Pomeranians are little fluffballs, dogs that have a fluffy coat that gives them the appearance of a teddy bear. Despite that small package, they can bark with the best of them. It can be a major annoyance that you want to stop.

Learning how to stop a Pomeranian from barking will become essential for any owner. Understanding why they bark in the first place and what can be done about it is important.

Why Do Pomeranians Bark So Much?

For some dog owners, having a Pomeranian that barks non-stop can be a real problem. These dogs bark at anything and everything, causing major discomfort in the home. What is their deal? Why do they bark so much?

Before you can worry about how to stop a Pomeranian from barking, it helps to know why it might be barking in the first place. Keep in mind that barking is totally normal, just not in excess.

Pomeranians can become yappy, which can be a real issue if you don’t get ahead of it. They bark a lot trying to communicate with their human, with some being a little “chattier” than others. They are simply trying to get your attention or to convey something to you where words would typically be used by humans.

There is also the factor of perceived danger. Maybe they see the mailman coming and think that it’s a potential intruder to your home. Fear, anxiety, and stress can also lead to them barking more often than not.

Now that we know the reasons for their barking, it is time to get to the heart of the matter and keep them from going nuts.

Training Your Pomeranian

The good news is that there are a few helpful techniques that can stop the barking. Each dog is different so keep that in mind before beginning. Positive reinforcement and patience can go a long way toward getting the two of you on the same page.

Remove the Trigger

One of the most effective ways for how to stop a Pomeranian from barking is to remove the trigger entirely. Knowing why the dog is barking means that you can remove it from the situation or avoid it when possible.

Keep an eye on your Pomeranian, noting when it barks. Maybe it’s when strangers are walking by, in which case you could invest in blinds. If there are a lot of birds, move the bird feeders away from the window. Maybe pick a different route when walking.

By removing the cause of its need to bark, you should cut down on the dog’s need to be so vocal. A Pomeranian will still bark from time to time, as dogs do, but it will be at much more manageable levels.

Ignore Them

Though it may be difficult to simply ignore it, that actually can be an effective means of dealing with the barking. By going to see what is wrong when the dog barks, you are subtly encouraging the behavior. When you fuss over the dog, especially if it is looking for attention, it is just going to keep barking to get more attention.

When your Pom stops barking, implement positive reinforcement. With persistence, it will understand that if it barks and then stops, it could be rewarded. Connecting those behaviors means that it will wind up barking a lot less than normal.

Redirect Them

When your Pom starts barking, another effective method of changing the habit is to interrupt it and try to redirect its attention elsewhere. When it starts to bark, say “No” loudly, or clap your hands. The goal is to get it not only to stop but also to redirect its attention to you.

When your Pomeranian stops barking, praise it and give it a treat. Again, you are trying to show your dog that the desired action is to stop barking after starting. It may start to bark but will quickly recognize that the positive response comes from stopping.

You can then redirect the dog’s attention elsewhere—maybe to a game, a toy, or even some obedience training. The goal is to get the pup’s attention on something else, moving away from the trigger and the reason for the barking in the first place.

Quiet

There is another command, the opposite of “speak.” Using the “quiet” command can be an effective way of getting the dog to stop barking, even if there are triggers nearby. Oftentimes, visitors or ringing doorbells can set dogs off.

It is important to have the “speak” command down first. If you don’t, try to implement it into your repertoire. When the dog is familiar with “speak,” tell it “quiet” the minute it starts to bark. Like the “speak” command, it will recognize that it needs to stop. Give the dog a treat each time to reinforce its behavior.

Conclusion

Pomeranians might need a little bit of training to stop with the barking. Before long, you will have the tools needed to keep your Pom quieter. That’s not to say it will stop entirely, but you won’t have to deal with excessive barking that can be so bothersome.

Whenever training a dog, particularly little dogs, you need to have a plethora of patience and treats. Those are the most important tools in training your dog so that it doesn’t bark at everything under the sun.