3 Common Pomeranian Behaviour Problems (And How To Fix Them)

Remember: Your Pomeranian might be small, but that bold confidence and loyalty make them wonderful dogs. They're working dog temperament in a toy package.

Where Do Pomeranians Come From?

Pomeranians were bred down from larger German Spitz sled dogs weighing 30+ pounds. They were miniaturised in the Pomerania region (Poland/Germany border) in the 1800s.

Queen Victoria fell in love with the breed during a visit to Italy in 1888. She brought several back to England and bred them even smaller—her dogs were about 12 pounds. Her promotion made them fashionable, and they were refined into the 3-7 pound dogs we know today.

What were they bred to do?

• Original Spitz ancestors were working sled dogs and watchdogs in Arctic regions
• When miniaturised, they became companions for European ladies
• Retained the alertness and confidence of their working ancestors
• Bred to be portable companions who could alert to threats despite tiny size
• Basically, working dog temperament in a toy package

Key breeding traits: Pomeranians have miniature size with retained working Spitz temperament. They're vocal by nature—barking was essential for their watchdog ancestors. They show extreme confidence despite tiny size (they don't know they're small), strong personality and stubbornness, loyalty to one person with suspicion of strangers, surprisingly loud bark for their size, and adaptability to various living situations. They were never bred to be submissive or delicate despite their appearance.

Why Do Pomeranians Have These Behaviour Problems?

Here's the truth: Pomeranians are exclusively companion dogs now but retain the bold, confident temperament of working Spitz breeds.

They're often treated as delicate toys rather than real dogs, leading to "small dog syndrome" where owners fail to train them properly. Their confidence and alert nature make them excellent watchdogs despite their size, but also create behavioural challenges when not properly managed.

Despite miniaturisation, they retained the vocal alert behaviour of their Spitz ancestors who were watchdogs and working dogs. Their small size makes them feel vulnerable, leading to defensive behaviours that goes uncorrected because they're "small and cute".

Problem 1: Owner Mismanagement (By Far The Biggest Problem)

What's happening: Your Pomeranian jumps, barks, snaps, or shows aggression. You excuse these behaviours because they're small.

Why it happens: Despite their size, Pomeranians weren't bred to be submissive lap dogs. They retained the confidence and temperament of working Spitz dogs. Owners often fail to socialise or train them properly due to size, allowing behaviours—jumping, barking, snapping—that would never be tolerated in larger dogs.

The fix:

Train exactly as you would a large breed. Set firm boundaries. Provide extensive socialisation before 6 months.

Implement "big dog expectations" with formal training—proper heel work, sit-stays, impulse control. Their size doesn't excuse poor behaviour.

Never pick them up to "save" them from situations. This reinforces fear and makes aggression worse.

Stop picking them up during barking. You're dealing with a symptom, not the cause. Being carried everywhere increases vulnerability and reactivity.

Extensive early socialisation before 16 weeks is critical. Expose them to 100+ different people, dogs, and environments before the fear period sets in. Don't wait. Everything is going to be bigger than them no matter what age they are.

Never reinforce fear or aggression with comforting—picking them up or using a soothing voice. This rewards the behaviour. Instead, move them away from the situation to a separate room.

Struggling to treat them like a "real dog"? Our Skool community's weekly live Q&As help you break the habit of excusing bad behaviour and show you how to implement big dog training with a tiny dog.

Problem 2: Excessive Barking

What's happening: Your Pomeranian barks at everything. They have a surprisingly loud bark for their size and use it constantly.

Why it happens: Despite miniaturisation, they retained the vocal alert behaviour of their Spitz ancestors who were watchdogs and working dogs. Barking at changes was their job. Their small size makes them feel vulnerable, leading to defensive barking at anything unfamiliar. They have a surprisingly loud bark for their size and are naturally suspicious of changes in their environment.

The fix:

Establish a two-part acknowledgement system. When they bark, calmly go toward what they're alerting to for 2 seconds. Then turn your back and walk away without speaking.

If barking continues after your acknowledgement, immediately place them in a quiet room without a word. Release them only after complete silence for at least 30 seconds. Do not release during any noise—you must wait for silence.

Never shout in response to barking. Shouting reinforces the exact opposite behaviour you want.

Everyone must be on the same page. The way you respond to barking must be the same across the whole household. Be calm and have a designated consequence.

Know what excessive barking is. Not all barking is excessive. Excessive barking is unnecessary demand barking. They're a dog—they will still bark sometimes.

Barking becoming unbearable? The Skool community offers video demonstrations showing exactly how the acknowledgement system works with vocal breeds and helps you stay consistent when you're ready to give up.

Problem 3: Separation Anxiety & Attachment Issues

What's happening: Your Pomeranian follows you everywhere, panics when you leave, and demands constant attention.

Why it happens: They were bred down from working dogs into pure companions, particularly popular as lap dogs for Victorian ladies who carried them everywhere. This intensified their attachment behaviours. Their small size makes them portable, so many never learn to be alone. They were bred to be constant companions, going everywhere with their person.

The fix:

Never give in to your dog's demands, especially barking for attention. If your Pomeranian likes to "space invade"—pawing for attention or sitting right on top of you—only allow this when you're happy to do so.

If they're too close, use your hand to create a gap. The gap should be "if someone you didn't know sat closer to you than this, you'd ask them to move over". If they require more than 3 repetitions, calmly place them in a separate room and wait for 5 minutes of calm.

Don't allow them to space invade when they're on the couch. Obviously you can give them a cuddle, but on your terms.

In the event they ignore you after 3 separate repetitions, place your dog in a separate room. Wait for 30 seconds of calm and then you can release them. If they repeat this behaviour, move them to a separate room for slightly longer.

Under no circumstances use treats for "not attention seeking". This may work short-term but creates long-term issues.

Separation anxiety getting worse? Our Skool community connects you with other Pomeranian owners who've successfully established boundaries without feeling guilty about saying no to those adorable faces.

Is a Pomeranian Right for a New Owner?

A Pomeranian might be perfect for you if you're looking for:

A small, portable dog - At 3-7 pounds, they're perfect for apartment living. They're easily portable for travel.

An alert watchdog - Despite their size, they're excellent at alerting you to visitors or changes. Their vocal nature serves a purpose.

A confident, bold personality - If you want a dog with a big personality in a small package, Pomeranians deliver. They're entertaining and full of character.

Adaptable to various living situations - They adjust well to different homes and lifestyles. They don't need huge spaces or yards.

A loyal, one-person dog - They bond intensely with their chosen person. That devotion is real and rewarding.

Owning a Pomeranian requires commitment to proper training (despite their size), managing their vocal tendencies, regular grooming (that fluffy coat needs maintenance), and socialisation before bad habits form. They need owners who will treat them like real dogs, not delicate toys.

Get the Full Support System for Your Pomeranian

This article gives you real, actionable solutions you can start using today. But here's the reality: managing Pomeranian behaviour challenges is an ongoing journey, especially with owner mismanagement, barking, and separation anxiety.

That's why we created our free Skool community—to give you continuous support every step of the way.

Inside the community, you'll get:

• Weekly live Q&A sessions where you can ask about YOUR specific Pomeranian and get personalised advice from experienced trainers
• Full breed-specific courses covering everything from puppy raising to advanced behaviour modification
• A supportive community of other Pomeranian owners who understand exactly what you're going through
• Video demonstrations so you can see techniques in action, not just read about them
• Troubleshooting help when things don't go to plan (because they won't always!)
• Updated resources as we add new courses and training blueprints

Best part? It's completely free. No subscription. No catch. Just dog owners helping dog owners.

Join The Toe Beans Co community today and get the ongoing support you need to build the best relationship with your Pomeranian.