QuestionI just got a baby pom and she is about 9 weeks old. She will only weigh about 5 lbs when she is fully grown. HOw much and how many times a day am I supposed to feed her? And what is the easiest way to potty train her? Thanks for your time and help!
Thanks!
Stephanie
AnswerHi Stephanie,
I would feed her as much as she wants several times a day. At Petsmart.com in the middle of the home page is a pet food calculator. I recommend that you feed her a high quality dog food. Stay away from commercial brands 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 want to feed a higher-quality diet, try one of these: Solid Gold, Natural Balance, Spot's Stew, Chicken Soup for the Soul, PetGuard, Wellness, Canidae, Wysong or Neura Meats. I feed my seven pound dog approximately 3/4 cup per day. I feed him twice a day. He is on Solid Gold right now. I switch brands every five months or so. I also include in his diet fresh beef, chicken, fish, eggs, veggies, fruit, cottage cheese, cheese, yogurt, etc. I never feed him anything with added sugar, hot dogs, or any other junk food. (He eats off a little plate. He use to have a plastic bowl but he didn't like it--he is so small it's easier for him to eat off a plate.)
Here is a response I wrote on housetraining that you may find helpful:
It will take lots of patience and persistence. Some pups can take several months or so to train. Do not allow the puppy to have free reign in the house until he is completely trained. When you are home keep him with
you at all times. When you leave the house either put him in a crate (never for more than four hours at a time) or block him off in a small area (bathroom, utility room or kitchen) with a gate. Put newspaper or puppy pads in an area for him to use. Neutering him by five or six
months of age will help, and can prevent him from developing the habit of leg lifting. If he has an accident but you don't catch him don't scold him for it. He won't understand what he's done wrong. Clean up the mess completely. Using a product like Simple Solution will remove the stain and the odor. If you catch him it the act, firmly say, "NO" and take him outside. Never rub his nose in it. He can be trained to go in a particular area in your yard and to go on command. Take him to the
same spot every time and use the same command like, "Go Potty". Praise him when he goes! Of course you'll want to take him out frequently, especially after sleeping, eating, and playing.
I was never able to use a crate for training. My pom would go potty in it. I blocked him off in the kitchen and set up a dog liter box. I didn't use dog liter but lined the box with newspaper. Puppy pads would work
as well. I would put him in the box and say, "Go potty". If he did I would praise him profusely. Sometimes I would give him a treat. I always took him to the same spot outside too. It took approximately two and a half months and after I had him neutered at five and a half months he
was pretty much trained. I kept him blocked off in the kitchen when I had to leave the house for about the first year. Now he has free reign when I am gone. He is liter box trained and trained to go in a specific spot in
the yard. Having him liter box trained is great for when I am gone and when the weather is bad. (Rain, snow, etc.)
Hope you enjoy your puppy! Let me know if you have anymore questions.
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Thank you,
Carrie
