Are Pomeranians Good Apartment Dogs?

9 min read · updated Jul 2026

The Pomeranian, or Pom for short, is a toy breed that weighs just 3 to 7 pounds and stands about 7 to 12 inches tall. Small, sturdy, and buried under a thick cloud of fur.

The breed is wildly popular, and it is easy to see why: outgoing, friendly, and playful. It is also bossy, and it knows it.

That tiny frame raises a fair question. Are Pomeranians good apartment dogs?

Pomeranians can be good apartment dogs. Due to its small size, he doesn’t need much space or a yard. They handle being left alone well and are active dogs that get enough exercise with a few walks a day and some playtime.

The Pom is not your average lapdog, though. He comes with a personality that fits some homes beautifully and drives others up the wall.

So before you decide, get to know how he ticks and whether that matches the way you actually live.

What You Should Know About Owning a Pomeranian

Poms are friendly, lively, and endlessly playful. They can also get scrappy with other pets and people, usually as a way of proving they belong in the room.

Fear is not really in their vocabulary. A Pom rarely backs down from a stranger or a bigger animal, and that bravado is why they make surprisingly good watchdogs. Five pounds of dog, fully convinced he runs the place.

Are Pomeranians Good with Kids?

Most Poms get along well with children. They are playful and sociable, and the relationship can be a happy one.

The worry is fragility. A Pom is tiny and delicate, and a rough hug or an accidental drop can injure him fast.

There is the other side too. Poms are cautious dogs, and a cornered or frightened one will defend himself. Push him during play and he may snap.

So supervise. Keep an eye on every kid-and-Pom session so a game does not tip into a bite, for the sake of both of them.

Can a Pomeranian be Left Alone?

They manage alone time well. A healthy adult Pom can hold the fort for 6 to 8 hours without much trouble.

Watch for separation anxiety, though. This breed leans toward it, and a Pom that spirals can be miserable to live with.

Puppies are a different matter. Under two months old, never leave one alone for more than an hour.

At that age he is still figuring out the world and building confidence. His bladder is tiny too, so frequent bathroom trips are non-negotiable.

Past the two month mark, work up to about two hours alone. Stretch it from there, slowly, as long as he stays relaxed.

Keep reading how he handles it so you can step in the moment he starts to struggle.

Are Pomeranians Hard to Train?

Bring patience and the answer is no. Poms are clever and they enjoy learning, so basic obedience comes along nicely. Housetraining is the part that tests you.

They have an independent streak, and a Pom is perfectly capable of charming or manipulating a soft owner into giving him whatever he wants.

Skip early training and socialization and you get a dominant, stubborn little dog. Put the work in and you get a delightful companion.

Do Pomeranians Bark a Lot?

Yes. Poms bark, and they bark often.

This is a dog that misses nothing. The smallest shift in his surroundings, a footstep in the hall, a bird at the window, can set off a round of yapping.

They are territorial too, so they sound the alarm whenever a person or animal gets close to home.

The fix is not silence, it is management. Good socialization and consistent training are what keep a Pom’s barking from running your household.

Pomeranian Activity Needs

Do not let the size fool you. The Pom packs a lot of energy into a small body and is always hunting for something to do.

Because he is so little, he can burn off a fair bit just zooming around the apartment. But he is curious to a fault, and a real walk around the block makes his whole day.

Aim for moderate daily exercise to keep him sound in body and mind. A couple of decent walks plus some play, and a Pomeranian is a happy dog.

One caution on hot days. That dense coat traps heat, so trade the long walk for a short one and let him play indoors where it is cool.

Pomeranian Grooming Needs

That double coat looks like a lot of work, and the small size makes it manageable. Brush him at least twice a week to keep the fur from matting.

Poms shed plenty. Stay on top of the brushing, though, and the little size means the loose hair never overwhelms you.

A bath every couple of months is usually enough. When life gets messy you can bathe him more, even once or twice a week, without harm.

The rest is routine upkeep. Trim his nails every couple of weeks if they do not wear down on their own, and brush his teeth often, since toy breeds are prone to dental trouble.

Is a Pomeranian a Good Apartment Dog?

A Pomeranian can make an excellent apartment dog. He is small, sociable, and outgoing, and while he is active and playful, he does not need square footage or a yard to feel at home.

The easy part ends there. That big personality, left unmanaged, can make a Pom a genuinely difficult roommate in close quarters.

The good news is that a handful of habits turn him into the ideal companion. Here is where to put your effort.

Tips for Raising a Pomeranian in an Apartment

1. The Challenge of Housetraining a Pomeranian

Training a Pom is not the hard part. He is bright and he likes learning, so patience, a gentle hand, and consistency carry you far.

Potty training is another story, and Poms have earned their reputation here.

Toy breeds in general are tough to housetrain, and the Pomeranian is no exception. A big reason is plumbing: a tiny bladder simply cannot hold as long as a bigger dog’s can.

In an apartment you have two routes. Train him to puppy pads, or train him to go outside. Either works, as long as you start early.

First, pick one specific bathroom spot that works for both of you. Remember you will be hauling him there constantly in the puppy months.

That might be a grassy patch just outside the building, or a corner of the apartment well away from where he sleeps and eats.

Take him there on a schedule. The more he visits, the stronger the habit gets.

A daily routine makes his timing readable. Feed him at the same hours and walk him straight to the spot afterward.

Praise and reward every success. When he misses, do not force or scold, just learn his tells, the sniffing and circling that mean he is about to go.

While the habit is still shaky, keep him in a small contained area of the apartment. A Pom with the run of the whole place will find a quiet corner to pee in.

Make that area where he spends most of his time, where he eats and sleeps. Do not just leave him there, hang out and play with him in it.

It becomes his den, and dogs do not soil the den.

Catch him going in the wrong place and skip the scolding. A firm “No” and a quick trip to the right spot does the job.

Find an accident after the fact and there is nothing to gain by getting angry. Clean it with an enzymatic cleaner so no scent survives to lure him back to the same spot.

Stay consistent and patient, and one day it just clicks. Your Pom will be fully housetrained before you even notice it happened.

2. Teach Him to Control His Bark

In an apartment, with neighbors a wall away, that sharp, high-pitched Pom bark can become a real problem fast.

You cannot, and should not, erase the barking entirely. It is how he talks, and there is always a reason behind it.

The usual triggers:

• To get your attention. Either to tell you that he wants to go to the bathroom or that he wants you to spend some time playing.
• To alert you about something they perceive as a threat. They generally alert you that a person or animal is at the door or near their territory. They also often bark when they hear unusual sounds near their home.
• Because they feel threatened by some person or animal and it is their way of asking him to get away from him and leave him alone.
• Because they feel distressed. Either because of physical pain, discomfort, or because they feel anxiety, mainly because of separation anxiety when they are left alone for a long time.

To cut down how much your Pom barks, a few things genuinely help:

• Make sure he has enough exercise. Being a very active dog and for the lack of exercise, a Pomeranian will feel restless and will most likely bark. Exercise helps burn off his extra energy and makes him feel calmer and more relaxed.
• Don’t let him get bored. Pomeranians are very smart and if they don’t have enough mental stimulation they will get bored easily and he will make you know by barking. Make sure you have dog toys like a food-dispensing toy on hand. Here you can find some good toy options to keep him busy.
• Offer him a place where he feels comfortable and safe. A place where he can retreat to rest if he feels overwhelmed or anxious. A small quiet place with his bed, toys and water.

3. Prevent Small Dogs Behavioral Issues

Poms are smart, and a smart dog with no rules turns bossy, dominant, and sometimes aggressive.

It happens a lot with toy breeds. Owners let the cute little dog get away with things they would never allow from a bigger one, and those habits curdle into problems that make apartment life harder.

Spoil a Pom and he starts to believe he runs the pack, that his wishes come first and the rest of you exist to serve him. People call it small dog syndrome.

From there it can grow into real trouble:

• Separation Anxiety which will make it impossible to leave him alone even for a few moments.
• Aggression towards other dogs and people by manifesting dominant behaviors.
• Possessive and protective behaviors can result in bites when he feels that his things like toys, food, or even people are threatened.

Obedience training is the cure. It puts you in the leader’s seat and teaches the Pom the basic rules and commands he needs to feel settled.

And hard as it is with a face that adorable, treat a Pomeranian like a dog, not a toy or a baby. Anything you would not want a grown dog doing, do not let the puppy do it either.

Clear rules and limits actually make him happier. A Pom who knows his place in the pack is a calmer, more secure dog.

Final Thoughts

People assume small dogs beat big ones for apartment life. It is not that simple. Whether a dog suits an apartment has little to do with size and everything to do with the breed in front of you.

On paper, the Pom has a couple of strikes against him: lots of energy and a real fondness for barking. Look past those and the reasons he works in an apartment stack up quickly.

Train him, socialize him, and give him structure, and the Pomeranian turns into a sharp, affectionate little roommate who fits a small home just fine.

Resources

• Pomeranian: Pros and Cons of the Fluffiest Breed in Town by The Happy Puppy Site

• Personality Problems in Pomeranians in The Nest