Training Tips

Whether or not you plan to show your Pomeranian, it is always good to do a little early training, getting him to stand calmly on a table and to lie on his side to be gently groomed. Both will be helpful on numerous occasions, including visits to the vet, when it is much easier to deal with a well-behaved dog. You will be so proud of your clever companion!

Accustom your puppy to being on a lead, which is always a strange experience for a tiny youngster. Begin by just attaching a simple collar, not too tightly, but it should not fit so loosely that it can be caught on things, causing panic and possible injury. Just put the collar on the pup for a few minutes at a time, lengthening each time period slightly until your puppy feels comfortable in his first item of clothing. Don't expect miracles; this may take a few days. A word of caution about collars: the Pomeranians coat grows quickly, and a collar can become too tight within a few days as the puppy develops. Check that the collar is not too tight around the puppies neck. If you can fit two fingers between the dog and the collar, that should be sufficient.

When the puppy is comfortable in the collar, attach a small lightweight lead. The one you select must have a secure catch, yet be simple to attach and release as necessary. Until now, your puppy has simply gone where he has pleased and will find it very strange to be attached to someone who is restricting his movements. For this reason, when training my own puppies, I like to allow the pup to take me for the first few sessions. I then begin to gently guide him, and soon enough training can start in earnest, with the puppy coming with me as I lead the way. It is usual to begin training the puppy to walk on your left-hand side. When this has been accomplished to your satisfaction, you can try moving him on your right, but there is absolutely no hurry. If you plan to show your Pomeranian, you will generally move your dog on your left, but there are occasions when it is necessary also to move him on your right so as not to obstruct the judges view.