How to Train a Pomeranian to be Calm

Hello, Whether this is common or not depends on the type of biting. There is a normal puppy biting called mouthing that puppies due to learn, socialize, and play. Often puppies will bite people similarly to how they would bite other puppies until they learn not too. If pup thinks you are playing rough when you try to stop the biting, or your reaction (like high pitched yellow or running) gets them exciting, they will often also view this as part of the game and bite more. If the biting is truly aggressive in nature, with pup intending to truly harm, then this is unusual and I recommend hiring a professional trainer with aggression and puppy experience to come to your home to evaluate pup in person to determine what's going on. For normal puppy mouthing, start by seeing if you can find a puppy play date class or puppy kindergarten class that makes time for off leash puppy play as part of the class, and attend one of those with her so that she can learn how to control the pressure of her bite by playing with other puppies. Petco and some other pet stores with training offer free puppy play classes if you call and ask for the schedule. If you have any friends with puppies under 6 months of age, set up play dates with those puppies too. Moderate the puppies' play and whenever one pup seems overwhelmed or they are all getting too excited, interrupt their play, let everyone calm down, then let the most timid pup go first to see if they still want to play - if they do, then you can let the other puppies go too when they are waiting for permission. Check out the article linked below. Starting today, use the "Bite Inhibition" method. At the same time however, begin teaching "Leave It" from the "Leave It" method. As soon as pup is good as the Leave It game, start telling pup to "Leave It" when she attempts to bite or is tempted to bite. Reward pup if she makes a good choice. If she disobeys your leave it command, use the Pressure method to gently discipline pup for biting when you told her not to. The order or all of this is very important - the bite inhibition method can be used for the next couple of weeks while pup is learning leave it, but leave it will teach pup to stop the biting entirely. The pressure method teaches pup that you mean what you say without being overly harsh - but because you have taught pup to leave it first, pup clearly understands that you are not just roughhousing (which is what pup probably thinks most of the time right now), so it is more effective. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite If pup is truly aggressive, I don't recommend working on this on your own, but hiring someone to help. True aggression is more delicate and addressed differently than puppy mouthing. When pup gets especially wound up, she probably needs a nap too. At this age puppies will sometimes get really hyper when they are overtired or haven't had any mental stimulation through something like training. When you spot that and think pup could be tired, place pup in their crate or an exercise pen with a food stuffed Kong for a bit to help her calm down and rest. Commands that increase self-control in general and teach pup calmness are also good things to teach. Place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omg5DVPWIWo Heel article - The turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Down-Stay: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/train-your-labrador-to-lie-down-and-stay/ Out - which means leave the room. This is also a great command to help give space during excitable times when pup is having a hard time with self-control. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

March 6, 2023

Hello Caroline, First, when you are away and asleep, I would crate pup. When pup is not crated, also keep him tethered to you between potty trips using a 6 or 8 foot leash. Have him wear a belly band - which is a sling/diaper for male dogs that catches urine, and when he tries to lift his leg to mark, clap your hands loudly three times. Use a cleaner than contains enzymes specifically to remove the smell from any new or previous accidents - since lingering scent will only encourage more marking and only enzymes fully remove the smell. Look on the bottle for the word enzyme or enzymatic. Many (but not all) pet cleaners contain enzymes. The belly band will keep marking from being fun and successful for him and stop the spreading of the smell - which encourages more marking (and keep your things clean). Attaching him to yourself with the leash will keep him from sneaking off to pee uninterrupted, and clapping will make peeing unpleasant for him without it being too harsh. Reward him with treats when he potties outside so he understands that pottying outside in front of you is good, it's only inside where he shouldn't do it. If pup isn't neutered I would also consider neutering. Neutering alone doesn't often fix this issue but an intact male will have an especially strong desire to mark, so neutering can make training easier. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

April 7, 2022