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History
The Pomeranian is a dog of Spitz type, known for stocky heavy-coated breeds
of dogs native to northern regions. It is a Nordic breed and the breed name
refers to Pomerania, an area now considered to be part of north Germany and
Poland. Originally the breed weighed 20 to 30 pounds and was adept in
sledging and herding.
The Pomeranian was introduced to the British nobility by Queen Charlotte.
The breed gained international popularity when the Queen’s granddaughter,
Victoria went on a vacation to Florence, Italy with a Pomeranian.
The Pomeranians owned by her and her granddaughter, Victoria were much
larger German Spitz. In fact all other Pomeranians before the 20th Century
were larger dogs. It was during Queen Victoria’s reign that the Pomeranian
was miniaturized and became popular. Presently, the Pomeranian is among the
most popular breeds. In its own way, the Pomeranian has become a sort of an
accessory to women and celebrity.
General Description
The ideal weight for a Pomeranian is between 4 to 6 pounds but the average
weight ranges between 3 to 7 pounds. The Pomeranian comes in a variety of
colors, patterns and variations and each is judged equally.
He is a compact dog with a short back. The distance from shoulder to
buttocks is a bit shorter than the distance from highest point of the
withers to the ground. The distance from the lower chest to the ground is
half the height at withers.
He is medium boned and the length of his legs is well proportioned to a
balanced frame. Despite his small size, on examination he feels sturdy. His
head is in proportion to his body. The muzzle is short, fine and straight.
As the Pomeranian originated in cold climates he still has a harsh double
coat. The outer coat is straight, long, and glistening and has a harsh
texture. Its undercoat is soft and fluffy. Actually, his coat is his major
distinction and must be groomed regularly.
His tail is set high, heavily plumed and lies flat on his back. He has a
smooth, balanced and vigorous gait.
Temperament
The Pomeranian is a spirited dog. He is an extrovert and an intelligent dog.
He also loves to please. He is a great family dog if trained properly. His
outgoing temperament makes him all the more desirable as a family and
companion dog. The Pomeranian is typically friendly and loves to be around
his owner. They can be easily housebroken and trained. He is not known to
snipe.
However, he tends to become nervous if he is given too much attention by
children. Otherwise he gets along with the family and other animals in the
household. Because of his extrovert temperament he is prone to bark too much
on being rewarded. He also needs to be protected from himself because some
dogs are inclined to sometimes ignore their small size and attack bigger
dogs.
In line with his original habitat and a heavy coat he is more inclined to
seek cold climates. It is not unusual to find him lying on a cold floor.
Healthy Pomeranians are known to live for 12 to 19 years. Health problems
like hip dysplasia are rare in this small breed. However, congenital heart
defect and tracheal collapse has become a serious problem in recent times.
Skin problems like dermatitis, allergies and alopecia are quite common. Dry
eye or tear duct problems are known to lead to blindness in young females.
Other problems that owners should be aware of include hypothyroidism,
Hypoglycemia and epilepsy. Moreover, due to his small size and delicate body
the Pomeranian has to be protected from injuring himself. Pets4You offers listings of
Pomeranian breeders with puppies for sale. |
