Pomeranian Breed Description

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An Owner's Pomeranian Description
I would talk about our Pomeranian for hours if I could find someone who would listen. I suppose most dog owners could tell stories about their pets. But there are more stories about Cotton than any other dog I've ever owned. In addition to being as cute as a button, she's a white, fluffy ball full of energy.

She dances to her own music, so to speak. Although she is obedient, she is determined to do her own thing, her own way. We thought it would be cute to have her sleep with us; we'd heard that many Poms thrive on sleeping with their owners. But Cotton had her own ideas of where she wanted to sleep. Every night we take her to bed with us and she settles in at the foot of the bed. After she hears the sound of our first snores, she quietly jumps down and heads to the living room.

In that room, we have one of those large climbing and scratching posts with a penthouse for our cat, Gorgeous. Generally, Gorgeous sleeps in the penthouse. Cotton somehow determined that the middle cathouse 'bedroom' was open; she climbed up into it and went to sleep. One morning, Gorgeous found Cotton sleeping there and gave her a hissy face slapping that she won't soon forget.

Still, Cotton prefers that 'bedroom' over the snoring in ours and that is where she sleeps. But since that licking, she gets up early enough to creep out before Gorgeous wakes up. Then she comes back to the foot of our bed to be there when we wake up. Every morning, Gorgeous spends a lot of time sniffing the cathouse's middle bedroom. I'm sure he's wondering why that dog odor never goes away!

Introduction

This Spitz dog is the smallest member of that family. It originated in Germany and became more popular once it was brought to Britain. This breed is well known for its small size. It weighs an average of 5 lbs and is very compact.

History

The Pomeranian is a Nordic breed whose name refers to Pomerania, an area now considered to be part of northern Germany and Poland. Originally the breed weighed 20 to 30 lbs and was adept in sledging and herding. The Pomeranian was introduced to 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 were the 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 celebrities.

General Description

The ideal weight for a Pomeranian is between 4 to 6 lbs, but the average weight ranges between 3 to 7 lbs. The Pomeranian comes in a variety of colors, patterns, and variations and each is judged equally. 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. The dog is medium boned and the length of the legs are well proportioned to a balanced frame. Although small, upon examination they feel sturdy. Head is in proportion to the body, with a short, fine, and straight muzzle. They possess the harsh double coat of their ancestors. The outer coat is straight, long, and glistening, and has a harsh texture. Its undercoat is soft and fluffy. Actually, this coat is the breed's major distinction and must be groomed regularly. The Pomeranian's tail is set high, heavily plumed and lies flat on their back. Their gait is smooth, balanced and vigorous.

Temperament

The Pomeranian is a spirited dog, extroverted and intelligent. He also loves to please and is a great family dog if trained properly. The Pomeranian is typically friendly and loves to be around his owner. They can be easily housebroken and trained. They tend to become nervous if given too much attention by children. May be prone to barking too much upon being rewarded. Some Poms are inclined to ignore their small size and attack bigger dogs. In line with their original habitat and heavy coat, they prefer cold climates. It is not unusual to find your Pomeranian lying on a cold floor. Healthy Pomeranians are known to live for 12 to 19 years. Problems like hip dysplasia are rare in this small breed. However, congenital heart defects 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.

Colors
All patterns and colors are acceptable, including black and tan, brindle, parti-color, and solid colors such as black, blue, tan cream, brown, red, and sable. Blue and black Pomeranians are particularly valued in North America, but a large number of the Pomeranians you'll see on a daily basis are parti-colored, often with a darker face than the rest of their bodies.

Living Area
Pomeranians are perfectly suited to indoor living, and will even do quite well in an apartment. They are spirited dogs, and do require exercise. However, due to their size, they can get most of what they need running around the house. They can be picky eaters, and since they need to be fed dry dog food in order to prevent tooth loss, feeding them can be a problem. They can get overheated because of their large amount of fur, and should not be left outdoors or in a car in hot weather. However, they are quite tolerant of cold temperatures, though they should not be left outdoors in severe cold either, simply because of their size.

Recognized By
CKC, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR