Are Pomeranians Good With Kids? Breed Temperament & Facts
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Pomeranians are cute little dogs with larger-than-life personalities. This is enough to warrant their popularity among families throughout the United States and beyond. Pomeranians have a distinctive look that makes them easy to spot, and their small size ensures that owners can maintain control during outdoor walks and visits to the park.
But the important question for any family thinking about getting a Pomeranian is whether this breed is good with children. The truth is that it depends on the age of the child in question, the type of training that the Pomeranian has undergone, and the specific household circumstances. This guide should help you determine whether a Pomeranian is the right fit for you and your kids.
A Little About the Pomeranian
Pomeranians are lively, fun loving, eager to please, playful, and extremely loyal. They love spending time with their human companions but tend to be suspicious of strangers that enter their home. These little dogs stand between 10 and 11 inches tall and weigh between 3 and 7 pounds when they are fully grown, which makes them easy to travel with.
This breed is known for acting as a little watchdog and will bark when they hear strange noises or get excited in social settings. These smart dogs take to obedience training easily, though their stubborn side can result in mischievous behavior from time to time. In general, though, these are good-natured dogs that are easy to get along with in apartment and house settings.
Why Pomeranians May Not Be Best Suited as Companions for Young Children
Pomeranians typically like kids of all ages just fine, but being companions with younger kids must be cautioned against, especially if they will not be supervised at all times. This small breed is not a hardy one and can easily be injured during rough play.
Young kids could accidentally hurt them and even break a bone without meaning to. They could also fall and land on the Pomeranian, causing injury to both parties involved. Furthermore, Pomeranians are territorial and scare easily. They are prone to snipping at kids who take their toys or treats away for any reason, even if to be playful.
The quick movements and loud noises of a toddler could cause stress in a Pomeranian, which can result in excessive barking and maybe even nipping or biting. A bite from a Pomeranian can seriously injure a young child, which in turn, could create a chaotic relationship that does not get better even as the child ages. The bottom line is that young kids don’t typically have the capacity to understand how they should behave around a small dog like a Pomeranian to avoid accidental injuries and attacks.
Why Pomeranians Can Be the Perfect Pet for Families With Older Children
This breed can be a great addition to families with older children who understand how to treat a dog and know how to manage behavior via obedience commands. Older kids can even participate in training sessions and learn how to become a pack leader. They are also less likely to climb on their Pomeranian companions and cause injury. They can understand that things like teasing, tail pulling, and taking toys away are unacceptable. Older children are less rambunctious too, so they won’t cause undue stress or overexcitement while spending time at home together. They can understand their dog’s cues better than toddlers and younger kids can, making it easier for them to effectively communicate and know how to react to the dog’s actions.
Pomeranians are easy for older children to walk outdoors and take to the park, as they don’t have to be physically strong to manage and resist leash pulling. Also, this dog breed is not big enough to cause accidental injuries to older kids during gameplay, which is something that can’t be said for dogs like Rottweilers and Labrador Retrievers.
In Summary
Maintaining a household that includes young children and at least one Pomeranian can be done, but it will take planning, patience, constant supervision, and plenty of training. We recommend waiting until your kids are old enough to participate in training and understand what is and isn’t acceptable behavior around a dog before bringing a Pomeranian home to join the family.
Featured Image Credit: Gorodenkoff, Shutterstock
