HOW TO TRAIN YOUR POMERANIAN

Are Pomeranians Easy to Train?

Some dog breeds are more difficult than others to train. Not because they lack intelligence, far from it, but because they often have a dominant or stubborn nature, which makes them trickier to handle, especially for first-time dog owners. Like any good Spitz, the Pomeranian has a strong will, which they need to learn to channel early on to prevent them from getting overwhelmed. Don’t let your dog run free just because they’re small and supposedly “less dangerous" than larger dogs. Small to medium-sized dogs also need well-defined boundaries to make family life as smooth as possible.

What Age Should I Start Training My Pomeranian?

The answer is simple: as soon as you welcome your new puppy home! You can start training your Pomeranian as early as 2 months old. Also, take the opportunity to improve their socialisation. This is an essential and crucial step, which will determine your dog’s relationship with the world around them, as well as with people and other animals. This should take place between the second and third month of your pup’s life. Of course, it is possible to socialise an adult dog, but the task becomes more difficult the older they get, due to their history and potential traumas. In this case, don’t hesitate to call on the help of a professional dog trainer.

Pomeranian Training Tips

Dog training requires certain prior knowledge and a solid base. Keep in mind that you should never use violence with your dog, neither verbal nor physical. And this is true for all dog breeds. Favour positive dog training based on rewards, not punishment. Reinforce good behaviour with cuddles or playtime. You can also bribe your Pom with treats as a last resort. Just be careful not to over-do it to avoid any risk of obesity. All dogs respond much better to this kind of approach than to coercive training. Poor dog training could make your Pomeranian aggressive and difficult to handle.

Always follow these three main principles when it comes to dog training: patience, coherence, and consistency!

• Patience: This is all the more important for this stubborn dog breed; the Pomeranian is not always willing to do as it’s told. Although Pomeranians are intelligent and develop a close bond with their owners, they also need time to remember all the different commands you want to teach them. Try not to get impatient with your Pom, and praise them as soon as they succeed to help them progress.

• Coherence: Keep your commands short and easy to remember, and stick to them along the way. Each action or request must correspond to a specific word, which is easy for your dog to understand. Set limits and make it clear to your puppy that you are in charge. Repeat things over and over, and learn to accept it when a training session is cut short. Teach your Pomeranian one command at a time, repeat until they've fully grasped it, then move on to the next one.

• Consistency: The only thing that will bring concrete results is repetition over time. Your Pomeranian cannot be expected to understand everything immediately, no matter how smart they may be. Set aside fifteen minutes a day for training sessions and repeat each lesson as many times as necessary until your furry friend understands what you want from them. Take advantage, for example, of playtime or a walk to affirm your dog’s learnings. Pomeranians love spending time with their masters, so make the most of it!

Which Basic Commands Should I Teach My Pomeranian?

It's important to teach your dog a few basic commands as early as possible to guarantee their safety. These should be implemented as soon as your puppy arrives in its new home.

• Come: This command helps you keep your dog safe under any circumstance. It allows you to call them back to you whenever you see that they’re in danger. It’s very important to have this command fully instilled in your pooch before you can, for example, let them off the lead in the dog park. To teach your Pomeranian to come to you, start in an enclosed, secure area. If need be, ask a family member or friend to help you. Take turns calling your dog and congratulating them profusely when they come towards you.

• Heel: Your dog must learn how to walk on a lead properly, especially if they live in the city. Your Pomeranian should know not to pull on their lead, as they could wind up injuring themselves. It's important to teach your pooch to respect and follow your rhythm. As soon as they start to pull, pull back, give the command, and walk in the other direction. Repeat this as long and as often as necessary until your pooch is walking comfortably alongside you on the lead.

• Stop: Thanks to this command, you can tell your dog to stop what they’re doing or ask them to wait for you, for example. It will take a bit of work on your end, as Pomeranians are not always willing to listen. This command should be accompanied by a reward to compensate for the ban. In this way, your dog gains something from obeying you, and your order is not interpreted as a punishment. For example, give your Pom a small dog treat or cuddle if they stop when asked. They will be much more inclined to obey you.