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Pomeranian Barking

Overview

If you’re wondering if Pomeranians are known for being barkers or if your own Pom’s barking is out of control and you’re looking for help, this section will cover everything you need to know. We’ll go over what percentage of Pomeranians have a barking problem, top reasons for barking, and some effective training steps to help keep your Pom’s bark minimized.

Do Pomeranians Bark a Lot?

In regard to Pomeranians yipping, yapping, or relentlessly barking, one of the most accurate methods of answering this question is to look directly to Pomeranian owners who can report their puppy or dog’s behavior. And this very thing was done as part of an extensive survey that PetPom conducted in 2018. Please note that the full survey results can be found in PetPom’s GIANT Book of Pomeranian Care.

For the survey, there were 3695 respondents with essentially an exact 50/50 split between having male and female Pomeranians. The ages of the Poms were 4% young puppy (under 6-months-old), 12% puppy (6 to 12-months old), 41% young adult (1 to 3-years-old), 28% adult (4 to 8-years-old), and 15% senior (9+ years).

PetPom asked, ‘What was the biggest challenge(s) you've had with your Pom?’. This was followed by a list of 18 possible issues including barking, along with an ‘other’ option.

Of the 3695 owners that responded, just 16% of Pomeranians were reported to have a barking problem, past or present. That is just 591 of the 3695, or less than 1 in 5 Poms (20%).

This is optimistic news for those thinking about getting a Pomeranian but hoping to avoid having a barker. And, for the 16% whose Pom does bark to such an extent that it’s considered an issue, there are some training tips that can help quiet a Pomeranian down (more ahead).

Pomeranian Barking Compared to Other Breeds

If you are wondering how Pomeranians compare to some other toy breeds in regard to barking, similar studies conducted by other leading informational resources show that Poms are right on par with Yorkshire Terriers (16%) but bark a bit more than Chihuahuas (14%) and bark moderately more than Pugs (9%) and Shih Tzu (3%).

Reasons That a Pomeranian Barks

Though dogs use body language to convey feelings (body stance, tail position or movement, lack or presence of eye contact, etc.), a dog’s most common and effective method of communication is barking. And, not all barking is a bad thing.

Let’s take a look at the most common reasons why a Pomeranian will bark:

1. To gain attention. This may be done to be taken outside for bathroom needs or may simply be a call out to be petted or played with. This is usually a high-toned, repetitive bark. This is common with puppies that have certain needs (are cold, hungry, dealing with teething pain, etc.), but even adult dogs may bark for attention, especially if they have not gained the skills to keep themselves occupied.

2. As an alert. A Pom may bark to let their human know about a perceived threat or encroachment onto their territory (home or yard). This may be directed toward the mailman, neighbor, or anyone that comes onto or close to the property. Barking for alerts may also happen while out on walks or out in other public places, typically meaning that the Pom is wary of strangers.

Another example is appearing to bark at nothing at all when in actuality the Pom’s incredible sense of hearing allows them to pick up on birds or other wildlife outside the house, sirens several blocks away, or other triggers out of sight from an owner.

This sort of bark is usually low-toned and may be intermingled with low growls.

3. As a warning. This is a step up from an alert bark and is done when a Pomeranian is in full watchdog mode, full defensive mode, or their tolerance is being pushed to the limit. This may be directed toward a person or another dog to say ‘Keep away!’ or may be directed toward their owner, warranted or not, to say ‘Leave me alone!’. This type of bark is usually very deep or is an outright growl.

If there is a change in body stance (tail held stiff, muscles tense) a nip or bite may follow, though it is not always telegraphed.

4. Distress. A Pomeranian may bark due to physical distress (injury, overheating, being mishandled, etc.) or emotional distress (the most common reason is being alone when suffering from separation anxiety).

Stopping a Pomeranian Puppy from Barking at Night

Whether a young puppy barks on the hour every hour once the sun sets or whine incessantly through the night, you’re sure to have trouble getting a good night’s sleep and maybe even worry that close neighbors are getting irritated.

Fortunately, in most cases this resolves itself as fears and insecurities fade away as the pup matures. But there are some things you can do in the meantime:

1. Create a safe and secure environment. In most instances, this will mean using an indoor canine playpen like the IRIS 4-Panel Pet Playpen with a Door which offers a defined area but without feeling too restricted. This is also ideal for pups since it contains bathroom accidents and offers a portable puppy-proofed area.

Within this, have a warm doggie bed, food (up until 3 months old), water (for all ages), pee pads, and a few favorite toys. If your Pomeranian puppy really struggles with being alone at night, you may want to consider obtaining a companion toy for your Pom that can offer a sense of security. One like the is a good-sized stuffed animal dog that emits a rhythmic heartbeat and body warmth. This is also fantastic for when a dog is home alone during the day.

Keep your Pom in an often-used room that does not feel isolated (the living room is usually a good spot) and most puppies do best with a nightlight in the room.

2. Bring your Pom outside for bathroom needs right before bedtime. This is an important step since most nighttime barking is not due to bathroom needs, a misinterpretation that many owners make; more ahead).

3. Only if you highly suspect a bathroom need, bring your Pom outside in the middle of the night. Most young puppies have not reached the level of being so fully housebroken that they will bark for a housebreaking need. It’s a common mistake that owners make. They’ll bring their pup outside at 2 AM, the pup will pee, and they feel that they correctly reacted to the barking. However, the pup actually barked to gain attention and only urinated in reaction to being outside.

So, if you do want to bring your pup out, this should be done with minimal lighting and noise, do not play with your pup and do not speak at all unless it’s to say ‘Good job’ for going to the bathroom. This sort of very limited interaction is necessary to prevent reinforcing the idea that barking equals attention.

4. Perform a quick safety and comfort check, only if there is barking, and only every couple of hours. With dimmed lights and no speaking, make sure that the puppy is warm (did not slide off their bed, is not near a draft, etc.), has their water, has one or two favorite toys, and is otherwise cozy and free from harm.

5. Aside from that, do not respond to the barking. Other than the safety and comfort checks, do not respond at all to barking at night. With your Pom safe and warm and with all needs met, it’s time to teach self-soothing lessons.

This is easier said than done since it’s human instinct to want to soothe and comfort a pet in need. However, what is learned during these moments can be carried over for years. Your goal is to have an adult Pomeranian that can independently sleep soundly without needing constant reassurance from you.

While each night will seem like ten and a week may seem like a year, barking for attention at night usually ceases on its own after a month or so.

If it continues, reassess your Pom’s sleeping set up (playpen, bed, toys), and location (room temperature, drafts, too isolated, etc.). In some instances, there may be a need for more play and interaction during the day to prevent too many naps that interfere with getting a good night’s sleep.

How to Stop a Pomeranian of Any Age From Excessively Barking when You’re Home

This will involve 5 steps:

Provide enough exercise.
Provide independent mental stimulation.
Limit or remove barking triggers.
Create a calm environment.
Have a plan in place to react appropriately to barking.

Please note that by incorporating all steps you will find the most success in limiting how much your Pomeranian barks. Let’s dive into the details.

1. Make sure that your Pom has enough exercise.

If a dog is feeling cooped up and restless, chances are they are going to bark. Exercise allows a dog to release that pent-up energy and to feel calmer once back inside the house.

A Pomeranian should be taken for at least two walks per day, for at least 20 minutes each session (and up to 40), and at a pace that is considered brisk for that particular dog. For overly-hyper Poms, additional walks or free-run cardio sessions (like fetch) should be added in.

2. Provide independent mental stimulation. Dogs can get super-bored just like people can. And, they often bark to let it be known. You can help prevent your Pomeranian from getting bored by providing some ‘stay busy’ toys for independent play. Here are a few types that can work very well:

1) A treat-release toy. These slowly dispense food that is placed inside, so the more a dog interacts with it, the more they are rewarded. For this, we recommend the Busy Buddy Barnacle Toy. This is perfect for both tiny Poms (the extra small is for dogs under 10 lbs.) and larger ones (the small is for dogs 8 to 20 lbs.), Make this super-enticing by filling it with dry kibble mixed with smooth peanut butter, a light drizzling of fish oil, or bits of bacon (whatever your Pom loves best).

2) An interactive toy that ‘plays back’. We like the Pet Qwerks Babble Ball Interactive Toy. This amusing toy keeps a dog entertained with 20 different animal noises. The fun begins when it’s nosed or pawed and it shuts off (to conserve batteries) when it’s not in use.

3) A snuffle mat. These are play mats with lots of fabric pieces and hiding spots. You tuck away a few pieces of something yummy and then let your Pom go to work. For this, a good one is the Green House Dog Snuffle Mat. This sort of entertainment lets a dog engage their foraging instincts and make use of their sense of smell which can be very satisfying for them. And, there is built-in reward when they finally sniff out the treat.

3. Limit or remove triggers. If there are certain things that make your Pomeranian bark, like seeing the neighbor across the street through the front window, the school bus that always drives by while you’re out on your morning walk together, or the birds that gather in your backyard, make adjustments. Curtains can be drawn, walks can be taken a bit earlier or later, and things like bird feeders and bird baths that attract wildlife can be relocated.

4. Create a calm environment. Dog households with blaring TVs, children running around with abandon, lots of yelling, or an otherwise chaotic atmosphere will almost always have a dog that mimics that vibe with lots of hyper barking. So, when at all possible, keep things chill and peaceful. If a noisy household can't be entirely avoided, offer your Pom a quiet area to retreat to if feeling overwhelmed.

5. Train your Pom to stop barking by reacting appropriately. Understandably, owners can get easily flustered when their Pomeranian starts barking like mad. Almost immediately, tension increases and without a plan in place, it’s easy to react incorrectly which only makes things worse. Details are ahead.

Training a Pomeranian to Stop Barking at Home

Step 1: Establish yourself as the leader so that your commands are listened to.

Dogs generally only listen to those that they see as their ‘Alpha’ leader of the ‘pack’. If your Pom is not sure that position is held by you, your efforts to control your dog’s barking may be done in vain.

One of the most effective ways to make it clear that you are the Alpha leader is to mandate that your Pom obeys a ‘sit’ and holds it for a count of five before any food is given.

Additional methods include keeping your dog in a heel (to your immediate left) when walking and being the first to enter or exit the house ahead of your dog.

Step 2: Interrupt, reward, and refocus.

Step 2, Part 1: Interrupt.

How you go about interrupting your Pom’s barking depends on your particular dog. Some will stop with a loud hand clap and their name being called out in a firm tone. However, just as many Pomeranians will completely ignore that.

If your Pom tends to ignore you or their barking is so loud that you fade into the background, you may wish to consider using a behavioral training device like the The Company of Animal's Pet Corrector Training Aid. This is used by professional canine trainers and is a completely harmless small handheld device that emits a short burst of air that makes a particular noise with the push of a button that causes dogs to take pause.

Step 2, Part 2: Reward.

Reward is the #1 method of teaching a dog that certain behaviors (like being quiet vs barking) are advantageous. This works best if reward is given within 3 seconds of the desired behavior. For this reason, be prepared by having a handful of training treats in a zipped plastic sandwich bag and in your pocket.

As soon as your Pomeranian stops barking via the interruption, give the behavior a name while giving praise, “Good quiet, good dog!”, and offer a training treat.

The type of training treats you use can affect your level of success. They must be seen as high value. This means that they should be moist and chewy (as opposed to dry and crunchy), extra tasty, and something that is reserved just for training.

A terrific choice is Wellbites Natural Soft Training Treats which are all-natural, made-in-the-USA treats that can be found in lots of pleasing flavors like lamb and salmon, turkey and duck, chicken and venison, beef and turkey, and pumpkin.

Step 2, Part 3: Refocus.

Without something changing, your Pom may simply start barking again, with you interrupting and rewarding again, and that could go on all day. So, you’ll want to refocus your little guy or gal’s attention once the reward has been given.

For this, you can direct your Pom to a fun toy as listed previously under ‘Provide independent mental stimulation’.

Or, you can work on a few commands, play a game together (like fetch or hide n’ seek), or head out for a short walk or a bathroom break. No matter what you choose as your dog’s new focus, if the barking does not start up again, reinforce the good behavior with praise (“Good quiet, good dog!”) and hand out one more training treat.

Training a Pomeranian to Stop Barking on Walks

The most common reason for a Pom barking like crazy while on leash during a walk is being overstimulated. Canines have incredible senses; hearing and sense of smell are off the charts (at least compared to us humans), so they are bombarded with stimuli as soon as they go out the door. Add to this seeing strange animals (other dogs and/or wildlife) and it’s no wonder that a Pom will have trouble staying composed.

And, it’s really a shame when a Pom’s walks are cut short, or not even taken at all, due to barking. Regular exercise is essential for good health and, in most cases, the more walks you take your Pom on, the less they will bark. Especially if you follow a few tips.

You can help by:

1. Stick to a walking route with limited triggers. Take walks in peaceful areas with few cars driving by and other dogs being walked. Once your Pomeranian learns how to stay composed, you can gradually work your way up to routes that have more activity.

2. Keep your Pom on a harness and a retractable leash. This will allow you to more easily have your Pomeranian in a heeling position which is needed for this training. With your Pom to your immediate left, hold the handle of the leash in your right hand, the leash will cross over the front of your body, your left hand will hold the cord near your left hip.

Make adjustments as needed so that your Pom is no further ahead than the extension of your foot.

Using a harness will also allow you to control your Pom’s pace and direction without putting pressure on the neck, something that should be avoided due to this breed being prone to collapsed trachea.

If you are looking for a good harness to use, the Puppia Soft B Harness Vest is easy to place on and off (it does not have to be put over the head) and is made from a comfortable air mesh.

3. When your Pom barks, do not react in any way. Do not tense up, slow down, or otherwise respond which can be misinterpreted by a dog as their human also perturbed by a trigger. Help your Pomeranian learn that those triggers should be ignored by ignoring them yourself. Note that with a properly fitting harness, you can keep walking at a normal pace without harming your dog.

4. As you both move away from the trigger and barking stops, reward this. Now it’s time to slow down a bit. Give the behavior a name while giving praise, “Good quiet, good dog!”, and offer a training treat.

5. In time, progress to a busier route, if you wish. After enough exposure to stimuli and enough rewards for not barking, it may be possible to switch to a busier walking route, if you desire. If so, follow all of the same training steps.

Does your Pomeranian have even more barking issues? For detailed training steps for just about every barking situation, check out PetPom’s GIANT Book of Pomeranian Care.