20 Stimulating Jobs for your Pomeranian

Pomeranians are tiny dogs with big personalities, and they are dogs that can definitely benefit from a job despite their small size.

Although the Pom may not need as much exercise as some of their spitz breed cousins, these dogs are still incredibly intelligent. As a result of this Pomeranians need a lot of mental stimulation to truly thrive.

It’s important to note that when we say that you should give your pomeranian a job we do not necessarily mean jobs that a service animal would do. Instead, you should provide your dog with some fun activities that will keep both their bodies and their minds moving.

In this article, we will be explaining all of the benefits of giving your Pomeranian a job. We will also give you 20 job ideas to give your Pomeranian.

In addition, we will also be answering some commonly asked questions about Pomeranians in general. Let’s get to it!

Do Pomeranians need a job?

Pomeranians are very smart dogs, and when they are a bit mentally stimulated they can start to get into some trouble such as destructive chewing and inappropriate digging.

As a result, Pomeranians can really benefit from having a job even though we do not typically think of these dogs as the working type.

Here we will be diving into this idea a little bit more by looking at the history and personality of the Pomeranian.

The History of the Pomeranian Breed

Pomeranians were first bred in Poland and northern Germany, and they are descended from much larger working dogs that more closely resemble the Pomeranian’s larger spitz breed cousins such as the Siberian Husky.

Since then though, the Pomeranian has decreased in size significantly and has started to be used as more of a companion rather than a herding or sled pulling dog.

The Pomeranian as we know it today actually began to take shape in the 1800s when Queen Victoria began breeding and showing her own prized Pomeranians. In fact, she has been known to breed these dogs down into the toy-sized companions that they are today.

The Pomeranian’s Personality

The Pomeranian is known to be bold, energetic, and affectionate towards their family. They are also very smart and trainable dogs.

However, it is recommended that you keep training sessions short and fun. Of course, using positive reinforcement during training is also a must.

These dogs can do well around children and other pets, but it is always recommended that these dogs are supervised around children and larger dogs. This will prevent the Pom from getting injured as their bodies are small and delicate.

Why jobs are Beneficial for Pomeranians

Many people do not realize that Pomeranians need a moderate amount of daily exercise because they are so small. However, it is actually recommended that Pomeranians get about 40 minutes of exercise a day.

This exercise can be done through walks, dog sports, and even just playtime. In addition, Pomeranians need a moderate amount of mental stimulation in order to be happy and entertained.

Giving your pomeranian a job, or several jobs can help with fulfilling these needs.

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What Were Pomeranians Originally Bred For?

At its roots, the Pomeranian was originally bred to be a working dog. Records state that poms would help their owners with herding and doing other jobs around their farms such as keeping away vermin.

They would also use them as watchdogs with their loud barking, which is a trait that is still present in Pomeranians to this day.

However, Pomeranians are now much smaller than they used to be and have been mainly used as small companion dogs since the 1800s.

20 Jobs & Activities for your Pomeranian

As we have previously mentioned, giving your pomeranian jobs can help you to fulfill their exercise and mental stimulation needs.

Here we have provided you with a list of 20 jobs that are suitable for Pomeranians, and they can be done in a variety of locations including the inside of your own home. It is recommended that you engage your dog in a mix of these activities to keep things interesting.

1. Obedience Training

Obedience training is a crucial tool when having a dog. This is not only because it makes daily life with your dog easier but it also ensures your dog’s safety.

As a result, mastering the basics in obedience training is one of the most useful and beneficial items on our list. Teaching your dog to sit, stay, and come back to you when called is crucial, and teaching these things will get your dog’s mind working.

It is recommended that you always use positive reinforcement during training and that you keep training sessions short and engaging. This is because Pomeranians are known to have attention spans that are somewhat short.

2. Trick Training

Trick training is fairly similar to obedience training, but the commands are a bit less practical. Still, this activity is great for mentally stimulating your pom, and it can be pretty fun too.

Teaching your pom to dance or jump through a hoop are classic tricks that you can teach your dog through trick training, and they can even make some good party tricks if you would like to impress some of your friends.

3. Agility Training

Agility training is a great way to fulfill your pomeranian’s exercise and mental stimulation needs at the same time. This canine sport involves teaching your dog to go through an obstacle course within a set amount of time.

Obstacles in an agility course usually include tunnels, jumps, A-frames, seesaws, weave poles, and more.

You will likely get the best experience by taking an agility training class if you are new to this type of training, and when you and your dog get the hang of things you could even compete in an agility trial competition.

4. Make Your Own Obstacle Course

Of course, you could always just set up your own obstacle course at home if you are not interested in the more rigid rules and parameters of traditional agility training.

Although you will likely still need to teach your dog how to go around your homemade obstacle course, it can be a lot easier when you are not worrying about things like time limits and your dog’s form.

Plus, this is still a fun and engaging way to get your pomeranian’s mind moving and get a little bit of exercise in.

5. Flyball

Flyball is a relay race that involves a dog running up to a box that releases a tennis ball once a button has been pushed by the dog’s paws.

The dog then runs back to their handlers with the ball, and then the process repeats with the next dog.

These short bursts of exercise are great for Pomeranians, and, like agility, you may even have the option to join flyball competitions.

6. Therapy Dogs

Pomeranians can make great therapy dogs as well. Therapy dogs are specially trained and certified to provide comfort to children, the elderly, hospital patients, and more.

Going through a therapy dog training course and gaining therapy dog certification is an extremely rewarding experience, and going around with your dog to put a smile on people’s faces is even more so.

7. Play Hide and Seek

Hide and seek is a great game to play to put your pomeranian’s mind to work. You can have your dog do this by having your dog find treats, their favorite toys, or even you.

Plus, you can play this game both inside and in your backyard, which makes it a great game to play on those rainy days.

8. Play Fetch

You could never go wrong with a good ol’ game of fetch. Both training your dog to fetch and playing fetch after your dog has learned how can be pretty fun activities for both dogs and their owners.

Plus, this is another activity that provides dogs with both exercise and mental stimulation at the same time.

9. Teach Your Dog to Clean up Their Toys

This job is both practical for dog owners and mentally stimulating for the dogs. With a little bit of training and practice you can teach your pup to actually clean up after himself.

Considering how intelligent Pomeranians are, you should not have too much trouble with teaching your dog this useful task.

10. Nosework

Teaching your dog nosework involves training them to be able to identify and sniff out specific scents.

Although this can be performed at the official level, many people just do this as an outlet to get their dogs to learn something cool. This job has the benefits of being mentally stimulating for dogs and can be done from the comfort of your own home.

11. Pomeranians Make Good Watch Dogs

Pomeranians have very loud barks, which can make them great watchdogs.

However, this job will likely be more beneficial to those who live in rural areas as encouraging barking in suburban and urban settings can quickly become bothersome to both you and your neighbors.

12. Tug of War

Tug of war is another great classic game to play with your Pomeranian, especially if you are looking to spice things up with a quick game. It provides a bit of exercise and mental stimulation, and it is also a great way to break up the day.

13. Have a Sand Pit for Digging

Some Pomeranians love to dig, and sometimes this habit can get them into some trouble when they turn to dig up their owner’s garden.

Luckily, providing your dog with a digging outlet such as a sandpit can prevent your dog from digging in places they shouldn’t be. You could even entice them to dig thereby placing some toys and bones in the sandpit.

14. Play the Hot and Cold Game

Playing the hot and cold game is a great way to get your pomeranian to problem solve. You can hide a treat and teach your dog to find it by teaching them words like hot and cold to signify how close they are to it.

We recommend that you start off easy and get harder as your dog learns.

15. Go for a Walk in a New Area

Everyone knows that going for a walk is a great source of exercise for dogs. In fact, for many dogs, it is their main source of exercise.

Going for a walk in the same places can get pretty boring for both people and dogs though, so you should mix things up by going for a walk in a new place every once in a while. This will make walks much more interesting for both you and your dog.

16. Try Doga

Do you like yoga? Well, you could bring your dog with you! Some places host doga where you can do yoga with your dog. If you have an older Pomeranian, doga is a great way to improve joint and cardiovascular health.

17. Play the Shell Game

The shell game involves having three cups or containers face down in front of your pup with one of them having a treat underneath. Move the cups around and ask your dog to find the treat. This is a perfect game to challenge your dog’s mind.

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18. You Could Also Play the “Which Hand?” Game

This game is fairly similar to the shell game, but instead, you have a treat in one of your hands.

19. Play Tag

Tag is actually a great game to play with your pomeranian. Just run around and get your dog to chase you. You could even put this behavior on cue.

20. Teach Your Dog to Bring You Things

Once you have mastered the game of fetch you can extend this command to teach your dog to bring you things such as your slippers or their leash. This is both really useful and very cool to show off to your friends. And this sort of game can be very mentally stimulating for your Pomeranian.

Conclusion

Pomeranians are extremely smart dogs, and they also need a moderate amount of exercise daily. Luckily, there are many jobs out there that are great for making exercising and mentally stimulating your pomeranian fun for the both of you! It is always best to do a variety of these activities to keep things interesting for your dog.