How to Train a Toy Pom

Pomeranians are animated, high-energy dogs that require lots of attention from their owners. Toy poms are especially susceptible to fear-based aggression and separation anxiety. The best time to train Pomeranians is while they are puppies, before they have had a chance to develop fearful dispositions and destructive habits. It's never too late to train a dog, though, and a few changes to your toy Pom's routine can make a huge difference in its behavior.

Things You'll Need

  • Leash
  • Training clicker
  • Dog treats
  • Crate
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Instructions

    • 1

      Socialize your dog as a puppy to people and other animals. Reinforce positive interactions by clicking your clicker, praising your dog and giving your dog a treat. Encourage other people, especially strangers, to give your dog treats. Avoid aggressive or hyperactive dogs during the first months of your puppy's life, providing your Pomeranian with access to lots of friendly dogs, including large breeds, instead.

    • 2

      Avoid rewarding bad behavior. Dog owners frequently inadvertently encourage hyper and fearful behavior in toy Poms. A dog who is chewing up furniture, for example, should not get any attention for doing so. Similarly, dogs who react aggressively toward people or other dogs should not be picked up, played with or comforted while displaying aggression. Instead, ignore your dog's behavior or place it in a crate until it has calmed down.

    • 3

      Teach your dog to walk on a leash. Because Pomeranians have so much energy, they may be inclined toward leash-pulling and hyperactivity during walks. Take a bag of treats with you, giving your dog a treat every time it walks near you. This encourages your dog to stay nearby instead of pulling on the leash. If your dog pulls, stop walking until the pulling stops.

    • 4

      Start house-training your dog the day you bring it home. Remember each accident increases the likelihood of future accidents, so allow your dog outside frequently, and if you have to be away from home for extended hours, hire a dog walker. Put your dog in a crate during the day until it is housebroken. If you catch your dog having an accident, immediately take it outside. When your dog goes to the bathroom outside, give it a treat and click your training clicker.