QuestionI just got a 10 week old pom. She's about a little over 4 lbs & I was wondering how big she will get when full grown. Also, she gets so excited when I let her out of her crate that she ignores her food and prefers to play rather than eat. Eventually she eats, but never finishes her plate. Is this ok? Also, is it okay to have her in a small area while I'm at work and then in a crate for the night, or will this interfere with potty training her? Thanks so much!
AnswerHi Kathy,
She will be approximately nine pounds. What are you feeding her? I recommend you feed her human-grade kibble/canned foods such as: Petguard, Wellness, Innova, California Natural, Canidae, Chicken Soup for the Soul, etc. Feed her twice a day now, and as an adult. You can add fresh foods like beef, chicken, fish, cottage cheese, yogurt (without added sugar), cheese, brown rice, oatmeal, eggs, veggies, fruit, etc. Puree or mince veggies and fruits. (I never feed my pom junk food or anything with refined processed sugar.) Fresh foods are best and canned is better than kibble. Or you could prepare a homemade diet for her. You can find books at the library on how to prepare homemade recipes for your dog. I started cooking for my pom about two months ago. After much research on dog nutrition, I have created my own recipes. I make enough for two or three weeks and freeze it in individual servings. My pom loves my cooking! And yes, it's ok if she doesn't eat all her food. If you feed her canned or fresh food she'll eat it all, unless you are feeding her too much.
Also, I don't recommend yearly booster vaccinations or heartworm preventive or spot-on liquid pesticides, such as Frontline. Two excellent books on dog health are: Dr Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs &
Cats, and Keep Your Dog Healthy the Natural Way by Pat Lazarus. These books have very valuable information on nutrition, vaccinations, fleas, etc. It would be great if you could find a vet that practices complementary (holistic) medicine. They offer traditional as well as alternative options and they also know about nutrition, which is extremely important.
Of course, she wants to play with you when she gets out of the crate. She loves you! Take her potty, play with her, and then feed her. Don't keep her in a crate for longer than four hours at a time. She needs to be with you as much as possible, especially right now as a puppy. Yes, it is fine to keep her in a small area while you are at work and a crate at night. That's how I trained my pom. He is trained to go in a litter box and outside. It works great!
Hope you enjoy your new puppy! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Best Regards,
Carrie
PLEASE SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS.
