New Pom Owner

[yvette011]

I am in need of advice. I just bought a 6 week old Pom and this is day 2. He is a beauty and sleeps ALOT! Is this normal? He loves to be held and cries when we take him outside to potty. I feel like a stressed out new Mom. Any advice???? PLEASE!!!!

[Chaos]

6 weeks is too young to be away from his mother and littermates. I'm gussing you got him from a less then reputable source. Yes puppies sleep a lot, especially one so young who should still be with his litter.

Don't coddle and hold him too much, some is okay but carrying him everywhere leads to a spoiled bratty dog. He is a dog, let him be a dog and walk.

[yvette011]

Thanks for the advice. I am taking him to the vet tomorrow to make sure he is healthy.

The source seemed reputable. I found him on what i thought was a reputable site.

[Chaos]

I hope all goes well for him. :)

Most breeders keep dogs until at least 8 weeks so they can get the required socialization with their littermates. Small breeds are usually kept longer, maybe 10 weeks being so small.

[yvette011]

A young as he is. Is it too soon to paper train?

[AllAnimalLover]

paper training sometimes leads to a bigger hasle with training him to go outside.....sometimes

[Whoops]

Six weeks old are always sleeping. So do not worry. And decide how you want your dog to be in 1 yr and do that now. Do you want him to pee inside.. then let him now. Do you want him to chew on you in one yr. then let him now. Ask yourself is this how I want him to behave in one year and if the answer is no then do not allow it now.
But do enjoy this stage it is soooooooo cute!

[yvette011]

ok.... interesting! So is outside training easier? I would prefer him use the bathroom outside.

[yvette011]

Six weeks old are always sleeping. So do not worry. And decide how you want your dog to be in 1 yr and do that now. Do you want him to pee inside.. then let him now. Do you want him to chew on you in one yr. then let him now. Ask yourself is this how I want him to behave in one year and if the answer is no then do not allow it now.
But do enjoy this stage it is soooooooo cute!
.................................................. ......................

I did not think of it like that........And I have a child! i will definitely nip the biting habit in the bud. i love this stage. i am just a little jumpy, because this is our first puppy.

Is the rub the nose in "the accident" and spank the nose the best training habit. My brother has a Doberman and insists that is the best method.

[LikeItOrNot]

the rub the nose in "the accident" and spank the nose the best training habit. My brother has a Doberman and insists that is the best method.

That's actually the worst way. Don't hit him, don't yell at him. Ignore them. If the puppy is peeing on the floor, it's because you didn't take him out soon enough. Puppies can't hold it long, when they feel they have to go you have about a minute to get him out before it ends up on the floor. If he's going on the floor, its your fault and accident, not his.

If you see him going or start to go, that's different and all you do for that is say NO and pick him up and take him outside. If he finishes, then still take him outside. Yelling at him for it afterwards is completely pointless. They don't learn that way, they just get more confused.

Best training method is lots of praising, treats and to just get him on a schedule. Feed, sleep and play at the same times each day.

You said he's sleeping alot, the SECOND He wakes up, get him outside and priase him and give him a treat when he pees. Puppies always have to pee as soon as they wake up. Especially at that age. Same with after he eats and plays. Also about that age, they should have to go like every 3-4hrs. :D

[AllAnimalLover]

I totally agree with LikeItOrNot. Rubbing his nose in it is completely pointless. They don't understand what they are getting punished for. To them, it's what they are doing at that second. Puppies need to pee ATLEAST (MAX) every two hours. Crate training is probably the best way. Give them enough room to stand up lie down, stretch all the way out, but not enough that they can seperate a space for a bathroom, bedroom and food. But again, you have to be home atleast every two hours to let him go pee until he gets older.

[creativz]

Puppy madness, don't yell or cause pup to fear you, everything's new. Relax and enjoy the fun, you'll naturally bond ! Good luck. :)

[AllAnimalLover]

Puppy madness, don't yell or cause pup to fear you, everything's new. Relax and enjoy the fun, you'll naturally bond ! Good luck. :)


treat the good, ignore the bad (habits that is)

[creativz]

Yup, reward when good, ignore when bad. Consistent routine is essential. Try to make environment as 'puppy proof' as possible ! Any attention is good attention to a pup, they don't know the difference unless you teach them, they have to learn that bad behaviour gets them nowhere. You've got to persist, eventually they realise and focus on the things they get the treatz for instead. Train regulary in small doses to keep interest, always have treatz to hand.

[yvette011]

Thank you all for the advice!! I will definitely incorporate that into our training. You all are the best!!!

[Whoops]

When he goes outside have a party! Give him a treat and clap and yell yeah good boy great job whoo hoo whatever you can do to make this a great fun!

[britly]

I was sold my Chihuahua puppy when she was only 4 weeks old, she was eating and drinking, but I had no choice but to get her than or the lady would of sold her to someone else. I couldn't believe it, some people are just in it for the money, don't care about the health of their pups.
Good luck with the potty training, I have a thread up as well because of difficulty I am having with it, does anyone know if any of those so called kits that train puppy's in like a week or month or so, if any of them actually work?? Do you have a pics on the site for your puppy? I have always wanted a pom, I would love to see!!

[booklady]

good luck with the pups :) they're such sweeties when tehy get older..
but i agree.. get th eir training done when they're young... we've got two poms we got as rescues.. one has fabulous training.. the other, i don't think she was trained at all.. we were told she was paper trained when we got her.. at age 3 and a half years...
they didn't work with her nearly enough.. we've made progress.. but it's long and hard, and she still thinks it's ok to potty inside.. *sigh*

Britly.. part of the reason your little pups are having trouble with their training might be because they were seperated too young.. *sigh* another reason it's so sad some breeders do that.. they dont' care that the pups are too young to understand a lot of what's going on without the example and interaction of their parents and siblings...

[britly]

I got JayJay when he was already two months old so I don't know what it is with him, I know she kept him in a cage most of the time and let him go where ever he wanted. I did get Chloe too soon though

[brandy pup]

No responsible breeder lets a small pup go before 8 weeks. Very small breeds is gennerally 12 weeks old.

Just for your FYI.
How to choose a breeder and puppy
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/breeding.html

FINDING A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER
http://members.tripod.com/antique_fcr/goodbreeder.html

HOW TO PURCHASE A PUPPY
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/breeding/index.html

[creativz]

Pups normally go at 8wks minimum, but the most conscientious breeders do hold off, sometimes right up until 12wks.