Our Pomeranian Puppy Care Guide:
1. Nutrition
a) What to Feed: Choose high-quality puppy food, high quality doesn’t have to mean “expensive”. We LOVE the ‘diamond’ brand, and feed it to ALL of our four legged friends!
b) Feeding Schedule: Feeding portions can vary depending on your puppies weight and how likely they are to get hypoglocemia.
* 8-12 Weeks: 2-4 meals a day
* 3-6 Months: 2-3 meals a day
* 6 Months and Older: 2 meals a day
c) Portion Control: Follow the feeding guidelines on the puppy food packaging, but adjust based on your puppy's activity level and body condition. We DO NOT suggest free feeding!! This can lead to obseity which is the primary cause for joint issues. Example: Luxating Patella. (Rotating knee-caps)
d) Water: Always provide fresh, clean water.
2. Grooming
a) Brushing: Brush your Pomeranian puppy several times a week to prevent mats and tangles. Use a slicker brush and a metal comb (Dematting brush) to get through their thick double coat.
b) Bathing: Bathe your puppy every atleast every 2-3 months. Use a gentle puppy shampoo to avoid skin irritation. Make sure to dry them thoroughly to prevent colds.
c) Nail Trimming: Trim their nails every 2-3 weeks. If you can hear their nails clicking on the floor, it's time for a trim. Be careful not to cut too short, or you could hit the quick (the blood vessel in the nail).
d) Ear Cleaning: Check their ears weekly and clean them with a vet-approved ear cleaner if needed.
e) Dental Care: Start brushing their teeth a few times a week with a puppy toothbrush and toothpaste. This helps prevent dental disease.
3. Exercise
a) Short Walks: Pomeranian puppies don't need a lot of exercise. Short, daily walks (15-20 minutes) are usually sufficient.
b) Playtime: Provide plenty of toys and opportunities for indoor play. Puzzle toys can help keep them mentally stimulated. Please DO NOT allow them to jump off couches or high places before they are mature as this can also leave to joint issues!!
c) Avoid Overexertion: Be careful not to overexert your puppy, especially in hot weather. Pomeranians are prone to overheating.
4. Training and Socialization
a) Early Socialization: Please continue to expose your puppy to a variety of people, places, and sounds after they leave our care! This helps them become well-adjusted adults! Agressive traits can form due to a lack of socialization!
b) Basic Commands: Start training your puppy with basic commands like "sit," "stay," and "come" as soon as they arrive home. Use positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats and praise.
c) House Training: Be consistent with house training. Take your puppy outside frequently, especially after waking up, eating, and playing. Reward them when they eliminate outside. Please be mindful of your puppies age and the risks that come with taking puppies outside to non-disinfected areas before they are fully vaccinated. We suggest buying an outdoor playpen and using a chemical like ‘kennel-sol’ to spray the interior and exterior of playpen before allowing your puppy on the ground to potty in it.
d) Crate Training: Crate training can provide your puppy with a safe and secure space. Make the crate comfortable with a soft bed and toys.
5. Health Care
a) Veterinary Check-ups: Schedule regular check-ups with your veterinarian to ensure your puppy is healthy and up-to-date on vaccinations and deworming.
b) Vaccinations: Follow your vet's recommended vaccination schedule. Core vaccines include distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, and rabies.
c) Parasite Prevention: Protect your puppy from fleas, ticks, and heartworms with vet-approved preventative medications.
d) Common Health Issues: Be aware of common health issues and their causes in Pomeranians, such as tracheal collapse, patellar luxation, and dental problems.
6. Environment
a) Safe Home: Puppy-proof your home by removing any hazards, such as electrical cords, toxic plants, and small objects that could be swallowed. Little pomeranian puppies are like vaccume cleaners and will pick up anything small enough to fit in their mouths!!!
6. Social Needs
a) Companionship: Pomeranians are companion dogs and thrive on human interaction. Spend plenty of time with your puppy, playing, cuddling, and training.
b) Supervision: Always supervise your puppy when they are interacting with children or other pets!!! Sometimes, children and pets both do not understand how small a pomeranian puppy truly is. A 2 pound puppy is the size of your average stuffie!!
What food is my puppy eating?
‘Diamond Puppy Chow’ Formulated for nursing moms and their puppies. All of our puppies start out on diamond once weaned, and also go home eating it.
Will our puppy be potty trained?
No, We do not “potty train” your puppies before they go home. In the 2-ish weeks that our puppies are seperated from their mommies we provide our puppies with both a litter box filled with pine pellets and a pee pad system to choose from while in their playpen. Our puppies usually choose one of the two options, rather than pottying on their own bedding and this also helps keep things as sanitary as possible, especially since they cannot touch the ground outside to officially start outdoor potty training prior to going to their new homes.
What to do, to prepare for my puppy?
We recommend, getting a small playpen, to put inside that has water, food, bedding, and one or both of the potty options they had previously been exposed to while they were with us. (Pee pad station and/or litter box) This will be their safe space, and the set up will be similar to what they are use to from being at our home.
We also recommend purchasing an outdoor playpen, as well as a disinfectatn spray to throughly disinfect the surrounding & interior of the area so that your puppy has a safe place to start learning to potty outside, we recommend this so that your puppy does not make using a litter box or pee pads a habit as these habits can be very hard to break.
What if we have other pets?
We recommend having your other pets quarentined from your new puppy for atleast 24 hours prior to them being introduced. We also recommend that all household pets stay within your household or fenced yard until your puppy is fully vaccinated to ensure they do not carry in anything that could put your puppy at risk. (Yes other dogs can be carriers of diseases like parvo, even if they are vaccinated and they can even bring it in on their paws.)
Can I still get one of Your puppies if I have large dogs/animals or young children?
Absolutely! It is extremely important that you understand the size of your puppy when bringing it home. Your puppy will only be 1-2 pounds, the average size of a stuffed animal!
You know your children, and your other household animals best, so as long as you understand the risks, and are prepared for precautions you may have to take, we 100% support you on that!