Family-friendly: 2/5 Exercise needs: 2/5 Easy to train: 4/5 Tolerates being alone: 1/5 Likes other pets: 3/5 Energy level: 3/5 Grooming needs: 3/5 Shedding: 4/5

Pomeranian

The dainty little Pomeranian sparkles with character and friendliness. The smallest of the spitz breeds, they look almost like miniature foxes, with an outercoat that has long, erect hairs and a thick undercoat, giving them the appearance of a ball of fluff.

On top of looking adorable, the Pomeranian also has an adorable personality, always smiling and providing laughs to their human friends. So, if an active and vivacious companion is what you need, look no further, the Pomeranian would be perfect for you.

Lifespan

12–16 years

Weight

1.8–3kg

Height

18–30cm

Colours

White, black, brown, blue, red, orange, beaver, cream, white, merle, parti-coloured, sable

Size

Small

Kennel Club group

Toy

The need-to-know

Dog suitable for owners with some experience
Extra training required
Need to be aware of potential health issues
Enjoys active walks
Needs under an hour of walking a day

Small dog
Some drool
Requires grooming every other day
Chatty and vocal dog
Barks and alerts to visitors/anything unusual

Generally friendly with other dogs
Gets along with other pets with training
May need additional supervision to live with children
Needs a small garden
Can happily live in the city

Can be left occasionally with training

This breed may encounter health problems

Pomeranians can suffer from:
- Patellar luxation
- Tracheal collapse
- Chiari malformation syringomyelia which is a condition where fluid-filled areas develop around the spinal cord causing pain.
- Hydrocephalus which is a condition where fluid builds up around the brain and can cause damage.
- Alopecia X¹ which is a condition which causes symmetrical hair loss and skin pigmentation.

Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
None but there are several recommended schemes that the Kennel Club recommends which can be found here.

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Pomeranian Appearance

One of the Pomeranian’s most unique characteristics is its voluminous plumed tail which curls over its back and makes it look even more like a little ball of fluff.

And when it comes to its actual coat, the Pomeranian colours are quite varied, from orange and red which are the most common to blue, white, or part-coloured (meaning they are white with patches of multiple other colours).

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Pomeranian Personality

They are lively and energetic little dogs who are very loyal to their families, although generally bond to one person. Pomeranians enjoy being handled and spending time with their beloved owner but it’s important that they have the opportunity to be ‘real dogs’. They make excellent watch dogs, as they are quite vocal and will alert to anything unusual — or indeed to just about anything! Despite their gentle and affectionate natures and surprisingly enthusiastic attitude to life, care must be taken, as under all that hair they are tiny and quite fragile.

Vet Rating

Family-friendly:	2/5
Exercise needs:	2/5
Easy to train:	4/5
Tolerates being alone:	1/5
Likes other pets:	3/5
Energy level:	3/5
Grooming needs:	3/5
Shedding:	4/5

History and Origins

Unlikely as it may seem, the Pomeranian dog breed (or 'Poms') is almost certainly descended from the sledge-pulling dogs of the Arctic and are probably related to the Keeshond, Norwegian Elkhound, and the Samoyed. This small pet dog was intentionally bred through progressive size reduction, although when they arrived in the UK with German-born Queen Charlotte, they were very different from the Poms we know today — being white and much larger (9-14 kgs).

They soon became popular, especially with royalty, so when Queen Victoria visited Florence and saw much smaller variations of the breed there, she brought them home with her. The Queen went on to breed them and showed them at Crufts in 1891 where (not surprisingly!) she won best of breed. In the years that followed her death in 1901, selective breeding for a smaller size continued, until the tiny dog we know today was developed, and the larger sizes vanished entirely from the UK.

Ideal Owner

If you need a bright, sparky character in your life, are available for short walks, lots of cuddles and capable of daily grooming, you could be the Pomeranian’s ideal owner. This breed benefits from both basic training for manners and also some fun, trick training and puzzle solving games, or they can get bored and a bored Pom is a barky Pom! Although the grooming commitment is significant, as Poms will mat severely and very quickly, they make an excellent and fun companion, in a small and very economical package. Better for families with sensible/older children or child-free homes.

Exercise Needs

Pomeranians are very undemanding in their exercise requirements and are quite happy with short daily walks or a run in the garden with their owners. If kept fit and active however they can enjoy much longer walks. Their primary focus is social contact with their owner but as a descendant of working breeds, they do enjoy interactive enrichment games to keep their busy mind occupied and to stop them getting bored and overly noisy.

Space Requirements

Pomeranians can live in just about any home as they do not need much space. They do need access to outdoor spaces for daily walks and toileting (especially as to successfully toilet train them, you do need to be able to get them out very frequently).

So, regardless of your lifestyle and living situation, a Pomeranian will always feel at home no matter the amount of space. Even if you don’t have a big yard they can run in, as long as you commit to taking them out for walks a few times a day, they will be content and appreciative.

Nutrition and Feeding

Toy dogs have a fast metabolism, meaning they burn energy at a high rate, although their small stomachs mean that they must eat little and often. Small-breed foods are specifically designed with appropriate levels of key nutrients and smaller kibble sizes to suit smaller mouths. This also encourages chewing and improves digestion.

When based on a good diet and regular exercise, the average Pomeranian lifespan can reach 16 years and there have even been reports of Poms living for more than 20 years.

Grooming Pomeranians

For a tiny dog, the Pom has a huge coat with a thick undercoat. They will benefit from a daily groom but certainly, Pomeranian grooming should be done twice a week to prevent matting and keep them healthy. The coat can be easily damaged by fine combs or harsh brushes, so a wide toothed comb is ideal. Occasional trimming is required around the feet.

Training Pomeranians

It’s easy to underestimate these tiny dogs but they are surprisingly trainable and enjoy working with their owner. Poms have been known to compete successfully in mini agility, as well as learn all kinds of tricks. At the least they should be taught to walk on a harness and have a good recall (not that they generally go far from their owner). Like many toy breeds, expect toilet training to take far longer than in larger breeds.

Are Pomeranians Good Family Dogs?

Although the Pom is friendly and gets on with everyone, they are too delicate for active or boisterous young families. They will do well in a family of older sensible children however.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together, and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

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Pomeranian Fun Facts

When Poms first came to the UK, they were very much the canine supermodels of the time. Artist Gainsborough was particularly taken with the Pomeranian dog breed and painted them several times. This was possibly what led to their popularity — especially among the aristocracy.
Their connection to the arts doesn’t stop there either, Mozart had a Pomeranian named Pimperl, to which he dedicated an aria, and Michelangelo had a Pom by his side whilst he painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Two Pomeranians survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.

One of the most internet famous dogs ever, was a Pomeranian called Boo. He had 16 million Facebook fans when he passed away in January 2019.
Pomeranians have one of the smallest litter sizes with the average being around 2 – 3 puppies per litter.

FAQs

Is a Pomeranian a nice dog?

Pomeranians make great pets as they are very playful, intelligent, eager to please, and love attention.

Do Pomeranians bark a lot?

Yes, Pomeranians have a tendency to bark often.

Are Pomeranians calm dogs?

Yes, Pomeranians can be calm and easy-going, especially as they get older.

What to know before you get a Pomeranian?

Among many other things, it’s important to be aware of the fact that Pomeranians are highly energetic and very adventurous so as an owner, you’ll have to invest a lot of time and effort in just keeping up with them.