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Description | The Pomeranian is a tiny, fluffy dog with a wedge-shaped head and pointed erect ears. Some have faces that breeders liken to a fox; others have baby-doll or "pansy" faces. All have bright, dark, almond-shaped eyes with an intelligent expression. The nose is either dark or the color of its coat. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite. Poms also boast a distinctive feathered tail that fans forward over the back. There is an abundant ruff around the neck and chest area. The profuse stand-off double coat usually comes in solid colors. Any solid color is allowed, but the most common are red, orange, white or cream, blue, brown or black. Sometimes the coat is parti-colored (white with colored markings), black & tan, wolf or orange sable. |
Temperament | The Pomeranian is a lively little dog. Intelligent, eager to learn, very loyal to its handler and family. Willful, bold and sometimes temperamental. If it is properly introduced they usually get along with other dogs and household animals without any problems, but some of them seem to think they are much larger than they actually are and do not hesitate to attack much bigger dogs. It is an excellent watchdog with a resounding bark. Poms have a tendency to be reserved and bark at strangers excessively. Teach this dog early that it may bark a couple of times when the doorbell rings or when there are visitors, but then to keep quiet. Be very consistent about this. They are alert, curious and busy: one of the most independent of the Toy breeds. Poms have a delightful nature and do not cling to their handlers. Proud and happy, they are good at learning tricks, but need a firm hand. The Pomeranian must know the owner is the boss, or he will not listen. This breed may become too demanding if the owner allows it. Not recommended for very young children. Too much attention from children can make these dogs nervous and they may become snappish. However, they can get along well with older, well behaved children. It is a good companion for an elderly person. The Pom is a wonderful companion dog and show ring contender. The breed's docile temper and affectionate nature endear it to many. Its vivacity and spirit make it well-liked by persons who do not usually care for toy dogs. They may be picky eaters. |
Height, Weight | Height: 7-12 inches (18-30 cm.) |
Health Problems | Some blood lines are prone to slipped stifle, dislocated patella (knee-cap), heart and skin problems, and eye infections. Since Pomeranians are prone to early tooth loss, feeding dry food is recommended to keep the teeth and gums in good condition. Be sure the veterinarian also keeps the dog's teeth clean. Newborn pups are rather tiny and fragile. Three newborns can be held in the palm of ones hand. Small females often need cesarean sections deliveries. When the dog is old it may become molted with bald spots. |
Living Conditions | The Pomeranian is good for apartment living. They are very active indoors and will do okay without a yard. Keep the dog quiet in hot weather to avoid overheating. |
Exercise | Poms need a daily walk. Play will take care of a lot of their exercise needs, however, as with all breeds, play will not fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs who do not get to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. They will also enjoy a good romp in a safe open area off lead, such as a large fenced in yard. |
Life Expectancy | About 15 years. |
Grooming | The Pomeranian's very long, double coat should be brushed frequently. If you work from the head, parting the coat and brushing it forward, it will fall neatly back in place, so the task, although time-consuming, is relatively easy. The cottony undercoat is shed once or twice a year. Dry shampoo when necessary. Clean the eyes and ears daily and take the dog for regular dental checkups. The Pomeranian is a constant shedder. |
Origin | Developed in the Prussian region of |
Group | Northern, AKC Toy |
Recognition | CKC, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, CCR, APRI, ACR |
INTESTINAL WORMS- Unfortunately, all puppies and kittens are born with intestinal worms. In addition, pets using pet parks, doggy day cares with communal potty areas, or living in farmyards or on city streets where poop is on the sidewalk are prone to having worms. Deworming medications can rid pets of intestinal worms, and while no single dewormer removes all types of worms, many products are effective for more than one type. Once your pet has been successfully dewormed, you still need to be on the lookout for signs of re-infection. Pets can be re-exposed to worms every time they play outside.
WHAT TO FEED YOUR NEW POM?
(Home Cooking & Organic Dog Food)
Do you want to make home cooked food for your Pomeranian? If you have the time and energy, you may certainly choose to do this. It will be vital to add a high quality dog food supplement. For those of you who wish to supply a purely organic diet, this is a method you may use as well. Your end result should be a mix of 70% meat to 30% vegetables. What ingredients should you use?
For the 70% meat: De-bonded, boiled white chicken meat, liver, kidney or fish
For the 30 % vegetables, a mixture of at least two of the following:
For the supplement: A very high quality dog food supplement must be added to the home cooked dog food. This can be crumbled into the food & will not disrupt the taste.
The Right Amount of Dog Food
Portion control is a must. While some say that a dog will eat endlessly until a human stops them, some Poms will be very picky eaters and you want to make sure that while your dog does not eat too much, he is also eating enough. The amount of dog food and the feeding times will vary depending on the age of your dog and activity level. A good rule of thumb is that you should only leave out the dog food for thirty minutes. If your dog doesn’t eat it in that time, pick it up and put it away.
While the exact quantity may have to be adjusted according to specific needs, there are certain guidelines for Pomeranians and feeding:
* Growing puppies need more food than adults. Each pup is different, however on average:
This is distributed throughout 3 to 4 meals up to the age of 6 months. A Pomeranian puppy's stomach is very small so meals must be very small as well. This may not seem like a lot of food, but given that a Pom puppy is so tiny, this method of calculating food amounts works well.
* Once a Pomeranian is 6 months old, you can work your way down from 4 meals to 3 meals or from 3 meals to 2 meals. The puppy will now go down to about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cups per day. Teething is done and your Pomeranian should be able to chew on dry dog food, which not only is good for his or her teeth, but better for the digestive system.
* By 2 years old, your little, tiny Pomeranian is considered an adult dog and will need to eat less: about 1/3 cup per day. Adult dogs can usually eat just one meal per day. Some owners do choose to feed 2 meals: this does not mean double the food! This means the food, divided into 2 smaller meals. Do keep in mind that if you feed your Pom a breakfast in the morning, he or she will need to eliminate soon afterward. This is one of the reasons that feeding 1 larger dinner time meal is usually done.
* In addition to the dry dog food, a small amount of canned wet dog food can be added. If you are using quality dry and canned food, a good ratio is 2/3 dry and 1/3 canned. Nutritional supplements should not be necessary if your dog foods are of the premium variety, however there are some very good supplements available today and you can decide if you wish for your dog to have them. There are supplements that can make her coat shiny to dog supplements to keep her joints healthy as she gets older.
* Snacks can be given at any age. Dog treats and chews should be reserved for rewarding good behavior. In this way, training will be easier. If a dog is given snacks and chews all the time, they will lose important meaning when you are attempting to train your Pom.
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