Pomeranian Dog Training and Fun Pom Activities

Last Updated on 02/12/2020 by Dochlaggie. Post first published on January 5, 2018.

Pomeranian dog training is great fun being outside. Little dogs enjoy Pomeranian Agility and Pomeranian obedience.

You want to know can a Pomeranian be a service dog or a Pomeranian therapy dog?

The answer is YES. Pomeranians are very smart and enjoy challenging tasks. Pomeranian training is a fun activity for owner and dog.

Pomeranian Obedience

Although you may like to teach your dog everything he needs to know, attending dog school will help with things you can’t do. He gets to socialise with various other dogs.

If he’s a puppy, this is a critical part of his learning. If you only own one dog, this is an ideal way to meet other dogs in the same breed in a structured setting where everybody behaves.

Your Pomeranian dog learns how to behave despite distractions. Sitting in a full room of other dogs will be a challenge when compared to sitting at your feet in front of the TV. Experienced trainers will watch him and may offer extra information on how to be more obedient.

You also get to socialise with other owners and their dogs. There are classes for dogs that cover all aspects of their life including kindergarten for puppies, agility, obedience, therapy work, behaviour at home and much more.

Information on Pomeranian obedience classes may be obtained from your vet, grooming shop, kennel club or local shelter. Always ask questions prior to signing up for any classes. Lesson number and cost shouldn’t be the only factors in your decision.

What Pomeranian Training Methods are Used?

Phrases such as positive reinforcement, clicker or reward-based training are good. Don’t go to trainers who use choke collars or use language such as dominant or alpha.

Here are basic questions to ask before committing to Pomeranian obedience:

How many dogs per class?
Are big and small dogs segregated?
Are dogs controlled?
If your dog is allowed off his leash so he can exercise, is the space fenced off or indoors and secure?

Pomeranian Agility Competitions

Maybe you’re physically fit and want to get your dog to be more active. If so, get his agility developed. An obstacle course is a great way to do it, as a timed exercise.

Both you and your Pom dog would tackle each obstacle along the way. A Pomeranian agility course may include: tunnels, ramps to climb over, a see-saw, planks of wood to cross and so on.

There are various organisations that have obstacle courses set up for this purpose so contact your vet, local kennel club or pet shop to see if anybody can give you information.

Pomeranian Flyball

Flyball is one of a mere handful of team sports for dogs. It’s a relay race for dogs, one by one they go, each one eventually passing a ball to the next dog and so on they go until all have completed it. It’s one of the craziest, funniest, most enjoyable activities for dogs.

Poms aren’t too small. The height of all jumps is set by the height of the smallest dog so there’s no excuse not to have all the fun in the world.

Can a Pomeranian Be a Service Dog?

YES. A Pom dog can be a great Pomeranian service dog.

Pomeranian Therapy Dog

Owning a pet can be cathartic. Imagine not being able to have pets and receiving that unconditional love 24/7. If you enjoy it so much, why not help others who can’t have pets for whatever reason?

It could be an elderly neighbour, a children’s hospital, a nursing home or somewhere else. Many people would benefit greatly from contact with a loving pet. Lots of places have people who take their dogs to places such as those listed.

Your dog can even be trained to be a Pomeranian therapy dog and this extra training allows you to go to places where regular dogs are forbidden. Therapy work is the most rewarding activity you and your dog can enjoy and offer to others.

Fun Outdoor Pomeranian Activities

Some of the greatest times you spend with your Pom are when you’re both relaxing and watching TV, or fooling around at home where nobody can see the silly things you get up to. However, whether you’re walking your dog along a path, around a sports ground or share good times in a doggie park where other people can also see you.

These are just a few of the activities you can do with your Pomeranian dog whilst outside the home.

Playing in the Park

Letting your Pom dog run free in a dog park is great fun for both you and him. There are different types of parks. Some are open to anybody while others require a membership. Some parks request a payment each time you visit and others will keep the big and small dogs separate for safety.

Some of the parks have equipment you can use. Avoid places where your pet can play with big dogs you don’t know or those who aren’t controlled by their owners. Never let your Pom go anywhere prior to receiving all vaccinations. Then the real fun can start!

Pomeranian Dogs Love Playing Fetch

Most dogs love playing Fetch. You should have a ball that’s small enough for your Pom to grab but still big enough so it can’t be swallowed. If unsure, bigger is better. As alternative, you could use a cat toy or stuffed toy filled with feathers or fur.

The other toy you can use is a Frisbee, a round plastic disc you can throw and your Pom can retrieve. Pomeranians don’t naturally retrieve things because it wasn’t part of the main goal of their ancestors.

However, if you start playing early enough, you can quickly teach your Pom dog to play and have loads of fun.

These tips will help you teach your Pom to be a super retriever:

1. Stand in the centre of your hall at home with two toys or balls.
2. Throw the first toy in one direction and encourage your pet to fetch it. Once he has it, call him back to you.
3. Toss the second toy in the opposite direction the moment your pom is by your side.
4. Repeat this process a few times but stop while he still wants to play.
5. Then start again but this time click when he takes a step towards the ball and give him a treat.
6. After doing this a few times, only click and give him a treat as he gets closer to the ball, touches it, picks it up, and brings it back to you. This may sound hard but it’s easy once you get the hang of it.

Smell the Way

Although Poms aren’t known to have as good a sense of smell as dogs used for search and rescue purposes, they still have an amazing sense of smell, enabling them to find wild animals, crooks, buried people and any treats you have hidden. However, you should stick to only looking for treats.

Follow these steps:

1. Let your Pomeranian watch you as you hide a yummy treat in an obvious place.
2. Take him to a different room for 10 seconds. Then back to the treat room and encourage him to look for it and eat it once located.
3. Hide the treat in a spot that’s not as easy to find, with him still watching you. Then repeat the process in step 2.
4. Next, don’t let him watch as you hide another treat. Make him sniff his way to the delicacy and follow step 2.
5. Do it as often as you want but make each time a bit harder for him to find it. The majority of Pomeranians will enjoy this game and it’s a fun way to get him to work for his food, in the same way as his wilder ancestors. If he’s carrying too much weight, hide the kibble piece by piece so he burns off calories looking for his food and eating it.

Outdoor Excursions Can Be Fun

If you thought your new Pom would be great for long, mountainous hikes, you’ll find that he will BUT only if you carry him most of the way. However, short hikes may be great, as are walks around the block or the local park. Whether it’s walking or camping somewhere, always keep his harness and leash on.

If you’re in a campground, also pack an exercise pen so he can be confined and safe. Boating is another fun activity. Because a Pom is so small, he’s great on a boat, as long as he knows how to swim and also wears a dog life vest. If he falls overboard, a strong net can scoop him up but swimming may just save his life.

Pomeranian Good Citizen

Your dog should be a model citizen. He must behave when strangers are around, even when touched, and he shouldn’t jump all over them or act resentful. He should be easy to walk and not freak out or jerk his leash when he sees or hears distractions.

One test is that he should be attached to a 20-foot line. He must stay, lie or sit still and then come to you when called. He must allow a stranger to hold him for three minutes when you’re not in sight, and not behave badly. You’re permitted to talk to your pet during the test but toys and treats can’t be used as bribes.

You’re not allowed to force your Pom dog into a specific position but you can gently guide him. If your Pom does his business while participating in a test, he fails automatically, so make sure he has been beforehand. The test is ended if he snaps, bites, growls or attempts to attack another animal or person.

Meet and Greet the Pomeranian

If your Pom enjoys making new friends, you can take him to an organised event, known as a Meet and Greet, where one or two different dog breeds meet members of the public. Rescued Pomeranian dogs gain a lot from such events and people get to see how great these dogs really are, despite being badly treated. Make sure your dog has been bathed and is behaved properly.

Everyone loves petting Poms so ensure you control it as it happens.

These pointers will help you:

Set up a table so he can sit on it instead of on the ground, surrounded by people.
Restrict the amount of people who pet him at the same time or he could feel overwhelmed.
Never let a stranger hold him because they may get startled and drop him.
Have a lot of small treats so people can use your “safe” treats instead of whatever they bring.
Let him show off some of his tricks for the audience’s amusement. Make contact with a Pomeranian club, kennel club or rescue group to see if they have events planned. If not, recommend it and offer help to do so.

References and Further Reading:
[1] Denise Leo “The Pomeranian Handbook”.