Setting Boundaries for a Pomsky – Dog Training

Pomskies are energetic, playful and intelligent. Pomskies want to please their owners but require training to understand what they should and shouldn’t do. Learn how to set your pomsky up for success by setting boundaries and clear expectations.

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Why is it important to set boundaries?

Pomskies thrive when they have structure and know where they can go and what they should do. Boundaries inside the home may include having certain rooms or areas off limits. It can be especially important to have boundaries when a puppy is potty training, to keep the accidents confined to a smaller space. Even if your pomsky is fully grown and potty trained, you may want to train your pomsky to stay out of certain areas of the home, such as the bathroom, laundry room, or garage. When you are outdoors, your dog will benefit from learning boundaries of where they can go in your yard and how close they need to stay to you during walks.

Consistency is Key

When teaching your pomsky boundaries, maintain consistency. Do not allow your dog freedom and flexibility to do what they want one day, then block them from it the next day. You will be the most successful when you choose what boundaries are important for you to teach your pomsky and stick with them.

Boundaries inside the Home

Setting boundaries inside your home helps your pomsky know where they can and cannot go in the home. Certain places that you might want to put as “off limits” include a closet, laundry room, kitchen pantry, or garage. These are spaces where your dog might find items they shouldn’t play with (shoes, jewelry), food they shouldn’t eat, or where unsafe chemicals and cleaning supplies are kept. Physical barriers, such as a baby gate or fence can be helpful to keep your dog within your sight, so you can ensure that they are staying out of trouble. Depending on your personal choice and living situation, you may want to keep physical barriers up to divide portions of your home, such as the upstairs and downstairs. Some dog owners choose to fade out the physical barrier, by providing consistent training about which rooms can be entered and which rooms are “off limits”.

There are a variety of options that can be used to divide rooms. Fences or gates should be at least 30” tall to prevent your pomsky from climbing or jumping over it. This 8 panel plastic playpen can be divided into parts, so it can be used to block a few different doorways, or two panels could be used to block the stairway and the remaining 6 panels can be used as a small playpen. Metal playpens or fences can be used to block larger spaces or divide a room in half and baby gates are great for dividing upstairs and downstairs.

Follow these training steps you can take to train your pomsky to stay out of a specific room:

Place a baby gate or fence in front of the doorway to the room and allow your pomsky to look at it and sniff it. The doorway may be physically blocked for as long as you want or need.
Remove the gate or fence from the doorway and have your pomsky sit just outside the doorway to the room. Provide treats and praise when your dog sits and does not enter the room.
Walk away from the room with a treat in your hand and have your pomsky follow you. Walk back toward the doorway and direct your dog to sit. Reward with treats and praise. Complete this step at least 10 times, or until your pomsky is able to anticipate that they are expected to sit outside the doorway.
Once your pomsky is consistently sitting outside of the room, you can start challenging them to stay outside the doorway while you go in. Direct your pomsky to sit, then walk into the room and back out, giving your pomsky a reward for sitting outside the doorway while you went in.
Increase the difficulty by placing a tempting item, such as a sock, inside the room that is off limits. Direct your pomsky to sit and praise them and give treats when they do not go into the room to get the sock.

**It is beneficial to use an item that is also “off limits” in the room that is “off limits”, rather than using a dog toy or dog treat to tempt your pomsky. For example, use a sock, shoe, or hair tie to tempt your pomsky but don’t allow them to get this item.

Boundaries Outdoors

Some outdoor boundaries may include:

Keeping your pomsky near you when you are walking
Having your pomsky stay out of certain areas of the yard
Not allowing your pomsky to jump at people or animals walking by

Use our loose leash walking strategies to keep your pomsky near you during daily walks. This is a great way to prevent leash pulling and set clear expectations for daily walks. Your pomsky will enjoy receiving treats and praise for staying near you, which will teach them that they need to stay within 4-6 feet of you while walking. You can train your dog to stay out of certain areas of the yard by using a long leash (15-30 feet) and calling your pomsky to come to you each time they get close to the area that is “off limits”. Provide treats and positive verbal reinforcement (“good job!”) every time your pomsky comes back to you and avoids the area they should not be in. If you have a fenced yard, this already provides a physical barrier that shows your dog the boundaries of the yard.

Prevent your pomsky from jumping at dogs and people by distracting them with a treat and having them continue to walk by your side. You will be the most successful if you use positive reinforcement and strategies similar to loose leash walking. Encourage your dog to look at you while walking by holding a treat close to your face. Provide verbal praise and more treats when your pomsky continues to walk by your side when there are other distractions around, such as squirrels, dogs, or people.

Food Boundaries

It is up to you whether you want your pomsky to receive food from the kitchen table/counter, or strictly receive food and treats on the ground or in their bowl. This is an important boundary that you should set from the beginning. If you prefer that your dog does not beg for your food during mealtimes, it is best to only give your dog food and treats in their bowl or from a specific area where their food and treats are kept. Set this boundary early in your puppy’s training so they do not always expect to eat the same foods you are enjoying.

Boundaries with Visitors

Pomskies love visitors and may want to jump or howl at people who come to visit your home. Teach your pomsky to “sit” or “wait” and provide treats. As with any form of learning, practice makes perfect. Invite family or friends over and practice having your pomsky sit or perform a different action rather than jumping at your visitors. With enough practice, your dog will associate visitors with the act of sitting, rather than jumping at them.

Summary

Use boundaries to teach your pomsky clear expectations. Whether you are training boundaries inside the home, while walking, or in the yard, your pomsky will appreciate knowing what behavior is expected of them. Training will take time and consistency, so make sure you have plenty of treats and are dedicated to teaching your pomsky these skills for success.