Do you think that your Pomeranian can do dog sports? Of course, he/she does! Although it seems like the Pom’s size is not appropriate for some great sports ventures, your dog may participate and enjoy many sports activities.
Pomeranian puppies should attend obedience training only until they mature enough to enroll in some of the numerous Agility courses.
Pomeranian can do pretty much every type of agility training – Obstacles ( A-frame, See-Saw, Dog walk ), Jumps and Hurdles ( including Tire jump as well as Single Bar Jump or Wall Jump), Tunnels, Weave poles…
But dog agility is not the only dog sport a Pomeranian dog will be thrilled with. Also, the Relay race or Flyball is worth trying.
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What Age Can My Pomeranian Start Agility?
Your Pom shouldn’t start agility before he turns 1 year. The ideal time is between 1 and 2 years of age.
Intense sports activities like agility training may damage a young dog’s limbs. Why is that? Have you heard about growth plates? These are areas of new bones that are still growing therefore extremely sensitive and fragile.
Once your puppy becomes a fully grown dog, these areas will harden and its bones will be solid. Only after this happens, your Pom can start with agility training.
Since every dog is different, don’t rely on your Pom’s age. Before you start with agility, take your Pom to the vet, ask him for advice. He will inform you when is the right moment to start sports activities with your dog.
What Does My Pomeranian Need To Know Before Agility?
Of course, it’s not OK to sit and do nothing with your dog only because he is a puppy and may injure himself during the agility course.
It’s pretty clear, you leave agility for later but before this, you should enroll your puppy in obedience training.
If you want your Pom to be successful in dog sports ( no matter you want him to compete or just to join classes for fun), he needs to learn basic skills and commands such as :
- Sit
- Stay
- Down
- Crate training
- Recall
- Eye contact ( between you and your Pom)
What Is CGC?
CGC is a ten-skill training program ( according to American Kennel Club,) that is open to all dogs, including your Pom as well.
CGC stands for Canine Good Citizen. This training program teaches your puppy basic manners and obedience which are the foundation of good behavior and introduction to more complex dog sports.
Not only your Pom will learn how to behave (remember the well-behaved dog is always welcomed client at vet or groomer ) but also getting CGC training completed has some practical benefits.
One of them is that many apartments and condos see CGC title as a great bonus to become a resident.
How Do I Start My Pomeranian In Agility?
One of the first things you should do while your Pom is approaching maturity is trying to discover what activities your Pom prefers will he ever enjoy agility.
Does he have a ball drive? Does he like to jump? There are many different ways to find out.
You can test your Pom in your own backyard. For example, jumps can be made at low cost with PVC pipes from a local hardware store.
If you like the idea, you can purchase an online collapsible tunnel or weave poles.
Each one of these items costs around 50-60$ but you can also look for an agility training equipment set (it contain several different items like a tunnel, hurdle, hoop, weave poles) which may cost somewhere between 100-150$
Another option is to visit some local pet fair or expo. At these events, you can usually find agility equipment and a trainer who can take your dog through a short&easy obstacle session.
Try to find a local trainer or a club where your dog can attend an introductory agility course. You can search for information in a local pet shop, vet, or local shelter.
Once you discovered that your dog enjoys sports and being active, you can enroll him in an agility course.
What Agility Sports Are Good For My Pomeranian?
Pomeranian dogs can practice all agility sports.
Contact obstacles – A-frame, See-saw or teeter training, Dog walk, and Table, all known as contact obstacles as the dog has to come into contact with the yellow painted area of the obstacle ( also called contact zone) in order to score.
There is a great variety of jumps and hurdles in the agility course. Jump heights are adjusted to a dog size so do not worry about how your Pom will jump over the obstacle. Even 4” dogs can do the jumps and hurdles.
There are single bar jumps, Long jumps or Tire jumps ( the dog has to jump through a round shape that looks like a tire)
Hurdles – jumps but with a solid wall (usually made of wood) instead of PVC pipe.
Tunnels – another interesting and funny activity. Tunnels might be put in a straight and curved position.
Weave poles – your Pom has to go through 6-12 weave poles. The distance between each pole is 24”.
How Much Dog Agility Training Cost?
Basic agility course with 6 sessions included costs like the basic obedience training, somewhere between 130-200$.
As you and your dog get more serious about the sport, the price may arise as you will be having more training, maybe you start to compete or buy your own equipment.
Why Agility is Good For My Pomeranian?
Agility and other dog sports have great benefits for your Pom but for you as well.
First of all – exercise. Your Pom will burn the energy thanks to intense training. But he is not the only one that will do a workout.
You will do it too. Agility training is a perfect way to be physically active plus it will improve your training skills.
Building a closer relationship with your Pomeranian. Working together, builds trust, teamwork, and a deeper bond.
Social aspect- your dog will be in the company of other dogs but also other people who like to spend time with dogs. You will be also surrounded by people who share the same interest. It’s a great way to meet new friends.
Self-confidence. The agility course is an excellent activity for dogs as they feel like they have a purpose.
These activities help your Pom to get over fears of small space or unusual surface and to complete the tasks by not having you by his side all the time. This will boost your dog’s self-confidence.
Can My Pomeranian Do Flyball/ Relay Race?
Of course! Flyball is an official dog competitive sport with all rules and regulations. Those rules say even small dogs like Pomeranian can participate as the hurdle height is determined by the smallest dog on the team.
The only obstacle is the age, your Pom has to be a minimum of 15 months in order to play Flyball.
Flyball is a kind of relay race in which two teams are competing. Each team has 4 dogs as participants.
Each dog has to jump four hurdles, trigger the pedal on the flyball box machine, catch the ball and return over the same hurdles to the finish line.
What might be challenging for small dogs including your Pom is pressing the pedal on the flyball machine.
It’s much easier for larger breeds such as Border Collie for example than for your Pom who needs to jump on the box and press the pedal with his whole body. But it’s definitely possible and worth it!
Any dog can play flyball, it’s just important that he loves the ball and loves to be active and play. If he does, your Pom is a great candidate for this dog sport.
If you live in the USA, search for local flyball club or if you cannot find any, check the list – Flyball locator of the United States Flyball Association
If you live in the UK you can find more information on the website of The British Flyball Association
Conclusion
Pomeranian dogs can participate in many dog sports like any other breed. They are very good in agility courses but also can achieve great results in relay races like Flyball.
Dog sports are super important as they provide a necessary exercise for your dog but also help him build a tighter bond with you and boost his self-confidence. Not to mention the social aspect and the possibility of making new friends for both of you!
