The Pomeranian dog breed is inquisitive, fun, and very popular
The Pomeranian is a member of the Toy group. They are very popular as companion dogs, with their small size and weight, and lively personality. This is the smallest of the Spitz breed, and is also called the Zwergspitz in German, which means ‘Dwarf Spitz’.
Pomeranian Dog Breed – Temperament
This is a very alert and lively dog breed, always ready for a game and some attention. They are intelligent and outgoing, and seem to think they are 10 times the size they actually are! They have a ‘big dog’ character and confidence.
Their intelligence and active nature means that they need mental stimulation and activity to keep them healthy. Their small size means that they don’t necessarily need exercise outdoors – they can get adequate movement in an apartment, and so make excellent apartment dogs.
Pomeranian dogs are naturally territorial, and will defend their patch with a lot of barking. They will bark at anything moving nearby, and even try to nip the ankles of joggers and runners if they get too close!
They should be socialized as a puppy to get them used to unfamiliar sights and sounds, and trained carefully as an adult to prevent them from taking over – they are very intelligent and can work out how to get what they want from their owners. They can be manipulative if given half a chance.
The Pomeranian dog breed loves to be near their owner as much as possible. They are happy to spend a lot of time indoors, but also love running around outside, especially in the snow – a result of their Arctic Spitz heritage.
A Pomeranian will love to sleep with you in your bed, but be warned – if this happens even once, then they will expect it ever after. So be prepared! If you are happy to have your Pomeranian in bed with you, that’s fine, but just be sure what you are letting yourself in for.
Pomeranian Dog Breed – Breed History
The Pomeranian dog breed is a miniature version of the Arctic Spitz dogs that were used for pulling sleds. They are named after the region known as Pomerania, which is now part of Poland and Germany. But the breed did not originate here; this is where the breeding program took place that gradually reduced the size down to the modern-day version.
Queen Charlotte of England had 2 Pomeranians from 1767, and these dogs were featured in paintings of her by Gainsborough. Her grand daughter, Victoria, was fascinated by the breed.
Later, when Queen Victoria visited Florence in Italy, she came across Pomeranians, and fell in love. When she returned to England, she took several Pomeranians with her. This patronage resulted in the breed becoming more and more popular. She particularly liked a small red sable colored dog, weighing around 12lbs, and used this dog for breeding.
In 1891 Queen Victoria entered 6 of her dogs at the famous Cruft’s Dog Show in London, and one of her dogs won first place in the breed category. Queen Victoria is credited with reducing the breed’s size even further, from approximately 30lbs down to 7lbs – 10lbs, nearer what we have today. When she died in 1901, her favorite Pom was at the foot of the bed.
Marie Antoinette and Mozart were other avid Pomeranian owners.
Vital Statistics:
Height; 6 to 7 inches at the withers (shoulder)
Weight; 3lbs to 7lbs
Life Span; 12 to 16 years.
Ease of Training
House training can take some time with the Pomeranian dog breed, and needs to be done with consistency and patience. Once the dog is a little older, it responds well to training, with its intelligence and will to please its owner.
Pomeranians love to learn new tricks, and as long as they feel rewarded for their efforts they will take an active interest in the next activity that pleases the master.
Protection
It will be no surprise that the Pomeranian dog breed makes an excellent watch dog. They are alert and ready to defend their ‘patch’ at a moment’s notice. As soon as they perceive something unusual, they will bark. You will be in no doubt that you should take a look outside!
On the other hand, they cannot offer you any physical protection as a guard dog. They are simply too small, despite their huge heart. If you need a dog to give you some physical protection, look for a bigger breed.
Grooming
This breed has a thick double coat that needs frequent brushing. You should brush through the full depth of a the coat with a pin brush each day. They are seasonal shedders.
Pomeranians need a fair amount of grooming, and you may like to employ a professional dog groomer every 4 to 6 weeks to take care of all the tasks.
Health Considerations
Most well-bred Pomeranians have few genetic problems, but their are some exceptions. Merle colored dogs have a higher incidence of deafness, blindness, raised intra-ocular pressure, as well as skeletal and cardiac issues.
Tracheal collapse, which affects the wind pipe, is another issue, resulting in the airway becoming constricted. Symptoms include a cough, exercise intolerance, and fainting spells. This tends to become more frequent as the dog gets older.
Older Pomeranians may develop a condition which involves loss of hair, and hyper-pigmentation of the skin as more light gets through. It is sometimes called ‘black skin disease’. It affects males more than females, but is not fatal of itself.
Here is a link to an entry in our monthly Dog Photo Competition – a lovely looking 12 year old pomeranian called Gizmo.
Famous Pomeranian Dogs
Boo ‘the cutest dog in the world’!
Boo was a Pomeranian dog that became an internet sensation! In 2016 he had over 17.5 million likes on Facebook, has had his own picture books published: ‘Boo: the life of the world’s cutest dog’, ‘Boo: little dog in the big city’, as well as a calendar and soft toys.
He has his own Instagram page @boodoggie and is still a true social media star!
Sadly Boo is no longer with us and died January 2019 aged nearly 13.
