The New Pomeranian Owner Checklist (What We'd Actually Buy Again)
Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Everything recommended here is something we've personally used with Beignet and our Pom pack.
Quick answer: This isn't a 47-item Amazon dump. It's organized by when you actually need things, because buying everything at once is overwhelming and half of it will sit unused:
We got some of this wrong. Not the products, the timing. We had things we didn't need yet and didn't have things we needed immediately. We also bought a drawer full of treats that caused tummy problems and brushes that made Beignet dread grooming for years.
A Pomeranian is not a generic small dog. The double coat, the size, the confidence, the joints — all of it changes what you need and when. This is the list we'd hand a friend the week before pickup. Not the most exhaustive version on the internet. The edited one.
And if this is your second (or third) Pom, use this as a helpful refresher to check what you already have.
Before They Come Home
Have this ready. Day one is not the time to be ordering.
The Pen + Liners + Nature's Miracle
Containment isn't just for your sanity, it's genuinely good for a Pom. Dogs are denning animals, and a dedicated space they can see out of becomes something they love, not something they tolerate. Our dogs will put themselves to bed in their pens voluntarily. Free roam comes later, usually around a year old, once they've proven they won't cause mischief. Until then, the pen is home base.
We switched to a 10-panel acrylic pen and won't go back. What we didn't expect was how customizable the configuration is. You can use all the panels or remove some depending on your space, and the door panel can go wherever makes sense for your layout. That flexibility is genuinely useful as your puppy grows or your furniture arrangement changes. One thing worth knowing: if you have a jumper, the one we use isn't super tall, so factor that in before you order.
→ 10-Panel Acrylic Pen on Amazon
Metal crates were impossible to clean after accidents and the clanking drove us crazy. Acrylic wipes down in thirty seconds.
Start crate training immediately and be consistent. A cozy bed inside, a blanket, treats, and mealtimes in the pen. They resist at first and adapt faster than you'd expect. The pen becomes their safe place, not a punishment.
Washable pee pads go underneath from day one. The Green Lifestyle 34x36 pads are what we use. Absorbent enough to actually contain an accident, and machine washable so the pen stays clean between puppy bathroom runs. Buy at least two so one can wash/dry while one is in use. If your puppy is hard to house train, or you like to be prepared, four is not excessive.
→ Green Lifestyle Washable Puppy Pads on Amazon
Keep Nature's Miracle nearby. It's a bacteria-based formula: the bacteria produce enzymes on contact with bio-based messes, and those enzymes break down the organic compounds that cause the odor. Anything else masks the smell for you while leaving enough scent for the dog to find the spot again.
Cleaning up accidents is something you really don't want to think about or have to do twice. This is the one we spray, forget about for ten minutes, then blot — and it's gone.
We used it on a new bouclé couch after one of our Poms decided to mark it. We were devastated. After Nature’s Miracle, no smell, no stain. Like it never happened.
Use it first, let it sit for 10–15 minutes, blot or wash, and don't mix it with other cleaning products (other detergents can chemically set the stain and interfere with the enzymatic process). When in doubt, use it again rather than layering something else on top.
The Bed
Orthopedic support matters even at four pounds. Pomeranians jump on and off furniture, up and down from laps, and their joints take more impact than their size suggests. A proper orthopedic bed with egg crate foam distributes that impact correctly. A flat foam pad compresses quickly under a small dog and stops doing much.
We use the Frisco Plush Orthopedic Front Bolster Bed. The front is open and low enough for a small dog to step on and off without help. This bed was a lifesaver when our puppy broke his leg and couldn’t get comfy in his usual spots.
→ Frisco Orthopedic Bed on Chewy
The Dish
Pomeranians prefer something flat. A standard deep dog bowl puts their face at the wrong angle and catches fur around the edges. We spent a while using a shallow tupperware lid, which works perfectly, if you don't mind the aesthetic.
If you want something that actually looks intentional in your kitchen: the ShouldWeGo silicone shallow dish has a hidden suction base so it doesn't slide, sits just over an inch high, and comes in muted neutral colors. Small size is right for a Pom.
We weren't sure the wider base would matter much, but all three of ours took to it immediately. It's also dishwasher and microwave safe, which makes daily cleaning less of a thought.
→ ShouldWeGo Silicone Shallow Dish on Amazon
Water Fountain
Pomeranians drink more consistently from moving water than from a standing bowl. The fountain keeps water filtered and fresh, which matters for a small dog whose hydration directly affects coat health.
We use the Petlibro smart fountain, which has an app that tracks how much water the dogs are drinking, tells you when it needs to be refilled, and flags when cleaning and filter changes are due. With three dogs using it, knowing the water is always running through a filter matters more than we expected.
Our two purebred Pomeranians are weirdly obsessed with it. They'll bypass the base entirely and drink directly from the spout like it's their own personal cup. We don't have a good explanation for this. We've accepted it.
→ Petlibro Smart Water Fountain on Amazon
Honest note: fountains do require weekly cleaning and filter changes. If that's not something you'll maintain consistently, a clean shallow dish changed daily is better than a fountain that goes too long between cleans.
Puppy Shampoo
Pom puppies don't have their double coat yet. The full adult coat comes in during the coat transition around six to ten months. Until then, a gentle puppy formula is the right call. We use the Earth Rated coat-specific shampoo for puppies and short-haired dogs. No adult conditioner yet; the puppy coat doesn't need it.
One thing we didn't expect to love: the twist nozzle. It sounds minor until you're bathing a heavy shedder mid-blowing coat season and need to work shampoo through a coat that's releasing fur in handfuls. The controlled one-handed pour actually makes a difference.
→ Earth Rated Puppy Shampoo on Amazon
Earth Rated Poop Bags + Wipes
If you can’t tell, we like the Earth Rated brand. The poop bags we use are the unscented ones: thick, leak-proof, and sized to actually use without stress. You'll notice the difference compared to thinner options immediately.
→ Earth Rated Poop Bags on Amazon
The body wipes are worth knowing about before you need them. Pomeranians have full coats that don't leave much clearance. Fur ends up in the mix after bathroom trips more often than you'd expect. Having wipes on hand means you can clean immediately after they go outside rather than waiting until bath day. We use the white tea and basil scent but they have other options. It makes an immediate, practical difference.
→ Earth Rated Body Wipes on Amazon
The eye wipes are a separate product and worth having from the start. Pomeranians are prone to tear staining, and keeping the area around the eyes gently cleaned early is much easier than dealing with staining that's been building for months. Used consistently over a few days in a row, you'll notice a real difference in staining.
First Weeks
Get the routine established early. These become daily habits.
Brush + Comb
Start immediately, even before there's much coat to work with. The habit is the point. A Pom that's been handled and brushed from puppyhood is a completely different grooming experience than one that encounters it for the first time at six months with a full adult coat.
We had the wrong brushes with Beignet for longer than we'd like to admit. He hated being brushed and we thought that was just his personality. It wasn't — it was the tools. The wrong brush drags, catches, and creates static. The right one moves through a double coat correctly and doesn't hurt. Getting this right early means your Pom learns that brushing is fine, not something to avoid.
The Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush is what we use. The metal greyhound comb is the second tool. It reaches the underlayer the brush doesn't. Worth noting: unlike brushes, where the wrong tool genuinely creates problems, a basic stainless steel comb works fine. The features that matter are dual-sided (narrow and wide teeth) and stainless steel. We bought a basic comb that has held up for years.
→ Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush on Amazon
→ SUKETIL Metal Greyhound Comb on Amazon
Detangling Spray
Brush a dry Pom coat without it and you're creating static and breakage. A light mist of the Isle of Dogs conditioning spray before every brush session makes the coat easier to work through and keeps the individual hairs moving freely.
It's also genuinely fragrant and it gives the coat volume when you brush it through. Beignet ends up looking like a small puffy cloud. That part never gets old.
This is one of those things that feels optional until you skip it a few times.
→ Isle of Dogs Conditioning Spray on Amazon
Pom-Friendly Harness + Leash
No collars for walking. Pomeranians have delicate tracheas. Any tension on a collar lead, even mild, puts direct pressure on a structure that doesn't handle it well over time. The harness distributes lead pressure across the chest and shoulders instead. Keep the collar for ID tags and aesthetics; the leash attaches to the harness only.
Beignet wears the Hund Denmark Cushioned Harness in rolled leather. The rolled profile means it doesn't compress the chest coat flat, which is how you avoid the chest mats that show up on Poms in flat nylon harnesses. Full details in the harness article.
→ Hund Denmark Cushioned Harness
→ Hund Denmark Convertible 6-in-1 Leash
Indoor Dog Gate
Beignet got out the front door twice. Those were the two scariest hours of my life. We got the gate when he was five years old and I wish we'd had it from day one. It would have saved years of stress every time someone rang the doorbell or a package arrived.
A gate between the entryway and the rest of the house removes the problem entirely. You stop thinking about it within a week. And it's lower-commitment than it sounds. Ours comes down completely when we have guests or a party, then goes right back up. It's not a permanent fixture.
We use a freestanding espresso wood gate that configures without mounting to walls. It's tall enough that Beignet doesn't attempt to jump it, and in a room with warm neutrals, it reads as intentional rather than reactive.
→ Freestanding Wood Gate on Amazon
Pet Stairs
This one surprises people. Puppies want to be where you are — on the couch, on the bed — and the instinct is to let them jump. The problem is that a Pom jumping off a couch or bed repeatedly is putting real impact through small joints every single time. Pet stairs train the habit early, before jumping feels normal to them.
We upgraded from an old plastic fold-up set and the difference was immediate. Our puppy was scared of the hollow plastic noise from stepping on the old ones and refused to use them. The COZY KISS stairs have a gentle curve and foam padding. He took to them in about sixty seconds and figured out how to get on and off the couch on his own from that point forward. The fact that they are much nicer-looking is a big plus.
→ COZY KISS Pet Stairs on Amazon
Start the stairs before they think jumping is the only option. It's much easier to establish than to correct later.
Pet Genie
The same people who make the Diaper Genie made this. It seals poop bag odor so you're not making a trip outside every single time.
We weren't sure we'd actually use it. Our trash can is far from the house, and throwing dog poop in the kitchen trash was something we hated. It stinks everything up even tied off. The Pet Genie made the trash trip a weekly chore instead of a daily one.
First Months
You'll know you need these once you're living with a Pom. We're just telling you early.
Dryer
Once your Pom is old enough for full baths, a high-velocity dryer changes the post-bath experience entirely. Towel drying a double coat leaves moisture trapped at the skin, which is where hot spots and coat problems start. A dryer gets the undercoat actually dry, not just surface dry.
We use a high-velocity human hair dryer on a low heat setting rather than a purpose-built dog dryer. It felt easier justifying the investment in a nicer hair dryer for myself when I could also use them for the Poms.
→ Shark FlexStyle Dryer on Amazon
Adult Shampoo + Conditioner
The coat transition, usually somewhere between 6-14 months, is when the adult double coat comes in. It's also when shampoo and conditioner become genuinely important. Adult Pom coat is denser and needs a formula that supports the undercoat, not just the outer layer.
We use the Earth Rated double-coat shampoo and conditioner. One product for both. It simplifies the bath routine and the formula is designed specifically for the coat type you're now dealing with.
→ Earth Rated Double Coat Shampoo + Conditioner on Amazon
Treats
Finding the right treat for a tiny dog is harder than it should be. Most treats are sized for dogs that could swallow them whole without thinking. Pomeranians need something small enough to be genuinely bite-sized and digestible enough not to cause issues. A lot of the impulse buys in this category caused tummy problems we didn't immediately connect to the treat.
If you aren’t already aware, avoid rawhide. For any small dog, it's a choking and digestibility risk that isn't worth taking.
The Earth Animal No-Hide Stix came recommended by a friend and we always keep them on hand now. The salmon version gives our adult Poms at least 30 minutes of focused silence, and our puppy even longer. They do have other options, including beef, chicken, pork, and peanut butter, if your dog prefers.
Quiet time is peaceful. That alone makes them worth having.
→ Earth Animal No-Hide Stix on Amazon
Vacuum
Around month two, something shifts. The fur is everywhere — on the couch, in the corners, on your dark clothes before you've left the house. A Pomeranian sheds year-round and blows coat twice a year. A vacuum that actually handles pet hair is not optional at this point; it's the difference between a home that feels manageable and one that doesn't.
We use the Dyson V12 Detect Slim. Why we chose it over other options is here.
→ Check current price: Dyson V12
Air Purifier
The fur you can see is easy to manage. Dander — the microscopic particles that carry allergens and contribute to that particular "dog house" smell — is invisible until it's built up enough to notice. An air purifier running continuously handles what the vacuum can't.
We run the Dyson PC1 in the main living area (full details of why we chose the Dyson are here).
What We'd Skip (And Why)
Opinions from someone who bought most of it
Too Many Toys
We have a drawer stuffed full of toys we bought in the first few months. Most of them get ignored. Poms are selective and often attach to one or two things and ignore the rest entirely. Get a couple before they arrive and let them tell you what they like before you accumulate twenty options. Pro tip: once you do have a bunch, keep only 2-3 out at a time and rotate them once a week so they always feel new to your Pom.
Impulse-Buy Treats
A lot of what's marketed as dog treats caused tummy problems we didn't immediately connect back to the treat. Small dogs have sensitive digestion and the wrong treat shows up fast. Stick to something you know works, like the No-Hide Stix above, before experimenting with anything new.
Nail Clippers
Leave it to your groomer or vet. The risk of cutting the quick on a small dog, the stress it causes, and the trust it can damage is not worth the convenience. Professional grooming appointments handle this — let them.
The Wrong Brush
Not a skip exactly, but worth saying clearly. The wrong brush drags, catches, creates static, and hurts. A Pom that learns brushing is unpleasant will resist it, and that resistance is hard to undo once it's established. Beignet hated being brushed for years. It wasn't his personality; it was our tools. Get the right brush from the start and grooming becomes something your Pom tolerates, then accepts, then stops thinking about.
What Comes Next
The list above carries you through the first several months. The next thing that opens up, once the puppy coat transitions to the adult double coat, is the grooming system. That's where most Pom owners have the steepest learning curve, and where the right tools and habits make the biggest difference.
The Pomeranian grooming routine is the place to start. It covers the full system we use between professional appointments, in the order it actually makes sense to do it.
