How to Train a Pomeranian to Roll Over
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Introduction
Despite their small stature, Pomeranians are full of life and energy. In fact, it is often your young children who collapse to sleep before your little pal Fizzy does. The only problem is, that you don’t know what to do with all his extra energy. Having said that, one idea has come to mind, and that’s training him to roll over. You’ve already taught him a range of basic commands, such as ‘sit’ and ‘wait’, so why not start teaching Fizzy some fun tricks too?
Training your Pomeranian to roll over is good for him. It makes for a fantastic way to mentally stimulate him and also means you can get them working for those mouth-watering treats they’re always after. This type of obedience training will also set the groundwork for more advanced commands later down the line and makes for a great way to bond with your little canine pal.
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Defining Tasks
Thankfully, training your Pomeranian to roll over is nice and straightforward. You will need to take it slow at the beginning while you convey what it is you want them to do. But once they understand that, you just need to reinforce training with treats and toys. The trick is to make it feel like one big game. So finding the right incentive will make a big difference.
If Fizzy is just a puppy then he should be at his most receptive. As a result, your Pomeranian could be rolling over in just a couple of days. But if they’re older, stubborn and not interested in following instructions, then you may need a couple of weeks. If you get training right you’ve got yourself a guaranteed way to get guests giggling. You can also make Fizzy work for his food by performing tricks first.
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Getting Started
Before you can start training, you will need to make sure you have a few bits. A generous supply of delicious treats will be needed. Alternatively, you can break your Pom's favorite food into small pieces. Toys and a clicker will also be required for one of the methods below.
Set aside just 5 to 10 minutes each day for training. Use a large room away from any TVs or anything that may get broken.
Apart from that, you just need enthusiasm and a positive attitude, then work can begin!
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The Food Lure Method
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‘Down’
Before your Pomeranian can roll over, they first need to lie down. So take them to a quiet room and issue a ‘down’ instruction. You may also want to hold out a treat to capture their attention.
‘Roll over’
Give the command in a high-pitched, playful voice. You want Fizzy to feel like this is a game. Note you can use any word or phrase you like for instruction. In fact, Pomeranians can learn hundreds of different commands.
Lead with a treat
As you give the command, hold a treat on one side of their head. Now slowly rotate the treat over and above their head. This should naturally lead them to follow the treat and roll over. You can use your spare hand to gently guide them to begin with.
Reward
As soon as Fizzy has indeed rolled over, hand over a tasty reward within three seconds. Any longer and they may not associate the reward with the action. You can also throw in some verbal praise.
Practice
Now all you need to do is practice a few times each day. As they get the hang of it, guide them less and just use the verbal command. Also if your Pomeranian is a puppy, keep training sessions short to start with.
The Toy & Clicker Method
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The clicker
A clicker is an effective way to communicate with your Pomeranian. You simply click to signal when they perform a trick or behave correctly. Used correctly, a clicker can significantly speed up the learning process.
‘Down’
Have Fizzy lie ‘down’ in front of you. The dog needs to be on the floor before they can roll over. You can hold a favorite toy above them if they don’t seem too interested in listening to you.
Guide
Now use the toy to encourage them to roll over. Start by holding it on one side of their head and then slowly move it up and above their head to the other side. Move slowly and this should naturally guide them to roll over.
‘Roll over’
At the same time as you roll them over, issue a verbal cue. Keep it light hearted, but make sure to give the instruction only once. You don’t want them to think they can wait for you to pester them. You want them to respond first time, every time.
Click & reward
As soon as they do roll over, click to let them know they have done a good job. You can then give them a treat or the toy to play with for a minute or so. Now you just need to practice this several times each day until they get the hang of it.
The Meal Time Method
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Timing
If your Pomeranian isn’t very good at following instructions, then you may want to train around half an hour before meals. Because Fizzy will be hungry, he will be most likely to follow your commands.
‘Down’
The first step is to have your Pomeranian lie down in front of you. Kneel before them and hold up a tasty incentive to encourage them. If your Pom doesn't already know 'down', draw the treat out in front of them on the floor to lure them into position. Provide the treat for a successful 'down'.
‘Roll over’
Now give your verbal cue in a clear voice, just once. Keep it up-beat and positive. Pomeranians learn best when they think they are playing a game. You can also hold eye contact to make sure they concentrate.
Lure
Use another treat to guide your Pom into a roll by circling it over their head in the direction they should go. Add in some physical support if necessary.
Reward
Once they have rolled over, be sure to swiftly hand over the treat. You can then give them some verbal praise too. Practice for just a few minutes and then feed them their meal afterwards. This will get them associating rolling over with generous amounts of food.
Lose the rewards
Practice for a few days until the Pom gets the hang of it. Once they do, you can slowly phase out the treats during training. You can also start practicing at any time in the day. By this point your Pomeranian will know what is expected of them.
Written by James Barra
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 04/03/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
