EXHIBITING
POMERANIANS.
Poms are a Spitz breed and despite their diminutive size, they believe they are a big dog, ready to take on the world and will try! They can have a mind of their own, and not much phases them at all. So, therefore, it is important that you let your Pom know who is boss from a very early age. By this, I mean with patience, kindness, determination, and correct handling. They learn quickly and respond to reward training very well.
If you get a defiant Pom, if he growls while being brushed or trimmed, place him on his side (submissive position) on the grooming table, and firmly in a growling tone, tell him "no". You may have to do this a few times, but he will learn. Always reward with a special treat and lots of praise for correct behaviour.
Lead train them early. Do not give in to squeals, pulling on the lead, sitting down and refusing to walk, or any other attics they may try to throw your way! Offer them their favourite treat and make them walk on lead to get the reward. Get down low and even if they only walk for a few steps, lots of praise and the reward. A gentle tug on the lead will not hurt them, but DO NOT drag them around. Use the correct lead for Poms. If you're not sure, ask.
Table train them to stand still on the table for grooming and trimming. Use a table which has the back and both sides solid on top. Using ply wood to create this, is easy. This will help to avoid any accidental falls. The Pom's tail comes in as a good tool I find! I hold on to the base, especially of excitable ones. Talk to your Pom a lot, telling him when he is being good and also not so good. I also use this table to train them to stand for show.
Begin by placing them in the correct show stance, hold them in that stance with one hand, and with the other, give them their favourite treat. Each time you do, tell them to "stand" even if they are already standing. They will learn to associate the word with a treat. Using the treat to gain their attention, hold your hand high so as that the Pom has to look up to your hand with the treat, before you give it to them.
Getting the Pom to accept having his bite examined, put a small piece of the treat into the palm of your hand, using your thumb and forefinger, tell him "teeth" gently push apart the lips, and before he objects release the treat from the palm of the same hand into his mouth. He will learn, having his mouth open, results in something good.
Finally, socialise your Pom very early, as soon as he has been fully vaccinated. Take him with you to places like parks, shopping centres, schools, beaches, wherever there is a lot of strange people. Allow people to pat him, but NOT lift him up off the ground. Many a Pom has broken a leg or worse being lifted by a stranger and wiggling out of their embrace to get to their owners….with disastrous results.
If you are going to exhibit your Pom, start them as soon as you can and keep them in the ring on a regular basis. Home training should be limited to ten minutes a day, every day. Shows, if you can do them every weekend, all the better.
Written By
Anne Muscat-Roditis
© copyright 2008
Poms are a Spitz breed and despite their diminutive size, they believe they are a big dog, ready to take on the world and will try! They can have a mind of their own, and not much phases them at all. So, therefore, it is important that you let your Pom know who is boss from a very early age. By this, I mean with patience, kindness, determination, and correct handling. They learn quickly and respond to reward training very well.
If you get a defiant Pom, if he growls while being brushed or trimmed, place him on his side (submissive position) on the grooming table, and firmly in a growling tone, tell him "no". You may have to do this a few times, but he will learn. Always reward with a special treat and lots of praise for correct behaviour.
Lead train them early. Do not give in to squeals, pulling on the lead, sitting down and refusing to walk, or any other attics they may try to throw your way! Offer them their favourite treat and make them walk on lead to get the reward. Get down low and even if they only walk for a few steps, lots of praise and the reward. A gentle tug on the lead will not hurt them, but DO NOT drag them around. Use the correct lead for Poms. If you're not sure, ask.
Table train them to stand still on the table for grooming and trimming. Use a table which has the back and both sides solid on top. Using ply wood to create this, is easy. This will help to avoid any accidental falls. The Pom's tail comes in as a good tool I find! I hold on to the base, especially of excitable ones. Talk to your Pom a lot, telling him when he is being good and also not so good. I also use this table to train them to stand for show.
Begin by placing them in the correct show stance, hold them in that stance with one hand, and with the other, give them their favourite treat. Each time you do, tell them to "stand" even if they are already standing. They will learn to associate the word with a treat. Using the treat to gain their attention, hold your hand high so as that the Pom has to look up to your hand with the treat, before you give it to them.
Getting the Pom to accept having his bite examined, put a small piece of the treat into the palm of your hand, using your thumb and forefinger, tell him "teeth" gently push apart the lips, and before he objects release the treat from the palm of the same hand into his mouth. He will learn, having his mouth open, results in something good.
Finally, socialise your Pom very early, as soon as he has been fully vaccinated. Take him with you to places like parks, shopping centres, schools, beaches, wherever there is a lot of strange people. Allow people to pat him, but NOT lift him up off the ground. Many a Pom has broken a leg or worse being lifted by a stranger and wiggling out of their embrace to get to their owners….with disastrous results.
If you are going to exhibit your Pom, start them as soon as you can and keep them in the ring on a regular basis. Home training should be limited to ten minutes a day, every day. Shows, if you can do them every weekend, all the better.
Written By
Anne Muscat-Roditis
© copyright 2008
