Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Pomeranians Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Pomeranians Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Pomeranians Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Pomeranians Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Pomeranians Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Pomeranians Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Pomeranians Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Pomeranians Easy to Train?
- Do Pomeranians Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Pomeranians Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Pomeranians have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Pomeranians Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Pomeranians Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Pomeranians Playful? What is the Energy Level of Pomeranians
- Conclusion on Pomeranian Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Pomeranian
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Pomeranian out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Pomeranian based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Pomeranian breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Pomeranian by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Pomeranian.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Pomeranian for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Pomeranian.
The summary table below shows the score of the Pomeranian for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
Behavior | Score |
---|---|
Attachment Attention Seeking | 64.4 percent |
Energy Level | 61.5 percent |
Excitability | 56.2 percent |
Dog Rivalry | 51.0 percent |
Dog Directed Fear | 48.8 percent |
Separation Related Behavior | 47.0 percent |
Dog Directed Aggression | 44.9 percent |
Stranger Directed Aggression | 44.6 percent |
Stubbornness | 41.4 percent |
Prey Drive | 40.8 percent |
Stranger Directed Fear | 35.9 percent |
Owner Directed Aggression | 33.6 percent |
Nonsocial Fear | 31.9 percent |
Touch Sensitivity | 30.6 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Pomeranian`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Pomeranian, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Pomeranian.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Pomeranians Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Pomeranians are quite a bit aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks high for aggression towards strangers.
The Pomeranian ranks number 32 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 44.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit aggressive towards strangers just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
29 | Australian Shepherd | 47.9 % |
30 | Pit Bull mix | 47.6 % |
31 | Bouvier des Flandres | 44.8 % |
32 | Pomeranian | 44.6 % |
33 | Jack Russell Terrier | 43.9 % |
34 | Pit Bull | 43.9 % |
35 | Poodle (Toy) | 42.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Pomeranians Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Pomeranians are very much aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks very high for aggression towards its owner.
The Pomeranian ranks number 22 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has an owner-directed-aggression score of 33.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much owner-aggressive just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
19 | Tibetan Terrier | 36.5 % |
20 | Dalmatian | 36.1 % |
21 | Bearded Collie | 34.5 % |
22 | Pomeranian | 33.6 % |
23 | Jack Russell Terrier | 32.5 % |
24 | Shih Tzu | 32.4 % |
25 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 32.3 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Pomeranians Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Pomeranians are somewhat aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks average for aggression towards other dogs.
The Pomeranian ranks number 63 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has a dog-directed aggression score of 44.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat dog-aggressive just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
60 | Beagle | 45.9 % |
61 | Giant Schnauzer | 45.8 % |
62 | Airedale Terrier | 45.7 % |
63 | Pomeranian | 44.9 % |
64 | Belgian Tervuren | 43.3 % |
65 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 43.0 % |
66 | West Highland White Terrier | 42.7 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Pomeranians Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Pomeranians are quite a bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks high for fear of strangers.
The Pomeranian ranks number 40 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has a stranger-directed-fear score of 35.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit stranger-fearful just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
37 | Shiba Inu | 37.5 % |
38 | Belgian Tervuren | 37.4 % |
39 | Australian Cattle Dog | 36.7 % |
40 | Pomeranian | 35.9 % |
41 | Border Collie | 35.3 % |
42 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 34.8 % |
43 | English Springer Spaniel | 34.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Pomeranians Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Pomeranians are quite a bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks high for fear of other dogs.
The Pomeranian ranks number 36 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has a dog-directed-fear score of 48.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit other-dog-fearful just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
33 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 49.5 % |
34 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 49.2 % |
35 | Dalmatian | 48.8 % |
36 | Pomeranian | 48.8 % |
37 | Bearded Collie | 48.7 % |
38 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 48.7 % |
39 | Australian Cattle Dog | 48.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Pomeranians Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Pomeranians are somewhat fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks average for non-social fear.
The Pomeranian ranks number 60 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has a nonsocial-fear score of 31.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat nonsocial-fearful just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
57 | Bullmastiff | 33.2 % |
58 | Alaskan Malamute | 32.8 % |
59 | Australian Shepherd | 32.6 % |
60 | Pomeranian | 31.9 % |
61 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 31.8 % |
62 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 31.7 % |
63 | Chow Chow | 31.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Pomeranians Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Pomeranians are quite a bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks high on dog rivalry.
The Pomeranian ranks number 40 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has a dog-rivalry score of 51.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit competition-driven just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
---|---|---|
37 | Gordon Setter | 52.9 % |
38 | Dalmatian | 51.9 % |
39 | Dachshund | 51.7 % |
40 | Pomeranian | 51.0 % |
41 | Yorkshire Terrier | 50.9 % |
42 | Australian Kelpie | 47.8 % |
43 | English Bulldog | 47.4 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Pomeranians Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Pomeranians are a little bit easy to train.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks low for trainability.
The Pomeranian ranks number 83 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the trainability of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has a trainability score of 58.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit easy to train just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
---|---|---|
80 | Bullmastiff | 59.2 % |
81 | Keeshond | 59.1 % |
82 | Miniature Schnauzer | 58.6 % |
83 | Pomeranian | 58.6 % |
84 | Bulldog | 58.3 % |
85 | Ibizan Hound | 58.1 % |
86 | Pit Bull mix | 57.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Pomeranian is and how the intelligence of the Pomeranian affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Pomeranian is.
Do Pomeranians Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Pomeranians are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks low for small-pet-chasing.
The Pomeranian ranks number 83 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has a chasing score of 40.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
---|---|---|
80 | Chinook | 42.1 % |
81 | Kuvasz | 41.6 % |
82 | Bearded Collie | 41.0 % |
83 | Pomeranian | 40.8 % |
84 | Poodle (Miniature) | 40.7 % |
85 | Scottish Terrier | 40.0 % |
86 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 39.8 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Pomeranians Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Pomeranians are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Pomeranian ranks number 38 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 64.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
---|---|---|
35 | Belgian Sheepdog | 65.5 % |
36 | Portuguese Water Dog | 65.1 % |
37 | Chinese Crested | 64.7 % |
38 | Pomeranian | 64.4 % |
39 | Jack Russell Terrier | 64.4 % |
40 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 63.2 % |
41 | Schipperke | 62.4 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Pomeranians have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Pomeranians are quite a bit prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Pomeranian ranks number 45 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has a separation anxiety score of 47.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
---|---|---|
42 | French Bulldog | 47.7 % |
43 | Shih Tzu | 47.5 % |
44 | English Bulldog | 47.1 % |
45 | Pomeranian | 47.0 % |
46 | Italian Greyhound | 45.9 % |
47 | Standard Schnauzer | 43.7 % |
48 | Poodle (Miniature) | 43.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Pomeranians Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Pomeranians are somewhat touch-sensitive.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks average for touch sensitivity.
The Pomeranian ranks number 54 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has a touch-sensitivity score of 30.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat touch-sensitive just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
---|---|---|
51 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 32.5 % |
52 | Dalmatian | 32.5 % |
53 | Standard Schnauzer | 31.0 % |
54 | Pomeranian | 30.6 % |
55 | American Bulldog | 29.8 % |
56 | Bull Terrier | 29.7 % |
57 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 29.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Pomeranians Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Pomeranians are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Pomeranian ranks high for excitability.
The Pomeranian ranks number 27 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has an excitability score of 56.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
---|---|---|
24 | Redbone Coonhound | 57.9 % |
25 | Australian Kelpie | 57.4 % |
26 | Australian Cattle Dog | 56.5 % |
27 | Pomeranian | 56.2 % |
28 | Pug | 55.2 % |
29 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 54.9 % |
30 | French Bulldog | 54.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Pomeranians Playful? What is the Energy Level of Pomeranians
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Pomeranians are somewhat energetic.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks average for energy level.
The Pomeranian ranks number 53 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 84 Pomeranian owners reported on the temperament of their Pomeranian in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pomeranian has an energy-level score of 61.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat energetic just like the Pomeranian are listed in the table below
Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
---|---|---|
50 | German Shepherd | 62.1 % |
51 | Havanese | 62.0 % |
52 | Old English Sheepdog | 61.8 % |
53 | Pomeranian | 61.5 % |
54 | Papillon | 60.5 % |
55 | Miniature Schnauzer | 60.5 % |
56 | Poodle (Toy) | 60.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Pomeranian Temperament
The temperament of your Pomeranian comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Pomeranian is exposed to.
You cannot change your Pomeranian`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Pomeranian to.
Exposing your Pomeranian to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Pomeranian to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Pomeranian`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Pomeranian.
If you think the Pomeranian is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Pomeranians cost and Pomeranian puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Pomeranian breeders in the United States and the prices of their Pomeranian puppies.