Things You'll Need:
- Small treats of your dog's favorite type
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Step 1
The first step is to begin with a happy dog. Your Pomeranian will not submit to your commands if he/she is not in an agreeable mood. Do not attempt this after a bath, a long car ride or when your dog is tired or hungry. The dog should be well satiated and rested so as to produce the best learning environment. Also, an area with little distraction is conducive to learning, with no other animals or people around. Begin by having your dog sit. The basis of this trick is to be able to sit, and then raise the upper body to an upright position. If your dog is already trained to do this, you can complete this exercise. If it is not, you will have to complete training for the sit command before proceeding. Each time the dog complies with your commands, give a piece of a treat to reward him/her for submission. Positive reinforcement is more effective than stern words or a loud voice.
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Step 2
Now that your pooch is in the sit position, hold your hand directly above the head, so as to make your dog look directly up. Use the command "Up," and hold your hand above the head for ten seconds at a time. If the dog does not understand your command, you may have to help. To do this, place your hands on either side of the dog's torso and lift the dog slightly while saying "Up." This will entice your dog to raise his/her torso with your hands. Continue with the command in ten second intervals, with a minute break for affection in between. This lets your Pomeranian know that it is not in trouble and you are playing a game. Dogs are more apt to follow your commands if they believe it will benefit them in some way. Giving the treat after each successful step is a good way to show them this is the case. Do not give the treat if there is no progress, so the dog knows it will not get one if it does not do as it is told.
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Step 3
Once your dog submits to the "Up" command, the dog should have the rear legs still placed on the ground in a sit position. The front legs should be down, not moving, to the front of the torso. The torso should be upright, as if in a begging position, an arched back, and head straight forward. Now you should use the command "Stay" to keep your dog in this pose. If your dog has a hard time staying in this pose for too long, do not make them, as it may be painful on bad backs. Once this is complete, and the dog is holding position, firmly stay "Sit pretty" repeatedly. This will allow the dog to remember the phrase for future use. Again, give a treat and a good amount of attention for each time your dog completes the entire exercise. This way your baby knows that they have done the job right. If your dog has gotten to this point, he/she is easily trained. If your pooch is not at this point, you will need to repeat the first two steps on a daily basis until the command works every time. Remember that dogs do not have a long attention span, so keep your lessons short and sweet or they will lose interest. The more fun you make the lessons, the easier it will be to train your pooch.
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Step 4
Remember that your Pomeranian wants to be pampered. As part of their breed, hip and knee dysplasia is very common. If your dog suffers from this painful problem, do not attempt this trick. Consult your veterinarian on your dog's health and capabilities.
