Pet Guide
Remember, not unlike a child, the beginning of a puppy's life is very important. A breeder raises a puppy from birth until (at least) 8 wks. (which is too young for a toy size puppy, 10-12 wks. min. is best). Therefore, this is the foundation to the social development of your new baby. Do not under estimate the importance of this i.e. early socialization/love/care, which leads to good temperament.
When looking for a puppy, look for a happy, healthy baby. If looking at pictures (or in person) look to see if the puppy looks happy; you can often see it in their eyes, ears, and body language. If the puppy (or parents) look scared in the picture(s), that is a red flag!! Make sure you see both parents and be leery if you are not able to see both parents (if on site). Sometimes, there is an outside sire or dam, but ask to see a picture. Also, keep in mind the mother does lose her coat after she has puppies, which can make her look scraggly and the ears very long. We trim down our mommies. The Pomeranian breed standard calls for a Pom to be an "extrovert" which means outgoing, social, and friendly. *During this time of Covid, we are not allowing visitors to visit with our dogs (only the puppy being purchased) to limit possible exposure. We do, however, have pictures available (see the "About Us" tab).
Make sure you have time to commit to your new fur baby. A Pom can live, on average, for 10-15 years, but sometimes longer. We had a boy live until 20!
Also, plan for expensive vet costs (for any pet). An average visit (for routine care) can cost anywhere from $150-$200 each, twice a year min. Heartworm test (yearly) is about $40-$50, medication is about $30/mo. If you need bloodwork, that is an additional $400. If you need flea/heartworm control, expect to pay about $700 for the year. Does your baby need to stay overnight for anything? That will be at least $1,800. Repairing a fractured bone is in the $4,000-$6,000 range. A vet bill for sniffing up an organism outside and flushing the nasal cavity could cost you well over $800. We recommend starting a savings account for future care and have at least $3,000 in there. There are also insurance plans. Trupanion is a popular one. Vets have a tough job, and we understand that. Be sure to plan accordingly.
Importance of early socialization...
Below is a link to an article that discusses this (copy/paste in your browser):
http://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/new-discoveries-helping-us-understand-our-dogs/
Puppy Training
For Fun
Need a tax deduction? Consider donating to a LOCAL shelter or non-profit rescue. Research, research, research before donating to an organization. Unfortunately, some of the so-called animal welfare organizations are NOT what they seem and make a huge profit and/or kill animals instead of helping them.
:(
Below are some worthy shelters/rescuses/charities:
http://www.americanpomeranianclub.org/rescue.htm
https://secure3.convio.net/dav/site/Donation2?df_id=10800&10800.donation=form1&gclid=CLKZv5ydvs0CFdgIgQodeewBow
https://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/donation.do?cID=14262&pID=24671
Be sure to use the same words/short phrases over and over during an act, so the puppy will learn what you are expecting from him/her. For example, "go pee-pee," "want a treat?," "go bye bye?," "no," etc. I suggest looking at your puppy and talk directly to him or her. In my own experience, making your fur baby a part of conversation helps to cut down on the chance of raising a barker.
Between 4-8 months puppies are cutting teeth (which hurts), going through hormonal times, and the coat changes. This is the "awkward stage" and they will need to chew, may become a bit irritable or standoffish with strangers, need more attention, etc. Be patient...they will come out of this stage soon. Make sure your puppy has non-rawhide bones to chew on and stay consistent with training. We recommend all natural beef bones.
Consider getting a basket and fill it with pet toys, bones, etc. for your fur baby to dig through and decide what he or she wants to play with. This helps to keep a puppy busy and encourages good decision making skills. Consistently use the same word(s) for the toys. This will create recall. In time, he or she will learn to recognize each item.
Male vs. Female
Which makes a better pet? Each Pom will have his/her own personality, but in our experience, overall, the males often make better pets. They tend to be easier to potty train, are more loyal, and are more lovable. Females are great too, but they can be a bit more difficult to potty train and can be moody/more territorial. For example, we have 7 Poms, 4 males and 3 females. All of our males are great in the house and hardly ever have an accident, however, only 1 female is good with her potty habits. The other 2 females still have accidents from time to time. Also, females blow their undercoat an additional 2 times/year, which results in a scraggly looking coat for a few months, not to mention having to use panties during the heat cycles, if intact. Boys and girls will blow their undercoat twice a year (spring/fall). It stays in clumps and brushes out nicely. Some people worry about boys marking. This really only occurs if a girl is in heat and will likely never occur if he is neutered. Many people do not realize girls can mark as well.
Do not be hesitant to bring a male into your home. Not only do they make better pets (in our opinion), but they are more readily available and often more affordable than females. If planning to show, it is the males that are often the champion specials because they have the fluffier coats and flashier movement/appearance.
We recommend going with the male over the female, if available.
Nutritional Needs
Adults: We feed our adult Poms a mix of home cooking (consisting of chicken, ground beef, ground turkey, and/or duck fresh kale, parsley, and fresh collard greens, adding in green beans, blueberries, apples, etc.) alternating with a kibble mix of holistic Muenster Ancient Grains with Ocean Fish, with an added Probiotic. We also add in Stella and Chewy's freeze dried immune formula about once a week. Of course, Sundays usually consist of scrambled eggs, etc. One of my young adults had an allergic reaction while feeding the Wellness brand food and it was recommended by a show vet to switch him, so I did. It is important to understand all dogs are individuals, so adjustments may need to be made to find what works best for your dog. We also like to make/add in bone broth a few times a year.
Puppies: We start young puppies on Taste of the Wild High Prairie puppy formula dry food (water added/mushed), switching to dry at 6-8 weeks. At about 8 mos., I mix in and start the switch over to Muenster Ancient Grains with Ocean Fish. I also give all of my puppies a daily dose of nutri-cal supplement and recommend doing this for at least the first 4-5 months.
If you find your Pom is getting on the chunky side (non-ribbed), and/or lacking in exercise, consider switching to a lower calorie food for adults and/or inactive dogs
A good option is Royal Canin Indoor Life Small Breed food. Or, consider an all natural, home cooked meal. This is best, but not always convenient for everyone. Just note you can make up a large quantity and freeze the extra, which is what I do. When home-cooking, you MUST add vitamin supplements. Contact Nature's Farmacy.
Children or other breeds in the house?
If you have small children in the house (or another dog breed), We highly recommend choosing a larger, more sturdy Pom. (6lb.+ is best). We can help you with estimating size. Please ask.
Larger Size Poms Often Make Better Pets
It is our experience that the larger Poms (6+ lbs.) make better pets/walking buddies. The smaller ones tend to have the potty accidents in the house and/or get injured more easily. The larger size Poms are much better at holding their bladder for longer periods of time, walk on their own better, love to play fetch, and tend to be more sturdy, for less chance of injury, and are often healthier overall. Although, the smaller ones are easier to tote around in a purse. Regardless, almost all Poms like to go for car rides and sit on laps!
Helpful Hints
List of Puppy Item:
- I feed my puppies Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula, with water added, as a mush; transition to dry at around 5-8 weeks (check for teeth); if you find your Pom is laying down to eat, and/or finishing the entire bowl often, free-feeding might not be the best option; instead, feed appropriate quantity once or twice/day.
- Amazon sells a really nice waterproof pad to use under the play pen (search whelping pad, about $20)
- I like the Arm in Hammer, Heartz with gel, or Glad pee pee pads (they do not leak); LennyPads are great and reusable! If you find your puppy chewing up the pads, get these Lennypads.com
- I give my pups (up until at least 4-5 mos.; up to a year if very small) a dab of Nutri Cal/day
- The Iris Playpen works great for Poms – can purchase from Amazon for around $30; if you have a climber, there is a mesh top that can be purchased and velcro; otherwise, I recommend using an enclosed crate; I have a small enclosed crate inside my playpen, with a bed/pad inside
- The AKC dog beds hold up fairly well, but the inside does not come out for washing like the ComfyPooch ones do (see below); the Kong crate beds are great.
- Give only non-rawhide, natural bones or bully sticks - can get on chewy.com
- Walmart sells a really small, battery operated skinny size set of clippers (1") for $10-$15 that work great for clipping around the butt area and on paws (easy to use, right size, and not very noisy); they do not last long, however. There is one made by Wahl that is great, but costly!
- We recommend using a probiotic daily; Pro Plan Proflora is a good option and was recommended by our vet; you can purchase this at Walmart (much cheaper than the ones I got from the vet and the same exact thing); the Probiotic from Nature's Farmacy is the best for nutritional absorb./normalization, in our opinion
- If your puppy gets a little loose stool, you can add a little organic pumpkin to food. You can purchase a bag at Chewy or a can at the grocery (only organic, not pie filling)
- Great dog beds! – ComfyPooch by Mindy; info@comfypoochbymindy.com or 704-473-1444; comfypoochbymindy.com (the inside comes out for washing and you get to choose your fabric, which is easier to wipe down than the typical beds found at retail stores) -- it will last a very long time :) I do not put in dryer; just lay out to dry.
- This is a link to a website for "Nature's Farmacy" with great products and great advice https://naturesfarmacy.com/. If you have a finicky eater, a Pom that is losing weight, thinning hair, flaky skin, etc., call them! They can help.
- Chewy.com is the best place to order food and other pet items! They stand behind their products and are a wonderful company.
- Great small, quiet, long-lasting mini trimmers WAHL Professional Animal BravMini+ Cordless Pet Trimmer, Purple - Chewy.com
Things to Note:
- Be sure NOT to place the crate/playpen in a drafty area; I suggest placing a sheet/blanket on top, secured down (we use binder clips). If next to a door or cooler room, drape a warmer blanket down the side to block the cool air. Also, roll up a towel to make a barrier around the edges.
- 15-20 min. of play, then a drink of water, followed by nap time
- Puppy shots/worm again at 12 wks. and again at 16 wks.; rabies over 16 wks. (as directed by your vet; we recommend waiting until at least 6 months+ for rabies)
- Spay/neuter 8 mos.+ for a male (use vet recommendation); we recommend holding off until 12 months+ for a female if you can (keep her away from unaltered dogs!) because it may mess up potty training and this surgery has been known to cause potty issues in females
- Do not forget to take pictures and keep me updated on growth and development; I love to know how my babies are doing in their new homes. :)
- KEEP PUPPIES AWAY FROM OTHER ANIMALS UNTIL THEY HAVE HAD ALL OF THEIR PUPPY SHOTS; NO DOG PARKS, VISITS TO A SHELTER, ETC. UNTIL ALL VACCINATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
- BE CAREFUL AND DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE OTHER DOGS/ANIMALS AND DO NOT LET LARGE BREEDS PLAY/GET TOO CLOSE TO A POM. THEY CAN HARM/KILL A SMALL POM, SOMETIMES EVEN UNINTENTIONALLY. ONE WRONG BUMP OR SWIPE FROM A LARGER DOG BREED COULD BE FATAL TO YOUR POM.
NOTE:
- If you are home-cooking meals, you MUST include necessary supplements for needed vitamins (Nature's Farmacy); very tiny pieces of plainly cooked meats, green beans, blueberries, and apples (not core/seeds) (even Cheerios broken into half, sparingly) are healthy snacks (do not use processed garbage treats found at local grocery and be careful of mold growth, etc.)
- We recommend using a probiotic
- If your Pom is having patella issues from over activity, jumping up/off furniture, etc., use the supplement Nature's Farmacy offers (Phyto Flex) - it works. Also, limit activity. Bed rest for 6 weeks min. Carry out to potty and back to rest.
Pom Coat Changes...
A Pom's coat changes dramatically from birth until the first year of life. Notice how much it grows/fluffs out from birth to 8 weeks. Then, they will start to go through the coat change (for adult coat) around 4-8 months, where it may look "ugly" for a little while. By age 12-18 months, the outer adult coat starts to grow longer and the undercoat is just starting to thicken again. By age 2-3, the undercoat should be in and the double coat should look gorgeous. If you have a female, note her heat cycle will bring on a "blowing of her coat," which means she will lose her undercoat twice a year (and it is quite scraggly); she will have a thinner coat for a few months until it grows back.
**Note: Never, ever shave a Pomeranian or cut into the undercoat! We realize there is a cute little Boo cut that is quite popular, but this may lead to your Pom never growing his/her coat back or coming back splotchy. :( Why take the chance? While going through the uglies stage, it is perfectly fine to trim the coat to about an inch+ from the body to even it out and get the old, dying puppy coat out. Brush out the puppy coat; it will come out in chunks, which is normal. If the coat is black, the undercoat will turn a gray color when it is getting ready to come out.
2 Weeks 6 Weeks 6 Months 9 Months 18 Months
2 Years
Poms are quite healthy and normally live 10-15 years, though sometimes longer. We had a boy live until 20. However, there are common health issues that arise for the Pomeranian Breed that you should be aware of (see below):
If considering a Pomeranian, please note even the best bred dogs can exhibit health conditions, and below are the most common for the breed. Even when breeders do their best to breed for 100% soundness, and conduct health testing, these issues are so common in the breed that they can turn up in any breeding program (even the most famous lines). Note: If any of these problems occur in an older Pomeranian i.e. after age 6-7, this is more due to old age than genetics. In any event, please be aware of/look out for the following:
Luxating Patellas
A luxating patella (knee that slips out of place) is the most common problem in the Pomeranian breed. This can be caused from jumping off a bed, running at full speed/playing rough outside, jumping off a lap, falling down stairs, etc. Often times, the dog will not be in pain, but will lift a leg and walk/run on three legs. Sometimes a vet can massage it back into place and sometimes it will need surgery. Most times, it will heal/go back with limited movement i.e. confinement to crate/bed rest, within 6-8 weeks. Smaller puppies often times have loose patellar, but they will tighten as they grow, so do not be alarmed at an early age. DO NOT, and do not let your vet, go pulling on the patellar under a year of age! They can actually cause it to pop out. Most vets are NOT used to working with toy size dogs and are used to working with large, very sturdy breeds. If surgery is needed, it should not ever be done until a Pom is done growing i.e. at least two years old.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia can occur in young Pomeranians and is from a lack of sugar. It is more common in the very small or very active puppies. * keep play time to short bursts of time for a puppy i.e. 15-20 min. of play with 20 min. of rest. We have an entire section on our website about how to avoid this and what to do if this occurs. We give our Poms a dab of Nutri cal each day until, at least, 5 months of age. If you do not have this, you can use karo syrup.
Bad Teeth
Pomeranians do not have the best teeth and we highly recommend having your vet examine your puppy’s teeth around age 8-9 months and getting the teeth cleaned at least every few years. It sometimes takes time for puppy teeth to fall out...sometimes up to 2 years of age. They are prone to plaque and retained puppy teeth. The canines can be stubborn and take the longest to fall out...sometimes a few years. In such case, keep the teeth clean (removing any food stuck between) or you can choose to have them pulled out (only after the new ones have come in; they work as braces). Note: Anytime a Pom is put under using anesthesia, there is a risk of health issues and even death.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) is very common in the Pomeranian breed. This condition is sometimes mistaken for black skin disease, as there may be hair loss and the skin can turn black, which are the same symptoms, often leading to an incorrect diagnosis. A simple blood test can verify.
Open Fontanels
An open Fontanel is an opening on the top of the skull, much like an infant, and perfectly normal for the toy breeds. Most will close as they mature; often closing by 12-18 months. Small open fontanels are hardly ever a problem, and it is very common in the breed (even show dogs), but large ones should be avoided. This can lead to a very serious condition called hydrocephalus. Most puppies with this condition will not live past 5-6 weeks of age and are not placed in homes (puppies should not leave their mother until at least 8 weeks of age). They often have an enlarged head, which are out of proportion to the body and may exhibit coordination problems. You will notice the enlarged head if there is a problem.
Coat Loss
Pomeranians also sometimes experience severe hair loss syndrome Alopecia X aka black skin disease (BSD), which is another very common issue in the breed. When the puppy coat sheds, the coat does not grow back. Note this is not harmful at all, but it may require dressing your fur baby up in clothes to avoid a sunburn outside. A lot of research is being done about this condition and some studies have pointed to allergies/gluten and/or grain in the diet. Home cooked meals are best, but Taste of the Wild grain free is a good alternative. Note there are many, many reasons why your Pom might be losing his/her hair. If you are experiencing this have a complete blood test and bacterial/fungus culture done because often times there is something else going on i.e. an allergic reaction to food, an allergy to a flea bite, a product being used on the skin/coat, and/or yeast/fungus/bacteria, which is quite easy to alleviate. If dry skin is accompanied, it could be an allergy or systemic yeast. *Be very leery of 7-12 month old puppies with huge, cottony feeling coats, with heavily coated legs, and are all undercoat, with no profuse harsh outercoat on top, as well as very, very soft feeling coats.
Itchy Skin/Thinning Hair
Sometimes, at a later age, a normal appearing coat slowly starts to thin, starting at the back of the thighs and buttocks and moving up the back. Sometimes, this is just from age (itch, thinning hair) and is perfectly normal. It is usually from some type of allergy i.e. to fleas, food, shampoo, etc. We had a 20-year old Pom with a healthy coat until age 18 or 19, when he developed some itchy skin and a tad bit of hair loss on his back side (from itching it off). His vet could not believe how healthy he was for such an old guy! We bathed him in a good, conditioning, oatmeal (do not use oatmeal if it is yeast; see below) type shampoo and put baby oil on, which helped. You can also use and put a teaspoon of coconut oil on food as a prevention, but always ask your vet about treatment first.
* We recently had an adult have an allergic reaction/systemic yeast infection of the skin from the Wellness brand food, which resulted in finicky eating/not gaining weight, dark pink/red, irritated, and flaky skin, indigestion, and thinning hair, so we started an all natural, home cooked feeding plan, with probiotics and vitamin supplements, and it is working really well! You can find more info. here https://www.vetinfo.com/symptoms-of-systemic-yeast-infection-in-dogs.html and https://naturesfarmacy.com/yeastindogs/. We highly recommend feeding a home cooked diet, with little to no carbohydrates/sugars, with added probiotics and vitamin supplements and rubbing organic, extra virgin, non refined, cold-pressed coconut oil on the skin. You will smell the yeast on the skin if your pet has this issue. We highly recommend contacting Nature's Farmacy, https://naturesfarmacy.com/, to speak to a representative. Update: we were able to switch him to Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy good, with probiotics, and no more issues so far.
Collapsing Trachea
Collapsing trachea is a problem found in many toy breeds and you will know it if your Pom makes a honking noise or sounds like he is coughing up a hairball. It can be diagnosed with an x-ray and medication can be prescribed to reduce any coughing. This can become worse in a hotter climate or from running around a lot. Sometimes this is brought on by old age, just like people. If your Pom experiences this, it is best to keep him/her calm and cool him/her off. Most times, the episode will lessen. Sometimes, a Pom will even grow out of/mature out of this. Interestingly, I had a friend who had a Pom around 7-8 months of age who started to honk/wheeze (mainly at night) for about 4 months, but then he stopped. It is possible this was caused by something else, but certainly showed the same signs as a collapsing trachea. Sometimes, cleaning sprays, air fresheners, etc. can cause pets to sneeze, cough, etc. We recommend not using a collar at all for a Pom; instead use a harness for walking and get a microchip for identification. Not only can a collar cause a collapsing trachea, but a collar can also cause a Pom to strangle and it gets tangled in the hair.
Heart Murmur
Heart murmurs can range from very slight to life threatening. This is almost always detected at a very young age, with the first vet check. For most Pom puppies with a slight heart murmur, they will grow out of this as they mature. Sometimes, surgery will be needed, but it is often a full recovery. In any event, you should always ask your breeder about this and have your baby thoroughly checked over at his/her first visit. A vet will almost always check a dog's heart every time he/she is seen.
Idiopathic Seizures
Some Pomeranians have idiopathic epilepsy. “Idiopathic” meaning the condition is “unknown.” There could be a liver problem, a kidney problem, head trauma, or another reason such as an allergen, eating a mushroom in the yard, etc. for the seizure. My daughter was born prematurely and had two seizures at a young age, but is now in her 20’s and has not had one since. Seizures are a strange thing, but always consult a vet.
*We recommend never using an oral flea medication or flea shampoo on a Pom. The topical solutions are best. Also, be careful with over-vaccination of toy-size dogs. Right now, a 3-lb. Pom gets the same dose as a 200-lb. dog, which is obviously not a good thing and can sometimes cause health risks. Talk to your vet about this. A lot of well-educated vets are adapting their recommendations from yearly to every 5+ years. Be diligent and do your research. Also, we do not recommend getting the vaccine for kennel cough as it has been linked to causing illness and issues.
Now that we have scared you to death...!!! Just do your research, stay diligent, pay attention to your fur baby, and consult a vet if you notice anything out of the ordinary.
Be Choosy (and be careful); Do not get swindled!
Far too often we see very poorly bred Poms being sold by backyard breeders and puppy mills, sometimes for cheap prices, other times for the same price as quality bred Poms, and even sometimes for more, putting bad genes into the gene pool and giving Poms a bad reputation for health issues. While affordability is always a consideration (and it should be) please, please be careful. Often times, these breeders are uneducated about the breed and are breeding already poorly bred Poms together, most times mixed with other breeds in their genetic makeup. A Pom should always have a pleasing attitude. A trained eye can often tell this by just a photo, but an unsuspecting family might not be able to spot this. They are out to make a buck, not to better the breed, show, etc., which results in whatever lowers the cost for them i.e. inferior conditions/food, less quality care, lack of socialization, no training, etc. Do your part and do not contribute to this unethical practice. Learn as much as you can and be proactive. ONLY go to a hobby show home for a puppy and AVOID backyard breeders, pet stores, puppy brokers, etc. Together, we can improve the breed.
**Note: If a breeder is advertising a puppy with no AKC registration papers...RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!! This will mean either 1) there is mixed breeding, health issues with the parents, the female and/or male is/are too young to breed and the puppy is not able to get registered with the AKC, or there is close in-breeding, 2) the backyard breeder is most likely a puppy mill and is breeding too often, in poor conditions and he/she does not want to be inspected, or 3) the breeder is very unethical and is under a spay/neuter contract (for good reason) with the seller for a pet companion that does not allow breeding of the male and/or female Pom that he/she just bred. *It is perfectly fine for a breeder to supply registration papers after proof of spay/neuter because there are a lot of horrible people out there.
Why does this matter? It matters for a number of reasons:
1) health (mental, social, & physical), 2) temperament, 3) conformation/looks, and 4) ethics/principle
Believe me, hobby show breeders DO NOT make a profit from selling a few puppies/year. We spend thousands/year more than we bring in. This is a hobby for us. Traveling/showing costs A LOT of money, but is important because we are having our dogs evaluated by experts in the field.
How can one tell if a breeder is an ethical, hobby show exhibitor breeder?
1) The breeder will know the Pom standard and will not use marketing words like "teacup," "miniature," "triple coat," "exotic," "teddy bear"-- there is no such thing; he/she will breed according to the standard, NOT for the current fad.
For example: the flat-faced fad Poms are not to standard! A well-bred Pom should have a muzzle 1/3 to 2/3 of the head/skull here in the U.S. and 1/2 in most European countries. Why does this matter? Not only is it proper standard, but too flat of a muzzle will lead to breathing problems, enlarged eyes (eye problems), and eventually being added to the no-fly list for airlines...just like any other flat-faced dog breed. :(
2) The breeder will raise puppies inside the home, alongside the family unit; this is important for adaptability/max. socialization, which leads to good temperament.
3) The breeder will have the puppy vet checked, with age appropriate vaccinations and will not sell/release an unhealthy puppy. If there is a special needs puppy, full disclosure will be given.
4) The breeder will have a limited number of dogs (this is a personal preference; some larger kennels are also ethical, but socialization/temperament can become a concern, which is important for a family pet). Note: Some overseas facilities are very, very large i.e. kennels with 500+ dogs, so keep this in mind. Ask about our experience importing.
5) The puppy will be registered with the AKC here in the U.S. (on a ltd. registration, with spay/neuter requirement, if a pet companion); be very leery if only registered with CKC, ACA, APR, APRI, etc.; registry matters! Usually, this means there was some mixed breeding in the pedigree and the breeder was not able to get the puppy registered with the AKC, a reputable registry. Why does this matter? It matters because you want a predictable, Pom temperament. For example, if the bloodlines includes, say, a Chihuahua or a Shih Tzu that temperament will be included in the genetic makeup of your Pom puppy, which is extremely different. A Pomeranian should have an "extrovert" temperament.
6) The breeder is an exhibitor and will show at AKC events and there will be champion lines within the
3-4 generation pedigree.
7) Look at pictures closely; does the puppy appear happy? If visiting in person, are the puppies social/playful? Are noses running? Are the puppies clean? Is there loose stool? Is the puppy area clean? Are the parents social/in good condition?
8) An ethical breeder will NOT knowingly sell a puppy to unethical breeders (puppy mills, mix breeders, etc.) and will do his/her best to screen for such. Good breeders want to protect their puppies and their bloodlines.
9) It is best to visit the home where the puppy is being raised to see contact, conditions, etc. if at all possible, but we are living in strange times with Covid, so precautions need to be taken. Keep in mind, however, there are horrible people in this world and I have heard of exhibitors having their dogs stolen from their yards/homes and some of them being assaulted by crazies. There have even been cases of exhibitors being raped/murdered by so called "puppy buyers." So, not all exhibitors will invite you into their home, around their family, unless a thorough background check has been conducted and you come across as trustworthy. Do not get offended if you are asked to supply a photo ID prior to visiting or asked to sterilize hands/take off shoes before handling puppies. Young puppies have not yet been vaccinated and germs, illness, disease, etc. are a potential risk, especially after a visit to a shelter, public park, pet supply store, vet's office, etc. If you have visited a shelter, pet supply store, vet's office, park, etc. recently, wait at least a few days before visiting a young puppy and sterilize shoes and hands very well. An entire litter of puppies could die if such precaution is not taken.
Did you know??
Be sure to do your research and only buy from a knowledgeable breeder. Merle colored Poms (or with white, cream, pie bald parti, brindle, sable) should NOT EVER be bred together! This causes major health issues (both deaf and blind). Be careful with pure white Poms as well. They are also known to have a MUCH HIGHER rate of health issues. A LOT of times, an unsuspecting backyard breeder will purchase a phantom merle puppy (not noticeable by looks, not tested for health & the merle gene) and will breed him/her, which results in major, unnecessary health issues, and of course the condition(s) gets into the genetics for future issues. This is quite common, unfortunately. There are only about 3 merle breeders worldwide I would even consider.
There is no such thing as a "Teacup" size Pom; there is just a "Pomeranian," which is in the toy group. The standard calls for 3-7 lbs. People who breed down to create smaller than the breed standard Poms on purpose are unethical, which often leads to an unhealthy baby because they are taking the extremely small, often sickly, Poms and creating offspring, then repeating the same until an extremely small Pom (with bad genes) is born. Note, however, at times nature does take over and a smaller size (under the standard of 3-7lbs.) will occur, but it is/should be rare. Please understand these babies often have many health issues and will not live as long. Be very leery of breeders who market "Teacup" Poms; they are either unethical, uneducated, a puppy mill, and/or a scam...(certainly not educated on the breed) so be diligent and protect yourself.
Poms change colors...really, they do! The puppy you picked out may be a completely different color at adulthood.
Between 3.5-6 months properly coated Poms will extensively lose their fluffy puppy coat and the facial hair, ears start to look funny, etc. This is called the "Pom Uglies." Rest assured, though, this does not last too long and they will gain their adult coat soon. The coat may be scraggly for the first year. Then, they go through another big undercoat shed between 12-18 months. By 2 years old, the adult coat takes over, the undercoat grows in and gets prettier and prettier, thicker and thicker each year. Poms usually look their best after 3-4 years old.
WHY DO POMS COST SO MUCH? Trust me when I say show breeders do NOT make a profit placing a few puppies a year. This is a hobby for us and there are A LOT OF COSTS involved with breeding quality dogs, in the multiple thousands. A c-section is between $2,500-$5,000! This does not include routine care such as a sonograph, which is $400, xrays normally $200-$300, not including the vet visit cost and other routine costs. There may also be a stud fee on top of that, which on average is about $1,000. Most times Poms only have 1 or 2 puppies and sometimes no survivors at all. :( Showing is where a TON of money is spent and we spend on average about $15,000-$20,000/year, not including the cost of the price of an RV, insurance, etc. This involves a lot of travel/stay, gas, entry fees, equipment cost, etc. None of these costs include health testing by veterinarian specialists, OFA fees, routine vet care, monthly heartworm, flea/tick prevention, quality food, vitamins/supplements, play pens, toys, mats, grooming supplies, fencing, chew bones/treats, fresh fruits/veggies, etc. Our monthly costs are quite high. This means we must go without for ourselves a lot of times, so no shopping for new clothes, LOL. Why do we do it as we must be absolutely nuts?! We love the breed and enjoy connecting and visiting with other Pom fanciers. Our goal is to offset some of the costs. Now, this is not the same for backyard breeders who do not show or provide exceptional care for their dogs. It makes a difference! Always support small, hobby show breeders, NOT backyard breeders.
