I'm getting a puppy! -update page 6

[MommyPoppins]

So, DH said I could have a Pomeranian that I fell in love with at the store the other day. She is 10 weeks old, white and brown and SOOOO darling! She's just the most fluffy thing I have EVER seen! I have to wait until tomorrow after DH gets home from work to go get her. Hopefully no one else snatches her up before than. So who has good tips on housebreaking? Ever heard of the book, Housebreak your puppy in 7 days ??? Anyone used the methods with success? I tried housebreaking our boxer when we got her, even after she was well over 12 weeks she wasn't getting ANYWHERE, so we got a fence. But with a pomeranian we can't do that, so housebreaking has to be a success. Also, she is ACA registered....what's the difference between AKC and ACA? Thanks. I'll post pictures after I get her!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I know you "fell in love", but I KNOW that is not the way you get a dog. Trust me on this one.

You match up a dog to your family. I see you have alot of young children. Generally Poms are not good with young children.

I would tell you to keep looking.

 

[doxdogy]

Please please reconsider buying on impulse from a pet store. Research breed thoroughly (if you haven't already). Also a lot of puppies in pet stores come from puppy mills. These dogs live in horrid conditions and do not have a good life. Housebreaking takes time and patience.

 

[VSL]

I know you "fell in love", but I KNOW that is not the way you get a dog. Trust me on this one.

You match up a dog to your family. I see you have alot of young children. Generally Poms are not good with young children.

I would tell you to keep looking.

Yeah. I absolutely adore Siberian Husky's and had big plans to get (at least) 2 when Jay and I are living together, because I love running but Jay isn't so fussed, and it would have been great to take them with me (and apparently they're really good with endurance). They're also apparently really good with children/families.
However, they also like to run off a lot, and can escape easily (ie, they don't get 'attached' to you in the way that some dogs do), so I'd always have to have them on the lead when running (and I would much rather have preferred to take to some trails and give them some freedom). So, alas, it is not to be.

Apparently though Dalmatians or German Shepherds would really fit the bill (all of the above but they get very attached) - if we can afford a pedgree!

Definitely research the breed - if you have young children, get a family friendly breed.

 

[mrsv98]

I have to agree, small dogs + small kids generally equal trouble. The pup will be very delicate and poms don't tend to have a lot of patience. Also, you really should never buy a dog from a store. Go to a breeder, check out living arrangements, care for the pup when it is still with mom in terms of health care and socializing, etc. It is so easy to fall in love with a cute ball of fluff, but you should be cautious for everyone's sake.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

With alot of young children this breed is going to snap at them. A reputable breeder would not even let you buy a Pom having young children.

Please Google Pomeranian and young children.

Believe me I love Poms, they are cute. But they are a "big dog in a little dog suit", very willful, and if you don't know training you will be in trouble.

 

[ElizK]

I used the housebreaking book you mentioned, and I thought it was a good plan. Shugardrawers suggested it to me when we got our puppy a year and a half ago.

Please consider a rescue dog. WWW.petfinder.com is how we found our Gracie(the above mentioned pup -cocker/beagle mix) and Dixie (full-bred beagle). You can find just about everything!

 

[poochie]

Try a lab or a golden, these breeds actually adore children. Both breeds when my kids were young let the kids crawl all over them. Wrestle with them and eventually used them as pillows when they fell asleep.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Oh, please please please don't buy this puppy! It's from a pet store, yes? If so, it's a puppy mill dog. Go a google search on puppy mills and see the conditions that that puppy is coming from. THe only way to stop these horrid people who run puppy mills is to not support them.

And I agree with the others that a Pom is not a good dog for children - there are better choices out there. A reputable breeder would not sell one to you; and for good reason.

Instead of making a rash decision, take your time and research breeds and breeders. Research the appropriate ways to buy a puppy and which breeds are better. Research the different places that a dog can be registered through and why. You will find why some things are huge red flags. Not only will you be supporting horrible people, you will likely bring home a puppy with health and temperment issues.

Getting a pet is a lifetime commitment and needs to be taken very very seriously. A Pom is a very big commitment, they have lots of issues, esp with children in the house and a pom that's poorly bred (aka bought from a pet store) will be even harder.

Please think twice.

 

[VSL]

Ooh, just googled to get a picture - my cousin used to have one of these when I was a little girl (she's a few years older than me). I just remember it being there, and going up one day and it was gone (I presume it died and no one said anything to me, being a child and all).

 

[KathyTX]

PLEASE don't support the abusive puppy mill breeders by buying a dog from a pet store!!

There are so many sweet dogs in rescue groups looking for homes, and responsible breeders are also great way to go.

The best thing we can do for our animals is to put the puppy mills out of business by not buying that pooch from a pet store.

 

[VSL]

Try a lab or a golden, these breeds actually adore children. Both breeds when my kids were young let the kids crawl all over them. Wrestle with them and eventually used them as pillows when they fell asleep.

OMG, I absolutely *adore* Labs!
My friend had one when we were teens and he was so playful!

 

[Brendita]

I agree that most pet store puppies come from puppy mills.
If you are in the market to get a puppy.
I say do the research.
Go to the dog shows.
Talk to people about different breeds.
Match your family to the breed.
Then adopt from a rescue organizion.

 

[MommyPoppins]

Thanks for all your replys. I HATE buying dogs from a pet store, but Poms are NEVER in the paper here. It seems no one breeds them around here. I've read how they are with kids, but I also know my kids. My boys have a boxer, which they could care less about. My children are the odd children that don't care about pets. They(my kids) aren't grabby, and I know they wouldn't smother the dog, they probably wouldn't ever even pay attention to it. It would be my dog. But I hear what everyone is saying and respect it. I'm still reading up on it. I also have a friend who has a Pom, and she's a good dog, they also have young kids....ones that are not well behaved.

 

[AZKathy]

I am in the minority here. We got a pom when she was ten weeks old and she has done fine with our kids. Since she was a young puppy with the kids, she is great with them. Poms do get attached to one person over the rest of the family, though and they do bark a lot. Our pom is terrific when we go out to the park with kids; she loves them. Now with other dogs, on the other hand, she hates other dogs.

I love my pom and would not hesitate getting another. She is a doll. She wa easy to potty train (we used crate method) and was not a chewer/digger, etc. We have a Siberian Husky puppy now and she is the chewer, digger, buggar butt (but I still love her, too!). Our pom's name is Tink and our husky is Jasmine (Jazz for short).

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

If you can't find what you want in your area, without going to a petstore to get a substandard,inbred dog that's probably got more problems than you are prepared to deal with, you're looking at the wrong breed.

JMO. YMMV.

TOV

 

[Aimeedyan]

Looking in the paper isn't a good method, either. Please do some research on how to find a good breeder and start there. Good breeders don't advertise in the paper, those are backyard breeders and though a step up from puppy mills, they are not much better.

A lifetime companion and family member is worth the extra time taken in finding the appropriate breeder. Believe me.

 

[mainewmn]

I will chime in with the others and plead with you to think long and hard before giving money and supporting puppy mills. If you want a specific dog and having hard time finding it in your local area go on line and research a dependable breeder who will even ship the dog to you if he cannot help you find a breeder in your local area. There are exceptions to every rule and small dogs can be good with children just like Labs and Goldens can be bad with children, but as a rule of thumb Poms are NOT good with little children. Wishing the best of luck!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I have to chime in with the others.......Please do not buy any dog at a pet store.

If your heart is set on getting a dog, here is a site you might find handy:

www.petfinder.com

You can enter your zip code and the type of dog you want (breed, or age/size/gender) and it'll produce a list of rescued dogs available in your area. Poms are indeed cute, but perhaps a mixed-breed will catch your eye on this site. Mixed breeds are generally healthier than pure bred dogs.

A rule of thumb is that most lap dogs are not good mixes for kids. However, every dog has its own personality. If you do find a Pom you want, make sure you know if it's been around kids before you bring yours in to meet it.

 

[lewdyan1]

I work in dog rescue and we have poms in Florida. I truly don't know if our director would adopt a pom to a family with a lot of small children, but if you would consider looking at our site and putting in an application, we have many small, wonderful dogs that are looking for their furever homes. If you are interested, I would be happy to send you a PM with our website.