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One of the great things about Pomeranians is that they are relatively easy to train. This holds true for potty training just as much as it does for basic behavior and tricks. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that your Pom will react far more readily to consistent training. Your Pom needs to be trained to go potty outside and he relies on you to provide the necessary training. This is where consistency truly pays off; if you keep changing your methods of training, your pup will remain confused and may never master the art of peeing outside.
The job at hand is to teach your Pom that going pee, or for that matter poop, in the house is not acceptable. However, you must have realistic expectations. Your pup is not going to master this vital skill overnight. By rule of thumb, a Pom puppy can hold themselves for "one hour per month of age" up to a maximum of six hours. An adult Pom can hold themselves for up to eight hours. You should never leave your pup for longer than eight hours.
The first thing you need is a way to restrict your pup's access to the house when you cannot be there to supervise him. The best way to do that is to use a training crate. This will be used when you can't supervise your pup or when you need to be gone for an extended period of time. Beyond this, you will only need a few extra supplies, including a leash and treats. For one method, you'll also need potty training spray, which is available at most pet supply stores.
Of course, along with these, you will need plenty of time and patience to work with your pup until this vital skill has been mastered.
The Scent Method
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Make it smell so good
Take a bottle of potty training spray and mark an area of your lawn with it.
Set the schedule
Using a timer, set up a schedule of taking your pup out every half hour. Every time it goes off, take your pup directly outside on their leash to the spot so they can go pee.
Let him wander
Give your Pom time a few minutes to go pee and when he does, be sure to give him a treat and praise him for doing a good job.
Take him in
If he doesn't go, that's fine, take him back in the house and try again in fifteen minutes. Again, if he goes, praise him and give him a treat.
Keep working it
The rest is all about continuing to work with your pup until they learn to hold themselves until you take them out.
The Timed Method
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Grab a timer
Grab a kitchen timer and set it to 30 minutes. When it goes off, take your pup out. If he goes potty, give him a treat and praise him.
Extend the time
Once he has mastered waiting for half an hour to go potty, it is time to start adding more time to the clock.
Be sure to treat
Be sure that each time your pup goes pee or poop outside, be sure to praise them and give them treats.
Keep a close eye on your pup
While your pup may be starting to get the idea, you need to keep a very close eye on them while they are in your house. At the first indication they need to go outside, be sure to take them straight outside so they can go, regardless of the timer. When they go, be sure to praise and reward them.
If he has an accident
If your pup happens to have an accident during the training process, don’t scold them for it. Unless you happen to catch them in the act, they will have no idea why you are mad at them. Simply use an enzymatic cleaner to remove all traces of the mess and keep working on their training until this is no longer necessary.
The Leash Method
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Choose a location
Choose a location in your yard for your pup to go potty.
Choose your cue
Choose a cue word such as "Outside" or "Potty" and use it every time you take your pup outside to go pee.
Grab the leash
Pop your pup on the leash so he knows it's time to head outside.
Give them the cue
Give your pup the cue and take him outside to go potty. When he goes, be sure to praise and reward him.
Routines are important
Routines are very important to your pup. Set a schedule of taking them to go out every half hour at first and take them out on schedule. Again, when they go, praise them and give them a treat.
Build their confidence
The rest is all about repetition, building his confidence, and his endurance. Take your time and your pup will soon learn where he is allowed to go potty.
Written by PB Getz
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 03/22/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
she bites all the time
March 22, 2023
estela's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello, Check out the article I have linked below. Start working on the Leave It method; it will take a while for pup to get good at that with practice, so in the meantime start immediately also using the Bite Inhibition method. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
March 28, 2023
How to get hem to stop biting when you hold them
Oct. 4, 2022
Bullet's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello, Work on getting Bullet used to touch and handling. Use puppy’s daily meal kibble to do this. Gently touch an area of puppy's body while feeding a piece of food. Touch an ear and give a treat. Touch a paw and give a treat. Hold his collar and give a treat. Touch his tail gently and give a treat. Touch his belly, his other paws, his chest, shoulder, muzzle and every other area very gently and give a treat each time. Keep these times calm and fun for pup. You can also work on the training methods from this puppy biting article to help pup learn better control of their mouth, but biting while being held is often a combination of pup needing to get used to touch and handling, and natural puppy biting, so it's both. I recommend working on both the Bite Inhibition method and Leave It method - leave it will take longer to take but be most useful once pup is older, so start teaching it now so you will be ready when pup reaches 4-5 months of age, while using the bite inhibition method immediately to help pup learn how to control the pressure of their mouth - which helps pup be safer as an adult. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Oct. 4, 2022
she doesn’t come when called, i’ve tried calling her with a treat but she still doesn’t come.
Aug. 3, 2022
millie's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello, Check out the Reel In method from the article I have linked below. Since she is such a small breed, if you can't find a lightweight enough long leash, you can also make your own using a poly rope with a core, adding a handle on one end (you will want to pad your handle end to avoid rope burn with thin rope or wear good gloves, and small rustproof clip on the other. A hard ware or climbing store will often have what you need. Look at the weigh rating for anything you use to make your own, to ensure can handle far more weight than pup could put on it, and use secure knots like a figure eight follow through to secure it. Example of poly cord with core: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-8-in-x-100-ft-Poly-Diamond-Braid-Rope-813234/314057289?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&&mtc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D29B-Multi-NA-WATERPIK-NA-SMART-NA-NA-MK581541800-NA-NBR-623-CON-NA-FY22_623&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D29B-Multi-NA-WATERPIK-NA-SMART-NA-NA-MK581541800-NA-NBR-623-CON-NA-FY22_623-71700000097259685-58700007902180421-92700071862301787&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuaiXBhCCARIsAKZLt3m4ziT8eZtEFqmYQPK93tD4qsiKSV_QBralHJcL1lEGa4JQivvlEmkaAofFEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Aug. 3, 2022