Socialization
Pomeranian Socialization Training
Overview
When you bring a new Pomeranian home, this is going to be a huge change; for both Pom and all members of your family. The addition to your family will affect other pets that you may have, as well.
A young Pomeranian puppy needs a careful and planned introduction into your home...And a steady socialization to all things. Without a plan, your new puppy may become very stressed and overwhelmed.
It is a happy time, but for a pup that is leaving all he or she knew, it can over overwhelming...Stress on a dog of any age can cause not only emotional, but physical health problems.
As a loving owner, you must take charge to gently show your new Pom their new world, make a smooth introduction to all the people and/or animals that will be their new family and help them feel comfortable and welcomed.
The Pomeranian is a happy and affectionate breed. He or she should have no problem blending well into any family environment by following some guidelines.
Preparation
Before you bring your new baby Pomeranian home, do prepare. Things will be quite exciting and you do not want the additional chaos of putting out their water bowl, setting up their sleeping quarters and running out to the store for forgotten items. Plan to have the house as neat and calm as possible.
Your new Pomeranian needs a calm and happy introduction to its new family & home.
Introduction to Human Family Members
Many owners do not think about the element of socializing a Pomeranian puppy to the home and immediate family members, however one should follow guidelines to make this transition go smoothly. With a good, solid foundation of socialization done for this first new change in a puppy's life, it will set the tone for introduction to all sorts of new people, places and elements that the Pom will encounter as he grows older.
If you have other family members, you should ask them to be sitting quietly in a room, for your arrival back with your puppy. A Pom will feel very overwhelmed if everyone rushes to him. A sudden barrage of loud voices, pats and hugs from a multitude of people can frighten a small puppy, even though all intentions are good.
In whatever method you obtained your puppy, he will most likely already have a sense of you. He will know your smell, your voice and your touch. When you arrive home, an introduction should be made to each individual person, one at a time. Have each person say hello in a calm and pleasant voice. Allow your puppy to smell them and get a sense for who they are. Each person should have a small treat. Too many treats and your puppy's tummy may be full by the time he meets everyone!
Dre, 3 years old (instagram @andrethepom)
Photo courtesy of owner: Kelly Bolona
Children and adults alike should be told to slowly and gently pat your new pup. While a Pomeranian puppy is so cute it is expected that everyone will want to pick the puppy up and hug it over and over; this is not what your new little buddy needs right now.
After taking 5 - 10 minutes to meet each person, you can then give your new pup a tour of the home. They will need to get a good and solid sense of their surroundings. Be sure to show him or her where they can always depend on their water to be. Encourage your puppy to get to know his dog bed; he will need to know it is his own special place to retreat too if things get too stressful.
It is best to allow your new dog to have a few days to a week at home with you and your family before you allow neighbors, friends and extended family over. Once your puppy has adjusted to his new home and family, you can then begin a slow introduction to other people.
It is suggested to choose 1 person who will do the feeding and be the main caregiver. However, if you have a large family, it is best if a 2nd person stands close by or accompanies that person for walks, etc. In this way, your Pom will become used to knowing who will give him his food, bathes, walks and more.
But at the same time, he will understand the presence of the 2nd person. Should the main caregiver ever be unable take care of the dog on a certain day,
it will not be a disturbance to the dog's known schedule for that 2nd person to take over the role. He will also then see both people as Alphas. If the household has children, we suggest that adults offer the dinners, and the children offer treats.
Introduction to Other Pets
This is a very important aspect to bringing your new family member home. One cannot expect current dog and cat pets to suddenly be socialized in the acceptance of a new dog and at the same time expect a new Pomeranian puppy to suddenly know how to get along with other animals.
Since you are just getting your new dog, it is the current pets you have that must be taught to be properly socialized with another dog. It is unwise to assume that because a pet has a wonderful personality and has always shown good
behavior that they will become instant best friends with the new arrival. A sudden change of having a new puppy in the home can trigger quite a mess of chaos if your pets are not ready!
Whether you have cats, dogs or both, you should take time well before you bring your new Pomeranian home to make sure that the cat/s or dog/s will get along well with another new dog. You can do this by having a friend, family member, neighbor, coworker or other who has a dog come over for a visit.
Ideally, it is best if you can find someone who has the same breed. If not, the 2nd best option would be to have someone come over who has a dog in the same class.
Allow the animals to feel each other out. Keep a careful eye out for any trouble. If you already have a dog and they stare quietly at the other dog, in almost a frozen state, this can be the posture that is shown before a dog attacks.
If you already have a cat, keep an eye out for their behavior also. Some cats are much larger than a Pomeranian; if your cat does not tolerate a small dog, you new Pomeranian puppy could be very injured in a fight. The best sign that animals will get along with others is if they ignore each other! This means that they do not see the other as a threat. In time, a dog or cat will get to know the new pet and they can then become best friends.
If you are sure that your current pet/s are tolerable of another dog in the home, all should be fine when you bring your new Pomeranian home. Introduction should be slow and calm. An owner must keep watch when the young, new puppy is eating, an older dog may try to show dominance by taking his food.
Your current pet/s will feel jealousy if you lavish all of your attention on the new puppy. Hopefully, you have estimated the time that you logically have in one day, to make sure that you can give care and attention to all animals on an equal basis.
Cars, Traffic, Strangers, Dogs, Visitors to the Home! Events, Situations and More.
Socialization will determine just how big your Pom's world is. It will be small or large, based on what you
decide. Full socialization for dogs involved the entire concept of a dog being able to cope with both their inside environment and the outside elements. In addition, with correct socialize training, a dog is able to cope with unexpected situations. This is particularly important for young pups and those that are shy or nervous.
Well socialized dogs are more confident in themselves, better behaved and happier. The new, updated PetPom book is NOW IN PRINT, with a full Socialization chapter that covers every element.
