Looking after Pomeranians?

Question

My stay-at-home wife wants a Pomeranian. I'm reluctant, as I'm sure it'll be a novelty that'll wear off in time. Is there much to looking after, so even a high maintenance wife like mine can do it?

Answer 1

All small dogs are harder than average to housebreak - small dogs have small bladders and need to go out about every four hours. Many tiny dogs tend to be spoiled, yappy little ankle-biters if they're not raised properly. My cousin used to breed them - you could visit there for eight hours and they NEVER shut up!Poms need lots of brushing to keep the coat from matting. They tend to be fragile and easily stepped on - a broken leg in a Pom can cost you a bundle for the delicate surgery. They are not ornaments to show off in a Prada shoulder bag - they are living breathing animals that need care and training. If you get one from a really good breeder and raise it properly, you can have a great dog.
There are some people who try to breed them even smaller and call them "teacup" dogs - that's a fancy way of charging a higher price for a dog with more health problems.

Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money. The best breeders will be members of their breed club, promoting healthy dogs with great temperaments. They should ask you a bunch of questions to make sure their puppy will be getting a good home. If all a "breeder" seems to care about is whether your check will clear, you can be sure he won't care a week later when the pup is dying from distemper or parvo and you want your money back.

Whatever you do, DON'T go to a pet shop, a flea market or buy one sight-unseen off the Internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are often kept in deplorable conditions - spending their entire lives in small wire-bottomed cages. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there.

These so-called "breeders" have now figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.

So she'll be prepared before she gets any dog, ask her to read some great books on training. (Try not to pick books randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also!) These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Answer 2

I have one at home so I'll give you a quick answer: NO.

They require regular grooming. They also become easily excited and lose bladder control sometimes. I've never met a Pomeranian that is not psychologically unbalanced and difficult to calm down. If you have the time (and infinite patience) to do it, okay. But if you're looking for a low maintenance dog, DON'T get a Pom.

Answer 3

U should get a dog that is a little older so it is already trained. AKC.com
go to that site and check the maintanance. Usually a smaller dog is easier less shedding less space. as long as it's already trained. don't get an untrained puppy especially a small breed they are known for being hard to train.
GOOD LUCK!

Answer 4

They need to be brushed daily to prevent matting. Sometimes their teeth tend to have tarter build up so they will need to be brushed.
They should be on a leash and not run loose, they are fast and you may not catch it.
Here is a website with information that should help you.

Answer 5

go on petfinder and find a older one that does not need so much work that will help this is a small breed so they r easier to take care of