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Are you thinking of adopting a new little fluffy friend and lightening up the house? Well, Pomeranians can be the perfect companion for you. The cute little dogs are active, playful, and clever.
Pomeranians can also show perfect obedience if trained properly. Although descendants of the breed of large sled dogs, Pomeranians are surprisingly small and agile. So if you want to add a loving new member to your family, think no more. Tiny Pom will be your best friend!
Before adopting a Pomeranian, however, here is some information about them you might appreciate.
Pomeranian Growling Problem
Poms are small but do not always consider themselves the small ones. You might often find your little pooch challenging the large Lab of your next-door neighbor.
Consequently, they cause a growling and barking problem at strangers and neighbors. They also often growl at other family members. Naturally, therefore, Pomeranians may appear aggressive, which offends your neighbors.
To deal with the Pomeranian growling problem, it is important to first find out the cause of their growling.
Are Pomeranians Aggressive?
If it is the first time you’ve got yourself a Pom, you might often wonder, “are Pomeranians aggressive?” The answer is “no.” Pomeranians are high-spirited dogs and are usually brimming with energy.
They are fearless and love companions. Usually, therefore, they do not tend to be very combative or protective. They are doubtful towards other dogs or unknown people, but being aggressive or grumpy is unusual.
What’s My Pomeranian Growling At?
If your little fur-buddy is growling and barking, here are some reasons why that might be happening.
Poor Socialisation
Pomeranians can be a little surly towards people they don’t know. They might take a little time before they get friendly with a stranger. It is hence necessary that they are made acquainted with meeting new people and socializing extensively since their puppy days.
They can be shy and reserved. Socializing will help them overcome that. Any Pomeranian that is not accustomed to meeting new people (or dogs) may grow up to be nervous. Their nervousness and fear are expressed through the growling, of course.
Fear
Poms can fear certain things such as loud noises, chaotic or tense situations, and strangers. Loud noises like thunder, fireworks, or even traffic can cause anxiety in them.
Sudden changes in the family of the house can also make them anxious and fearful of their surroundings. All this can cause the Poms to become aggressive and growl at people.
Like any other animal (including humans), Poms have two kinds of responses to any adverse situation – flight or fight. When a Pom cannot escape a fearful situation or is forced to stay within it, it is possible they become aggressive and grumpy. Just be sure to love your pooch and socialize with your buddy amply.
Lack of Correct Hierarchy
Like any other dog, Poms can sometimes get growly towards strangers, but you may also find your fluffy friend growling towards or nipping at your family members at times.
If that is the case, it indicates confusion in the hierarchy within the household. Your Pom is probably confused about or unfamiliar with the family hierarchy. Your brave little friend will make all efforts to prove he is the alpha dog in the house.
Health Problems
The most important point. Your dog’s angry growling, snapping, or being surly may indicate some health issue. In case of health problems, your loving Pom may even snap at you. It means your buddy is in pain.
Like every other person or dog, your Pom is bound to feel vulnerable and scared. The little buddy can become ill-tempered and hence bark and growl as a signal to tell you to stay away.
Usually, Pomeranians are healthy and sturdy dogs. The most common diseases they suffer from are luxating patella and tracheal collapse. Rarely, Poms might also catch Alopecia X, also known as “black skin disease.”
- The luxating patella is a common bone sickness in Poms. It happens when a bone slips out of its place due to injury. The luxating patella causes sharp joint pain in the legs. If not treated properly, it can cause swelling and permanent unease.
- Tracheal collapse can occur when the cartilage around the trachea suffers an injury. It can be genetic in dogs whose cartilage may not be too strong. Tracheal collapse can cause breathing trouble, coughing, and wheezing.
- A cataract is another health issue you fluffy buddy can suffer from. Little dogs like Poms are more prone to cataracts than larger dogs. There are different kinds of cataracts that they may catch, and it can occur at any age. A cataract may even lead to blindness if not treated correctly.
To avoid any health issues that your little friend may suffer from, follow a few simple rules — keep checking your pet’s temperature periodically. A sudden rise in body temperature indicates a problem.
Skin conditions are critical, and a dry nose or peeling skin may mean a serious problem. Red or itchy skin on the inside of the ear may mean a bad ear condition. Ears can also have thick wax or discharges, which are signals for infection.
It is, in fact, important to be careful of your little fur-friends health at all times, and not just when your Pom growls or wheezes. Keeping your Pom under regular health check-ups is vital, which enables you to detect a sickness early and treat it.
Never feel reluctant to consult a vet if you’re unsure of your Pom’s health and if you feel your dog might be showing symptoms of some disease.
Negative Experiences In The Past
As much as it is important to socialize with your little Pom, you may also want to be careful not to inflict any trauma or mental scar. Sometimes, the aggressive behavior in your furry friend can be propelled by negative experiences in the past.
Your furry friend may have had a negative experience with a person, another canine, or a situation in the past. When your Pom comes across a similar person or situation, it may trigger fear and anger in the Pom’s behavior. Your Pom may start growling or even try to attack the particular person or canine. Be careful.
Stop Pomeranian Growling — Here’s What To Do
As an owner of a Pomeranian, it is natural for you to wonder whether you can prevent your Pom from growling or snapping at strangers. The answer is yes, and in most cases, the process is also pretty simple.
For most Poms, you can do it by regular training and discipline. You have to train them into obedience. Some basic things to keep in mind are:
Let Them Know Who The Pack Leader is
In many cases, the Pomeranians assume themselves to be the house’s alpha dog, the protector. It leads to them becoming aggressive, trying to scare people and other canines.
To avoid any unpleasant situation, you have to take up the role of the superior being just to let them know who the pack leader is. Just follow some simple methods — always stay at a higher physical level than your dog.
Make a particular site for your Pomeranian and wait a while before feeding them. Make sure, while going in or out of the house, you are the first to do so with your Pom following you.
Create A Time-Out Area
Make sure to punish your little furry buddy whenever your Pomeranian is mischievous. Banish your Pom to a particular closed up area so that they can see what fun they are missing out on.
That way, your Pom will learn to become obedient and acknowledge your authority.
Utilize Time-Outs
Be sure to utilize this time-out zone whenever your Pom is disobedient. Do not shout or scream if your Pomeranian makes you angry. Instead, simply put your dog in the isolated zone to show that you are angry.
The more you do this, the faster you Pom will learn.
Repetition
Your fluffy friend may take a little time to learn and adopt the habits you are trying to teach. Repetition and patience is the key to success.
If your Pom growls at a particular person, put a 15 minutes time-out rule. Once the time-out is over, re-introduce your Pom to the same person to see how they react now.
How To Deal With Grumpy Pomeranians?
As dog lovers, we know pretty well that, like people, dogs often act grumpy too. Is your grumpy Pom bothering you? Usually, Boredom, lack of attention, disturbed sleep, etc., are the reasons behind your Pom’s grumpiness.
If you’re wondering how to deal with grumpy Pomeranians, the answer is to give your buddy more attention, take your pooch out for a run or exercise and display more affection. Cheering your dog up mentally is not that hard. All they want is love, after all.