Pomeranian Care

The Pomeranian ("Pom" for short) is one of the smallest dog breeds in existence--with one of the biggest personalities! These tiny companion dogs average only five pounds in weight, but they normally have friendly, boisterous temperaments, and often believe they're much bigger than they are. Overall Pomeranian care won't take too much work, but will need to include a little daily exercise, some early training and socialization--and of course, plenty of TLC!

Here you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Pomeranian: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and various other Pom tips are included. Get answers to your question about how to take care of a Pomeranian puppy in the following sections!

While these dogs are active and playful, they're also tiny--so Pomeranian exercise needs aren't very extensive. Breed members will fulfill much of their daily activity requirements just running around being their friendly little selves, but they'll still benefit from a couple of short walks and a brief period of play each day.

Specifically just how much exercise does a Pomeranian need? Adult Poms, depending on their age and overall activity levels, will only need about 30 minutes of dedicated exercise per day. You can start exercising your Pom puppy when it's 2½ months old by taking it on very short leashed walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Pomeranian exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're eight months old
• A leash is required when exercising in public; leash training is recommended during puppyhood
• Yards must be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Sensitive to extreme heat; don't exercise in sweltering temps

It's a good idea to give your Pom at least a little exercise every day. Though they're generally good-natured, without consistent activity these dogs will become anxious, hyperactive, and disobedient, and they'll probably bark excessively. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few Pomeranian exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 10-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played indoors or out; use the dog's favorite toy
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Poms enjoy the company of other dogs
• Laser Pointer: Your Pom will go nuts chasing that "little red dot"

When indoors, it's good to give your Pom access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn any excess energy. It's also recommended that you have a regular daily exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

Overall, these little dogs need moderate maintenance. Pomeranian shedding is seasonal: fair for most of the year, but heavier during the twice-yearly shedding seasons. Drooling isn't an issue.

Poms have thick, fluffy, double-layered coats. Does a Pomeranian shed a lot? Most of the time, not really--but if your Pomeranian is shedding a lot (usually in the spring and fall, and other times too for unspayed females), it's shedding season, which usually lasts 2-3 weeks. Owners can brush their Poms 2-3 times per week with a pin brush and/or a slicker brush to minimize the Pomeranian molting, and hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary from time to time. (Brushing and cleanup will obviously be required more often during the Pomeranian shedding stage.)

And a Pom almost never drools. If your Pomeranian is drooling excessively, that might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The Pomeranian diet will need to include animal proteins and healthy carbs, vitamins and minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog needs to maintain its health in the long term. This means the best Pomeranian dog food is premium dry kibble, as it contains balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients. If fed premium dry foods like Royal Canin, Pomeranian puppy and adult dogs will be much healthier and longer-lived.

And just how much to feed a Pomeranian? In short: not much! Adult Pom food portions, depending on the dog's size, age, and activity level are only about one cup per day, divided into two meals. Portions of food for Pomeranian puppy dogs are even smaller: again depending on age, about ¾ cup per day, divided into three meals (not two) until five months old.

For more info on Pom nutrition and feeding, see this Pomeranian feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by mixing in adult formula with the puppy formula, in slowly increasing amounts with each meal, for one week.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. If constantly overfed (and under-exercised), these little dogs can easily become overweight--and a fat Pomeranian will have numerous health problems and a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your Pom's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps (and easy on the Pomeranian treats!), and by not leaving food in your Pom's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your Pomeranian is overweight, try this simple test: run a hand along the dog's side, and if you can't easily feel ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!

A majority of veterinarians, breeders, and owners agree that the best dog food for a Pomeranian is premium dry kibble. This high-quality food, while more expensive, provides complete nutrition your Pom needs to live a long, healthy life. Cheap, generic food is not recommended for this breed, because it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that won't meet a dog's dietary needs.

Pomeranians do best with food formulated for extra-small and toy breeds. Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, and Nutro are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium toy-breed food.

Without a doubt, the Pomeranian is an inside breed. While it's good to take these dogs outdoors for brief walks once or twice a day, they'll be much happier living inside with their human family members. And is a Pomeranian an apartment dog? It's one of the best! Owners living in apartments, though, will need to make sure they take their Poms out to stretch their legs on a daily basis.

Another important consideration for owners of a Pomeranian: temperature tolerance. While they'll do okay in colder weather, Poms are very sensitive to heat, and may suffer heat stroke if outdoors for long periods in sweltering temps. Overall, these dogs are best suited to life in mild or cool climates.