How do I get my golden retriever and pomeranian to get along?

Sometimes dogs just have to work out their dominance hierarchy issues, and once they do they are fine, but you have to watch them carefully together at the beginning to prevent possible injury to the Pom.

If they’re both wanting to be the alpha, you may never be able to put them together. I had that problem with my 2 female pugs. After a year and several bites, one did have to be rehomed. I hope that’s not the case with yours but that’s my experience. Hopefully someone else will have some better advice for you. Good luck.

Generally dogs get comfortable one they understand where they belong.

welcome to Fluther. Lurve.

Find a reputable training facility in your area and sign up for obedience classes. The classes will help you understand their behavior and how to moderate it. You’ll also have access to individual training to deal with the aggression issues.

was it a warning nip or a serious bite?

Your Pom was the dominant bitch in the pack. When the Golden mix came and was a puppy she accepted that, but as she came into her maturity, she made a move to be alpha bitch.

In my opinion, you will need help from a professional trainer who deals with problem behavior to work with you as well as the dogs.

This is not something to mess around with since the Golden is easily capable of hurting the Pom badly with one bite.

Why did she bite the Pom? Was it a one-time thing, or was your retriever showing further aggressions after that? My dogs “bite” each other all the time, but nobody gets hurt. They range in size from a German Shepard, down to a little weiner dog mix…

The first time the retriever went after the pom we were in the back yard and I was brushing the retriever and the pom walked by and the retriever jumped at her and bit her. That was about a year ago and they have not been together since. There has been two other times the retriever has bitten her. The odd part is they do pass each other daily to go outside and nothing happens then.
Thank you for all the good advice I will seek some professional help to. Please give me opinions on whether it is fair to keep them both and just alternate the times they can be out of there kennels or should I be fair to the retriever and find her a home where she can be out all the time?

From everything I have read (thank doG I have no personal experience w/it) when female dogs start having aggression issues, they are a lot more serious about it than male dogs. Consulting a trainer and is excellent advice but you must be prepared for the possibility that your dogs may never get to the point where they can safely be together. This doesn’t necessarily mean rehoming one of them, but it would mean a major commitment. You should find a trainer that actually is knowledgeable about dog behavior (as opposed to someone who just decided ‘I can do that’ & hung up a sign).

You have posted again while I was answering; I don’t think it’s ‘unfair’ if one is confined while the other is out, as you will have to continue that while doing any training anyway. It’s really up to you & how much time you have. Plenty of ‘only’ dogs have to be confined while owners are at work, etc. It’s too bad you have such a size differential here, it seems like it would be easier to work through if you didn’t have to worry about a big dog injuring a little one.
Good luck!!

I hate having to confine dogs at all…....the retriever needs country…..

The golden retriever actually doesn’t have to be confined at all she is completely potty trained and doesn’t get into anything. The only reason she is, is when we got her the vet recommended to kennel her during the day since our pom was already kenneled so they were treated fairly. She does have a fenced in back yard for exercise and walks. She usually sleeps under our bed at night!!!

@ccrow You are correct about females vs. males with this type of problem.

@help Forget fairness now. Kennel the pom in a room with the door shut and leave the golden out. Then let the pom sleep with you at night and put the golden’s bed in another room.

Here are a couple of links w/some helpful advice- 1 2