Hi there,

I have a beautiful 14 month old male pomeranian. He was taken from his mother at 3 weeks old and we found and took him in. He shows signs of separation anxiety, but he broke his leg when he was 3 months old and has had three operations over a span of 3 months to fix it. Because of this set back he did not have time to socialize properly. My mother took care of him and has moved three cities since his broken leg, so the poor thing isn't use to a set home or routine! I now have him in my home. He is great with me. I know some do not believe in it but I let him sleep in bed with me. He is fine, even when my ex use to sleep in bed he never complained or tried to sleep in between us. He always just stays at my feet. When I leave the house is so needy. If someone is here, he cries for a moment then goes back to playing happily or even sleeps. When I come home he gets so excited sometimes he pees himself. I am just asking what technique to try to help him feel comfortable in his new home, as he has moved so much I know he would feel out of place. As I live with my dad and brothers, my pomeranians kennel is essentially in my room. His toys and food bowls are in my room. If no one is home, does this help make him feel better being able to see my things and have my scent so he knows I'll be back? I've started training him on the puppy pads, and he is slowly getting there! Sometimes he goes, but others he doesn't. I realize it takes patience and I'm so proud because he went from tearing it up to every 2nd or 3rd time he pees doing it on the actual mat. Just asking for help on what will make my pommy happy as I want him to understand that he does not have to move again (at least for a very long time) and that he is safe where he is. Oh, he also barks a lot when everyone in the house walks around. He barks at the sudden noises but when he sees its my family members he gets all happy and kisses them. Advice would be greatly appreciated! K xx

Hi,

Good for you for taking him on.

As you know the separation anxiety and barking is a result of low socialisation. Nonetheless, the fact that he has been moved around may also have ensured he was exposed to a greater variety of people and stimuli- which is good.

I think you can have him sleep where you like but you need to actively build up his ability to be separate from you and this will require time and patience. Treat him like a pup and leave him for 5 minutes at a time in his crate with a mini food stuffed kong or something similar to keep him occupied. Make sure it is yummy food (you may have to use portions of his daily food allowance to stop him getting porky). Slowly build up the time he is alone, so 5 minutes then 8 then 10. Have a radio on and don't fuss him either coming or going. It may take weeks and probably months but aim to build up to leaving him for an hour- once he can do that you can build to longer. But do not push this, really take your time. Use a DAP diffuser to build a safe feeling.

Make sure he is getting training and brain games. These are clever dogs, make sure he is learning. Do clicker training. Try not to be too clingy with him. Try to treat him like a bigger dog.

You need to get more people coming to the house. Build up gradually, ask them always to completely ignore your dog- they can perhaps throw him the odd treat but no fussing until he is actively trying to get to them and clearly confident- sniffing and nosing them. Do not let anyone pick him up. Many dogs have a real fear of being picked up and it is something toy dogs have to endure.

Pad training may be creating a stick to beat yourself with. is there any good reason he cannot go outside? Are you in a flat? Ideally, as with a pup, you want to train him to ask you to take him out and to learn outside is where you go. He may learn that he can only go on pads and you don't want that.

There's no short cut to house training. Go to a puppy routine and take him out (ideally on a lead not carried) after every time he eats, plays or sleeps. When he goes outside, as soon as he is finished, and not a second later, praise and reward. Any accidents inside, ignore and clean thoroughly, wiping over with an enzyme cleaner that removes his smell completely. If you catch him in the act say 'no' - this is not to tell him off but to stop the flow and then take him outside to continue- praise and reward.  It won't be easy but if you are absolutely consistent it will work.

If you are in a flat, try to get out if you can. Otherwise, rather than pads I'd opt for a very large litter tray with some turf, some soil and perhaps a bit of paving/gravel. You want him to make the association that this is the right substrate to widdle and poo on- not indoor surfaces.

Overall, the biggest kindness you can do your pom is not to smother him with love- hard because they are so adorable. Help him to be more independent and confident and you'll be doing the biggest kindness ever. When you feel yourself weakening just imagine he is a Rottweiler.

I had a little dog like this too.  She was soo stressed without me, she would wreck the room she was in.  We came home once and she had taken the skirting and wallpaper from the walls and ripped up the entire carpet!!
That is when we discovered crates!  Fabulous invention.lol.  We could leave her in there and know she was safe and she felt secure in what she regarded as 'her home'.  I put loads of soft blankets in there and I gave her an old t-shirt(that I'd worn all day) too so she could have the smell of me.  I covered the top and 3 sides of the crate and just left the front door uncovered.  This worked a treat to make her more secure.  Even when visiting other houses, as long and I took her crate, she was very secure.
With the house-training, the litter trays are a fabulous idea for little dogs that aren't getting out so much.  You can buy really big ones and put a bit of turf/gravel like said.  I would put a bit of bleach on the gravel(smell makes them pee on bleach)(amonia) and maybe next time her poops, put it in the tray too.  Bit stinky but just so he gets the idea where to go.  Some people clean up too good that the poor dog can't work out where it's allowed!!
Best of luck with your dog.

I suggest you use one or more of the Adaptil (previously called DAP products to help him settle. The plug-in would be ideal near his bed, but he could also wear one of the collars.

Thank you so much for your help! I live in a house with a backyard but my brother has a kelpieXstaffyXgermany shepard who is close to 5 years old so he is very territorial and hasn't been socialized much so he is not good around other dogs - another issue I have lol. We are slowly trying to get them use to each other by having a screen door in between and letting them see each other for about 20 minutes each day. My pomeranian is submissive when they meet which makes nesta (my brothers dog) start to calm down and eventually he gets bored and continues running around in the backyard. If you have any handy advice on getting dogs aquainted I would love to hear that too much (sorry to be racking your brain for tips, vets give me different opinions and I try to search all different ways on the internet to handle settling in my pomeranian the best way for him). Once again thank you for your tips and I'll defs try them!

I've noticed too that the past week jimmy has been able to just go off on his own for an hour or two around the house without calling for me. Hopefully that's a good sign because he never use to be able to leave me, he'd even follow me to the bathroom! But now when I'm in bathroom I often find him in my room nibbling on a toy or downstairs roaming around. I also take him out for walks everyday that usually last 40 mins and he has a toy box with different toys for different games so I try to play one game a day and mix it around.

Ps.. I'm going to get him a crate soon. He use to be in one with his broken leg and loved it but my mum has either lost it or thrown it out so I'll get a new one. I'll also pick up a litter box for times when I can't take him outside. When he lived in hotel rooms with my mum she had a cat and he would always go in her litter tray if he couldn't go outside, so hopefully he will pick it up. Thanks again everyone for your advice I so desperately needed help! Especially because I'm going through a round of surgeries atm while studying and working so I just want my pommy to be safe, happy and healthy before I worry about myself.

Great, sounds like you are going to make use of the tips.

Please do not ever leave your boy alone with your mum's rescue dog. It's a nice idea that you are trying to socialise them but the size difference is so great that I would be worried. You say your brother's dog is undersocialised, so you cannot be sure of how he might react if your pommy gets a bit more confident, or starts running round. If he got a bad fright from this dog is could undo all the good work.

I would get your brother to do clicker training with his dog- that is quite a mix- kelpie/GSD/staff. Three very drivey breeds and I wonder if the dog is not bored out of his brain if he is shut in a yard all the time. Does he get proper walks, training and exercise? The dog needs brain work- he sounds as though he is behaving like a dog with kennel syndrome and this will increase his territorial displays. Can you speak to your brother about this?

For now I'd concentrate on getting your boy socialised with sound, well socialised dogs of impeccable temperament. All his interactions with other dogs need to be really positive, again to help him learn how to behave around dogs and how to enjoy their company. Dogs of his own size would help to begin with. Ask your vet about a good local training class. You could also find out locally if anyone else has a pom- a girl would be good, that your boy can have some plays with.

Meant to say that it is a good sign that your boy is doing exploring on his own and not clinging to you- this is a good base to build on as it seems to show your boy is developing confidence.

Well done for trying to help your furbaby. Just wanted to add definitly dont leave your little one with the other dogs unless they are very closely supervised. I have a pomx chi and she lives with ,my german shepherd and a 9 month old flat coat. I keep them apart if I am not their to supervise and although particularly the shepherd and her are great friends , the pup is still too bouncy for her , I still think they should be watched in case of accidents. When I introduced mine to each other I just made sure the little one had plenty of space to remove herself and could still safely get into her crate
Good luck I hope it all sorts its self out for you both

For both dogs and for different reasons i would give these a go. They are a bit pricey but so, so worth it. If outdoor socialisation with other dogs is an issue  or for a brainy dog who is never satisfied with a marathon walk or to build confidence for a shy dog then go for it. I have a BC & a JRT and these games have helped both my rescue girls immensely.

http://www.nina-ottosson.com/

Your boy doesn't really sound as though he has that many issues.  Pomeranian's are extremely intelligent and great at obedience so I would do a bit of obedience training.  They are not the little fluffy dogs that some people seem to think they are.  You seem to be doing all the right things by him.  Good luck for the future.