Feeding

Dogs are omnivores, preferring meat, but quite willing to eat just about anything.  Although domestic dogs can survive on grain-based foods, they do best on food rich in animal proteins.  So give your dog a food where the first listed ingredient is an animal protein, such as a chicken meal.  Avoid feeding your dog a food with the main ingredients being by-products.

For the first three months of life, feed your puppy several small meals a day.  After a puppy is three months old, reduce feeding frequency to two or three times a day.  Feed a mature dog twice a day, or reduce to once a day if you must.  Feeding times should be the same from day to day.  Remember, puppies and dogs thrive on consistency.  For most of my Pomeranians, I feed a half cup of food per day.  This does vary some depending on the dog.  For example, if the dog is to skinny or fat, I adjust the amount of food appropriately.

Always have plenty of fresh water available.  Refill the water dish often.  Wash the water bowl weekly.

Grooming

Brushing and combing your dog is necessary weekly or bi-weekly activity.  I use a wide tooth comb only to pull out the mats.  Do not cut the mats out.  For routine grooming use a pin brush with rubber backing.  During seasonal shed, use a slicker brush.  The quicker the removal of the dead hair, the faster the re-growth occurs.  I start behind the ears.  I part the hair down to the skin and brush from the skin to the tip of the hair.  Doing this type of brushing, I work my way to the tail.  Place the dog upside down on your lap and follow the same procedure for the underside of the dog.

Bathe your dog only when it is dirty or starts developing an odor.  Do not bathe more than once a month.  Use a good quality dog shampoo.  For ticks and fleas, use a good tick and flea shampoo.  Towel dry your dog.  I recommend using either advantage or frontline for monthly flea and tick control.

Keep your dogs nails trimmed.  Use a dog nail clipper to trim its nail.  Make sure that you do not cut into the quick of a dogs nail.  The quick is the part of the nail that contains blood vessels and nerves.  On white nails, the quick is the pink section.  If you do cut into the quick, apply septic powder.

Veterinarian

Your dog needs to go the vet once a year for checkup, shots, and teeth cleaning.  The shots a dog needs are canine distemper, canine hepatitis, parvo virus, leptospirosis, kennel cough, and rabies.  Every month, your dog needs a heartworm preventative. 

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