Are Pomeranians High Maintenance (11 Characteristics)

Pomeranians are adorable with thier petite staure and cuddly nature but, are Pomeranians high maintenance?

Pomeranians are not high maintenance dogs compared with other dog breeds. This breed is smart, loyal, non-aggressive, and cuddly. Pomeranians do require lots of love and a home where they will not be lonely. They are the perfect companion dog for someone who has the time to give.

Let’s take a closer look at what determines when a dog is high maintenance and why Pomeranians are considered a low maintenance dogs.

What Is A High Maintenance Dog

A high maintenance dog is a dog that requires more than the average care and time in order for it to thrive.

A dog that is considered high maintenance is not a fit for every home, a special home is needed that can provide the right environment and needs for the dog.

There are some dogs that are considered low maintenance. Although the comparison of low maintenance to high maintenance dogs is pretty subjective, a dog that doesn’t require lots of exercise or grooming, that has an easy-going personality, and is easy to train can be a better fit for most homes and considered low maintenance.

What Are The Characteristics Of A High Maintenance Dog

In order to determine if Pomeranains are high maintenance dogs we first need to look at what characteristics do high maintenance dogs have.

The top 11 characteristics of a high maintenance dog are.

Difficult To Train
Strong-Willed
Suffers From Separation Anxiety
High Energy
Destructive
Are Bad With Children
Aggressive (towards people or animals)
Requires Lots of Grooming
Strong herding instincts
Very vocal
Prone to health problems

A dog does not need to have all of the above characteristics to be considered high maintenance. A Jack Russel Terrier can be considered a high maintenance dog because it is a high-energy dog with a strong prey drive. A Jack Russel Terrier requires lots of exercise and training to live its best life. Due to these requirements, a Jack Russel Terrier may not be the best fit for all homes.

Are Pomeranians Difficult To Train

Pomeranians are very smart and respond best to positive reinforcement. Scolding a Pomeranian for bad behaviors or not following your commands will only have negative results.

Due to Pomeranians being very small the can be a little more difficult to potty train. They have a harder time holding it due to their small bladders. When going through the potty training process with a Pomeranian I suggest having the person who is training the dog supervising the dog at much as possible.

Training any dog requires patience and time.

In my experiance Pomeranians fall right in the middle of the pack when it comes to the difficulty of training.

My dog Murphy was able to learn simple commands and tricks very easily using positive reinforcement and training treats as rewards. His potty training experience was a little more challenging than expected. It took him longer to communicate his need to go outdoors without having an accident in the house.

Willow on the other hand picked up potty training much quicker. She is only 4.5 lbs though and does request to go outside many times a day. Although she goes outside often during the day she has only had one accident at night.

Are Pomeranians Strong-Willed

Pomeranians are a strong-willed dog.

These little fluff balls of joy have the confidence of a giant. They can sometimes even come off as being “cocky”.

If a strong-willed Pomeranian gets out of hand it could run into trouble not backing down when confronted with another dog, biting, snapping, growling, or being moody.

I’ve experienced living with strong-willed Pomeranians. Both of my dogs are very defensive of our home and family. Our neighbors recently added a German Shepard to their household. When my Pomeranians and the German Shepard are both in their backyards my Pomeranains become defensive, barking lunatics.

Willow is more curious than anything but, Murphy is defending his territory with all his might. In a normal situation like walking down the street, if Murphy comes in contact with another dog he doesn’t even bark (he is a perfect little gentleman). When he is at home he becomes a guard dog.

I would consider Pomeranians more strong willed than the average dog.

Do Pomeranians Suffer From Separation Anxiety

Pomeranians become extremely attached to their owners. If they had a choice they would be with you at all times. (Mine literally follow me everywhere).

While it’s normal for dogs to be left at home for a short time, Pomeranians can not handle being left alone for extended periods of time. They can develop separation anxiety, become distressed, and agitated when their owner leaves the house. Separation anxiety can lead to destructive behaviors like barking, chewing, scratching, house-soiling, pacing, drooling, and self-mutilation.

After living with my “Pomtourage” I would not suggest getting a Pomeranian if you leave the home for an extended time every day. If you happen to work away from home for eight hours or more consider having your dog go to doggy daycare or visit with family or friends during the day.

I would ask you not to get a Pomeranian if you expect to leave it home alone for eight hours or more everyday.

Pomeranians are very loving dogs that are very attached to their owners, they are prone to seperation anxiety.

Are Pomeranians Energetic

Pomeranians are energetic but, are easy to handle.

A Pomeranian will be very happy going for a walk, playing in the yard or playing with toys.

These little dogs also enjoy doing their fair share to napping and cuddling during the day.

Compared to notoriously energetic breeds like the Siberian Husky, Pomeranains have much lower needs for burning off energy. Even if your Pomeranian is mostly an indoor door they can be satisfied by playing with toys and their daily trips outdoors.

Are Pomeranians Destructive

I would not refer to Pomeranians as destructive dogs.

The only destructive behavior to be aware of is chewing. Chewing is a natural behavior for all dogs. Dogs will chew when they are teething, bored, anxious, or lonely.

My dogs have been know to snag a toy from my kid’s room or a shoe off of the floor. It’s our responsibility to make sure our Pomeranians have plenty of toys they can chew on and put away anything that we want to keep safe.

My little Pom Williow is a collector. She with gather things all over the house and bring them back to her bad.

Are Pomeranians Bad With Kids

Pomeranians a very good dogs with kids and families with one exception.

A Pomeranian is a very loving, cuddly and social dog that will thrive in a family setting.

The only time I would not suggest bringing a Pomeranian into a family is if you have young children. Pomeranians are small and can be vulnerable to a child that doesn’t understand and plays too roughly. A Pomeranian will be at a higher risk of getting stepped on. Your dog would be more vulnerable to injury in a home with small children.

We personally added a Pomeranian to our family when my children were 4 and 6. They did require extra supervision to make sure they didn’t handle the dog roughly. Overall, it wasn’t an issue because they had the additional supervision needed.

Are Pomeranians Aggressive

Pomeranians are generally cuddly, loving and gentle souls.

I would never consider the breed as aggressive dogs. Of course, every dog is different and some can show more aggression than others. If you end up having an angry Pomeranian there are things you can do to correct the behavior.

Overall, Pomeranians are a happy go lucky breed that are less agressive compared to others.

Do Pomeranians Require A Lot Of Grooming

Pomeranians are known for their beautiful fluffy coats with lion-like manes and curly tails. Do they require a lot of grooming?

Honestly, I don’t think Pomeranians require a lot of grooming. Many Pomeranains will have seasonal shedding in the Spring and Fall to prepare their coats for the next season. I would recommend the following grooming routine.

Brushing daily or weekly
Nail trimming as needed
Bathing every 6 to 8 weeks (unless needed)
Tear stain cleaning as needed
Ear Cleaning as needed
Anal Gland Expression as needed

On average a Pomeranian will need to go to the groomers twice a year. How often you bring your Pomeranian to the groomers depends on your preference and lifestyle.

Do Pomeranians Have Strong Herding Instincts

Pomeranians used to be working dogs that used to assist with herding and guarding cattle.

Over the years Pomeranians have been bred to be companions. Most of their herding instinct has been removed. That being said, Pomeranians are still very confident and may pull at your ankles to get you to notice them.

Overall, in comparison to other dogs with strong herding instincts like a Border Collie, Pomeranians have a low herding instinct.

Are Pomeranians Very Loud

Do Pomeranians bark a lot are are they very loud?

With a strong, confident guard dog instinct Pomeranians are prone to barking. They are not the type of dog that will bark endlessly. With Pomeranians, there is always a reason for their barking like a knock at the door, loud noises, or excitement to see you.

Pomeranians can be trained to minimize when and how long they bark. Compared to other dogs I would place Pomeranians as above-average barkers.

Are Pomeranians Prone To Health Issues

When we decide to add a furry friend to our family, taking a moment to research what’s involved in caring for your new pet should include looking at any potential health issues that are common for the breed.

Pomeranians in comparison to other breeds do not suffer from as many health issues. That being said there are some common health problems to be aware of.

Collapsed Trachea
Luxating Patella
Black Skin Disease (Alopecia)
Hypothyroidism
Eye Issues- Cataracts and Glaucoma
Heart Disease
Allergies
Heat Stroke

Can Pomeranians Be Considered A High Maintenance Dog

It may come as a surprise since we are used to seeing pampered Pomeranians being carried in fabulous dog carriers or pushed in strollers around town but, Pomeranians are not high maintenance dogs.

As long as you are prepared for the time and energy it takes to care for a dog a Pomeranian would not require more than your average dog would.

There are some circumstanaces where I would not reccommend a Pomeranian at this time.

If your dog will be left home alone for many hours at a time.
If you have very young children or rough children in your home that could injure a dog
If you do not have the money to pay for the correct care of your dog.

Would A Pomeranian Be Right For Me

When deciding if a Pomeranian is a right fit for your family I suggest asking yourself the following questions.

Will my Pomeranian be left alone for many hours?
Do I have the time and patience to properly train my puppy?
Are there small children in my home that may hurt a small dog?
Do I have the means to pay for the veterinarian care, food, and grooming as needed?
Why do you want a dog?
Are you ready to commit to the life of your dog? Pomeranians live 12-15 years.
Does anyone in your family have allergies?
Do you travel a lot? If so, what would your plans be for your dog?
Do you have a yard or have access to an outdoor space for your dog to exercise?

Final Thoughts

Pomeranians are really a special breed. If you are looking for the best companion a Pomeranian is a wonderful choice.

There are times when a Pomeranian is not the right fit. If you are away from home often, have small children, or not enough money to care for your dog.

In comparison to other dogs, Pomeranians are not a high maintence breed.

A Pomeranian requires your love and time above all.