Raising dogs, especially providing care for the pumi, is old hat for people across the globe. Some experts speculate dogs were domesticated sometime between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all canines evolved from wolves. Since then, people have selectively bred more than 400 breeds, which range in size from four-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-foot stature earns them the distinction of the tallest pooch. But the most widespread pooches are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The pumi is also a popular pick among dog owners. Some owners are unaware, however, of many common pumi care tips.
General health care cost for your pumi
The annual budget for taking care of the pumi—which includes everything from meals, to vet bills, toys and license—can vary between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This is not even accounting for capital costs for spay/neuter operations, collar and leash, dog carrier and a dog crate. Tip: Make sure you have obtained all of the necessary supplies before you get your pumi home for the 1st time.
Typical pumi Care
How To Feed the pumi
- pumi pups between 8 and 12 weeks old need 4 bowls of food in a 24 hour period.
- pumi pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals daily.
- Feed pups six months to 1 year two meals per day.
- By the time your pumi makes his first birthday, 1 feeding in a day is all that’s necessary.
- Some pumis, however, do better with 2 smaller meals. It is your responsibility to adapt to your pumi’s eating habits.
High-quality dry dogfood ensures a balanced diet for adult pumis and can mix with water, canned food, or broth. Your pumi may also enjoy cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these should not add up to more than 10 pct of his daily nutrition. pumi puppies need to be given excellent-quality, name brand puppy food. You should cut down on “people food”, however, since it can cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, bone and teeth problems, and may create extremely picky eating habits as well as obesity. Give fresh, potable water always, and be certain to wash water and food bowls regularly.
pumi Care Tips: Make sure your pumi does plenty of daily physical activity
pumis need some daily physical activity in order to stay healthy, recharge their minds, and keep healthy. Daily exercise also really helps pumis fight boredom, which would often lead to difficult behavior. Supervised fun and games will appease many of your pumi’s desires to retrieve, dig, chew, chase and herd. Individual exercise needs will vary based on your pumi’s level of health and his or her age—but a couple of walks around the block every day and ten minutes in back of the house probably will not suffice. If your pumi is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, her requirements will probably be greater.
pumi Grooming
Frequent brushing will help keep your pumi clean and reduce shedding. Inspect for ticks and fleas daily during the summer or other warm weather. Many pumis don’t need a bath more than a few times a year. Prior to the bath, comb or cut out any and all mats from the pumi’s hair. Rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap.
pumi Handling
Pups, as opposed to adults, are obviously easier to manage. While carrying your pumi puppy, take one of your hands and place it beneath your dog’s chest, with either your forearm or your other hand supporting her hind legs and rear. Don’t ever try to lift or grab your pup by her forelegs, tail or nape. If you have to lift a bigger, full-grown pumi, lift from underneath, supporting his or her chest with 1 arm and rump with the other arm.
pumi housing
pumis need a cozy quiet place to be able to sleep away from all drafts and off the ground or floor. You might wish to think about buying a doggie bed, or consider making one out of a wood box. Put a clean blanket, sheet, comforter, or pillow in the bed as cushioning. Wash the pumi’s bedding frequently. If your pumi will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make certain he has access to covering and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a warm, covered, dry area in winter.
pumi Identification
There are licensing rules to heed in your town. You should connect the license to your pumi’s collar. The license, together with an ID tattoo or tag, can help you recover your pumi should she go missing.
pumi Behavior Facts
Training your pumi
Well-mannered, companion pumis are a a joy. However, left untrained, your dog can be nothing but trouble. Teaching your pumi the minimums—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—strengthens your relationship both with your pumi and the house guests. If you have a puppy, start teaching him or her the appropriate behavior asap! Use meals as recognition and incentive. Pups can enroll in obedience courses when they are sufficiently vaccinated. Call your local humane society or SPCA for information about obedience classes. Invariably you should walk your pumi on a leash in public, even while a pup. Just be certain your doggie will come back to you when you tell him. An aggressive or disobedient pumi can’t play with other people.
The Health of Your pumi
Your pumi should visit the veterinarian for a thorough assessment, vaccinations and heartworm screening each year, and promptly if she is ill or hurt.
Your pumi’s Dental Health
While many of us may simply dislike our pumi’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it may mean. Foul breath is usually an indication that your pumi requires an oral screening. Dental plaque , which is brought on by bacteria brings a foul odor that can only be eliminated by professional treatment. Once your pumi has had a cleaning done by a professional, his gums and teeth can be maintained by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. Your veterinarian can provide you with additional guidance on mitigating oral diseases as well as halitosis. You can easily brush your pumi’s teeth using a doggie toothpaste or a paste made of baking soda and water a couple of times a week. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the tooth and the gum, often affects pumis. This painful disease can cause loss of teeth and also spread disease throughout the body. Veterinarians will brush her teeth as a regular part of your pumi’s health checkup.
pumi Bad Breath
If your pumi has smelly breath, periodontal disease may not necessarily be the reason, as other more serious illnesses have that symptom. A sweet, fruity smell can frequently be indicative of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. Kidney disease is a possible reason when your pumi’s breath smells of ammonia or urine. Whenever you notice your pumi has smelly breath and other indicators of disease, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, loss of weight, depression, a lot of drinking and urinating, set a trip to your dog’s vet.
Tick and Fleas in pumis
Throughout the summer, it’s important for you to perform daily checks of your pumi for fleas and ticks. Find and remove fleas with a flea comb. There are several new procedures of tick and flea management. Talk to your veterinarian about these and other options.
Heartworms in pumis
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and passes from a contaminated dog to your pumi by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be deadly. Your pumi should have a blood test for heartworms every single spring—this is important to detect infections from the prior year. A monthly tablet given throughout the course of the warm, wet time of the year will protect your pumi. Your pumi should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some regions, usually the regions with more moderate temperatures, where the veterinarians advise parasite tablets be used continually.
Poisons and Medications
If you’re considering giving your pumi tablets that was not prescribed for him by his vet, forget it. As little as one ibuprofen tablet is known to cause stomach ulcers in pumis. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your pumi. When you think your pooch has been exposed to a poison, contact your veterinarian or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 24 hours per day for instructions.
Neutering and Spaying pumis
Male pumis should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the extraction of the uterus and ovaries – by 6 months old. You usually will significantly diminish your female’s breast cancer risk by spaying prior to adulthood. The possibility of a sick uterus, which is also a serious affliction that impacts more mature females, will be removed by spaying prior to six months. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, certain types of aggressions and some hernias are preventable by neutering male pumis.
Vaccinating your pumi
- Your pumi puppy should be innoculated with a combo innoculation (called the “five-in-1”) at two, three and four months old, and again once yearly. This immunization immunizes your pup from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. The pumi puppy’s vaccination program cannot be finished prior to four months of age.
- If your pumi has not been immunized and is older than four months, she will need two innoculations immediately, 2 to 3 weeks apart. Then you must innoculate every year.
- pumi pup innoculation and socialization should coincide. Many veterinarians advise that new owners bring their pumi puppies to socialization courses, beginning at 8 or 9 weeks of age. At this age, they should have already received their first series of vaccines.
Regulations vary so much between different areas, the best thing is to contact your local veterinarian for rabies immunization info. For instance, in New York City, the rule states that all pets older than 3 months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. The initial rabies immunization must be followed by another innoculation a year later, and then every 3 years. There are several immunizations that may or may not be appropriate for your pumi. Ask your pumi’s vet for his recommendation. Also, if your pumi gets sick because he is not immunized, do not give the shot until the dog has made a full recovery.
Tapeworms in pumis
pumis are often exposed to worms and possible infestation—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry hookworms and roundworms are transmitted through a dog’s feces. Even the healthiest of pumi puppies carry intestinal worms. Getting an accurate, early diagnosis is the key to treatment. This will maximize the possibility that the treatment is successful against the worms your dog has. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best define the culprit—and prescribe the most effective medicine.
pumi Care Tips: Additional Information
pumi Supply Checklist
- Premium-quality dog food and treats designed for pumis and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush & comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Leash
- Carrier (for pups)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with comforter or towel
- Doggie toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to pumis:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Raisins and grapes
- Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
- Onions, garlic & chives
- Poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Dough
The “Bottom” Line
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in spot, always keep your pumi on a leash. And please, when your pumi defecates on your neighbor’s yard, remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about pumis
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