Breed Profile – Pomeranian

The Pomeranian might be the smallest of the German Spitz-type dogs, but it shouldn’t be underestimated! Our latest breed profile finds out more about this pocket rocket.

History of Breed: The Pomeranian’s ancestors are the Arctic Spitz dogs, in particular the German Spitz. The breed takes its name from Pomerania, an area which is now split between north Poland and east Germany on the Baltic Sea coast. It is thought the breeding of the original Pomeranians began here. The real development of the breed took place in the Victorian era. Queen Victoria favoured the Pom, in particular a very small red dog. This made the breed immediately fashionable, and the smaller the better. Rumour has it that the size of the breed shrank by 50% during Queen Victoria’s lifetime. She also imported Poms of all different colours from abroad to add to her breeding program. She can take some of the credit for the Pomeranian breed as it stands today.

Life Expectancy: Approximately 12-15 years.

Size: Small, this tiny dog has a height range of 22-28cm and a weight range of 2-3kg.

Features: Although the Pomeranian coat comes in a multitude of colours and mixes, the style is very distinctive. It has a soft fluffy undercoat and a long, straight rough-textured outer coat. The characteristic ‘frill’ round the neck, chest and shoulders defines the Pom, as well as the plumed tail curving over the back. The erect ears and bright, dark eyes in a fox-like face give the dog its alert, intelligent look.

Energy Levels/Exercise Required: Although the Pomeranian is a lively dog, it does not require a lot of exercise and will be happy with a short half hour walk per day. Alternatively, a short stint of exercise in a small garden or yard is also satisfactory and a Pomeranian does not need a large house or garden to run about in.

Potential Health Issues: The Pom is generally quite a healthy breed. One potential problem is luxating patella, or floating kneecap, which is common in small dog breeds. Another is tracheal collapse, in which the tracheal rings of the windpipe weaken and collapse. Like all dog breeds it is important to feed to condition with an appropriate small breed dog food. For small breeds like the Pomeranian, it is especially important to match the biscuit to the mouth size. Gilpa Trinkets provides a complete nutritionally-balanced diet for a small dog in a small, easily-managed biscuit; a really good choice for this breed.

Temperament: On the whole, Pomeranians are playful and lively. Whilst they don’t require much exercise, they do like to be the centre of attention. Excessive barking can be an issue due to a habit of barking at other dogs, at new stimuli and to defend their territory. However, they are intelligent and respond well to training, so thorough, firm training can resolve this issue.

Family Dog/Child Friendly: The Pomeranian is energetic and loves fun and games, making it perfect for family life. They also make equally good companions for those who live alone, especially those with reduced mobility. A Pom would be happy with a small amount of exercise, but would thrive on all the attention it’s likely to receive.

Likes: Attention, games.

Dislikes: Other dogs, solitude.