Pomeranian Problems: 6 Behavioral Issues with Expert Training Tips
Updated April 24, 2023.
So you’ve decided to bring home a living, breathing cotton ball—otherwise known as a Pomeranian puppy. We know the cuteness is hard to resist, but before you do anything else, make sure you spend some time learning about the breed’s potential behavior issues to avoid any issues down the line. Pomeranians are an intelligent, active, and easily trained breed, but a lack of early socialization and poor training can lead to behavioral problems.
Here are some of the most common behavioral issues of Pomeranians and tips to help you train your dog.
6 Common Pomeranian Behavioral Issues
- Excessive Barking
- Separation Anxiety
- Eating Problems
- Aggression
- House Training Problems
- Chewing Problems
1. Excessive Barking
Pomeranians have a reputation for being talkative, yappy dogs. This is because they are sensitive dogs that tend to bark for many reasons—from separation anxiety or boredom if they are left alone for too long to barking as a response to loud noises or excitement.
Excessive barking can also be caused by a lack of training and poor socialization. Without help and direction, they might also bark simply because they haven’t been taught another way to communicate with you. In some dogs, barking can be a sign of an underlying medical issue such as pain in dogs with a chronic illness. Always talk to your vet if the barking started suddenly or has increased recently.
Training Tips
For barking in response to noise or scary things, try desensitizing, which requires exposing your dog to a scary noise or situation in very small, manageable chunks of time and rewarding constantly (so they associate the scary noise with something positive like a treat or praise) as they relax and stop barking. You can also teach them a new behavior, like training them to lie down on their favorite bed when you say “Go to your place.” Be persistent and consistent and don’t push your dog into something too scary. Change takes time!
2. Separation Anxiety
Pomeranians tend to develop strong bonds with their favorite human and crave their company all the time. Unfortunately, this can sometimes result in separation anxiety if they are then left alone and unsupervised for long periods of time.
Separation anxiety is very distressing for the dog and can include signs like acting overly clingy or retreating, nipping digging, and chewing. Some dogs with separation anxiety panic so much while alone that you’ll see the signs of them being frantic when you return—scattered food and water, over-excitement when they see you again, or going to the toilet inside even if they were walked in advance and you were gone for just a short period of time.
Training Tips
You can help your dog with separation anxiety by slowly working on separation time. Leave the house (or go to a different room) for just one minute and return before your dog gets upset. Very slowly increase the time but always return at the first sign of distress. When leaving dogs alone, make sure they have plenty of interesting toys to keep them engaged. Dogs with severe separation anxiety might need a sitter to keep them company while you’re gone.
3. Eating Problems
Pomeranians can be picky eaters and, unfortunately, this can lead to owners feeding too many treats or sharing table scraps—a Pomeranian begging might seem cute, but these are bad habits that can result in weight gain and digestive problems. The best way to manage a Pomeranian picky eater is to find a healthy, well-balanced food they enjoy and feed it in the proper amounts. Always keep your dog in a healthy weight range and don’t feed human food just to get them to eat.
Training Tips
Picky eaters might be more motivated to eat if you feed them using puzzles rather than putting the food into a bowl. But even with puzzles, always feed small serving sizes and don’t feed too many types of different foods at once—this can lead to digestive upset. If you find a dog food your dog likes, stick with it!
4. Aggression
While Pomeranians aren't an aggressive breed, they can be very territorial. Because they are anxious and protective over their favorite humans, they can sometimes be aggressive towards strangers they perceive as a threat to their family. They also have strong guarding instincts, which can result in guarding food or toys. Never confront aggressive Pomeranians. This can escalate the situation and lead to barking, snarling, and biting, even during playtime.
Training Tips
Engaging your Pomeranian in gentle play from the time they’re pups can help. This will teach them to control excitement that could quickly escalate into biting or scratching. One way to do this is to simply stop play time and walk away if things get too rough. Make sure you socialize them from a young age as well so they’re comfortable in a number of situations and environments.
5. House Training Problems
Pomeranians are notoriously hard to housetrain, and even after you feel like you have accomplished toilet training, “accidents” can still happen. The key to success is to start toilet training as soon as your dog comes to live with you. You will need to remain consistent and practice for at least 2-3 months before you can expect to see results.
Training Tips
Start toilet training as soon as your dog comes to live with you. As a rule, make sure you feed them at the same time and in the same manner every day while they’re being housetrained. Always head outside for a toilet break after eating. Never remove water (even at night) but don’t overfeed late in the evening, as this can lead to accidents overnight.
6. Chewing Problems
Pomeranians are prone to excessive chewing tendencies (think shoes, magazines, pillows) when they are stressed or bored. This is especially common among dogs that spend too much time at home alone. Exercise can be a great tool to help them calm down and prevent chewing.
Training Tips
Exercise is key to tiring out a dog and reducing the need for chewing as an outlet. Just don’t overdo it—too much exercise can make a dog hyper and can potentially cause sprains or muscle pain. Mental exercise is also good to tire out a dog—try puzzles or practice some training tricks. Keep chewing toys around and always puppy-proof your home to avoid accidents and injuries.
A Well-Trained Pomeranian Is a Happy Pomeranian
If you put in the time and effort to train your Pomeranian, you’ll be rewarded with a happy and well-adjusted dog. Because accidents and illnesses can still occur without warning, you should consider getting pet insurance. This can help protect your Pom while also helping you avoid unexpected veterinary bills.
