Jealous
Pomeranian Jealousy Behavior
Understanding Pomeranian Jealous Behavior
A Pomeranian may show jealous behavior of other people or of other pets. However, there are answers to both dilemmas. Most dogs will display this type of behavior because they are feeling vulnerable and need some time to adjust to a new situation that perhaps they were not ready for.
A Pomeranian may consider any other person or pet to pose a threat to many things:
- The bond between the Pom and his or her owners.
- The physical attention that the dog is used to receiving, such as grooming.
- The safety of the home; a Pom may feel that his territory is being encroached upon. A dog does not automatically understand that a new person or animal is part of the household and not a visitor.
How to Help Stop Jealous Behavior
A Pomeranian needs time to adjust to whatever new living arrangement is in place. The following should help ease the situation until a Pom gets accustomed to things:
1) Reestablish the bond-
A Pomeranian may sulk and act moody upon a new person or pet entering into the family. When a new person or a new pet enters into a person's life, it is sometimes easy to pay lots of attention to the new family member and the established dog feels left behind. Show your Pomeranian that there is still a great bond between the two of you. Do not stop doing all the things that you used to do: Going for walks, cuddle on the sofa, etc. If possible, set aside a bit of time each day to spend solely with your Pomeranian one-on-one; even 15 minutes can reinforce the bond that you have. Show your Pom that you love him or her no matter how moody they get.
Luigi Donatello, 10 years old
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Murtha
2) Make clear distinctions for personal belongings- If a new pet has entered into the picture, it is very important to clearly establish that your Pomeranian's belongings are his personal property. Dogs really only see two elements as being 'their's': the food dish and their toys.
Both pets should have their own clearly defined eating areas. Sometimes it takes two animals a bit of time to warm up to each other. After they do, they may eat side-by-side without issues. However, if there is any jealous behavior, having meals while physically close to each other can cause a dog to feel anxious and restless. Choosing two different corners of the kitchen often works well.
If your Pomeranian can feel secure about his food, his feelings of jealousy may lessen.
It is harder to keep toys separate, however do keep them segregated as much as possible. Each pet should have their own toy box. Sharing would be nice; but this should never be forced.
3) Do not force interaction -
Never force 2 animals to play together, sleep in the same dog bed or share anything. This will happen naturally in time in many cases. Most pets learn to become very good friends, when they are each feeling safe about their environment and they bond at their own pace.
When you are adding another Pom to your household, you will want to consider the pros and cons of male vs female Pomeranians.
4) Attention -
Whether you have a new human family member or a canine or feline family member, try to remember that your Pomeranian did not ask for a larger family. Your dog needs time to adjust. You can help by making sure that you pay just as much attention to your dog as you did before.
Some dogs may resist at first, but do try to have enough enthusiasm for both of you. You may opt to take time out for a favorite pastime (a trip to the dog park, a hike in a favorite spot, etc.) or you may want to take on a new adventure together (checking out a new outdoor market, strolling the aisles at a pet supply store, etc.)
5) Reward 'okay' moments -
If your Pomeranian stops acting jealous, even if the behavior is one of simply tolerating the person or animal, reward that behavior with praise and a treat. If you have two dogs, give the treat to the jealous pet first and then immediately give one to the other one.
6) Keep an eye out for safety issues
- If jealousy is in reaction to a human, be sure to keep an eye on the interaction between your Pom and that person. Perhaps the person is not aware of the need of treating a Pom gentle care and is attempting to play too rough? Perhaps they think it is amusing to tease your Pom?
Stop any incorrect interaction and teach the offender the way to offer proper care.
If this jealousy is in reaction to another pet, keep a good eye out for what happens when they think you are not looking. Perhaps the newer dog or cat is physical intimidating your Pom, thus causing the dog to act out? Perhaps the new pet is taking your Pom's toys, which as we discussed above will cause your Pomeranian to feel threatened.
7) Give it some time-
If your Pomeranian feels that a person or other pet is a threat to the home, time will fix this as your dog becomes used to the new situation and following the training methods will help a dog cope.
synyster and skyyla, Photo courtesy of owners: Patricia and James Robinson
8) Remember that we're all 'human'.
Dogs have a wide range of emotions and they should be allowed to be moody sometimes, just as we all are. Nipping at someone or another pet and any other harmful behavior should be corrected. However, sometimes we just need to let a pet express their displeasure with a new situation that they are not used to yet and let them get it out of their system. Most Pomeranians do eventually come around and learn to love the new person or pet that is new to the family.
Note:
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