My dog has 6 fingers? And other problems...

[xPwincessJaffa96x]

Hey everyone! I'm new in this forum, and I'm new at being an owner and I was sort of wondering if anyone has the time to sort of help me with my pomeranian? At the moment it is 8 weeks and a bit, a few days after I got it I realised that it had something attached to one of her hind legs (her names Pom Pom by the way) and I was "JUST" about to cut it and then I realised that it was attached to her legs, and I check her other hind leg and it had another finger nail thing... Are 6 fingered puppies normal?
And here are some other questions, please help since I am hopeless at these things:
1) Should Pom Pom wear a collar even if it's 8 weeks?
2) Why does Pom Pom stink so much? I know it's a dog and all but it had a bath like a few days ago...
3) How long will it take for my puppy to stop peeing in the house? (With my training of course)
4) When can it get vaccinated and micro-chipped? (Already wormed)
5) How do I make it stop barking each time it wakes up in the morning? (Wakes up at like 6 o' clock)
6) When I have trained it, how will it pee outside in the morning since the door will be locked (cos incase of robbery) wakes up at six and none of my family memebers wake up that early so..
That's all the questions I got so far, I had way more questions than that but I can't think of it, if you don't understand what I wrote just reply telling me that, cos I wrote it in I rush since Pom Pom just pooped on the floor again Please help me! It would mean a lot to me and my family!

 

[SisMorphine]

I'll take a jab at some answers for you.

First off, the "finger" you found is actually a dew claw. Correct me if I'm wrong, Pomeranian people, but I believe that these are usually removed on the small dogs (and many larger breeds, but not all) when they are a few days old so I don't know why your breeder didn't remove them.

1) Should Pom Pom wear a collar even if it's 8 weeks?
When Teeny was 8 weeks I would have her wear her collar whenever she was eating or we were doing something fun. I didn't attach a leash until she was 10 weeks old. I would only take her collar off when she wasn't fidgiting with it: ie: if she was scratching at it to "get it off" then I would leave it on until she stopped messing with it THEN I would take it off.

2) Why does Pom Pom stink so much? I know it's a dog and all but it had a bath like a few days ago...
What does Pom Pom smell like? Puppies stink. Most people say "awwww puppy breath" to me they just smell gross (so do human babies . . . yuck). If the dog smells like something OTHER than puppy breath, then perhaps look at your dog's sleeping situation and see if she is soiling it and then sleeping in it.

3) How long will it take for my puppy to stop peeing in the house? (With my training of course)
Your puppy is two months old. Your puppy should be going out every 2 hours, and since it's a small dog maybe every hour and a half since their bladders are so tiny. They should go out 1/2 hour to 1 hour after every meal. They should go out after they have been playing hard for even 15-20 minutes. Everytime you bring your puppy outside STAY OUT until it pees and/or poops. If she doesn't, bring her inside and crate her for 20 minutes, then try again. Everytime she potties outside get all excited and tell her she's a good girl. Set your alarm during the night so that you can get up and take her out every 2 hours (most dogs can hold it 3 or 4 during the night, but since she's a small dog she may not be able to). For some dogs potty training happens quickly, for others it can take many many months. It's all in consistancy!

4) When can it get vaccinated and micro-chipped? (Already wormed)
Ask your vet. It should have already had one round of vaccines by now. Get the pup to the vet and get her on a schedule.

5) How do I make it stop barking each time it wakes up in the morning? (Wakes up at like 6 o' clock)
Well as long as you know the pup doesn't need to go out to potty because you've been getting up with it all night, then ignore it. Let her bark her face off and don't react. When they realize that their hissy-fits get them nowhere they will stop. But it's tricky when they're babies as you have to be sure they don't have to potty when you ignore the puppy.

6) When I have trained it, how will it pee outside in the morning since the door will be locked (cos incase of robbery) wakes up at six and none of my family memebers wake up that early so..
You will have to haul your butt out of bed to take the pup out! The joys of owning a dog. I have today off. I wanted to sleep in today. My dogs woke me up at 6:45. Sucks to be me, but it's one of the many joys of dog ownership.

It will get easier as your pup gets older, but just remember that consistancy is key. The first things I would do is: purchase a crate and begin crate training if you haven't already, find a vet and get an appointment asap, and find a training center and sign up for some puppy kindergarten.

 

[Julie]

I check her other hind leg and it had another finger nail thing... Are 6 fingered puppies normal?
That would be a rear/hind dewclaw. These are commonly removed by a vet at a couple days old. The rear dewclaws usually seem to be floppy and more likely to get caught on something and cause a problem. They would have to be surgically removed(if you decide to have them removed)...possibly during a neuter.

And here are some other questions, please help since I am hopeless at these things:
1) Should Pom Pom wear a collar even if it's 8 weeks?
You should get him used to a collar, but probablly shouldn't be worn while not supervised.. a puppy can get into some crazy situations.. and if the collar would get caught on something, it could choke/strangle the pup.

2) Why does Pom Pom stink so much? I know it's a dog and all but it had a bath like a few days ago...
? Some dogs have a smell until they are dried from a bath, If he was kept in unsanitary conditions before you got him... he may need another good bath.

3) How long will it take for my puppy to stop peeing in the house? (With my training of course)
That would depend on your training practices and how much effort you put into it. And of course on the dog himself.

4) When can it get vaccinated and micro-chipped? (Already wormed)
A puppy will require a few shots depending on the vet. He should see a vet now, and they will probably do the first shot now.

5) How do I make it stop barking each time it wakes up in the morning? (Wakes up at like 6 o' clock)
You should be getting up and letting him outside to relieve himself. If you don't put out the effort, it will prolong housetraining.

6) When I have trained it, how will it pee outside in the morning since the door will be locked (cos incase of robbery) wakes up at six and none of my family memebers wake up that early so..
You have to drag your butt out of bed and let the pup out.

 

[xPwincessJaffa96x]

Thanks alot! I might try that! **** I hate waking up so early though! **** dog... It not only wakes up me it wakes up all my family since Pom Pom's housey is like right through this big hallway which echoes in all of our bedrooms. As for the puppy kindergarten thing, I don't think my mum would approve, she will probably say it will cost too much but I will give it a try. And thank you for telling me about the finger thing, but I sort of enjoyed it...When I told my friend about it she said Pom Pom was special xD But yeah, thank you very much for helping me with those situations xP

 

[xPwincessJaffa96x]

It would of been so much easier if my mum would just let me buy it at the pet shop.. *sighs*

 

[Herschel]

It would of been so much easier if my mum would just let me buy it at the pet shop.. *sighs*

By what at the pet shop? :yikes:

 

[fillyone]

2) Why does Pom Pom stink so much? I know it's a dog and all but it had a bath like a few days ago...

What are you feeding your pup? Often "doggy smell" is from eating a less than stellar diet

 

[artgotc]

2) Why does Pom Pom stink so much? I know it's a dog and all but it had a bath like a few days ago...

What are you feeding your pup? Often "doggy smell" is from eating a less than stellar diet

You are right

 

[squirtsmom]

Buy what from the pet shop?

 

[Zoom]

If you're referring to "been easier to buy the dog at the pet shop", then that's totally incorrect. Any problems you have now would have been compounded by buying a pet store puppy.

It sounds like no one in the house is really into having this puppy; why was it purchased then?

 

[xPwincessJaffa96x]

2) Why does Pom Pom stink so much? I know it's a dog and all but it had a bath like a few days ago...

What are you feeding your pup? Often "doggy smell" is from eating a less than stellar diet

I feed it puppy food? The lady that I got the dog from gave them to me. And it got purchased because I got into Sydney Girls High School (Very good school) So yes...Oh and I just remembered I had another question but I forgot... .......Oh yeah! I remember now, how do you brush it's teeth? Do I let Pom Pom eat the doggy toothpaste? And how often should I clean it? Any advice would be much appreciated

 

[MafiaPrincess]

'Puppy food' is vague. There's hundreds of types, many full of nasty things and fillers. Crappy food = smelly dog.

 

[xPwincessJaffa96x]

I don't know what type of puppy food it is, as I said before, the lady had given it to me (It was in a plastic container so I don't know what brand or type the food was).

 

[Julie]

Im sorry I thought you were much younger, so I was holding back.
If your in high school, I would expected more.....

Your dog is NOT an IT, but rather a he or she. And a dog should never be a reward for an acomplishment, but rather because there is a desire to share your life with a dog for companionship, work, etc. This dog will be so much hassle for you and your family, which should have been thought out before buying the dog, and without evening asking what kind of food he/she is eating?

At least you have found this forum to help you. *sigh*

 

[xPwincessJaffa96x]

Uhh yeah... I'm 11... And yes I agree with you when you said she should not be a reward but my mum knew that I had waited for 4 years to get a puppy, and I know I have responsibilities, and that's why I'm on this forum, to check out what I should do to make my life as a dog owner a bit easier, as for the dog food, the lady did tell me which puppy food to buy but it's very hard to explain on the computer since the lady made lots of explanations with her hand and stuff....

 

[Julie]

This forum could make your dog owner life in the long run alot easier!
But for the short term, it will make much more work for you.... If your up for it, great!
It will take work, patience, goals, and determination to eventually have a well rounded, mannerly pup. You can also add education/learning to that.

 

[xPwincessJaffa96x]

Yup! Thank god there's the internet!

 

[~Jessie~]

Welcome to the forum There is a ton of information to be found on this site, along with many helpful members!

First, I would find a high quality food to put your puppy on. I'm not sure of the brands in Australia, though. You want to find a food with a meat as the first ingredient, with no fillers. A good website to start looking at is www.dogfoodproject.com , which will list ingredients to avoid in a dog food.

A dog shouldn't "smell" if they are on a high quality diet. I have 3 chihuahuas, and they have no doggy odors at all.

Also, a petstore is a very bad place to get a puppy... many petstore puppies have training and mental issues... I'm happy to hear that you didn't get your puppy from a petstore.

Good luck with your pup

 

[xPwincessJaffa96x]

Thank you Jessie for sharing that with me

 

[girlbuffalo1]

With a small pup at the age it is right now you will need to immediately get up if it cries durning the night and take it out potty. Now if it starts crying 10 minutes later (after it just went) you will have to ignore him even if he cries for an hour. Pom pom will need to go potty often being so small.
Make sure you have an eye on him ALWAYS--this way if he tries to go in the house you can catch him in the act and take him outside to go potty.
EVERY second you must be watching--if you have to go to the bathroom either put him in his crate or take him with you! It's very important!

I recommend an oatmeal based shampoo as that is what works best for my dogs. Also cleaning the ears with ear cleaner makes a big difference. I also brush my small dogs teeth--I put a bit on the brush and then hold their mouth open with my hand (yes the teeth can hurt a bit until they are used to it) and really get in there getting the front and back of all the teeth. I also brush my dogs with the shampoo still on them to really get it in there to the bottom of their coats--and then I use a conditioner. This keeps them smelling good for fairly long.

Yes a good puppy food is important--it's a good idea not to feed anything found at the grocery store (purina, old roy, puppy chow, kibbles n bits, beniful ect)...

Something else important--make sure you expose your puppy to all kinds of things at this age--elderly people, small children, all kinds of noises--do not comfort them if they seem afraid. This is very important for later in life as they can get phobias of these things (my dog hates children for instance)....