House Train a Pomeranian Puppy

Pomeranians are intelligent little dogs that can be house trained just like any other dog. However, Pomeranians are special in that they can be trained to go outside, or to use puppy pads, or even to use a litter box. While house training your Pomeranian, it is important to be consistent and patient. Some good strategies to use when training your Pomeranian include using a cue word, taking your Pomeranian to the same spot every time, and offering immediate praise after he goes where you want him to go.

Steps

Getting off to a Good Start

  1. Choose a potty place. Before bringing your Pomeranian home, decide on the place where you want your Pomeranian to toilet. Make sure that you choose a place that is convenient for you and your Pomeranian to get to. Your dog will need to be taken to the potty spot regularly in order to reinforce good habits. The options are a patch in the yard, or puppy pads by a door, or a litter box. If you are often gone for long periods of time (more than eight hours), puppy pads or a litter box will be necessary.[1]
    • The patch in the yard should be a place where you don't have special or prized plants, because you want to encourage the dog to pee and poo here.
    • Puppy pads are like a flat diaper, and they are made from the same absorbent material. Your dog can pee or poop on them and then you throw them away.
    • Litter boxes also work for Pomeranians. Choose a tray with low sides so the pup can hop in without problems, and put some absorbent cat litter in the tray. Scoop out the solids and soiled areas once a day, and clean the whole tray with pet disinfectant once a week.
  2. Choose a cue word to train your Pomeranian to go potty. Before you start training your Pomeranian to go potty where you want him to, decide on the cue word you are going to use each time your Pomeranian goes potty. This builds an association in the dog's mind between the word and toileting, so that eventually he may even go on demand.[2]
    • Use a single word, such as “potty” or “business.”
  3. Show your Pomeranian where to go potty. Take your Pomeranian to the spot that you want him to go potty when you are house training him.[2] Don't let him have the range of the house or he might squat and go to the toilet where he pleases. This scent marks the house which means he returns to those same spots and you have an uphill task house training him.
    • If you are training your Pomeranian to go potty indoors, try placing the puppy pads or litter box in a spot where your dog has already gone to the bathroom several times. This might make it easier to get him to use the pads or litter box.
    • You may need to take your Pomeranian outside or to the puppy pad or litter box several times before he gets the idea. Be patient and gentle as you do this.

Developing Good Habits

  1. Develop a good daily routine. Having a solid daily routine may help your Pomeranian learn where and when to go potty. Make sure that you feed your Pomeranian and take him outside (or to his puppy pad or litter box) frequently — remember that puppies have tiny bladders and will need to go outside often. For instance, an eight- to 12-week-old puppy should be taken to the toileting spot every 30 minutes.[3]
    • If the puppy toilets, reward him and then give him another chance in 30 minutes. If he does not toilet, keep a very close eye on him. As soon as he shows signs of sniffing for a place to do his business, pop him onto the toileting spot.
  2. Encourage your Pomeranian to use the same spot every time. Taking your dog to the same spot every time you want him to go potty may help you to housebreak him as well. Use your cue word, such as “potty,” to let your Pomeranian know what you want him to do when you get to that spot. The repetition of going to the same place and hearing the same words will help your Pomeranian understand what you want from him.[4]
    • Remember to offer your dog lots of praise after he goes to the bathroom outside or on his puppy pad or in his litter box.
  3. Monitor your Pomeranian while house training him. Watching your dog for signs that he might be about to urinate or defecate in the house can help you to house train him. If your Pomeranian is prone to eliminating in places you don’t want him to, find a way to keep him in your sight at all times. Monitoring your dog’s whereabouts will help you to train him to go potty where you want him to go.
    • Try keeping your Pomeranian on a six foot long leash that is attached to you. This will prevent him from going off to another room to eliminate and it will also help you to observe his behavior and determine when he needs to go.[4]
    • If you cannot keep an eye on your Pomeranian during the day, you can use a crate or baby gate to confine your Pomeranian to a small area for short periods of time (less than four hours).[3]
  4. Stop your Pomeranian from eliminating where he should not. As soon as you notice that your Pomeranian is getting ready to urinate or defecate somewhere that is off limits, get his attention by clapping your hands together loudly. Do not yell at your dog or use physical punishment to change his behavior. Just clap your hands to get his attention and then lead or carry him to his potty spot (outside, puppy pad, or litter box) right away.
    • Be kind and encouraging to your Pomeranian as you lead him to his potty spot. If you yell or act like you are angry with him, he may begin to associate going potty with punishment.[3]
  5. Clean up messes as soon as they happen. The smell of a prior mess can prompt your Pomeranian to want to eliminate in the same place again. The best way to prevent your Pomeranian from soiling an area again is to clean up his messes right away by using an enzymatic cleaner made especially for cleaning up pet messes.[3]
    • Don’t yell or punish your Pomeranian for going potty where he is not supposed to go. It will not do anything to discourage him and it may even lead to more problems by increasing his fear and anxiety.[4]
  6. Praise your Pomeranian when he goes potty where you want him to go. Positive reinforcement is the best way to teach your Pomeranian a new behavior. Make sure that you reward your dog with lots of praise after he urinates or defecates in his potty spot. You can also reward your dog by giving him treats, some playtime, or a walk.[3]
    • Give the praise, treat, or other reward right after he goes potty where you want him to go. This will help your Pomeranian understand that he has done something good.

Setting Your Pomeranian Up for Success

  1. Follow your veterinarian’s instructions for treating any medical issues. Some dogs may start eliminating inside the house due to medical issues. If your veterinarian has identified a medical condition that requires special treatment, medication, or other interventions, make sure that you follow the veterinarian’s instructions.[5]
    • If your Pomeranian’s elimination problems are related to a medical condition, they will not improve until he is cured. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your Pomeranian’s condition worsens or does not improve despite treatment.
  2. Purchase cold and/or wet weather gear for your dog. Some dogs just don’t like to go outside when the weather is bad. You can help make the experience more tolerable for your dog by getting cold and/or wet weather gear for your dog. For example, if your dog does not like the feel of his paws in the snow, consider getting some boots for your dog to wear when you take him outside. Or, if your dog doesn’t like to get wet, consider getting him a raincoat to wear when it is raining.[3]
  3. Ask a neighbor or friend to check on your Pomeranian when you can't be there. To make sure that your dog does not have to hold it for long periods of time, ask a friend or neighbor to come by and take your Pomeranian out or encourage him to use his puppy pad or litter box. If you are training your Pomeranian to go potty outside, forcing him to stay in the house for several hours will lead to messes because he will not be able to hold it for that long.[4] Even if you are training your Pomeranian to use a puppy pad or litter box, he may need some guidance and encouragement to do so.
    • If you don’t know anyone who is willing or able to take your Pomeranian out for you during long periods away, consider hiring a pet sitter to stop by when you have a long day away from home.
  4. Consider getting help from a certified professional dog trainer. If your dog does not respond to your house training efforts and there is no medical reason for your dog’s issues, you may want to consider hiring a certified professional dog trainer to help you house train your Pomeranian.[3]

Tips

  • Praising your dog when he goes potty in the right spot will provide positive reinforcement that will make it more likely that he will repeat the behavior.
  • Remember to be patient with your Pomeranian while you are training him. It can take a couple of months of consistent training to get your dog house trained.

Warnings

  • Never hit a dog when attempting to house train it. He or she will become afraid of you and this will not make him or her learn.
  • Never rub your dog's nose in it if he or she eliminates in the house. Though this is a method many people use to use for house training, it is not effective. It does nothing more than frighten your dog and it may make the problem worse.[4]

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