pom pressing all buttons

Question
Hello Jill, I have a Pomeranian that is about 6 yrs old. He was my parents' pet until about late Sept. My mother had a severe stroke that left her paralyzed and in a nursing home, my father was taking care of him until he became ill and passed away late October. He lives with me and my family now. The behavior problems are urinating on everything (tags items), thinks he owns my wife I cannot get close to her with out fearing of being bitten and whacks out when he sees a golf cart in motion. He is not fixed and I have tried to give him a somewhat normal life with us. We take him to see my mother,sleeps with us,free reign to go about the house. He does have little mans syndrome that is for sure !!   Thank you for any advise  Tony

Answer
I'm so sorry for the loss of your father and your mother's serious illness.  Your little Pom has been through terrific stress, also.  The "urinating on everything" is "marking behavior" and is actually normal for an intact male of any breed.  Even having the dog neutered won't eliminate this behavior since in the dog's mind, much after 18 months of age, he will still be "intact."  You must interrupt his marking behavior (not YOU, let your WIFE do it) by making a sudden sound then calling the dog over and rewarding him (by petting him) for responding.  Marking behavior usually extinguishes within five weeks or so if addressed correctly.  As for the Pom attaching to your wife and "guarding" her against you, that's fairly typical considering the enormous losses he has suffered in the past few months.  I suggest you be responsible for feeding the dog, letting him in/out, petting him, playing with him, etc., rather than your wife.  I also suggest that you, yourself, begin walking him outdoors on lead (he needs a harness, kinder in small breeds than being led by a collar) for at least a few minutes each day.  Do not force the dog to interact with you.  Carry some special treats and reward him with one when he looks at you, follows you freely, etc.  If YOU are the source of ALL THINGS GOOD from now on, the dog will stop "trophying" your wife and begin to respond to you without fear.  (In his case, aggression is most likely insecurity and fear.)  The Pom, like many small breeds, are labeled "head dogs" in the show ring for a reason.  They tend to easily bond with one person and can develop guarding or trophying behavior when being held by that person; the judge in the show ring requires small breeds be picked up by the handler so the judge can approach and touch the dog.  Any small breed dog that shows aggression when this is being done is eliminated from competition.  So your Pom's behavior does NOT mean he is dominant, or the "little man"; it's fairly typical and if you work at it you can turn his attitude around.  Much luck!