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Many reasons can make a Pomeranian angry, including fear, health issues, or feeling uncomfortable with humans. Keep reading to learn more about why your Pomeranian may be angry because of fear.
Pomeranians are known for their loving disposition and inherent friendliness. Throughout the decades, the Pom has always been a lap dog…
As a result, not being confrontational or having strong defending instincts runs in the family (although a few can be protective of their owners despite their own diminutive size). The Pom’s ancestors, giant Spitz dogs, were docile sled dogs even when looking back into the dog breed’s history.
With that stated, every dog breed, even if it is rarely witnessed, is technically capable of being hostile or angry. Then, there’s the issue of defining anger in a Pomeranian.
Is it barking? Growling? Nipping? Is the dog attempting to bite, or is it taking an aggressive posture? Based on the circumstances and how the pet owners feel, all of these behaviors could be classified as aggression by the Pomeranian. Furthermore, if the growling or nipping is directed at small children or an old adult, it will appear much more severe.
Why Does a Pomeranian Get Angry?
Have you noticed signs of anger in your Pom? The majority of pet owners who are worried about their Pomeranian’s aggression are as surprised as they are concerned. It is also understandable to be perplexed as to why a dog or puppy is unexpectedly acting out of control.
The following are the most typical reasons or examples for aggressive behavior or anger:
- Fear: Pomeranians can be terrified of a variety of things, including loud noises, strangers (other dogs and humans), and chaotic environments. This can cause a dog to take an aggressive position, which can present itself in the form of nipping, growling, and even attempting to attack people.
- Health Issues: When a generally well-behaved dog becomes violent, it could be a sign that the dog is suffering from a health problem or other medical causes such as eating a toxic substance. In agony, a dog may snarl, nip, growl, or bite. This is due to a dog’s vulnerability, which can prompt him or her to strike out at people who he or she perceives as dangerous while it is weak. As a result, your Pomeranian should undergo a comprehensive veterinarian inspection before you begin working on anger training. Your dog could also be prone to anxiety or depression.
- Improper Status: When a dog acts hostile toward human family members, it is sometimes a sign that the dog is unsure about his or her place in the family hierarchy.
How Can I Calm Down My Pomeranian’s Anger Issues?
Some people question if an aggressive dog is mentally ill or is dealing with mental health issues to the point that they can’t be resolved. This type of thinking is particularly common among older, adopted Poms.
The answer to the question, “Can this issue be fixed?” is that it depends.
It depends on the amount to which a Pomeranian is demonstrating angry behavior, what it is doing, how frequently the incidents occur, the owner’s capacity to train them for the problem, and whether or not a professional trainer can be involved if it is required.
Anger Towards Small Children and Seniors
When a Pom exhibits aggressive behavior, it is normal for it to be directed against little children or elderly people.
A Pomeranian might snarl at a toddler if the baby gets too close to his or her toys, nip an older adult as they go across the room, or take an aggressive attitude toward a small child if he or she tries to pat the dog.
While training can help in many situations, if you believe that anyone in your home is in danger (which would include real biting), either a professional trainer should be brought in immediately (and the Pom should be kept separated until that time) or the dog should be re-homed.
Not only is there a risk of harm, but a young child or a senior might not be able to participate in the training.
Anger Towards Strangers
It is normal for a dog to be vocally confrontational (to some extent) toward true strangers, such as those who come to your house to sell you something… and having your Pom alert you to these types of people isn’t always a negative thing.
In the event of a break-in, your Pomeranian’s barking may be enough to deter the invader.
If you’re having a problem with your Pom that just concerns barking, you are dealing with a different situation.
Other types of difficulties, such as biting, jumping, or acting out of control with visitors to the house, will be addressed later in this article.
How to Deal with an Angry Pomeranian at Home
First and foremost, as previously stated, you must ensure that your Pom does not have any health difficulties, as this might lead to aggressive behavior. Your dog could just be suffering from mental health issues such as anxiety.
You’ll also want to make sure that everyone in the family is willing to participate and capable of doing so (based on age), as you don’t want anyone to opt out in the middle of training.
Preparing for Training
To get ready for this, you’ll need a specific ‘time out’ location for your Pom. This is a must throughout specific parts of the aggression training, so you’ll need it before you begin.
A canine playpen is frequently the best option, though closing off a section of a room with gates may also work. You’ll want your chosen location to be close to the rest of the family and not isolated from the rest of the household. A nice place to start is the living room or kitchen.
Teaching the Proper Family Hierarchy
Most Pomeranians who are violent toward a family member lack knowledge of the right hierarchy, barring any health issues or deep-seated reasons for hostility, such as past mistreatment.
Those that act aggressively toward visitors to the house but do not obey their owners’ requests to cease are most likely unaware of proper hierarchy.
Within the den (home) where the pack (family) stays in the canine world, there is one leader (the Alpha) and all other pack members are followers (Betas).
The betas respect the alpha, rely on them for food (which a dog understands to be the most important factor in his existence), and would never treat him or her badly.
Growling, biting, or otherwise behaving aggressively against a human indicates that the Pomeranian does not regard that individual as his or her leader. It may regard them as an equal or even a subordinate.
As a result, teaching a dog who is in charge can often result in a behavior change.
Immediate Responses
Any time your Pomeranian engages in aggressive behavior, he or she should be put in the time-out area, as previously mentioned.
Returning to dogs’ perceptions of the world, if a member of the pack (family) commits a major enough offense, they are expelled from the pack.
As a result, the goal is to convey a clear signal that expulsion is a possibility.
It is critical that no one speaks to or even looks at the Pomeranian during the time-out. Puppies and dogs might take anywhere from two to 15 minutes to understand they are being ignored. Wait another five minutes after you assume he or she has realized this.
Slowly Introduce the Pom Back
When the Pom realizes it’s being banished (at least briefly), it can be let out and put in the same circumstances as when he or she acted out previously. Place the dog there and have that person move across the room again if the dog was in the kitchen and had nibbled at someone’s ankles.
If your Pom becomes hostile again, give them a time-out once more.
Furthermore, if the dog does not act out in the situation, you can speak to him or her, but do not pet or play with them.
After another five to 10 minutes, if he or she continues to behave well, your Pom may be petted or given a treat.
It’s possible that you’ll have to repeat the time-outs several times. It may take several days for a Pomeranian to fully comprehend that his or her aggressive conduct will not be permitted. Plus, it has to be done in tandem with the other procedures, such as how the food is supplied, how everyone enters and leaves the house, and how people position themselves in regard to the dog.
What to Do if Training Doesn’t Work
Any method of training doesn’t work for every dog, and this is no exception.
There could be hidden issues that the owners aren’t aware of. Alternatively, the reasons behind the violent behavior could be deeper than previously imagined.
In other circumstances, owners are unable to provide as much training as is required for a specific dog’s issues.
It’s time to hire a professional trainer if you don’t observe any progress after a few days or if things are becoming worse. If the aggression problems are primarily internal, you will need a trainer to come to your home to work with you. Your local SPCA might be able to provide you with a list of qualified dog behavioral trainers in your region.
Until then, if there is any risk that the Pom will bite, cause injury, or make children or others feel unsafe or uneasy, confine the Pomeranian to the playpen and keep them on a leash when outside of it.
