BEP: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

CONGRATULATIONS on your new Fur-baby!  If you need us for whatever reason or have questions, call us at (404) 626-6540.  If possible we would love to see pictures of the pup with family as it grows.  You can send to BEPoms77@gmail.com  .    

 Warmest Wishes and Congratulations of your precious new family member, God Bless You.  Janie Burnette;  www.ExclusivePoms.com

   What To Bring When You Plan To Place A Pup ON-HOLD    

1. PLACING ON "HOLD".  $350 Cash, PayPal  or Cashier's Check from Your Bank Only.
   You have agreed to purchase this pup.  I have taken it off the market for you with the understanding that you are definitely purchasing.  We are giving you a “grace period” of 24-hours from the date on the receipt to change your mind.
   
   If you change your mind BEFORE the 24-hours has lapsed, then you’ll receive your “Hold” deposit back.  If you change your mind AFTER the expiration of the 24-hour period, then you have forfeited your “Hold” deposit and it becomes non-refundable.  The funds are cashed to compensate for the loss of marketing time &/or another potential buyer’s purchase.  
   
   
2. TRANSITIONAL TOY / BLANKET / SOFT SQUEAK TOY.  
   We highly recommend before visiting us that you purchase a blanket or soft squeak toy.  Wash your blanket so that it'll have your smells on it.  (Do not wash squeak toy as it damages the squeaker; instead handle it ... a lot.)  Leave item with us so your new fur-baby can sleep and play with it.  During this time the smells of its mama and siblings will get onto the item.  When it's time to take your fur-baby home the smells on the blanket/toy will go with you & your new forever fur-baby.  This will help keep the pup calm during this stressful transition as it'll have its mama & siblings smell on it when it enters its new environment ... your home.  Once you have placed your puppy on "Hold" then that is your puppy. 
   
   
3. PICK-UP DAY. 
   Bring extra towels, a dog carrier or box to place your new fur-baby family member in.  They may or may not get car sick on their way home.  It's best to be prepared should they get motion sickness. It's best to not hold your pup during the drive home as it's stressed-out and the constant holding makes its ribs sore. 
   
   
4. DELAYED PICK-UP OF PUP.
   Your fur-baby is ready to bond with you.  If for whatever reason you cannot pick up your pup on its release date, then there will be an additional $100 charge per pup for the 1st week of Boarding.   On the 2^nd week of boarding, the price increases to $125 per week per pup with a max of 3 weeks of boarding. This fee will be paid in advance and is non-refundable.  Cash only. This will cover the expenses of (but not limited to) puppy shots, handling, feeding, bathing, "boarding" fees, miscellaneous and our time.  This fee IS NOT a part of the cost of the puppy.

 What To Bring When You PICK-UP Your Fur-Baby.

1. The pup has not ridden in a car & may become car sick.  You may want to bring a TOWEL & PAPER TOWELS.

2.  Pet Carrier

3.  If you are driving a distance bring a Plastic Bowl for water but don't let your pup drink too much.

4.  If you think you'll be walking it before you get home then bring a Harness and Leash.

5.  Do not pass the puppy around while it's riding in the car.  Safest place is in the pet carrier or in ONE Person's Lap.

6.  Bring Cash to pay for 100% of the puppy's cost.  Because of a few bad eggs that we've encountered we had to stop accepting checks.   Sorry for the inconvenience and no exceptions.

                SO YOU HAVE A POM PUPPY AT HOME   ...   NOW WHAT???                 

Although they have the attitude and mentality they can conqueror the world, Pomeranian puppies are still very small, delicate and fragile.  Because of this and that they cannot speak for themselves here’s a list of how to care for your new puppy.  PLEASE READ.   

Below Articles Include:                   Also check out:  Info & Links  

Do's & Don'ts                    Hypoglycemia/Sugar Drop                    Teething                    Grooming         
Feeding Your Pup            Finding a Vet                                         Training Tips

DO: 

• Do take time everyday to exercise & train your puppy outside.
• Do take your puppy outside to potty in a designated area once ever hour when you are at home.  Praise your puppy while they are going & when they have finished their business.  This gives them confirmation that they are pleasing their master (you) & doing the right thing.
• Do take puppies to the vet to obtain their shots when they are 6, 9, 12, & 16 weeks old.  
  We will definitely be giving the 1st shot and possibly the 2nd shot depending if pup is with us past 8 weeks. Thereafter your veterinarian will advise when to bring for next visit and for rabies shot. 
  
• Puppy shots: Canine Distemper-Adenovirus Type 2-Parainfluenza-Parvoviurs vaccine mixed with Canine Coronavirus vaccine.
• Dewormer:  Pyran Panacur

DON’T:

• Don't leave your puppy unattended on a chair, sofa, bed or anything with height!  ... Not even for a Second!
• Do NOT leave your small puppy unattended with a young child. 
• If you have a recliner or folding/sliding doors be careful that your pup isn't under the recliner or in-between the door and the opening.  This could cause breaking of bones or worse. 
• Don't feed it chocolate, coffee, cob off corn on the cob, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, chives, or tobacco.  
• Don't allow young children to chase or mischievously tease your puppy.  Doing so will turn the puppy into a dog that is snippy and frightful and something that you’ll end up tolerating and not loving.
• Don’t hold your puppy to tight or too loose.  And always use BOTH HANDS.
     Holding it too tight could crush its ribs. 
     Holding it too loose it’ll wiggle out of your grasp falling & possibly breaking bones or death.
• Don't leave your pup/dog crated more than 6-8 hours.  It's unfair to leave the pup/dog without a chance to
     eliminate or exercise any longer than that.

  POMMIES and (Human) KIDS .... 

Pomeranians are very lovable and usually are very good with children. However, it’s always best not to bring a puppy into a home with small children.  Because Pomeranians are so small, a young child can accidentally hurt them and the child could be bitten or scratched in return.

    A MUST READ!!!        HYPOGLYCEMIA | Sugar Drop        A MUST READ!!!  

Symptoms: :
Hypoglycemia, the medical term for low blood sugar is a condition in which there is a drastic, sudden drop in the level of blood sugar in the puppy.  It is a puppy disease most often in seen in toy breed puppies and usually not seen in puppies over twelve weeks of age.  It is most likely caused by the uneven spurts in growth of the internal organs of the puppy, especially the pancreas.  The brain will receive incorrect signals from the pancreas and not send out a correct signal for the release of a proper amount of sugar in the bloodstream.  Signs of an attack are a weakness, confusion, wobbly gait, frothing or drooling from the mouth - sometimes even a seizure and drain of blood from the head.  A check of the gums will show them to be pale, almost a grayish white in color rather than a healthy bright pink.  The puppy can go into shock and, if not cared for properly and promptly, may even die.

Causes: :
1. Over-handling young puppies and not allowing them to get enough rest and sleep. Remember they are still babies.
2. A puppy refuses to eat for over a period of 8 hours due to change of home and/or food.
3. Exposure to low room temperatures for a period of time.
4. Sudden changes in their environment. 

Hypoglycemia is usually first triggered by a toy / miniature  puppy not eating or not being offered palatable or high calorie food. Any significant stress, such as a routine trip to the vet's or change in homes, that occurs in the absence of a recent meal, can cause the blood sugar to drop to dangerously low levels. Because of their tiny size puppies cannot eat a lot at one time, and literally run out of fuel quickly.  Puppies should be fed several times a day a high quality diet.  Low environmental temperatures, infections, vaccinations, strenuous exercise such as being "played with" by young children who do not allow a toy puppy adequate rest time and inadequate nutrition increase the risk even further.

Hypoglycemia can be an inherited condition.  If a female has been hypoglycemic, it's likely that she will pass it on to her puppies.  For the young pup prone to this condition, even a brief period of fasting in a toy breed puppy can trigger a hypoglycemic "attack", Any significant stress, such as a routine trip to the vet's, that occurs in the absence of a recent meal, can cause the blood sugar to drop to dangerously low levels.  Low environmental temperatures, infections, vaccinations, strenuous exercise, and inadequate nutrition increase the risk even further.

Treatment:     Consult your vet immediately.   

Pick up a tube of Nutri-Cal with you when you bring the puppy home.  You can purchase this at Wal-Mart, PetSmart, Petco or your vet’s office. If puppy becomes sluggish & doesn’t want to play feed it a 1”-2” strip of Nutri-Cal.  This will pep up the puppy.  Of course the pup plays hard for 5-10 minutes then sleeps for an hour.  This is normal.  Don’t give the puppy Nutri-cal just because you want to play with it.   Feeding recommendations for puppies at risk for hypoglycemia include: frequent (4-5 times a day) feedings of high-carbohydrate, high -protein and/or -fat foods.  Feeding soft moist foods may help to prevent a hypoglycemia attack due to the high sugar content.  Gatorade mixed with a little honey, Ringers lactate with dextrose or Pedialyte are good products to use if dog is having an attack.  These products have electrolytes, which ailing puppies need.  Honey and Karo or corn syrup can be used also when in a pinch.  For pups who have had recurrent or prolonged signs, monitoring the urine for ketones with a "dipstick" made for diabetics is helpful, since a return to "ketone negative status" signals a return to normalcy.  If these measures don't correct the problem, a trip to the vet is recommended.  Intravenous feedings may be necessary and the vet will need to check the puppy for more serious problems.

 TEETHING AND TREATS:  Tips and Use  

For teething and to prevent unnecessary chewing use Pig Ears.  Cut it up in manageable strips for the puppy.  This is a good treat throughout the dog’s life.

Another great product for teething is baby carrots.  The coolness and texture of the carrot is stimulating to the gums and it’s good for your puppy’s digestive system.

Nowadays, many people use treats in training. Using food as a reward can be a powerful tool, but it can also cause problems. If the treats are too rich, your dog can develop an upset stomach. Feed too many, and you could be on your way to an overweight dog.

A safe way to use food as treats is to measure out your dog’s daily allowance of kibble in the morning and dip into that for training treats. This way you can give your dog a food reward for a job well done while not worrying about causing any problems. 

Make sure your praise is lavish every time, with or without a treat. Pretty soon, your puppy will work for praise - and the occasional snack.

GROOMING 

Practice good grooming.  A Pom is easy to groom and only needs brushing every few days. Use a pin brush or rolling comb for long hair and a small slicker for behind the ears.  Brush in sections in the direction of the hair grain (from tail to head). To avoid mats, brush all the way to the skin carefully removing all loose undercoat. 

Clip nails once a month.  Clip carefully to avoid cutting the quick. Bathe with a good quality shampoo once a month or as needed. CAUTION: Brush your Pom thoroughly BEFORE bathing. If your dog is growing undercoat, and you do not brush it out before bathing, the water and shampoo will cause your dog to mat severely. In cool weather, dry your dog completely so he will not chill. After bathing, carefully clip the hair between the toe pads for sanitary reasons and tidiness. Clip up to the first joint of the leg and around the edges of the feet so that they look like tidy "cat's feet." Clip the unruly hair from the top of the ears by protecting the ear leather with two fingers and cutting straight across the top of the ear with the other hand. Use caution until you are experienced with this or you may cut the ear leather. Also for sanitary reasons, clip a small circle around the anus regularly. Check the anus regularly for fecal matter that may have become hardened. A blocked bowel will cause infection and death within a couple of days. 

Around 10-12 weeks old, most Poms begin a stage called "puppy uglies." As the baby coat begins to transition over to adult coat, your puppy will look rather scruffy and gangly. Depending on the puppy, he will begin to coat up and his features soften again at 6-9 months. During this stage it is important to keep your puppy well groomed, particularly exercising care to brush out all loose undercoat to avoid matting.

FEEDING YOUR POMERANIAN PUP

The good news about feeding your Pomeranian is that they eat very little so your grocery bill will not skyrocket.   What you feed your Pomeranian is very important especially when in the puppy stage.

You will want to ask your breeder what they have been feeding your Pomeranian puppy and you should use the same brand to prevent stomach upset.       We use Science Diet Puppy Little Bites sold at PetSmart or PetCo.    

If you do want to change your puppy's food to a different brand, you should do it slowly in small stages.   Mix a small amount of the old food brand with the new food brand at each meal until the change has been completed.  Do this progressively over a period of seven to ten days. Be sure that you are changing to a high quality food with no artificial preservatives or colorings.

When and how much your Pomeranian eats will change as they grow into adulthood. Puppies should be fed small amounts four times a day.  Some Pomeranian owners suggest leaving dried kibble out for them to snack on in between meals to help prevent hypoglycemia.

Pomeranian puppies are very active and always on the go so they need to keep their energy level high with regular feedings. This feeding schedule is good up until approximately three months of age. 

From three to six months, the puppy can be fed three times a day with slightly larger portions. Remember to keep that kibble out at all times. After six months, you can cut down to twice a day. When your Pomeranian reaches adulthood you will want to leave off feeding them dry kibble on demand. 

Excessive eating at this stage in their life could lead to weight gain, which could make knee problems or other medical problems worse. 

   ALWAYS remember to provide fresh water and make it available at all times.    

To develop good feeding habits, you should provide your Pomeranian with its own eating space.

Feeding times should be at the same time and place everyday.

You might want to set up a place mat in the floor near your dining table and have your Pomeranian eat at the same time your family has its evening meal.  After all, she is part of the family!

TIPS FOR FINDING A GREAT VET

Another thing that will help you raise a healthy Pomeranian is choosing the best veterinarian that is right for your family and your dog. Choosing a family veterinarian is as important as choosing a family doctor.

You want a veterinarian that is friendly, intelligent, and willing to work with you. Do some research before you bring home your Pomeranian or soon after. It’s always better to have a family veterinarian chosen before a medical problem arises.

One good way to begin searching for your veterinarian is by word of mouth. Ask around. Talk to your friends, family, and co-workers about who they use as their family veterinarian. Other people that are wonderful to ask for veterinarian recommendations are your breeder, obedience class teacher, or your groomer.

Remember, not all veterinarians specialize in small animals. Some are strictly large animal veterinarians.

Of the veterinarians that have been recommended to you, which ones are strictly small animal or dog specific veterinarians?

You will want to choose a veterinarian that is fairly close to your home. If an emergency arises, you don’t want to be two hours away. Also check on their office hours. Are they open on Saturday? Do they have late hours so you can make appointments after work? Do they have an emergency number you can call after hours? 

After you narrow your choices down, visit their offices and ask questions. Do they take emergencies? If they don’t, do they have a recommendation for what to do in case of an emergency? Is there an emergency hospital nearby that he refers to?

Ask the veterinarian if he is familiar with Pomeranians and the medical conditions that sometimes arise. Has he had previous experience with any of these conditions?  Is he the only veterinarian that is working in the office or does he have partners?

Will you always be seeing him or will you at times see the other veterinarians? Visit with his team of employees such as the receptionist. 

Are they friendly and considerate? Are appointments needed or do they take walk-in clients?

One website that I'd advise you to check out Dr. Fry at http://www.AskaPetVet.com.  She'll answer your vet questions online...and she loves dogs as much as me!

TRAINING TIPS

Here are some training tips that you can teach your pommie early.  The key is persistence and patience....

Your Pomeranian puppy is ready and willing to learn any number of things. He is like a child. Give him a guiding hand, discipline, and structure along with teaching and he will learn and be happy. 

At eight weeks old, your puppy is ready to learn about his home and his expected routine. Teach him where his bed and food dish is.

Get him into the routine of waking in the morning when you want him to not when he's good and ready.  Start potty training him. Show him where his toys are kept. Teach him what “No” means and when that word is said he is expected to stop whatever he is doing. You might want to begin crate training.

Show him how he is supposed to act when he is handled so that grooming times are easier. Puppies are happy with a good routine and rules that they must follow.  They know what to expect and when it should happen.

    TRAINING YOUR PUPPY....     

At three to four months old, your puppy is ready to learn basic commands such as sit, lie down, come etc. Teach him to look directly at you when you call his name and to focus only on you.

Teach him basic manners such as to stop barking when you tell him to, drop things that he has in his mouth on command, and to never run away when you are trying to reach for him.

   GETTING YOUR POMMIE TO LOVE THEIR CRATE    

A dog crate is a necessity for your dog, through his puppy days and for his whole life. Your dog’s ancestor, the wolf, had a den to call home, a place of safety. The dog crate takes the place of the den, which is deeply embedded into your dog’s instincts. The crate should be kept in a room where the dog can go for a retreat to rest.

A dog crate can make an enormous difference in house-training your new puppy. He will not want to do his ‘business’ in the close quarters of the crate. If you take him immediately from the crate to the backyard, where he can conveniently do it there, he will get the idea quickly. Using his dog crate will make dog training easier on you and your puppy. 

Dog crates come in many different styles and sizes; everything from a standard dog crate to designer dog creates. It’s best to get a crate for training your dog that’s only just big enough for your dog to lie down in, because that gives him more of a sense of security. Some dog crates come with adjustable panels, so that you can gradually increase the size of the dog crate as your puppy grows.

A plastic dog kennel with metal barred doors is acceptable with airlines, if there’s a chance that you will be traveling and would take your dog with you. For dogs with heavy fur, a wire dog kennel may be more comfortable because of the better air circulation, and a blanket could be placed over it in colder weather.  

Following these simple suggestions will ensure that the dog crate you choose for your pet will provide comfort and security for years to come.