Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there, thanks for checking this out. I have a 15 week old puppy named Dolce that I found through who I am hoping was a reputable middle-man to a breeder. Was told she is a Pomeranian, would be no more than 12 lbs, and was given papers regarding ancestry and breeder information. Everyone we meet says she looks like she must have some mix in her. We've gotten "nose too long, ears too big, shepard looking". Also were told by a vet tech that she looks like she'll grow to be a big dog. At 11 weeks, when I picked her up, she was 6 lbs. At 15 weeks she is 8.5lbs. I'm not worried, as I'm pretty sure she won't get to be much more than 15 lbs, but this makes it fairly obvious that she must be a mix and I have no idea what it might be. It'd be nice to be able to tell people what she is

No worries though if I don't find out. She has a wonderful temperment and is very intelligent. She is a great companion dog and is a happy medium between hyper and mellow. These things are typical of pomeranian, but I know can also be typical of many dogs.

Thanks in advance to anyone with a guess!

Kristine and Dolce

Definitely a mix. No reputable breeder will have a "middle man," so you're probably dealing with a puppy mill. You might really want to discuss this situation with the breeder and see if you can get at least some of your money back since I'm sure you paid a lot thinking she was a purebred. I'm glad she has a good home, though. I'm sure many people would have simply returned her, and who knows what kind of life she'd have led if she stayed with someone who doesn't have issues with breeding mixes. She is definitely very cute and she sounds sweet too.
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Kadee Sedtal
home of old lady Lucy (boxer/lab/garbage disposal), pretty girl Fancy (beagle), the rats- Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Pachebel, Fillmore, and Norbert, and the mice- Vivaldi, Brahms, Schubert, Bartok, Rasputin, Johann, Chaminade, Dorothy, Glenda, and Em... I really ought to stop getting more rodents every time I go out, huh?

Yes, I figured as much and am really upset with myself for being so ignorant and most likely supporting a puppy mill. Lesson learned a hard way. In any case, it doesn't matter because I would never think of bringing her back. I'm fortunate that she is healthy and happy, to date. Thanks so much for the message. We appreciate it!

>>Hi there, thanks for checking this out. I have a 15 week old puppy named Dolce that I found through who I am hoping was a reputable middle-man to a breeder. Was told she is a Pomeranian, would be no more than 12 lbs, and was given papers regarding ancestry and breeder information. Everyone we meet says she looks like she must have some mix in her. We've gotten "nose too long, ears too big, shepard looking". Also were told by a vet tech that she looks like she'll grow to be a big dog. At 11 weeks, when I picked her up, she was 6 lbs. At 15 weeks she is 8.5lbs. I'm not worried, as I'm pretty sure she won't get to be much more than 15 lbs, but this makes it fairly obvious that she must be a mix and I have no idea what it might be. It'd be nice to be able to tell people what she is
>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Puppy mill Poms tend to be oversized, because it is much cheaper to breed them that way. Of course it is also true that their record-keeping is not necessarily honest, and that a reputable breeder would never let a third party place a puppy--reputable breeders want a relationship with each puppy owner so they can be available to help if that puppy ever needs a new home, etc.

There's just no way to know whether the dog is purebred or not, but she is likely to be healthier than if she were a teeny toy size from a disreputable breeder, so you can take comfort in that.
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>>No worries though if I don't find out. She has a wonderful temperment and is very intelligent. She is a great companion dog and is a happy medium between hyper and mellow. These things are typical of pomeranian, but I know can also be typical of many dogs.
>>
>>Thanks in advance to anyone with a guess!
>>
>>Kristine and Dolce
>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Since what you want is a dog to love, this dog may be just fine. Of course you would not want to breed her, because there is no way to know what genetics might be hiding there. She looks very pretty to me, and I prefer a dog who isn't so tiny. They're healthier.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thanks for the response! Just wanted to let you know that I have no intention of breeding.. could never tackle that kind of responsibility with any animal. Well, when I was a kid my hamsters had babies.. but that's it!

My only concern is future health problems, but I am aware that I'll probably never know for sure. I have a breeder name, but am so frustrated at this point with myself and the person that I got her from. I think I should just consider myself lucky that she is such a good dog. The only problem i've had with her is her skiddish behaviors when people come to her from above, but she was probably caged for the beginning of her life and is used to being picked up constantly against her will. She's progressing though.. so i have no doubt she'll grow to be comfortable with it.

Thanks again!

>>Thanks for the response! Just wanted to let you know that I have no intention of breeding.. could never tackle that kind of responsibility with any animal. Well, when I was a kid my hamsters had babies.. but that's it!
>>
>>My only concern is future health problems, but I am aware that I'll probably never know for sure. I have a breeder name, but am so frustrated at this point with myself and the person that I got her from. I think I should just consider myself lucky that she is such a good dog. The only problem i've had with her is her skiddish behaviors when people come to her from above, but she was probably caged for the beginning of her life and is used to being picked up constantly against her will. She's progressing though.. so i have no doubt she'll grow to be comfortable with it.
>>
>>Thanks again!

>>>>>>>>>>

You can help that skittishness a whole lot with gentle, frequent handling, such as combing through her entire pretty coat each day with a very good comb. I'm crazy about the Chris Christensen combs these days, for dogs with coats similar to hers. I have an article under Grooming, one under Touch, and one under Bonding that can help you get started. They're at the link below my name--and it's a free, educational veterinary site with no registration required.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

She is a mix, but she's Sooo cute. It sounds like you got from a puppy mill without knowing. I see some chow chow in her. I'm glad you have her now and that she's safe and loved.

>>Hi there, thanks for checking this out. I have a 15 week old puppy named Dolce that I found through who I am hoping was a reputable middle-man to a breeder. Was told she is a Pomeranian, would be no more than 12 lbs, and was given papers regarding ancestry and breeder information. Everyone we meet says she looks like she must have some mix in her. We've gotten "nose too long, ears too big, shepard looking". Also were told by a vet tech that she looks like she'll grow to be a big dog. At 11 weeks, when I picked her up, she was 6 lbs. At 15 weeks she is 8.5lbs. I'm not worried, as I'm pretty sure she won't get to be much more than 15 lbs, but this makes it fairly obvious that she must be a mix and I have no idea what it might be. It'd be nice to be able to tell people what she is
>>
>>No worries though if I don't find out. She has a wonderful temperment and is very intelligent. She is a great companion dog and is a happy medium between hyper and mellow. These things are typical of pomeranian, but I know can also be typical of many dogs.
>>
>>Thanks in advance to anyone with a guess!
>>
>>Kristine and Dolce
>>
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Char
Animal Health Tech

She does look a bit Chow Chow, but I guess I won't know until she's fully grown.

Thanks so much!

Hi! You have already gotten some great advice about Dolce but I just wanted to add that she is a little sweetheart and adorable!
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.