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Pomeranian

inquisitive / lively / bold
Toy Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

6-7 inches

Weight

3-7 pounds

Life Expectancy

12-16 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    40% 40%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    60% 60%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    80% 80%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    60% 60%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    80% 80%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    40% 40%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    60% 60%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    60% 60%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    80% 80%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    60% 60%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    80% 80%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

It has been said that the little Pomeranian, a longtime favorite of both royalty and commoners, is the perfect companion. The magnificent coat, happy, foxy face, and vibrant nature of the Pom have made it one of the most well-liked toy breeds in the world. The Pomeranian is a small dog (weighing no more than seven pounds) with an authoritative big-dog temperament. Nearly two dozen colors, as well as other patterns and markings, are available for the thick double coat with its frill reaching over the chest and shoulders, although orange or red are the most prevalent choices. For families with kids old enough to understand the difference between a toy dog and a toy, Pomeranians make excellent watchdogs and cheerful companions since they are alert, intelligent, and simple to train. Poms are happy in both the city and the suburbs since they are active yet may be exercised with indoor play and quick walks. They are adept at tricks and games, but their favorite thing to do is to make their special person laugh and be with them.

What To Expect When Caring For a Pomeranian

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Pomeranians are typically small, healthy dogs. However, ethical breeders check their stock for diseases like hypothyroidism, collapsing tracheas, congestive heart failure, seizures, and alopecia X (a disorder where the skin turns black). A registry that maintains health-screening data in a public database is the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). When looking at puppies, make sure to ask the breeder for copies of the parents' OFA findings.  
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Patella Evaluation
  • Cardiac Exam
  • Ophthalmologist Evaluation

Grooming

One of the Pomeranian's most distinctive characteristics is his thick double coat. To keep the gorgeous coat that we adore looking wonderful, frequent brushing is required. To prevent matting, brush the dog once a week with a pin brush and a slicker brush all the way down to the skin. Because Pomeranians are active dogs, it's crucial to maintain short nails on them. If you are uncomfortable doing this at home, it is strongly advised that you hire a groomer to perform a full groom every four to six weeks, which includes bathing, brushing, ears, nails, and anal glands. The Pom's teeth are another thing to watch out for. The teeth should be brushed as part of their weekly grooming routine.

Exercise

Pomeranians love to be lapdogs and family members, but they also need some activity and love to run, play, and go for walks. When your Pom is outside, make sure to keep a close eye on them. They are infamous for climbing over short fencing or escaping through tiny cracks or crevices in the fence. It is crucial to keep a Pomeranian under cover or remain nearby at all times since little breeds like Pomeranians might be mistaken for rabbits or squirrels by huge, carnivorous birds like hawks and owls. Be mindful of your surroundings when walking your Pom. Your Pom could easily be damaged by uncontrolled dogs from other households.

Training

Early on, the Pom should be taught to walk on a leash and to respond when called. Consistency and patience are essential while housebreaking because it can be difficult. Your Pom should not be allowed to repeatedly jump on and off of beds or couches as this could cause them to suffer from joint or bone injuries. Because of their alertness and high level of intelligence, poms like and are excellent at canine sports like agility, rally, and obedience as well as working as therapy dogs.

Nutrition

The Pomeranian should thrive on premium dog food, whether it is produced commercially or is made at home under the direction and agreement of your veterinarian. Whatever the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior), the diet should be suitable. Watch your dog's calorie intake and weight level because certain dogs are prone to obesity. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian. Fresh water that is clean should always be accessible.  

History

The Pomeranian is a diminutive relative of the strong Arctic sled dogs of the spitz type. The region of northeastern Europe known as Pomerania, which is now a part of Poland and western Germany, inspired the breed’s name. The Pom’s ancestors were bred down from their larger, burlier counterparts there, hundreds of years ago.

 

The smallest spitz breed is the Pom, also referred to as the Zwergspitz in some regions. You could claim that Poms are “fit for a queen” because of their graceful demeanor and regal bearing, and you’d be right. Queen Victoria, who fell in love with the breed while touring Florence, Italy, is largely to blame for the Pom’s fame. The popularity of the breed was ensured when the dog-loving Dowager Queen returned to Britain with Poms in tow.

 

Victoria developed into a serious Pom breeder and exhibitor. Victoria displayed six of her breeding dogs in the 1891 Crufts dog show. Windsor Marco, one of her favorites, took first place in the breed. Victoria is credited with shrinking the Pom’s size from roughly 30 pounds to their current toy stature (a British historian noted that it would have taken a courageous judge to have placed her second). It was said that the elderly queen’s favorite Pom, Turi, maintained watch at the foot of her bed as she lay dying in 1901.

 

Pom owners in the past have included Marie Antoinette, Emile Zola, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, all of whom had high social standing.