Pomeranian Puppies

How to Select a Pomeranian Puppy

Whether you are buying a Pomeranian puppy for a pet or with hopes of someday walking in the show ring, you have to be cautious. Because of the popularity of these miniature dogs, unscrupulous breeders have been selling inferior dogs, puppies with inherited diseases and crossbreeds. Generally you should be prepared to spend a lot of money if you are after a dog with a number of champions in his bloodlines.

If you are investing in a purebred dog, obtain the necessary papers from the seller, especially if you are planning to show or breed your dog. The litter must be registered with the American Kennel Club. This is necessary before the individual puppy can be registered.

Even the most perfect specimen falls short of the standard in some respect. It's also impossible, even for a breeder or veterinarian, to tell how a Pomeranian puppy will shape up as an adult dog. Until he's about six months old, he's still developing. At about a year, he will have his final conformation and coat.

The breeder should provide you with a registration certificate from the AKC, or an application for registration signed by the owner of the puppy's mother, the pedigree and the health certificate signed by the veterinarian who has been taking care of the breeder's dogs. Then you select a name for your dog (it must be 25 letters or less, and cannot duplicate the name of another dog of the breed, or be the name of a living person without his written permission). Enter the selected name on the for, fill in the blanks that make you the owner of record and send it to the American Kennel Club with the required fee as soon as possible. In a few weeks if all is in order you will receive the Certificate of Registration with your dog's stud book number.

If the breeder has already named the puppy you picked and has registered it, you must register the transfer and send the certificate with the appropriate fee to the AKC. The AKC then transfers the puppy to your ownership. You receive a new certificate.

The pedigree of your dog is a tracing of his family tree. It is not part of the puppy's official papers. The health certificate is official. Often the breeder will have the pedigree of the dog's dam and sire and may make out a copy for you. Or, you can write to the AKC once your dog has been registered and ask for a pedigree. The fee depends on how many generations back you want the pedigree traced. In addition to giving the immediate ancestors of your dog, the pedigree will show whether there are any champions or dogs that have won obedience degrees in his lineage. If you are planning selective breeding, the pedigree is also helpful to enable you to find other Pomeranians that have the same general family background.

A healthy puppy will be active, cheerful and alert, with bright, shiny eyes. He should not have running eyes or nose. At the age of 8 weeks, a Pom should look like a fluffy ball and moving fast. sluggishness is a poor sign, unless the puppies have just finished a meal. Come to clear agreement on what happens if the veterinarian rejects the puppy after he has checked his health. It should be understood whether rejection means that you get your money back or merely choice of another puppy from the same litter.

WORMING AND INOCULATION: before you take your puppy home, find out from the breeder if he has alredy been wormed or inoculated for distemper and rabies. If yours has already been wormed, find out when and what treatment was given. If your puppy has been inoculated against distemper, you will also ahve to know when this was done so you can give the information to your vet. He will complete the series of shots. If your puppy has not been given this protection, your vet should take care of it immediately. Distemper is highly prevalent and contagious. Don't let your puppy out of doors until he has had his distemper shots and they have had time to take effect.

As a rule, kennels and breeders do not inoculate puppies against rabies. In some areas, rabies inoculation is required by law. For foreign travel and some interstate travel, rabies inoculation is required.

Check with your local veterinarian and county health department for the inoculation requirements where you live.