Attention Pomeranian Owners!!!!

So my boyfriend and i have been talking about a puppy for a couple of years now, and we are thinking about taking the big step this summer (lots of free time for bonding, play, and training!). This will be my first dog ever. He has lived with dogs but never raised a puppy. We do have three kitties already. We have discussed how we feel about training, cleaning, care, and other doggy business and we are generally in agreement. We are serious about proper training, lots of love, and we like to be active (lots of walks). We have enough room for a small to medium dog, and have a yard that would be very large for a small dog to run around.

Anyway, the main candidate for breed is a Pomeranian. They are so beautiful and are supposed to have a lot of character and love. I have done research and contacted a couple of good breeders in the area.

I would just like to hear from people who actually own Poms. Based on looks I absolutely adore them. From what I know of their personalities Im very interested. I am a little concerned about the coat. How much maintanance if i dont want to keep a show coat? What is it like living with a Pomeranian? Does this breed seem like a good match for us?

One of my best friends just got a Pom puppy, and while he's cute and pretty smart, he's also kinda aggressive and barks a lot. My friend gets his Pom cut with a lion cut (lots of hair around the head, but not much on the body, and it's like $45. I'm not sure how often because he's only had the puppy for three months.

Also, not to dissuade you if you're heartset on having a Pom, but I would encourage you to get a rescue dog. They're really in need of homes, and if you go to a small rescue organization, the people can tell you about the dog's temperment before you get it. A lot of them are mutts, but I think that makes them just kinda unique. Just a thought. Good luck!

I second the motion - adopt a pet and save a life.  Check petfinder.com and you can specify things like breed, age, sex, etc. and it will search all the rescue groups in your area and show you what's available - most even have photos.

Good luck!

I agree with the others about adopting a pound pup, they really need homes.

But if you get a Pom...good luck!  They are a nightmare for the first two years.  If you don't kill them in the first two years then they are very affectionate, loyal companions, but that first two years is NOT pleasant, they are agressive, loud, chew on everything, and subborn!  Pomeranians seem especially hard to potty train for some reason.

My mom has two poms, and she  used to bread them so I speak with experience.  You need a LOT of patience to raise a Pom puppy.

"We are serious about proper training, lots of love..."

The lots of love thing is often counter-productive to proper training.  If you read Ceasar Milan's (the dog whisperer) book he makes a pretty good argument that most of the behavioral problems dog's develop are a result of too much love/affection.  He also recommends not showing your dog any affection for the first couple of weeks you have him/her.

Not showing your dog any affection to your dog the first couple of weeks sounded cruel when I first read it, but now that I think about it, it makes sense.

Dogs come from wolves.  Wolve pack leaders don't show affection they are aggresive and that is how they become leaders.  So you have to be assertive with a dog, at least at first to establish your place as leader.  Of course, I am guessing, but it makes sence.

sorry floggingsully, but caesar milan is a crack pot! any good, legit, positve trainer will tell you that. i was actually just reading an article today written by a fantastic animal behaviorist who was discussing caesar's, horrible, damaging way of correcting compulsive disorder in dogs. he sucks.

if you are dead set on a pom, and don't want to rescue, make sure you VISIT the breeder. lots of those "legit" breeders online are nothing more than fronts for puppy mills. a good breeder will give you a tour, they will interview you to within an inch of your life, and they will tell you that if for any reason you can't keep the puppy, they will take it back.

here are some good books. say NO to the dog whisperer!!

The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson
Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor
Clicker Training for Dogs by Karen Pryor
The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell

Bascially anything by the above authors, and also Ian Dunbar! He's amazing.

It sounds like you have a great home to offer a dog, but please do LOTS of research about the breed (like you already are) and check out pom rescues!

I agree with sully and cesty's explanation - and keep in mind that with the toy breeds, it's even easier to baby them instead of training them.

I was watching an episode of "It's Me or the Dog" and the woman got a lil dog that looked like a cat (she'd only had cats in the past, but her beloved siamese died, and she couldn't replace him with another cat, so she got the most cat-like dog).  She treated the thing like a cat, and it was petrified of her, and reacted violently, completely out of fear.

just because ceasar milan is on tv doesn't make him a good dog trainer. his ideas work because he intimidates dogs into doing what he wants. if you want your dog to obey because he fears you, then he's your man.

personally, i'd rather have a happy, loving relationship with my dog. positive training is just as effective as choke chains, collar pops and inducing fear.   

I have a Pom, and I have had her for almost 13 years.  She is the best loving dog I ever had.  She does bark, but hello, dogs bark. She barks when someone knocks on the door, or is in our yard.  She also will bark at me when its treat time. 

I groomed her about every three months.  With all that hair you really need to on the back end.  If you get my point.  She was very easy to house break as well.

If you want to adopt you can always go to a Pom rescue place.   I am sure they exist where you live.  My girl was  the runt of the litter and very dark brown in color and the breeder didn't want her to ruin their AKC line, so they gave her to a rescue place.  She only cost me $25 for the adoption papers. 

Good luck in search.

just one more note, i just searched on petfinder.com for baby pomeranians up for adoption in my area (since i don't know where you live) and there are a TON! definitely give it a scan for your area!

Jules,

I understand that some of Ceasar's techniques are controversial (I'm assuming your refering to the episode with the Great Dane who was afraid of shiny floors), but most people aren't treating extreme compulsive disorder in their dogs.  If your dog has something like this it's better left to a pro.  In terms of getting your dog to behave and fit well in your life, his advice is spot on.

I think you're also getting fear and respect confused.  Hitting or yelling at your dog makes them fear you, Ceasar doesn't condone either of these.  If a dog is afraid of something they will run away from it, I haven't seen many dogs running away from Ceasar or cowering in fear of him.

I'm strict with my dog, he knows what he's allowed to do and what he isn't supposed to do, I don't shower him in praise whenever he does something he's supposed to do, all of this is in line with what Ceasar recommends.  My dog jumps for joy every day when I come home (but he doesn't jump on me, because he know's the rules), I'd be hard pressed to find anyone who would say he's afraid of me, because he isn't, but he know's I'm in charge.

I've read Don't Shoot the Dog it's a good reference for teaching your dog tricks, but isn't very useful in getting them to behave.

I haven't read the other end of the leash, but have read one of Patricia McConnell's other book (For Love of the Dog) which provides some good insites about dog behavior and emotion, but doesn't translate very much to people who are dealing with dogs that are't emotionally damaged. Maybe her other book are different, you'd know better than I.

Edited for grammar.

My Pom is my wonderfully trained, sweet, loving little sidekick.  And she's only a year and a half.

She can be a little overprotective and yippy around aggressive larger dogs, but I just accept it as one of her personality quirks.

I'm glad caesars methods have worked for you flogging, but i stand by my opinion of him.

i've worked with several trainers, assisted in classes and been to lots of seminars. not a single trainer i've come across has had anything but negative opinions of him. in fact, the majority of trainers i've worked with complain about having to help owners unlearn techniques from that stupid show.

my dog never jumps on me when i come home either. in fact, he sits calmly and waits for me to pet him. i've used nothing but positive training methods with him, and he was an absolute mannerless jerk when i adopted him.

I love the tangents these seemingly innocent topics take! 

Original Post by jules817:

I'm glad caesars methods have worked for you flogging, but i stand by my opinion of him.

i've worked with several trainers, assisted in classes and been to lots of seminars. not a single trainer i've come across has had anything but negative opinions of him. in fact, the majority of trainers i've worked with complain about having to help owners unlearn techniques from that stupid show.

my dog never jumps on me when i come home either. in fact, he sits calmly and waits for me to pet him. i've used nothing but positive training methods with him, and he was an absolute mannerless jerk when i adopted him.

I'm going to stick by my opinion that your opinion is baseless.  You say that he intimidates dogs and that they only behave for him because they are afraid of him.  I haven't seen any evidence in support of this.  In fact, as I learned from one of your recommended authors (McConnell) that fearful dogs don't behave well.

I also never recommended anyone learn techniques from his "stupid show".  I said the OP should read his book which is much more detailed and useful than show.

I rescued my purebred pom, and she is the best dog I have ever had. She's extremely smart, she knows tons of tricks and she's very affectionate (she loves me the most which I love!) I've been told that poms are unlike other small dogs in that they're not yappy, and they're not pocket piranhas (they don't freak out when someone comes near their owner, and they don't shake like crazy). I have found that with Delilah, this is true. She is almost a year and a half, and the only problem that I have with her is that she does like to chew things, probably more than other dogs I've had, but I've remedied this by giving her a giant rawhide-she can barely carry it around, but with the flavor it interests her more than anything else she might want to chew that she shouldn't.

My fiancee works 2nd shift, and I love having her to keep me company while I'm home alone doing work (I'm in law school so I don't go out that much during the week), and although it sounds silly, my 7 lb dog is a great watchdog-she always lets me know if someone's coming to the house.

I tell people she's my best friend, and my fiancee and I crack up at all the funny things she does-she definitely has the most personality of any dog I've ever met, and my mom now wants one for her next dog.

However, after getting Delilah, my best friend got a pom too, a male, and she has had a hard time. I have owned dogs all my life, trained horses, etc., so I have a lot of experience with animals. She had none, her parents have one dog that she doesn't really do anything with. She has the dog with her at her college apartment, and he has severe separation anxiety and barks a lot. He's over a year old and she hasn't even trained him to come when she calls him.

So I think it depends on how much research you do, how much work you are willing to put in, etc., but I think they're worth it! Anyway, obviously I recommend them!

PS-cesty, do they really stop chewing so much after 2 years old? I love Delilah but I am sick about (sorry this is kind of gross) all of my beautiful VS underwear she's ruined! And a couple of bras and one pair of shoes...it's always my stuff never my fiancees.

I have too much to say about CM to type here, so I won't.

I've only known two Poms.  One was super sweet and the other was a total jerk, so there you go.  I don't like little dogs so I'm not the best person to ask anyway.

Ashleigh, get some bullysticks as chews.  They are great!

We have a pom. I received her as a gift during my pregnancy. My husband was out of town alot during that time and she and I created such a tight bond. She is the most sweet, loving, adorable dog ever. Potty trained in no time at all, is very social and playful. She and my 5 year old son are now the best of friends.

I couldn't recommend this breed more! Yes, our pom does bark, but it's only when someone knocks on the door. She does need grooming, but if you keep yours in a lion cut most of the year, it's nothing you can't handle.

Although most post were not really on topic lol, some of you have confirmed some things i already thought.

I do NOT baby dogs. I think it is wrong. You can have a lot of love and still be strict.  I think that they aren't really nasty yippy dogs, but that they are so small and cute people often treat them like babies/cats. That turns them nasty and gives them a bad rep. for every nasty horrible pom i hear about i hear about one that is wonderful.

I do live in Fl so i would need a shot cut for half the year anyway.

I have been looking for rescue Poms in the area, but i have been unable to find one that isn't missing half it's teeth or has medical problems or is old so far. This is my first dog so i want a younger one, and i don't have them money for extra vet bills and medication. I would love to get rescue dogs in the future, all our cats are rescued. I do believe in that. I just really want a young healthy Pom. If i cant locate a rescue one, i will go for that option.