A few questions...Barking, Socialization etc.

Question
Hi there.

I'm the proud owner of my first Pom named Roxie.
I found her at a puppy store, she resided there with her sibling sister who was much bigger and yappier. Roxie was quiet and soooo innocent looking.
My questions are: I hear the pom is a yapper.. I'm lucky to hear her bark (if you can even call it a bark) 3 times in a 3 days period. and when i say bark.. I mean Bark, just once. One bark LOL

She also LOVES people and other animals. So I'm guessing I've socialized her pretty good.. I guess. I just dont know. I do know this much. Im a single mother of a 13 year old daughter. I have recently lost my job and am home all the time. I believe my little Roxie is a bit..how do you say..CLINGY! If i leave the house for 5 minutes and shes left with my daughter.. she's soo excited to see me when i get back. to the point of peeing on the floor as she's showing excitement. Love her to death..and she's just so cute.. I can't really scold her for it. I simply pick her up and head outside. I dont know what im going to do when i head back out to work. Ive tried looking in the window to see what she's doing if she thinks im gone.. and i'll tell ya.. that little sneak tries like hell to try and get up on the kitchen chair to look out the window. Ive actually seen her drag a pillow from the living room to get better leverage. Im totally amazed. Are they really THAT clever?
Also, She's been good about going outside to go potty from basically the time i brought her home.. she goes in one spot, the same spot in the corner of the yard.. Dont get me wrong.. at that age she was going about 12 times a day and I didn't get her out each and every time.She's 6 months now and not having to go potty liek she did when she was a baby, but she wont give me any indication that she has to go out. I try and get her to bark by saying Do you have to go out? get her motivated to say "BARK BARK" (yes i have to go out) and head to the door or something.
But nothing. no bark.. maybe a look, like she's saying " Umm too late, i already went on the floor" I crate trained her in the begining.. KIND OF.. she was just soo darn cute that it killed me to see her in a cage. So she's in my bed and has run of the house but has to remain with someone at all times or it's like she panics!

So with all that..
Please help me with how i deal with my anxiety ridden dog when i have to leave her home alone.. Do they have doggy Xanex? LOL

How can I get my Roxie to tell me she's got to go out.

Is it normal that Roxie doesn't bark? or si she just content?

Ive had her checked at the vet and i never asked him that because i didn't want to be looked at like i was nuts. But dogs are suppose to bark.. right?
He said her knees are amazingly strong and patellas nice and tight.. is that good? I didn't want to act like i knew nothing. of course i read up on Poms. (not really, but knew they had weak knees, something i guess i dont have to worry about right now)
She's 6 months now, what's the normal weight for her age.. she's only 5 pounds 1 ounce. And what is this Puppy Uglies? My glamour Dog doesn't need any puppy uglies!
Did i mention that i never have to bathe my pom because she hops into the shower with me every morning? HELP!
Can doggy shampoo hurt ME? because once im done and she hops in.. i use her stuff on her because our stuff is too harsh.

I guess i have alot of questions.
Please shed some light on me.

Thanks

Kitt


Answer
Congrats on your new Pom! :o)

Many of your questions and concerns are VERY VERY common for forst time Pom opwners so don't feel sdilly.  You can check out the archives to get most of your answers. :o)

You can also check out my links page to see all the stuff I have researched online for many curious Pom stuff too as well as health stuff and history of Poms.

I would not question her not barking.  Some do and some don't it is more a personality thing than a Pom trait.  Most do have a tendency to bark but lucky you... unless she is just saving up her barks till later. :oP

Her peeing on the floor when she is excited to see you is called excitement urination and she can't help it.  Try not to be at all excited to see her and just ignore her till you go sit down and then she come to you.  Ignore the peeing as it can turn into submissive urination and both are the utmost respect to you as the pack leader.

They ARE clever! :o) And it sounds like you have socialized her well.

Her potty training is completely dependent on YOU being consistant or else every mistake is your fault. *shrug* she does tell you... I would bet mney.  But you haven't clued into her signals.  Watch for certain times of day-after naps, after meals and watch for circling, sniffing...

There are seperation anxiety training techniques you can use-check out my links page.

Good knees is very important in all dogs but toy breeds in particular-tight is good.

I would not think doggy shampoo would be harful to you unless it is flea shampoo.

xxoo
-Trish
www.geminipoms.com