Puppies are adorable by nature. But don’t let that cuteness blind you. They are prone to biting, especially on fingers and hands. Despite their small statures, those bites can be annoying at best and painful at worst.

Pomeranians tend to bite a lot as well, particularly as puppies. The good news is that there are ways to change that. Here are a few proven methods to ensure that your Pomeranian puppy will not target your hand any longer.

Why Do Pomeranians Bite So Much?

Despite their small stature, Pomeranians can bite quite often. There is nothing enjoyable about being bitten by one. It can become more than an annoyance; it can lead to serious pain and even some blood as well.

Before you worry about “how to stop my Pomeranian puppy from biting,” it helps to understand why they bite in the first place. There are three reasons in particular: teething, illness or injury, or a lack of training. Any one of the three can be just as bad as any other.

Teething, especially with puppies, can be the most common issue. Teething can be painful, and your puppy is simply looking for something to chew on to alleviate that pain. Puppies can also be prone to chewing if they aren’t feeling well. Finally, if they don’t have the proper training, they simply may not understand that they cannot bite.

How to Stop Them from Biting?

Now comes the time to learn “how to stop my Pomeranian puppy from biting.” There are a few proven methods that should work for your cause. The goal is not to intimidate the puppies, but to teach them. Above all else, you need to remain patient with them throughout the process.

The Ouch Method

One of the best methods for training your Pomeranian to stop biting is called “the ouch method.” When biting other puppies, they will yelp and show the puppy that they have caused pain. So the goal here is to do the same.

When they bite you, yelp loudly as if you have been hurt. Yank your hand away quickly to support this action. Turn away from the pup, avoiding eye contact for around 30 seconds or so. After 30 seconds, you can go back to playing with the dog.

It takes a bit of repetition to get this method to work, but it can definitely prove an effective measure. It shouldn’t take puppies long to figure out that they are causing pain when they bite.

Time Out

Another method that has been shown to work is known as the “time out method.” You need to make it so that they make the association between their action and stopping playtime. There are three steps to this method.

The first is removing them. When they bite, you need to take them and put them in a quiet room. Make sure that there are no toys in the room or anything that can be misconstrued as being part of their playtime.

Give them 30 or so seconds before you let them out and allow them to go back to playing. The process is much the same as it is for the ouch method. Go in 30-second intervals and repeat. If they keep biting after a few times, increase the time while they are in time out. Add 30 seconds for every time that they bite until they figure out what they are doing.

Calm Play

The calm play method allows them to associate play with good things. When you use this method, they will learn to remain calm so that they can get more of what they want. There are a few basics that work for this method of training.

The first is to create a secure space. Find a space where puppies can go if they are feeling particularly stressed out. Maybe it’s a cubby hole or a crate, anywhere they can sit and feel safe. With a home that has young children, that quiet space is crucial.

Make sure that playtime remains calm. It can be all too easy for your Pom to feel overwhelmed and excited at the prospect of playtime. Implement scratching, petting, and even a little bit of tugging. Don’t wrestle with them because this will only make them more excitable and even encourage them to bite.

You also need to reward them when they play calmly. Give them gentle praise and lots of treats when they play without biting. They need to associate that this kind of play will get them a reward. Should they bite, stop playing immediately. Use one of the aforementioned methods to get them to stop.

Repeat these steps. It takes time—remember that they are learning—but before long, they should not only play calmly but stop biting you as well.

Conclusion

The good news is that with a little bit of direction and training, you can keep your Pomeranian puppy from biting. The time to start training is while they are puppies, as they are more likely to listen to your direction.

Before long, you will have them following your commands on a regular basis. Even better than that, you won’t have to deal with them biting your hand on a regular basis.