CARE OF THE
POMERANIAN
Pomeranians! Lovely, lively, full of spunk, active little dogs who think of themselves as being the size of a giant breed who can conquer all and show no fear! A delightful companion as well as exhibition dog. But…and there is a "but"…Poms come from the Spitz family and as such, can be wilful. They need to know you are the pack leader and what you say goes, from the start! They learn very quickly what is acceptable and what is not…if you teach them.
Let's look at the exhibition Pom. Apart from early show training, consistent show training, early ring exposure, good diet, exercise, and coat care, trimming, there is not much else needed.
If you do not know how to correctly trim a Pom for show, ask the breeder to show you how or ask an experienced Pom exhibitor.
Now, looking at the first few suggestions, they go without saying, for all show dogs, not just Poms. However, I must stress again, and have done so on various parts of my web site, the importance of fresh air, sunshine, exercise and the importance to allow dogs to have a stress free life, at least for a portion of the day to be themselves without restrictions of any kind. This can't be achieved if the dog is inside a house all day and all night, with restrictions being imposed on the dog for potty training, where he can or can't sleep, where he can or can't play, etc. They need a space allocated to them outside, where they are free to roam, play and exercise without such inhibitions.
This play area must be safe, must be sheltered, and must have items to entertain the dog, toys, tunnels, day bed for rest, etc. Common sense prevails.
During extremes of weather, whether too cold or too hot, the Poms do not do well outside and in fact, it can be fatal to leave them in those extremities. If it is too hot or too cold for you, then it will feel the same way to your Pom!
A thorough brushing and combing at least once a week is a must. It helps stimulate good coat growth, removes dead hair, and revives the skin. A bath once a fortnight in a good dog shampoo especially formulated for harsh coats and a blow dry, is a must. Don't forget the nails, they need to be kept trim and short!
There are many products available to use in the form of spray coat conditioners which will also help as well as doggy colognes (I like a dog that smells good)!
Socialise Poms early and have them handled by as many people as you can. Get strangers at shows to offer them treats you supply, so they can learn to trust people. This will go a long way in the ring as it gives the dog confidence and it shows!
Some Poms may need their baby teeth extracted by your veterinarian when their secondary teeth are coming through and the baby ones have not come away. Keep an eye on this, as retained baby teeth may cause an otherwise good bite to ruin.
Give them good dog biscuits at least every second day to help clean teeth and gums and also to loosen any deciduous teeth. I do not refer to kibble, I mean dog biscuits. There are recipes on my web site to make your own, or you can buy them in packets from your local supermarket or pet shop.
Written By
Anne Muscat/Roditis
© copyright 2008
Pomeranians! Lovely, lively, full of spunk, active little dogs who think of themselves as being the size of a giant breed who can conquer all and show no fear! A delightful companion as well as exhibition dog. But…and there is a "but"…Poms come from the Spitz family and as such, can be wilful. They need to know you are the pack leader and what you say goes, from the start! They learn very quickly what is acceptable and what is not…if you teach them.
Let's look at the exhibition Pom. Apart from early show training, consistent show training, early ring exposure, good diet, exercise, and coat care, trimming, there is not much else needed.
If you do not know how to correctly trim a Pom for show, ask the breeder to show you how or ask an experienced Pom exhibitor.
Now, looking at the first few suggestions, they go without saying, for all show dogs, not just Poms. However, I must stress again, and have done so on various parts of my web site, the importance of fresh air, sunshine, exercise and the importance to allow dogs to have a stress free life, at least for a portion of the day to be themselves without restrictions of any kind. This can't be achieved if the dog is inside a house all day and all night, with restrictions being imposed on the dog for potty training, where he can or can't sleep, where he can or can't play, etc. They need a space allocated to them outside, where they are free to roam, play and exercise without such inhibitions.
This play area must be safe, must be sheltered, and must have items to entertain the dog, toys, tunnels, day bed for rest, etc. Common sense prevails.
During extremes of weather, whether too cold or too hot, the Poms do not do well outside and in fact, it can be fatal to leave them in those extremities. If it is too hot or too cold for you, then it will feel the same way to your Pom!
A thorough brushing and combing at least once a week is a must. It helps stimulate good coat growth, removes dead hair, and revives the skin. A bath once a fortnight in a good dog shampoo especially formulated for harsh coats and a blow dry, is a must. Don't forget the nails, they need to be kept trim and short!
There are many products available to use in the form of spray coat conditioners which will also help as well as doggy colognes (I like a dog that smells good)!
Socialise Poms early and have them handled by as many people as you can. Get strangers at shows to offer them treats you supply, so they can learn to trust people. This will go a long way in the ring as it gives the dog confidence and it shows!
Some Poms may need their baby teeth extracted by your veterinarian when their secondary teeth are coming through and the baby ones have not come away. Keep an eye on this, as retained baby teeth may cause an otherwise good bite to ruin.
Give them good dog biscuits at least every second day to help clean teeth and gums and also to loosen any deciduous teeth. I do not refer to kibble, I mean dog biscuits. There are recipes on my web site to make your own, or you can buy them in packets from your local supermarket or pet shop.
Written By
Anne Muscat/Roditis
© copyright 2008
