by: Rita Rail

My little pom Emily cries when she is not happy. I have learned to deal with this similarly as I did with my babies.

something is not right. You have to be a mind reader nearly at all times as this carries thro to adolescent and adulthood. You have to coax out the problem. Emily responds in this way. Over the years I have learned that she has different barks and different crying for what ails her. As I did not know dog language, I really have learned this with all my different dogs I have had. When Emily was brought home, she was only tree weeks old. She let me know that when she was put to bed in a crate in my room at night, she was cold. It took me three nights to understand this. She cried, she whined and barked. I took her into my bed and peace and quiet ever since. Crystal, my 6 year old wants to be in bed also but does not cuddle but must touch me even if only with her foot or her butt. Emily , when cold will leave her blanket even though she is wrapped up in in it and curl up in my tummy with a corner of the blankets thrown over her. I believe she has anxiety, separation problems. She will also suck on a part of my pillow and only mine if she gets into my bed before me. I now conceal my pillow in my wardrobe before I am ready to get into my bed. My puppies did not give me urination problems at night. May I suggest that you use a potty pad if you get up at night for this. Perhaps in this case, putting your pom outside denotes a scare. It could be frightening at this time in the dark. Emily was ill for nearly month and had issues with her food. There was no combination of food that would satisfy her. My vet had me try all varieties for her illness that she thought Emily could eat. Emily would sniff her food, bark at it. Sit in front of it and actually pull out the hard food that I mixed with the soft to entice her and spit it out around her dish. After two days of this, I finally had to feed her with a syringe because I could not allow her to continue. She developed a way to let me know further of her dissatisfaction by putting her ears down or towards the back of her head and actually having tears in her eyes. Both my vet and I were at a stalemate. I decided to give only the low fat food and I actually scolded her for a day when she refused to eat. She now eats but at times will bark a bit to show me that she is in control. Sorry , Emily, I am in control!!. She now looks forward to her meals and a few Hill’s Small Bites. I do want to revert to the Small Bites only as she has been fed this for nearly nine years with no problem and it is very good for teeth cleaning. My shitzus were placid. This pom Emily is like having a human child in the house. She insists that everything is her way. Playtime is playtime, eating time is eating time, no matter if she had to wait a few minutes. If I am late, she follows until I feed her. She has different barks to welcome family members as to her likes or dislikes of each one and she hates the mailman because he keeps coming to the door and does not come in to see her. I have a nine year old that will never grow up.

That is what you are going to have to cope with when you happen to purchase a pom that turns out this way. Crystal is entirely the opposite. I really mean the opposite. I have often wondered if is only the very tiny ones that are small even older that make me think of the Napoleon complex of small stature men who are known to be more aggressive to be heard. When you purchase a Pom, you view the parents and take it from there. Some with longish hair and a sweet character bred by a medium size male with wiry hair, standing out all over and with the most pleasant character I have ever seen. It is a game of roulette when you purchase a pom, perhaps you have another Emily. I just cannot tell you otherwise. When you own one like Emily, there is never a dull moment.

I have had seven children with all different characters and they respected my rules, I think Emily is my eighth. Need I say more except do not think of your pom as a little dog but as a child in a pom body. Your pom will show you so much love if you understand. Take care. RR