Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is a breed of dog that comes from the region of Pomerania, which is now in modern-day Poland and Germany. They are a part of the Spitz family, a type of dog with distinct features such as dense coats, small ears, and pointed muzzles that are known for their abilities in cold weather. The Pomeranian's ancestors were much larger sled-pulling dogs used in the Arctic regions. The breed as we know it today was largely developed in Britain during the 19th century. Queen Victoria of England owned a particularly small Pomeranian, which led to a trend of breeding smaller Pomeranians. The breed's popularity has remained stable since then, and they are one of the more common toy breeds.
- Origin
- Germany
- Alternate Names
- Pom, Pom Pom, Zwergspitz, Dwarf-Spitz, Deutscher Spitz
- Life Expectancy
- 12-16 years
- Average Male Height
- 6-7 inches
- Average Female Height
- 6-7 inches
- Average Male Weight
- 3-7 pounds
- Average Female Weight
- 3-7 pounds
- Coat Length
- Long
- Coat Type
- Double
- Coat Colors
- Blue Merle, Blue Brindle, Chocolate Merle, Blue Sable, Black, Black & Tan, Black, Blue, Blue & Tan, Chocolate, Chocolate & Tan, Cream, Cream Sable, Orange, Orange Sable, Red, Red Sable, Beaver, Brindle, White, Wolf Sable, Chocolate Sable, Tri-Colored, Black & Brindle
- Coat Pattern
- Parti-Color, Mask, White Markings, Tan Markings, Brindle, Irish Marked, Tri-Color Markings, Sable, Merle Markings
Genetic Predispositions and Health
Pomeranians can suffer from eye conditions, including vitreous degeneration, cataracts, distichiasis, entropion, progressive retinal atrophy (prcd), progressive retinal atrophy (rcd3), and persistent pupillary membranes. They can also be affected by many other health issues, including adrenal sex hormone imbalance, albinism (oculocutaneous), alopecia X (black skin disease), atlantoaxial instability, cryptorchidism, cyclic hematopoiesis, deafness, demodicosis, eclampsia, elbow dysplasia (ununited anconeal process), degenerative myelopathy, gallbladder mucocele, globoid cell leukodystrophy, growth hormone-responsive dermatosis, hydrocephalus, hyperuricosuria, hypoadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, intervertebral disk disease, meningoencephalitis (necrotizing), methemoglobin reductase deficiency, heart conditions including mitral valve disease, oligodontia, panniculitis, patellar luxation, patent ductus arteriosus, portosystemic shunts, prognathism, rickets, sebaceous adenitis, seizures, stomatocytosis, tracheal collapse, urolithiasis (calcium oxalate), and von Willebrand Disease (Type I).
Personality and Behavior
Pomeranians are known for their lively and playful nature. They're intelligent, curious, and love to be the center of attention. Despite their small size, they are fearless and can sometimes be aggressive with other dogs. They tend to be loyal to their families and can be somewhat wary of strangers, which makes them good watchdogs. Training and socialization from a young age are important to help them become well-rounded dogs.
Fun Facts
They're sometimes referred to as "Poms" or "Pom Poms."
Mozart and Queen Victoria both had Pomeranians.
The smallest dog on the Titanic was a Pomeranian that survived the sinking.
Pomeranians are often good at learning tricks and can do well in dog sports like agility and obedience.
References
https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/breed/pomeranian
https://www.ukcdogs.com/Pomeranian
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pomeranian/