I received a letter from a patient asking "What is the easiest way to housetrain our Pomeranian (2 month old) puppy. What should I use and how regularly should grooming be done (baths, trimming...)? Are Pomeranians affectionate puppies normally?



In reply I wrote:

Hi Jamie

I will answer each of your questions one at a time on

A - It will take lots of patience and perseverance. Some pups can take several months or so to train. Never allow the pup to have free rein in your house until he is completely pottytrained. When you are home keep your pup with you always. When you go out the house either put your pup in a crate (never for more than four hours at a time) or block him off in a closed area (study, utility room or bonus room) with a gate. Neutering him by five or six months of age will help, and can hinder your pup from getting into the habit of peeing. Put newspaper or puppy pads in an specific area for him to make use of. If your puppy has an accident but you don't catch him don't scold your puppy for doing it. your pup won't understand what he's done wrong. If you catch your puppy in the act, firmly say "NO" and take him outside. Do not rub his nose in it. Clean up the mess completely. Using a cleaner like Simple Solution will take out the marks and the smell. He can be conditioned to go in a particular area in your yard and to go on command. Take your puppy to the same area every time and use the identical command like, "Go Potty". Praise your puppy when he goes! Of course you'll want to take him out frequently, especially after sleeping, eating, and playing.

I was never able to utilize a crate for training. My pomeraniean would go toilet in it. I blocked him off in the kitchen and set up a dog litter box. I didn't use puppy litter but filled the litterbox with newspaper. Puppy pads would work as well. I would place my puppy in the box and command, Go Potty. If he performed ok I would praise my puppy profusely. It took approximately two months and after I had my puppy neutered at five and a half months my pup was pretty much trained. I always lead him to the same spot outside too. I kept him blocked off in the bathroom when I had to leave the house for nearly the first year. Now my pup has free reign when I am out. Having my puppy litter box trained is great for when I am gone and when the weather is bad. (Rain, snow, etc.). My puppy is at last litter box trained and trained to go in a regular area in the yard. Have patience and stay in there, you can make it happen!. Read more on

B - Yes, poms are extremely affectionate dogs! They are loving, smart, loyal, and make great companions. Read more on

C - I use a steel pin wig cushion brush and a metal rat-tail comb. Only use a comb with tines that aren't close together. I got the brush at Sally's Beauty Supply for $3.99. I carefully brush him first, then do his coat with the comb. (My pom has a soft, dense undercoat with a profuse harsh-textured outer fur.) I also value an item named After Bath Conditioner by Professional Pet. I spray just a little on his coat before brushing. It makes it simpler to brush my puppy out and keeps his coat free from static. I brush my puppy about three times a week. Pom's eyes usually tear often so that's why I wash his face often. I wash his face about twice a week with a washcloth and warm water. I wash his feet about once a week and he gets a bath in the kitchen sink twice a month. Use a quality shampoo made for puppies. I was using a HyLyt by DVM. I recently bought PetGuard Shampoo and conditioner for Puppies. I haven't tried it yet but I trust PetGuard. PetGuard was on Whole Dog Journal's top ten list for canned dog food. I bought their canned dog food before and it is excellent. Actually, I never ate it but my dog loves it! It is most important to make sure you rinse out all of the shampoo from out of his coat. It is so important to dry his coat fully! Also, put cotton wool in his ears so you don't splash water in them. You may want to think about having him done by a professional groomer. . Read more on

I would also recommend that you feed your pup a high brand dog food. Don't use commercial brands found in the grocery stores. (Alpo, Kibbles and Bits, Purina Beneful, Pedigree, etc.) They are junk. Science diet, Pro Plan, Eukanuba and Iams are better. If you really prefer to feed a top-quality diet, try one of these: Wellness, Spot's Stew, PetGuard, Solid Gold, Canidae, Natural Balance, Neura Meats, Chicken Soup for the Soul or Wysong.

Trust you enjoy your new pom! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Some more info about the Pomeranian Dog also called the: (Dwarf Spitz), (Pom) or (Loulou)

This breed of dog belongs to the Spitz family, which hailed from the Prussian province of Pomerania. Due to herding instinct they were widely used as shepherd dogs. The breed was held by powerful royal families across the Continent and was made popular in England by Queen Victoria herself in the 18th century when she first opened a Kennel club to breed her Pomeranian. Later these dogs were bred down in size and became known as Show dogs.

General Overview of the Pomeranian Dog

Pomeranians are small, fluffy dogs with fox like features, and some others have pansy faces. Pomeranian dogs have pointed, small upright ears, a wedge-shaped head, large expressive almond shaped eyes and their noses are often dark or they have the same color of the coat. Pomeranians usually have a thick, bushy tail. Read more on

I can advise on questions about nutrition ( what to feed, etc.), grooming, pomeranian behavior, how a pomeranian should look (breed standard), what you need to know if looking to purchase a pomeranian, how to tell a good breeder from bad, housebreaking tips, training tips, who ought to have a pomeranian and who should not. (Is this the right breed for you?), etc.