PetPom | Pomeranian Marking Behavior

Complete Information Regarding the Pomeranian Toy Dog

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Marking Behavior with the Pomeranian

A Pomeranian of any age may "mark" this is not a housebreaking issue, it is a behavioral issue.

The dog is doing this, because he or she is marking their territory, not because they do not know where to eliminate or they do not understand the rules of housebreaking. Marking is not a method of emptying the bladder...it is a process of spraying out a bit of urine to mark territory.

This is more common in households that have more than 1 dog.

You will know that this is territorial marking behavior if:

The dog only urinates a little bit; they will not release their whole bladder...they will urinate just enough to mark the spot
The dog keeps urinating in the same spot
The dog is house trained and does not eliminate feces in the home, but only urinates inside.
This is more common is a female is not spayed or a male is not neutered. However, even if the dog is spayed or neutered...if there is another dog in the home who is not, this can prompt this behavior.

How to Help

You will want to:

Clean the area, but not with a strong smelling cleaner.. this can trigger your dog to try and mark again to cover that scent
Try to not allow your Pomeranian to see other dogs walking passed the home - just seeing another dog may trigger your dog to mark.
Try to make the area in which your dog is marking, a play area. Play with your dog there, give a treat, have them lay down and pat their tummy.
Spay or neuter all pets. Dogs who are spayed or neutered are less likely to do this. Even if your Pom is spayed/neutered , another pet who is not can trigger this behavior.
As soon as you see your Pom get into position to do this, make a loud noise to distract your dog and then immediately bring them to their bathroom area. Give great rewards if they urinate there.

Marking Behavior With More Than 1 Dog

Your Pom who is marking is most likely doing so, because he or she feels the need to "claim" the house. Why? Because all dogs, of any dog breed, need to know the "order of the pack".

Long ago, dogs ran in packs and there was always a leader. Now, domesticated dogs still need to know:

Who is in the pack?
Who is the leader , also called the "Alpha dog"?
If their human family member is the top leader, who is the leader among the dogs?

By feeding your dogs, teaching them commands, taking them for walks and all of the care that you give, you have already shown them that in the pack, it is you who is the top leader.

Pomeranians

However, in a home with more than 1 animal, your dog who is marking, needs to know who is the leader in the sub-group of the animals.

Usually, dogs will try to figure this out among themselves. However, doing so can be very stressful for all dogs involved. This can lead to behavioral problems, such as this one. You can help by establishing which dog is the Alpha Dog. It is usually the older dog. However, you can take notice when the dogs are playing. Is one of them more outgoing? Is one dog more "pushy" when it comes to choosing toys? Which dog runs to their food first? Noticing this, will help you know who is trying harder to be the Alpha Dog.

Once you know, you can then help both dogs. Remember that the dog who is not the Alpha Dog is just as important and loved as the other dog. Not being the Alpha Dog is not a negative thing. Both dogs will be less stressed and happy, knowing their place in the "pack".

When it is time to feed your dogs dinner, give the Alpha Dog their food first. When it is time to take the dogs outside for a walk, put the leash or harness on the Alpha Dog first. These small gestures help the dogs feel secure that you, the main leader, are showing them that you understand the "pack".

Once the dogs stop competing, your dog should stop marking.

Note: Marking...forgetting house training...odd behavior when eliminating...these are of course just a few of the issues an owner may have with their Pomeranian. For this reason, we have created the PetPom book... a way to give you 325 pages of detailed, easy to read, easy to download advice. And once you have our book, if you ever have any questions at all about your Pom...we answer you directly within 3 short days! What could be better?! Click here to learn more.