Pomeranian Dogs - Questions and Answers
Do you have a question about Pomeranian dogs? We have printed below the answers to some that we have received, and some questions. If there are any others, please let us know:
House training a Pom
The most common question we get asked is about house training a Pom. Here are some hints and tips which may help.
- If there is a medical condition behind the problem, the only person who can help you is your vet. I am not a vet and I don't have any medical training. That said, it would be unusual for a Pom to have a medical problem that prevented the dog from being house trained.
- Poms do respond to training eventually. Older poms may take longer to house train than younger ones, but it should not be impossible. You will need a lot of patience since house training a dog can take 1 to 3 months.
- Find one system and stick to it. I am not sure any particular system is any better than any other, and Pomeranians need consistency more than experimentation.
- Here is my system. I have removed the carpet from our kitchen and replaced it with a smart lino. In one corner of the kitchen I leave 3 broad newspaper sheets down all the time, and they are changed as soon as they are used. The Poms will get a 'good dog' hug if they use the newspapers, no response if they use another part of the kitchen, and a telling off if they go elsewhere. The dogs are taken out 5 times a day to the garden at fixed times.
Fleas
Another frequently asked question.
- Ciba Giegy's Program can be obtained on prescription from your vet. It is an expensive but effective long term solution to the problem. It works because it has lufenuron in it, which stops chitin. Cats and dogs are not affected by lufenuron, but all insects need chitin to produce the 'skin' for their offspring. So if a female flea bites a Program dog it will henceforth be unable to produce viable baby fleas.
- Many Pom owners have told us that the traditional remedy of garlic still works. Just add a little powdered garlic to their food.
- Melanie Bailey writes: Borax is a great natural flea deterrent. If you put about a box per 3 rooms into the carpets, apholstery etc and really rub it in, let it sit for as long as you can stand it (I usually go about three days), then vacuum it up, it will help immensly with flea problems. Borax will not hurt animals either.
Tea-cup Pomeranians
- Tea-cup Poodles are well known - but is there such a thing as a tea-cup Pom?
- Tea-cup is a term that covers minitature versions of a breed. There does not appear to be an official recognition of tea-cup Poms, but some breeders use the term to describe Poms which are below 2kg. Some people have doubts whether this is an appropriate process.
Any answers - biting nails?
- Has anyone every heard of their pomeranian biting his/her nails? My Pom, Brandie, bites his nails, sometimes for an hour at a time. He does it when he is relaxing or just hanging out. It's pretty weird.