Are Pomeranians Good With Other Dogs?

Last Updated on 19/01/2023 by Dochlaggie. Post first published on January 19, 2023.

Adding a second dog to the household can bring plenty of love and joy to the entire family and be an excellent companion to your existing Pomeranian, especially while you’re at work and there are no people home during the day.

However, you may be concerned that Pomeranians are good with other dogs and will put up with not being the only dog in the household.

Are Pomeranians Good With Other Dogs Facts

Pomeranians are generally good with other dogs, especially if they have been socialized and neutered.
Toy breeds such as Poodles, Shih Tzus and Maltese make the best companions for a Pomeranian.
Poor socialization or traumatic events can lead to aggressive behavior in some cases.
Owners must establish themselves as pack leaders so their Pom can feel more comfortable around other dogs.
Introducing another dog of the opposite sex may help minimize potential problems between them.
Pomeranians can get along with other dogs, but it takes patience and dedication.
Understanding the Pomeranian’s temperament is essential before introducing a new dog.
Introducing a second dog should be done in neutral territory and at their own pace; owners should supervise during interactions between both dogs.
Owners should keep both dogs separate for some time until they become comfortable around each other, slowly introducing them together while providing treats as a positive reinforcement when either displays appropriate behavior.
If problems persist, professional help from an experienced trainer may be necessary to ensure that your Pomeranian gets along well with its canine companions.

The Pomeranian With Other Dogs

Let’s look at the breeds of dogs that may be well-suited to introduce to your Pomeranian. If your Pom is well-socialized, he’s likely to enjoy the company of all breeds. In some circumstances, even a German Shepherd and Pomeranian get along well.

However, Pomeranians are tiny, so it’s advisable to choose another toy breed, such as a: Pug, Toy Poodle, Maltese, Shih Tzu, or even another Pomeranian.

You may be asking yourself this…do Pomeranians get along with other dogs?

Why is it that some Poms won’t get along with other dogs, and what’s the best method for introducing a new dog to your Pom? Read on to learn more.

Why Don’t Some Pomeranians Get Along When Introduced to Other Breeds?

There are dogs with such a friendly nature that they get along with any dog they meet, and you don’t need to make any effort. Sadly, Pomeranian traits and behavior can often include being bossy, aggressive, and dominant, meaning they won’t always play with others without causing trouble.

Never think a tiny Pomeranian can’t possibly be a problem because, despite being small, he doesn’t know that. This means he’ll have no hesitation in challenging a dog three times his size. Imagine him facing off against a Labrador or German Shepherd to give you an image.

If it weren’t so serious, it would come across as ridiculous. A powerful spirit is trapped inside a Pomeranian’s tiny body, so a larger dog can certainly harm him, even if it’s unintentional. This is one good reason for ensuring your Pom is close to you when you go walking.

There are five distinct reasons your Pomeranian may act like a bully when faced with another dog.

1. Poor Pomeranian Socialization

It’s not in their nature to be friendly to other dogs, so it’s vital that, while they’re young, they need to spend as much time as possible around other dogs, so they’re comfortable. Pom puppies are naturally impressionable. If they spend time around other canines and it’s a positive experience, they won’t be as defensive or suspicious as adults.

Take your Pom puppy for walks in the local dog park and/or enroll him in obedience school because these are fantastic methods of helping your puppy get used to other dogs. Invite friends who own dogs to meet up, and you can introduce all the dogs to each other—making that a regular event will help your puppy get used to seeing some others more than once.

2. Traumatic Event

One negative experience while you’re socializing with your Pomeranian may have an enormous impact on his future behavior. If he’s attacked or bullied by another dog, the effect could make him permanently suspicious and wary of all dogs he might come across from then on.

Some dogs get extremely enthusiastic about making new friends, and, if the dog is enormous compared to your Pomeranian, he may be accidentally injured.

This is one major reason why socialization needs to be positive at all times. To protect him from harm, you must be close to your Pomeranian whenever you’re near other dogs.

3. He is NOT the Leader of the Pack

Your Pomeranian regards himself as the pack leader, and because of this mentality, he may clash with other dogs who believe they’re the leaders of their respective packs. Your Pom views the other dog as an intruder in his pack and territory and will undoubtedly be on the defensive. To stop this behavior, YOU must establish yourself as the pack leader because that frees your Pom to make friends with other dogs.

4. Your Pomeranian is Scared

In theory, the idea of bringing another dog into the home is good. However, your Pomeranian may feel stressed because he dislikes any changes. He might also view the other dog as a competitor for your affection, attention, toys, and food. This can make him feel scared and anxious and cause him to guard the resources (hiding toys, food, etc for later).

5. Your Pomeranian Hasn’t Been Neutered

If you haven’t desexed your Pomeranian, it makes them more aggressive when faced with other dogs, as they view all dogs as competition. A good recommendation by animal specialists is that, when choosing your second dog, it must be the opposite sex to minimize problems. If you have no plans to breed your Pomeranian, then the best option is to fix him/her.

Do Pomeranians Get Along With Other Dogs?

Many dog owners believe bringing a second dog into the home is easy because they’ll quickly become friends. However, that’s far from being the case. There are certain steps to follow to ensure your Pomeranian makes friends with the new dog.

1.Pomeranian Temperament

Generally speaking, Pomeranians will build a strong bond with owners and want 100% of their attention. Poms who are bossy or spoiled will likely bully or fight any new dog introduced to the household. So, before getting a second dog, you need to test yours to determine how comfortable he feels when other dogs are in the vicinity.

A good place for this is the local dog park. If he’s relaxed, happy, and doesn’t appear aggressive, he’ll likely behave and welcome a second dog into the home.

2. The Nose Knows

Another way to make your dog welcome a newcomer is by using the new dog’s scent. Rub a cloth over the new dog’s body for a couple of minutes. Then take that cloth home and give it to your Pomeranian to snuffle. Another option is a blanket; you can lay it where the new dog sleeps.

3. Introduce the Dogs On Neutral Territory

It’s not wise to bring the new dog into your home to meet your current Pomeranian because he feels that it’s his territory and may think the new dog is an intruder and show some aggression. It’s much better to choose somewhere neutral as it will avoid any issues with the territory. Ask a friend to help you with the process and ensure both dogs are on leashes.

4. Allow Both Dogs to Greet Each Other

At their own pace. Let both dogs move closer to each other. Don’t make them move closer, as that can trigger aggression. After that initial greeting, separate them and either play a game with them or do obedience training. Then repeat the first action of letting them move closer together. Repeat the process several times and offer them treats while they’re interacting.

If you sense aggression or your Pomeranian is tense, separate the dogs and try again after a few minutes. Repeat the whole process as many times as you feel are necessary until both dogs are relaxed and calm. Once that’s over, take them both for a short walk and then take them home again.

5. Make Sure You Keep Both Dogs Separate

Regardless of how well both dogs behave while being introduced, keeping them separate for a while would be best. Keep them in different rooms or make use of a playpen.

Allow both dogs to see one another through baby gates, which helps them feel more comfortable around each other. Always supervise them when they play and step in if there appears to be any aggression. Never leave them alone; this is critical if the other dog is much bigger than your Pomeranian.

6. Give Them Time

You need a lot of patience. It will take a fair amount of time for your Pomeranian to become completely comfortable with the new dog and for your second dog to get used to your Pomeranian AND adjust to his new home.

Always feed each dog separately and take away anything that may cause conflict during mealtime.

The most important thing is to spend quality time with both dogs so one doesn’t feel you’re ignoring him.

Pomeranian With Other Dogs Safety and Training Tips

If you want to know what breeds of dogs Pomeranians might be comfortable around, you might also like to know whether you can teach your Pom to put up with various other dogs…and the good news is that – YES, you can!

These are the steps to follow:

Choose a neutral space where you can introduce your Pomeranian to various other dogs.
Place a harness on your Pom, so it’s easy to pull him back if needed.
Always have loads of treats at all times.
Slowly lead your Pom to another dog and watch his reactions.
If he begins to behave aggressively or bark a lot, pull him back and ignore other dogs.

Once he is calm, take him back to the other dog.

If he is good, both are given a treat. If not, ignore them.

Positively finish the session after 10 minutes.

This is a terrific exercise to repeat as often as needed to create a positive connection between other dogs and treats.

Owning one or more dogs isn’t easy and requires plenty of patience, time, and dedication. But the goal of ensuring your Pomeranian is comfortable around other dogs is achieved through consistency.

If you don’t have much luck, consider talking to a professional dog trainer about the problem and asking how you could fix it.

Summary

The dog breeds that Pomeranians will best get along with is a big question, and it depends a lot on two factors: His socialization level, Pomeranian behavior characteristics, and temperament.

However, providing your Pomeranian doesn’t have deep problems with aggression, and you’ll need bucketloads full of patience, you should (given enough time), be able to teach your Pomeranian to get on well with almost every dog.

References and Further Reading:
[1] Official Standard of the Pomeranian (AKC). American Kennel Club, 2011.
[2] English Kennel Club Pomeranian Breed Standard, 2017.
[3] Denise Leo, The Pomeranian Handbook.
[4] Milo G. Denlinger “The Complete Pomeranian.”
[5] Kimbering Pomeranians “1891-1991”.
[6] William Taplin’s “The Sportsman’s Cabinet.”
[7] E. Parker “The Popular Pomeranian.”
[8] Lilla Ives “Show Pomeranians.”