Pomeranian or Pit Bull?

 Most people are not completely familiar with the Pomeranian breed on a personal level. I had never experienced a Pomeranian in real life. I had only seen them on T.V., therefore I had a nasty perception of the Pomeranian. I figured Pomeranians were for stuck up girls who drove BMWs, like Pit Bulls were for large scary tattooed men that ride motorcycles. I myself do not have a motorcycle or a BMW, unfortunately. Likewise, I thought neither of these dogs were for me. Turns out, Pit Bulls aren't for me, but my Pomeranian is.

A POMERANIAN THAT RIDES A MOTORCYCLE...I eat my words.

I researched the history of Pomeranians and found PomeranianSavvy.com. This introduced me to a lot of information regarding the breed. Pomeranians originated in the region of Pomerania, now recognized as Germany and Poland. They first were larger in size and were used to heard sheep! Eventually, they were introduced to England as a gift for Queen Victoria in 1888. In the early 20th century, they were brought to America. However, they carried high esteem and were not the common household pet. They looked a lot different as well.

PomeranianSavvy.com introduced me to an alternate appreciation for Pomeranians. Not only are they cute, but they are helpful too,

Aside from having a history of being cute, fashionable dogs with plenty of personality, Pomeranians have also been used for other purposes than simply as a gift to the Queen. For instance, Poms are celebrated for their intelligence and hard work. They were, and still are often used for:

• Search and rescue – When the assistance of a small dog is needed to search for survivors, such as in an earthquake.

• Hearing assistance

• Therapy for the ill and elderly – Poms are often brought into nursing homes to cheer up the patients.

   

Who knew Pomeranians were known for something other than barking and bitching?

Pomeranians are quick to learn, but like to assume the role of boss. They are known to bark often and can be  very whiney. They can be good watch dogs, but can also be hard to handle if not trained properly. Lydia has become much like a watch dog. She only barks when she hears noises she cannot identify or hears other dogs barking. However, she barks to let me know and then stops.

One thing I have noticed that Lydia really identifies with in a Pomeranian description is the fact that she is very needy. I cannot take a shower without her missing me. She gets used to me being gone when I leave, but for the first few minutes seems to be in real agony

Pomeranians have a thick double coat that needs to be kept up with. This requires grooming frequently.  They stand 8-11 inches and weigh approximately 3-7 pounds. Lydia weighs in at about 5 pounds on a fat day. This requires Pom Parents to keep good watch of their dogs to ensure they are not injured, especially when children are handling them.

Pomeranians make excellent pets,  DON'T LET THE STEREOTYPE SCARE YOU. I've never been a fashionable or frilly girl, all though my Led Zeppelin t-shirts and long, crazy pot-head hair might have fooled you. However, I find the Pomeranian to be a lovable and easy dog to handle, when the correct research is completed.

"Dog's Don't Know It's Not Bacon!"

This topic’s blog post is about dog food...



For all of you that have not closed your browser yet, I applaud you, because even I am tempted to close my browser.

One of my first issues when raising my dog was deciding which brands of dog foods and treats would be best for Lydia. I go to college, which basically means I am broke. Now that I have a dog, I am REALLY broke. I first began to purchase the cheapest brand I could find, Ol’ Roy-Puppy Complete.  I liked it because it was so inexpensive. I like almost everything that is inexpensive.

I fed Lydia the food for a week or two and noticed she was having trouble using the restroom, a nice way to put the disturbing shit I was having to clean up. I researched the brand and found that Ol’ Roy was named after Sam Walton’s, the founder of Walmart, dog and is manufactured by Walmart. Many dog owners had reported being unsatisfied with the low-fat, questionable ingredients used to make Ol’ Roy foods.  Reports show dogs eating this brand can have digestive problems, vomiting and diarrhea. Another common, but less severe reactions were rough and dry hair coats. Lydia’s hair is long enough, I don’t need it itching me, as well. I immediately switched her off of this food, and on to a more expensive brand, and will be posting my findings as soon as I come to a conclusion. However, her poop seems to be a little bit more solid.

When it comes to treats, I started giving her the Pedigree small dog treats and she started becoming very ill. I stopped giving her these as well, and began giving her Dentastix and Beggin’ Strips. Lydia absolutely loves Beggin’ Strips. When I feed her one, she literally reacts the same way the dog in the commercials acts. I can imagine in her head she's saying "BACON! BACON! BACON! BACON!" They are a great tool for teaching her certain tricks and training her. The dentastix and the small dog treats were both from Pedigree, and had different results, so I would assume those specific treats just did not agree with Lydia’s digestive system.
I would suggest to avoid Ol’ Roy, and to really listen to your dog. Well, not literally. If you start to understand and take advice from your dog, go to a hospital immediately, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU. However, I do think it is important to pay attention to your dogs bowel movements and realize that though your dog can’t verbally communicate with you, she can show you what is good and bad for her, and it’s not going to be pretty.

I'm too young to be a mom!

Before I got a dog, I mostly just wanted one because they were cute, and so I’d have something to play with when I was bored. Oh man, was I in for a surprise.

Before getting my dog, I was too excited, I think. I picked her name, Lydia, after a character I like in one of my favorite movies, Beetlejuice.  I bought her bowls, food, a leash, a bed, a pink dress with some bows-just kidding I’m not that crazy. I never once thought about buying a training book, looking up dog training schools or even vet costs. I could not even imagine the awakening I was about to experience.

I got her home and realized I had no food to feed her. I quickly went to rush to the store, then realized no one was home. Could dogs be left alone this young? I was worried she’d eat something off the floor that she wasn’t allowed to and choke, or she’d get lost in the mountain of dirty clothes I have and suffocate herself. I know, that sounds crazy now, but it crossed my mind. I decided she’d be okay, hopefully, and put her on the couch and left.

When I arrived at the University Walmart, which is by far the most terrifying place in the entire world, I stared at the vast array of dog food. How was I supposed to know which to choose? Should I go with the cheapest or should I go with the name brand? This is a topic I had to further research and will eventually discuss further in a later blog.

When I got home, she had peed on the couch and was sitting there crying. I then realized she was so tiny that she could not even jump down from the couch. She had been trapped the whole time I’d been debating her food choice. I then realized another hurtle I’d have to tackle, potty training. I hadn’t even considered how hard it’d be to potty train her.

Next, I tried telling her to “sit”, “roll over”, “lay down”, “stay”, and “shake”. Of course, she could not do any of these. She just stood there staring at me, wagging her tail. “My dog must be defective! She can’t even sit!” I thought to myself.

Before I got a dog, one of those crazy dog ladies I discussed in my last post told me, “This dog is my baby, and I want to make her your baby. This will be like raising a child. Are you prepared to be a mother?” After being instantly creeped out, I closed the email and thought, “That lady is crazy, I’m too young to be a mom. I just want a dog, dammit!” Little did I know, that crazy bitch was right. I’m an 18 year old mom. If only I could have made it on “16 and Pregnant”!

Amscot-You're OK with Us!

The Dog Blog…mildly cliché I know, but it gets straight to the point of this collection of writing, which might also be cliché. I’m not quite sure yet. My dog is a small, feisty Pomeranian. She’s now eight months old, petite, fluffy, and black. However, contrary to popular belief, she is not a yappy, bitchy little dog. I think it might have something to do with where she came from.

My boyfriend promised me a dog for my birthday. My birthday hasn’t even arrived; I’m obviously impatient and persuasive. About three months ago, I began my hunt for a puppy-online of course. Animals from the pet stores are priced so expensively, that they must come potty trained, and by potty trained I mean they not only can use a real toilet, but they also don’t forget to put the seat down. Maybe I should have gotten my boyfriend from the pet store, too.

Eventually, I stumbled upon a small black Pomeranian that was six months old. It was in a close proximity, residing in Orlando, and was offered at a good price. I arranged to meet the man and drove to Orlando, where I was approached by a large African American man covered in tattoos, joined with gold flashy jewelry. He was accompanied by a 4 pound Pomeranian attached to a bright pink leash. Upon his arrival, I giggled to myself, lost in thought at the irony of the situation, but was extremely excited that it was not a creepy old woman that would give me the third degree about my life and whether I was a “fit” parent for her “little baby”, like I previously had encountered with some of my other inquiries.  Quickly jolting out of my previous thoughts and into reality, he asked for the money and I asked for the dog, and we each left the Amscot parking lot where he had arranged our meeting -him with 300 dollars in his pocket, and I with an undersized black Pomeranian.