The Pomeranian is tiny in stature, but giant in personality and spirit! Very few are shy, quiet dogs… in fact, the majority could be classified as enthusiastic extroverts! Many enjoy going everywhere with their families, including car rides and trips into pet-friendly establishments.
The breed is very active and alert but because of their small size, don’t need a ton of exercise. Some owners take advantage of this by potty-training them to an indoor litterbox instead of taking them on daily walks. While litterboxes can be fine, it is still recommended that you take your Pom for regular walks in order to build a stronger bond with him while providing him with fresh air and structure. 
Pomeranians are not recommended for families with small children simply because Poms are so very tiny that they could be easily hurt by a toddler who doesn’t understand how to interact with dogs. They do great with older children.
Most Poms do well with other dogs that live with them but may have problems with unfamiliar dogs. They are not aware of their small size and may try to take on a fight with a larger breed which could end with them getting hurt. For this reason, it is important to socialize them from puppyhood with other dogs so that they do not immediately feel the need to start an altercation.
Oftentimes, this trend to bark at strange dogs and people stems from the fact that they can be very protective of their owners. This protectiveness also shows up in the form of barking whenever someone rings the doorbell… or even if someone is walking past your house across the street. Once again, they are not aware of their small size but they act as if they are hundred-pound dogs! Obviously their size keeps them from becoming effective guard dogs, however their voices make them great watchdogs. Potential owners should be aware of this tendency to “bark freely” (and often).
Pomeranians are incredibly intelligent little dogs, often appearing to understand every word that you say. This, of course, is not entirely true but they are very adept at picking up quite a lot. They are very trainable and many compete successfully in obedience competitions. Others are used as therapy dogs, a job that these sociable little dogs usually love! While some may seem stubborn at first, once you convince them that training can be fun they usually take right to it! They love to please their owners and obedience training is a great outlet for this.
