Pomeranian Puppies
Size
Medium
Coat Length
Short
Energy
Moderate
Description
Pomeranians (otherwise known as 'Dwarf Spitz' or 'Pom') are medium-long haired, small sized dog breed. They are intelligent, loyal, and despite their impressive coats, they require relatively infrequent grooming and minimal exercise which makes them popular companions for older people or busy families without small children.
Neonatal
During the first 4 weeks of your Pom's life, they should spend most of their time with their mother and litter-mates. It is highly unusual for the puppy's owner to care for them during this time and is best left to a responsible, reputable breeder. Your puppy's body will double in weight as their muscles, organs and bones develop.
| Nutrition | During the neonatal stage, your Pomeranian puppy will get most of their nutrition from their mother's milk. At around 4 weeks you may wish to introduce a mush of minced protein such as beef, but always consult your vet first before changing your puppy's diet at this stage. Pomeranians have small mouths so use caution when considering solids food as they may struggle to chew or swallow them. |
| Health | During this time it is important to monitor your Pom for any infections, diseases or birth defects. Puppies are unable to urinate or defecate by themselves initially, so their mother helps them but may additionally require your assistance. Keep your vet's contact details close by and educate yourself thoroughly on this stage of puppy development. By the end of this period, your puppy will be mobile and will explore the world mouth first — be sure to keep choking hazards and toxic foods out of their reach. |
| Behaviour | During most of this time your Pom will be asleep or inactive, but they will soon be playing with their brothers and sisters. After 3-4 weeks they will go through as much sensory development as a human baby does in a few months. It is important to avoid disturbing the puppies' mother as she will be likely be protective, but some interaction with the young pups is normal so they become used to human touch. |
Weaning
When you take your Pomeranian home (usually at around 8 weeks) you should shower them with love and attention. This is a formative time for your puppy and will be when they learn to walk, play, bite, hold their bladder, and interact with others. Make the most of this time and introduce your puppy to the world around them by inviting over friends, acquainting them with other pets and showing them around the house.
| Nutrition | During the weaning stage, you should slowly introduce into their diet a nutritionally complete dog food which is appropriate to your Pom's toy size and young age. Pomeranians are generally not big eaters and prefer to pick at their food throughout the day, so be sure to mix in new foods with old gradually over the course of a week or two to avoid digestive upsets. You should also familiarise yourself with lists of toxic foods and plants to avoid. |
| Health | During this time you should provide your puppy with a small, shallow bowl of clean water and refresh the contents frequently. As Pomeranians are usually inside dogs, so it is important that your puppy is properly toilet trained during this time. Your Pom will soon be a loyal friend and protector of the house, but in the meantime you will have to watch them closely for toilet breaks. |
| Behaviour | Due to all the changes in their environment, your Pom will likely be under a significant amount of stress. As a people-focused breed, it is important that you are affectionate and supportive during this time, but try to provide some monitored alone-time so that they do not become a yapping annoyance to your neighbours. Introducing them to children, objects and other animals early is often effective in reducing aggression later in life. |
Puppy
By the time your Pomeranian reaches puppyhood their personality will be well developed. While not very big, your Pom will be full of energy. Continue to socialise them with strangers in new places and encourage good behaviour at puppy schools.
| Nutrition | Your Pomeranian puppy's diet should be based around a high quality, nutritionally complete puppy food. You may also wish to introduce them to fresh, lean raw meat — however, don't feed your puppy any meat you would not feed to a fellow human being. Keep snacks such as dog treats and table scraps to a minimum during puppyhood and familiarise yourself with lists of toxic foods and plants to avoid. |
| Health | Pomeranians are quite full of energy for their size, but do not require a large amount of exercise — as with any dog, you should be careful not to let them overheat on hot days. Contrary to popular belief, Poms' long fur can work as thermal regulator. You should discourage your Pom from jumping from ledges (such as lounges or counters) as the breed has fragile bones and joints. After around 8 weeks your puppy will be due for some vaccinations, so they will need a checkup at the vet and to arrange for boosters after that. |
| Behaviour | French Bulldog puppies are generally very friendly and well-suited to spending time around other animals and children. However, it's very important to proactively introduce them to the outside world (including other people, dogs, places and children) to avoid development of aggressive behaviours based on fear later in life. It is highly recommended that you take your French Bulldog to puppy training classes. |
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