Bajan Pomeranians
Congratulations!!
You have found the perfect dog! (I am, of course) very biased in my view but that doesn't mean I'm neccessarily wrong. :) I know how exciting it will be for you as you welcome this new adventure into your home and heart. Particularly if you have been searching for a while. There are a few things to know about living with a "toy" breed you might not normally think of. So before you make your final decision, my goal is to let you know the good, the bad, and the unusual.
1) Pomeranians have no idea how small they are. They are gererally pretty trusting and fearless. They will take a flying leap off the sofa to get to you if you stand up. PLEASE do not put your baby on the sofa or the bed or any other furniture and leave her there unattended. A fall of even two feet could mean a very expensive trip to the vet or even worse. This fearless attitude also means that a pomeranian has no qualms about challenging a Bull Mastiff that happens to walk into the yard. He truly believes he can "take him down" and drag his prize back to show you. You must not leave your new pom alone with your 12 year old black lab. I know your old baby would never even kill his own fleas but accidents happen.... even just during play. I once knew someone who brought home her pom (an adult) and introduced him to her four year old female Husky. She was great about giving them supervision and time to get to know each other. After having him for a couple of months, everything was going fine and one day as the two were playing together, her Husky accidentally popped his eye out. This was not a deliberate act of malice. It happened during play time. The story had a happy ending as she was able to get him to a vet in time to save his eye but please, let this be a reality check before you leave your baby with old Fido.
2) Pom puppies are amazingly quick!! They want to be everywhere you are so they are constantly under foot. Keep an eye out for this. Accidentally stepping on a 12 week old German Sheppard will hurt the puppy. Accidentally stepping on a 12 week old pom puppy could spell a tragic disaster.
3) Pomeranians bark! It's true. They bark. Not all and it can be controlled but they are not the "strong, silent type". Like people, some poms "talk" more than others. If you love the comical antics and joy they will bring you, you must appreciate that part of the same curious, outgoing nature of the pomeranian, is to tell you all about what's going on. If you are the type that really NEEDS quiet all the time.... perhaps a pom is not for you. Now, to be fair to the breed, I also want to say that it's a myth that all poms are non-stop, yapping, nippy little rodents. Nothing could be futher from the truth. They are in fact, usually very quiet. I have only come across one Pomeranian dog that was ill-mannered and I can say with certian honesty that if I were a dog living under her circumstances, I'd be ill-tempered too. In general, unless a pom is neglected or abused, they grow up to be the sweetest, cuddliest, living teddy bears you will ever be blessed to have in your life.
4) I know I'm stating the obvious on this one but it warrents pointing out. Pomeranians are a long haired breed. They do require brushing! Not every single day. Although if you get in the habit of it, you will find that it can be a relaxing, special time that you and your baby both enjoy. But a good brushing at least once a week.
5) Toy breeds in general tend to have dental issues. Poms are no exception. You will need to brush her teeth regularly and occasionally you will need to have them professionally cleaned by your Veterinarian. Feeding your pom a strict dry dogfood diet will help tremendously but it requires great restraint on your part as poms are experts at manipulation for table scraps!
Okay.... there it is. If you still think you want a pom, I again offer my congratulations! I cannot imagine my life without them. They are my joy.... my laughter.... my youth. If you have never been blessed by one, you are in for an unbelievable adventure! I'm always here to answer any questions your may have....
feel free to ask away!