds: Whether you are at a friend's house or your own, keep a careful eye on your puppy. He will be unable to get out of the pool on his own if he should accidentally fall in. If you have a swimming pool of your own, teach your puppy to be weary of the pool.
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Cars: Do not let your Pom get out to where any cars are moving. They get easily run over by cars because they tend to panic when they see a moving car and usually don't get out of the way.
New kid on the block:
Because your new Pom puppy might feel a bit lost in the beginning, it is best that you don't let neighbours and friends visit for a look. Just keep it to the family for the first 2 weeks to help him settle in. This will also help limit the chances that your new puppy might fall sick to one of the Communicable Diseases.
I am Hungry!!!
Is he running, playing, eating heartily and giving the impression he could burst with energy? Are his coat supple and shiny, eyes,
ears and teeth clean, gums are pink and his nose wet? Then everything is fine and you have done an excellent job to keep your puppy happy!
Your new puppy will need to adapt to your tap water as this differs from place to place. Pre-boil the water and let it cool down before giving it to your puppy. Slowly increase the amount of regular tap water to the pre-boiled water to prevent health issues. Make sure to give your puppy fresh water every day and that there is always water available to prevent dehydration.
NEVER give your puppy milk!
A weak spot!
During the first weeks of his life, your puppy has all the benefits of immunity transmitted by his mother. After he's been weaned, he progressively loses this protection before his own defences have been builded up. During this "immunity gap", the puppy is more sensitive to diseases and should be kept away from other animals and public places. Vaccination will help him develop protection against most diseases so it is very important to keep it updated.
The warmth of the puppy's nose is a completely unreliable sign for high temperature. A normal temperature is between 37.5'C & 39'C.
Recommended Vaccinations
6 Weeks: Canine Distemper, Infectious Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Para-Influenza (DHPPi) & Canine Corona virus.
10 Weeks: Booster for previous vaccinations.
14 Weeks: Booster for previous DHPPi Vaccinat& Rabies.
18 Weeks: Booster for Rabies.
Annually: DHPPi, Corona virus & Rabies Vaccination.
Plan to de-worm your puppy with each vaccination for maximum efficiency.
Ticks & Fleas:
It is essential to inspect your puppy's coat carefully for nasty visitors like ticks and fleas, especially after outings. If ticks and/or fleas are spotted, it is important to treat the dog as well as the environment.
A Puppy's training needs to start as early as possible to ensure good behaviour and obedience. At an early age your puppy naturally has an excellent capacity for learning. They learn through repetition and association and need you to show them, clearly, what is expected of them. Don't hesitate to call in professional help with your pups training. For your own and other people's comfort, your puppy needs to understand some basic rules of life.
When your puppy arrives, you need to show him where he can potty. Because Poms has tiny bladders, you need to take him out frequently, especially after meals and naps. Take him to the same spot every time so that he can recognise his own sent. Urge him to potty by command and then praise him for the correct behaviour. Know the signs that tells you that he needs to go because such a small pup can squat and pee in a blink of an eye if you are not paying attention. In the event of an "accident", don't scold him but disinfect the spot to remove his smell. If you are unable to take him outside every time, training him on a Pee Pad is recommended. Provide a dedicated area where your pup can eliminate and clean it regularly. Puppy's sometimes has the tendency to eat their own faeces which could be very dangerous if indigested. A pup that doesn't learn to eliminate appropriately, grows up into a dog that is difficult to live with.
A young puppy understands very clearly who looks after him and spontaneously wants to win his owners affection and approval. This makes it an ideal time to teach him what is and what isn't allowed. A Pomeranian puppy is intelligent enough to manipulate you if he gets the chance, so make sure that you set appropriate limits and correct him lovingly yet firmly, if he misbehaves. Never yell or hit your puppy as this will give him a low self esteem and he will not obtain his full potential. Start with short training sessions lasting 5min only, 3 times a day. As he gets older, the sessions can be increased gradually.
Cleanliness, health and beauty... this is what makes your Pomeranian attractive!
A daily check-up routine, from the top of his ears to the tip of his tail, will keep your puppy hygienic and happy.
Brushing:
A Pomeranian has a double coat that requires attention. You need to brush your Pom at least twice a week to get rid of knots and dead hairs in order to prevent matting. Arias like behind the ears and in between the legs knot easily. Remember that a Pomaranians hair must be brushed from the tail to the head in the direction in which the hair grows naturally so that the coat will not lay flat. Occasional trimming (NOT shaving) will help to keep him looking neat and tidy, especially around the anus.
A Pomeranian moult twice a year
and would need more frequent brushing
than the rest of the time to get rid of the
loose fluff.
Bath Time:
When brushed regularly, a pomeranian only need to be bathed at most once a month but once every second month is more ideal.
Brush your pom thoroughly before his bath to prevent severe matting. Rinse your pup thoroughly with lukewarm water and apply a gentle shampoo. Be careful not to rub the hair too much in a circular motion, but rather comb the shampoo through the hair to prevent knotting. Make sure that you rinse him well to ensure that the film of sebum that protects the skin can rebuild quickly. Never leave your pomeranian wet! You can use a normal hairdryer to dry him thoroughly.
Claws & Paws:
Because your Pomeranian will probably spend more time in the house that outside, it is necessary to keep an eye on his nails so that it won't get too long (including the dew claws). You must get your puppy used to getting his nails cut to prevent a struggle later on in his life. Make sure that you don't hurt your puppy by clipping his nails too short, especially in dogs with dark claws where it is harder to see the "quick" of the nail.
Seek professional help if you are uneasy to do it yourself the first time.
Eyes & Ears:
It is easy for little hairs to go into your pup's eyes and cause tearing. You can wash them daily with lukewarm water daily to prevent staining.
Make sure that you keep your pup's ears nice and clean with a special cleaning lotion.
Pearly Whites:
In order to prevent the development of plague, bad breath and gum infections, good oral hygiene needs to be applied daily. Sadly, thousands of dogs pass away because of dental disease. The best solution is brushing, but this requires skill and dedication. To help you with your task, you can also use a good Anti-bacterial Mouth spray. Every one or two years, a professional cleaning will be needed to take care of the tartar build-up. If and when your puppy doesn't lose his baby teeth, he needs to get it surgically removed to prevent gum infections and bad breath.
Starting off well with balanced nutrition is essential!
A very large part of your puppy's future health is laid down during growth, so it is a vital not to make any nutritional mistakes during this key period. Your puppy has a body completely different from yours - So he can't eat the same food!
Only a perfect balanced food will allow his skeleton, muscles and organs to develop optimally while maintaining his ideal weight.
Until your puppy is at least 4 months old, it is recommendable that you mix one table spoon plain yogurt into your puppy's food once daily. The yogurt will help establish a healthy intestinal flora which can be compromised at times of stress.
11 Pieces of Essential Advice
Follow these essential tips for harmonious life with your pomeranian puppy, now and in the future...
1.
Call your puppy by his name, clearly and without shouting, whenever you give him a command or reward him if he obeys.
2.
From a very young age, get your puppy used to hygiene care, baths, journeys in the car... all activities which will be difficult to introduce once he is an adult.
3.
From the start, get your puppy used to being alone, starting with a few minutes every day so that he can learn to cope with your absence. Dogs do not have the same idea of time as we do.
6.
Teach him to wear a collar and walk on a lead from 3 months, with short training sessions at home. Never punish him with the lead, because he should associate it with the pleasure of a walk.
7.
While your puppy is still young, avoid long walks and over exertion, particularly jumping, because his skeleton is still fragile and muscles not yet properly develop. Several 10 minute outings are better at the beginning.
8.
To avoid unnecessary stress, give your new puppy the same food as the breeder did, or make it a change over a week.
9.
Be consistent about what is forbidden - your dog won't understand why something is allowed one day and not the next. Make sure everyone else in the family follows the same rules.
Never leave him locked in a car, particularly in summer, because of the risk of heat stroke which can be fatal.
10.
11.
Involve your puppy in your family life as much as possible - once his vaccination schedule is complete - take him to the park so he can discover the world and become socialised, but make sure you respect others at the same time.
Playtime & Toys:
Too much excitement can cause exhaustion, so resist the temptation to play for too long at a time and allow him to get sufficient rest. After all, he is a baby, and babies need their sleep!
Make sure that the puppy does not play unattended with a toy that they are able to get bits and pieces off and swallow it. This could cause serious health issues.
Pomeranians is overall quite healthy and robust and with proper care, you can have a very healthy dog for a very long time. But there are some issues you need to be aware of.
A Yapping Choir!
Pomeranians tend to bark and needs to be trained early on to prevent this. First you have to understand why he is barking in order to prevent it and train the puppy not to bark unnecessary.
5 Reasons why they bark:
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Protecting you
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Self protection instinct
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Boredom
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Too much excitement
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When you come home
You can find the link on my Link page to read more about this.
Puppy Uglies
Did you know?
By stroking your Pomeranians coat from tail to head will cause the dense coat to rise.
Grooming
Chow Down
When you bring your little Pomeranian home, he will be so cute and fluffy. Shortly after this, at approximately 4 to 6 months of age, most pomeranians begin a stage called "Puppy Uglies" and suddenly your pom looks like a poorly bred pomeranian experiment. As the baby coat begins to transition over to adult coat, your puppy will look rather scruffy and lankly, and for a few months it will look like you brought home some kind of rat/possum/fox mixed critter, not a pure bred Pom. But don't worry, your Pomeranian puppy will turn into a gorgeous fluff ball again. Depending on the puppy, he will begin to coat up and his features soften again at 6 to 9 months of age. During this stage it is very important to keep your puppy well groomed to avoid matting.
Advantages of sterilization
If you are not interested in taking on the responsibility and time for breeding, or your dog is not breeding quality, then sterilizing your dog at an early age is the best for both of you. The cost of the operation is certainly much less than the cost of raising an accidental litter of puppies or paying the medical bills that sterilization can easily prevent.
Bait training is a very successful method to train your puppy. Cut small cubes of beef liver or heart and cook it thoroughly (Boiling or Baking). To make the bits easier to separate, freeze the bits on a cookie sheet for a few hours before putting it in small easy to use freezer baggie (keep it refrigerated).
Getting Car sick?
Try giving your pup Ginger root, capsule or powder hidden in a treat, 15 minutes before travelling.
Place 2-3 drops of Peppermint and Lavender essential oils on a paper under your dog's crate pad. These oils have calming and
anti-nausea properties.
4.
Teach your puppy early on not to jump onto and off furniture, but to rather wait for you to assist them. This should prevent injuries to their knees or related future health issues.
5.
Teach children not to tease or torment your pomeranian, as he will learn to dislike all children and he will act aggressive towards them in the future.
Training
Get Ready
Your Pomeranian only wants to be close to you and love you with his whole heart... So keep him close to yours!
If you have young children, you need to be very vigilant in order to keep the pup from getting hurt. Teach them to play soft and subtle.
If you have other pets, quietly introduce your new Pom puppy to the other pets one by one. To help you can buy your other pets new toys and make as much fuss of them as you are doing with your new addition.
Encourage your new puppy to rather play and chew on his toys than to play with shoes, socks and phone chargers! All Pom Mommy's knows this behaviour all too well. Ha-Ha! You can encourage him with a toy that is filled with yummies and a firm NO to anything else. It is advisable that you rotate the toys every week or so to keep your puppy interested in the toys. Be sure to routinely clean all toys with hot water and soap (make sure to rinse it well) to stop bacterial build up.
Put the blanket that was given by
the breeder, in the puppy's
corner for comfort.
Do not wake
your puppy from his sleep, after all, he's not a toy! He needs his sleep to grow up strong.
Your new pup will get the tendency to
beg and become very fussy.
Don't give in!!! Stay strong for his interest!
How
fast
do I
grow?
Small
breed dogs have
a very short & rapid
growth period and mature
within a year!
Unsalted, finely chopped, pre-cooked chicken (deboned) and rice is allowed as a treat but keep in mind that a complete, balanced diet is enough to meet his needs. The only thing a variety of food means to your pup is probable digestive problems, over stimulated growth and being overweight. NEVER feed your puppy table scraps and NEVER feed your puppy any bones other than cooked marrow bones!
Don't share your shampoo!
It will irritate your pup's skin,
because his PH levels are different.
Don't worry about trying to find your puppy's milk teeth - he swallows them and excretes them naturally without any problem!
I will be beautiful again!
Mothers Weaning Molt
Just when puppies are ready to go to their new homes, and the owners come to pick-up their new fluffy, the mother starts to shed out her coat. The result is a balding or very short haired looking mother. This is normal. So believe the breeder if they tell you this when you see the ugly looking mother. You might wonder if she is purebred. It is very sad but true. Ask for a photo of mom to view and compare the "ugly" version you may see to the pretty picture. Try not to judge the mother to harshly, it's not her fault! The hair will grow back.
Health Care
Vaccinations
It is very important to keep your puppy away from public places and other dogs until his full immunisation schedule is completed to prevent the chances of contracting one of the deadly canine diseases such as Parvo, Distemper and Hepatitis. These common dog diseases are generally easy to prevent, but very difficult to cure.
You can read more about these diseases under Communicable Diseases.
Worming
Make sure that you keep your puppy free from internal parasites like worms which can cause numerous problems ranging from digestive upsets to more generalised health problems like anaemia. There are numerous types of worms which affects dogs. It is important to deworm your dog regularly, especially if they come into contact with other dogs as this could cause recontamination. Indigestion of fleas is also an easy way to pick them up. You can consult your veterinarian for a proper de-worming schedule. Read more about the dangers of worms on my Diseases Page.
Vomiting
In cases of unexplained recurrent vomiting, or when the puppy tries to vomit but doesn't bring anything up, you must consult your vet immediately.
Intestinal Infections
As long as you feed premium food, normal Pomeranian stools are small, firm and without foul odour. There are many different less serious causes of diarrhoea in puppies such as worms, changes in food and water, vaccinations or it can be stress related like relocating to a new home. But if the diarrhoea is recurrent, it could be because of a serious intestine infection and the puppy shouldn't be left untreated as they could get very ill and they can dehydrate very quickly. You can read more about
Intestine Infections on my Diseases page.
Hypoglycemia
If your puppy is without food too long, his blood sugar can drop and he can become hypoglycemic. Make sure your puppy is eating well and that food is always available. Keeping some glucose powder at hand is critical and could possibly save your puppy's life. Read more about Hypoglycemia on the Diseases page.
Accidents
Pomeranians are tough little creature captured in fragile little bodies and
caution should be taken to keep them save.
Poms can sustain internal injuries or get a concussion easily, which can be fatal. Be careful not to drop your puppy or allow small children to carry him around. Poms just LOVE your feet so be cautious not to accidently kick or step unto your puppy while walking. Also do not leave your puppy unattended around large dogs.
Why neuter my male dog? It prevents prostate disease in older males and the chances of testicular cancer or infections are less. It can modify behavioural problems such as urine marking, fighting and roaming.
Why spay my female dog? If you spay your dog before her first heat cycle, she virtually has no chance of developing breast cancer or infection of the uterus. It will prevent the irritability and occasional aggression that females may have during their heat cycles.
Only tell your pup off if you catch
him in the act of being naughty as he won't be able to make the link between the deed and the punishment later on.
Always use the same words for the
same actions, and at the start use gestures
as well, so that he can make the
association.
Don't shout when you call him as
he is sensitive to variations in your voice
and will understand different tones.
Do not
allow any behaviour
"just for now" if you won't
allow it in the future!
jumps or tries to run, the collar will jerk his neck backwards that can lead to a collapsed trachea. For this reason, I strongly recommend that a harness opposed to a collar is used when your puppy is training or when you go for walks.
Never use a leash attached
to a collar alone before or
even after your puppy has
been trained. If your Pom
Puppy's Pledge
A Pomeranian puppy that has been well trained and well socialized, promises to do whatever it takes to protect you, love you and to do exactly what you wish of him, as long as he may lives!
