Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 5: Training
• Method 2 of 5: How to feed your Spitz
• Method 3 of 5: How to care for your coat
• Method 4 of 5: How to play with a Pomeranian
• Method 5 of 5: How to keep track of your dog's health
• Tips
• Warnings

Spitz are cute little dogs with a special personality. They are extroverts, but they are obedient, attached to the person, love to play and can be used as guard dogs. Pomeranians are generally in good health. However, for a pet to live long and stay healthy, it needs to be properly cared for.

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Training

1. 1 Be consistent and firm. Although Spitz love to learn new things and please the owner, they have a freedom-loving character. When training your dog, you need to be an attentive, but firm and persistent teacher so that the dog knows that it must obey you.
   • If the dog is not handled, it can develop the so-called syndrome of a small dog - the dog will think that it is in charge of the house. This syndrome can lead to serious behavior problems.
   • In the absence of training, the Spitz will rush around the house and turn everything upside down.
2. 2 Enroll your dog in a puppy class. If the Pomeranian is still small, start training him as soon as possible. In the puppy class, he will be taught the basic principles of communication that will help him become a well-bred adult dog.
   • You can also introduce your dog to different people, sounds, and places. This will teach the puppy to change places and teach him how to behave in different situations.
   • As your dog gets older, take classes with it that will teach the dog to obey you, such as sit and seat commands.
3. 3 Train your dog to walk.If you have a puppy, you will need to train him to go to the bathroom outside. This can take several months, so be patient. When taking your dog outside, allow him to choose his own place for the toilet.
   • To get your dog used to going to the toilet outside, take him out at the same time, for example, 20 minutes after eating and 20 minutes before bed.
   • You may want to train your dog to walk on a diaper, but this may not work for a Pomeranian - many dogs refuse to go to the toilet in a place that the owner has chosen, and not the dog itself.
   • If you leave for a long time (more than 8 hours), leave a diaper and things that calm him down (a bed, bowls of food and water, toys) for the spitz. But remember that the Pomeranian can go to the toilet past the diaper elsewhere.
   • Remember that a dog can tolerate 500 grams of body weight for one hour. If the dog weighs a kilogram, it can tolerate two hours.
4. 4 Train your spitz to cage. This is a great training method. The cage will not only protect your dog from potential dangers, but will also prevent him from making a mess of the house while you are away. In addition, since Pomeranians are difficult to tray train, the cage is a great alternative.
   • Crate training will also take some time, since Spitz puppies are freedom-loving and stubborn.
   • Buy a cage that is sized and designed to fit your Spitz comfortably from your veterinarian.
   • If done correctly, the spitz will see a safe place in the cage, not a means of punishment.
   • To train your dog to crate, you will need to show it to your pet, feed the dog inside the cage and leave it there for a while (including overnight).
   • Praise your dog and give him treats so that the crate makes him associate with something pleasant.
5. 5 Train your dog to sleep at night. When you first bring your puppy home, you will notice that he does not always sleep at the same time as you. It takes time for the dog to get used to the owner's sleeping time, so take your time.
   • Give your dog a comfortable place to sleep.The Spitz should be able to climb there on his own and rest during the day. If he associates a place to sleep only with darkness, he will feel lonely and will not sleep at night.
   • In the evening, dim the lights and turn down the TV sound so your dog knows they will have to go to bed soon.
   • Do not run towards your dog if it whines and barks at night. This will help your dog get used to the fact that barking can get your attention, and this will negatively affect your night's sleep. Let the dog calm down on its own.
   • Spitz puppies usually sleep 18-20 hours a day, adult dogs 12-14 hours, including naps.
6. 6 Wean your dog bark just like that. Spitz barks a lot and loudly, which makes them good guard dogs. However, they do not always understand when it is not necessary to bark, which is why the barking begins to interfere with everyone around. It is important to stop your dog from barking for no reason.
   • First you need to teach your dog to bark on command. Get the dog's attention, give a short command ("voice!") And let him bark a little. Hold the treat in front of your dog's nose and give it to him when he stops barking.
   • When the dog learns to bark on command, teach it to “be quiet” (the dog should stop barking). Repeat several times, each time rewarding the dog for the actions you want. After some time, she will know when to bark and not to bark.
7. 7 Leash your dog. Spitz have a lot of energy and love long walks. It is important to walk the dog every day so that it can run. To make it comfortable for both you and the dog to walk, train your dog to walk on a leash.
   • The Spitz will need some time to get used to the leash. Don't put on the leash right away - let the dog sniff and examine it first.
   • To train your puppy on a leash, you need treats. Reward your dog for not pulling on the leash.
   • The puppy can pull on the leash. Don't jerk the dog, just stop or walk the other way.
   • If the dog decides to lie down while walking, call him to you, and if he obeys, give him a treat.

Method 2 of 5: How to feed your Spitz

1. 1 Pick up quality food. For a dog to be healthy, it must eat a balanced diet. Premium food will give your dog all the nutrients it needs for a long and active life. There are many different types of food on the market. Read the information on the packaging carefully.
   • On the labels of premium food packaging, the specific type of meat (e.g. chicken, beef) is usually listed first. The first 3-5 feed ingredients should be protein sources (meat or dairy).
   • Look for the words "balanced" or "complete" on the packaging. Premium food meets veterinarian recommendations for nutrient requirements.
   • Your dog will need small breed food. If you have a puppy, buy special puppy food: it is more nutritious and has everything you need to grow your animal.
   • Read the feed information carefully. Very often, the words "natural" and "premium" hide the most common food.
   • Ask the breeder (if you bought a puppy) or veterinarian about the right food for your dog.
2. 2 Only give the Spitz the recommended amount of feed. Spitz are small and their stomachs hold little food. Pomeranians have a fast metabolism, which means they burn calories quickly. If you have a puppy, try to feed him 3-4 times a day.
   • Give puppies exactly the amount of food indicated on the package. Divide it into 3-4 meals.
   • If you are an adult, give her 50-100 grams of food per day, divided into two meals.
   • The amount of food a dog needs depends on many factors, including age, level of physical activity, and general health. Ask your veterinarian how your pet should be fed.
3. 3 Give your Spitz plenty of fresh water. Water is an important nutrient.The Spitz should always have access to clean, fresh water. If you have a puppy, pour water into a drinking bowl.

Method 3 of 5: How to care for your coat

1. 1 Brush your pet's coat regularly. Spitz has a double coat and needs to be brushed out regularly. The undercoat is soft and dense and the top layer is long and tough, so brush it every day to avoid tangling.
   • If you cannot do this as often, groom your dog's coat at least twice a week.
   • You will need a fine-toothed comb and metal brush, which can be purchased at your veterinary store. Look for a curved-toothed brush.
   • Part the fur with your hands and start brushing down from the parting. Be careful not to damage the skin of the animal.
   • Then use a comb to comb the mats.
   • Brush the entire length of the coat from base to tip. This will keep your coat and skin healthy as sebum is distributed correctly.
2. 2 Bathe the dog. Do not do this too often - once a month is enough. Use a special shampoo for dogs with sensitive skin (such as oatmeal). The shampoo should be free of artificial fragrances and colors.
   • Good shampoos often contain vitamin E and aloe vera to moisturize the skin and coat.
   • Don't use human shampoos. They have a different acid-base balance and can irritate the dog's skin.
   • Once the shampoo is washed off, apply a leave-in conditioner to the coat.
   • Blot the coat with a towel and then blow dry the dog at the lowest temperature. Not all dogs love a hairdryer, so you may only need to use a towel.
   • To keep the coat shiny, brush it after bathing and drying.
3. 3 Pay attention to your dog's appearance. You will also need to trim the nails, rinse the eyes, and brush the dog's teeth. Cut your nails every 1 to 2 weeks so they don't get too long. You should clean your eyes and ears every day.
   • Sliding nail clippers are easier to use than scissor clippers. Buy a nail clipper from your veterinarian.
   • Trim the claws about two millimeters above the claw vessel that runs down the center. If you touch the vessel, the dog will be hurt and bleed.
   • If you don't want to trim your nails yourself, ask your vet or groomer to do it for you.
   • Special products are required to treat the eyes and ears. Your veterinarian will advise you on these and tell you how to use them.
   • You should brush your teeth once a day, but if you don't have that much time, do it at least once a week.
   • Buy a special dog brush and paste, available from veterinary stores. It is best to start brushing your teeth when your dog is young so that he gets used to this procedure.
4. 4 Do not cut your dog short. It takes a lot of time and effort to care for the Spitz's coat, so some owners of this breed of dog cut their pets short. This is convenient, but a short haircut has many drawbacks. Lack of hair deprives the dog of its natural protection from the external environment (rain, snow, cold).
   • In addition, if you cut off all the hair at least once, it can change greatly and never become as thick and beautiful.
   • It is best not to cut off all of the fur, but simply have a groomer take care of your pet.

Method 4 of 5: How to play with a Pomeranian

1. 1 Walk your Pomeranian every day. Spitz dogs are energetic dogs and long walks allow them to release energy. Spitz also love to play, but games cannot replace walks.
   • Some dogs have behavioral or developmental problems if they don't walk every day.
   • The Spitz are sensitive to high temperatures, so do not walk with the Spitz for long periods of time if it is very hot outside.
2. 2 Play with your pet every day. Spitz loves to play, so you should set aside time for short play a few times a day. If you live in a private house with a garden, your dog will love chasing leaves.Spitz does not need to go outside to play, they can do it at home.
   • Spitz have moderate stamina, so don't force your pet to play when it doesn't want to.
3. 3 Give the Spitz a lot of different toys. Since dogs of this breed quickly get bored, you should offer your pet as many different toys as possible. Especially the dog will love smart toys. Replace toys often.
   • Choose toys of different colors and textures so that the Spitz does not lose interest.
   • When you are not at home, soft toys will calm your Spitz.
   • If you have a puppy, buy toys for him to chew on, which will replace chair legs and shoes.
   • To avoid buying new toys all the time, try giving your dog old toys in different combinations.
4. 4 Teach your dog new tricks. Spitz loves to learn new things. They also love to be the center of attention, so teach your dog something and he'll be happy. Most often, dogs are taught to pretend to be dead, to give a paw, to bring a stick.
   • Spitz cannot stay attentive for long, so try to work with the dog for no more than 5-10 minutes at a time.
   • Come up with something interesting. This will not only make the Pomeranian think and move more, but it will also increase his affection for you.

Method 5 of 5: How to keep track of your dog's health

1. 1 Know what health problems this breed has. Although Pomeranians are generally healthy and robust dogs, they can have certain health problems. For example, small dogs often have respiratory problems and dislocated knee joints.
   • These dogs often have congenital obstruction of the ductus arteriosus. With this disease, blood does not flow to the tissues of the lungs. Symptoms are not always noticeable, but puppies tend to refuse to play and develop more slowly.
   • Pincers can develop eye conditions, including cataracts and problems with the tear duct.
   • In old age, the Spitz may lose hair, forming bald patches on the body. Fortunately, this is often treated.
   • Spitz also have food allergies, epilepsy, and Perthes disease. Perthes disease is most common in puppies between 4 and 6 months of age. Due to insufficient blood flow, the femoral head begins to separate.
2. 2 Show your Spitz to your dentist regularly. Pomeranians can develop tooth decay, so it is important to regularly brush your teeth at the dentist. The doctor will assess the condition of your teeth and explain how often you should brush your teeth.
   • Ultrasonic cleaning by a doctor is often done under general anesthesia and can be expensive. However, if this is not done, the dog may develop dental problems, which will lead to even more waste in the future.
3. 3 Take your dog to your veterinarian regularly. So you can do all the vaccinations on time and monitor the health of the Spitz. If you have a puppy, make an appointment with your veterinarian every 3-4 weeks until the puppy is 3.5 months old. At this time, the first vaccinations can be given. The puppy will also need to be checked for fleas and ear mites.
   • In the first few weeks of life, the puppy will need to be given an anthelmintic to get rid of any possible parasites.
   • If you have an adult dog, take it to the vet once a year. If your dog has health problems, this will need to be done more often.

Tips

• Spitz make excellent pets. However, due to their small size, these dogs are often injured, so they are not suitable for families with small children. A small child can grab the dog too hard and accidentally injure it.
• On average, Spitz live 15 years and weigh 1.5-3.5 kilograms. Small breed puppies mature faster than large and very large dogs.
• With proper upbringing, Pomeranians get along well with other pets.
• If you smell wool, treat the wool with baby powder, so comb it thoroughly.
• Spitz feel comfortable in an apartment.

Warnings

• Spitz can develop serious health problems. If your dog gets sick or injured, take him to the vet.
• If the dog is not handled, it will grow up demanding and unceremonious.
• Veterinarian services are not cheap. Look for a clinic with affordable prices in your city.
• Don't hit your dog if it misbehaves. This will help your dog get used to being afraid of you and may develop other behavioral problems.
• Do not leave your Spitz alone with small children.