Pomeranian - All The Things you Need To Know

Today's tiny Pomeranian has an unexpected canine lineage. This fluffy member of the toy group has ancestors who were sturdy members of the working group – the Spitz sled dogs of Lapland and Greenland. Early cousins of the Spitz also worked herding sheep in the early 19th century. In fact, it's easier to imagine today's Pomeranian yapping around the edges of a herd of sheep than pulling a sled through snow. Still, traces of the Spitz can be seen in the Pomeranian's colors and winter-textured coat.

Pomeranians get their name from a region on the southern Baltic coast known as Pomerania, where the dogs were imported into Europe and bred down to size. It must have taken many generations of breeding to reduce the thirty pound Spitz to a much-reduced size much closer to the size of today's Pomeranian. In 1870, the Kennel Club in England recognized the Pomeranian breed, calling it the "spitz dog."

One of the best known Pomeranian owners in history was Queen Victoria of England, who ruled between 1819 and 1901. Queen Victoria first saw the dog as a girl, when her mother, Queen Charlotte kept one as a pet. Queen Victoria got Marco, a Pomeranian of her own, in 1888.

The English royal family had then, and has now, a keen interest in breeding horses and dogs. Queen Victoria applied this enthusiasm for breeding to the Pomeranian, at one time keeping 35 Pomeranian dogs. The monarch is credited with further reducing the size of the Pomeranian through her efforts. Her show Pomeranians – Fluffy, Nino, Mino, Beppo, Gilda and Lulu, competed in many dog shows and won at least two championships. According to her biographers, in 1901, from her deathbed, the Queen asked for her pet Pomeranian Turi, who was brought to her and remained at her side until she died.

Besides royalty, other famous Pomeranian owners include a wide range of artists and celebrities, from Michelangelo, whose dog watched him paint the Sistine Chapel, to actress Kate Hudson, who is by now as well known as her mother, Goldie Hawn. Hudson's Pomeranian is named Pom Clara Bo.

According to Sir Isaac Newton's biographers, a Pomeranian can drive a person mad. Newton's Pomeranian, Diamond, once knocked over a candle that burned some of his work papers, and the ensuing stress caused Newton to have a nervous breakdown.

Pomeranians are inspirational. Mozart dedicated an aria to his Pomeranian, and Chopin composed music for a Pomeranian belonging to his girlfriend. The name of historical church leader Martin Luther's Pomeranian Belferlein pops up here and there in his writings.

The Pomeranian is a natural performer. Actress Cindy Williams, of "Laverne and Shirley" fame, appeared with her dog in commercials for a weight loss program. And then there's Chester, who belonged to actress Fran Drescher in real life, and co-starred with his owner in the hit TV show "The Nanny."

The Pomeranian appeals to royalty and celebrities, but this delightful breed also makes a great pet for everyday people. Anyone who loves small, confident, intelligent dogs will love the Pomeranian.

Rosie Allan is an expert on British royal dogs and lives in the countryside of London with two Pomeranians. The diminutive Pomeranian descended from the Spitz sled dogs of Lapland and Greenland. Europeans bred the dog to its smaller size and improved on its coat. Helpful Pomeranian information such as that found here is also available at libraries and through the American Kennel Club.

The frisky Pomeranian, a member of the toy group, makes a loyal, friendly pet. Pomeranians are ideal pets for seniors, singles and city dwellers or anyone living in a small space.

Some groups of dog breeds are classified by their ability to do labor, like the working group, the sporting group and the hound group. The working group performs services like guarding property and rescuing the lost. Examples of dogs in the working group are the Great Dane, Samoyed and Siberian Husky. The sporting group includes setters, spaniels, pointers, and retrievers, who like to hunt and do field work. Some dogs in the hound group, like the Bloodhound and Basset Hound, have an extraordinary sense of smell so they can track prey.

In contrast to these hard working specialists, dogs in the toy group have been bred for human companionship. Toy dogs like the Chihuahua, the English Toy Spaniel, and the Pomeranian want to be at their master's side at all times. That's why a Pomeranian makes such an excellent pet, especially for seniors, singles and people who live in small apartments or trailers.

Pomeranians are confident to the point of cockiness, secure in their position as faithful sidekick to the leader of the pack. Your Pomeranian dog will command your attention, so be ready to provide it. These little dogs have giant personalities. They are alert, intelligent, inquisitive and animated.

Pomeranians become extremely attached to their masters, and can be very protective in situations where they perceive their master is being threatened. Because of their protective nature, Pomeranian dogs tend to be suspicious of strangers and treat new people with caution, and they often voice these suspicions by yapping incessantly when meeting new people, especially on their home turf.

Such a strong-willed dog requires a confident owner who is not afraid to take charge of the dog and show it who is boss. If the Pomeranian's cocky behavior gets out of hand, it can lead to neurotic behaviors like biting, snapping, moodiness and general unpleasantness.

Many Pomeranians get along well with other dogs that are household companions, but they are territorial and will try to chase strange dogs, even dogs that are substantially bigger than they are. With appropriate training, the Pomeranian dog can be an excellent pet. Socialize the Pomeranian early on to avoid his developing bad habits like sharp or shrill barking. Start housebreaking at an early age to get the best results.

The majority of Pomeranians, puppies and adult dogs alike, can be trained and socialized to be loyal, manageable companions. To be sure, your Pomeranian will provide you with endless entertainment and more than enough companionship to ward off loneliness.

If you decide to get a puppy, ask your breeder to suggest an obedience trainer. If you are getting an older dog or a rescue Pomeranian, spend some time with the dog to see what its temperament is like, and seek professional training help if you run into obedience issues.

The Pomeranian is a playful, confident dog who loves to be the center of attention. Pomeranians information reveals that they are lively, appealing pets who love to be the center of attention.

If you have lots of great expectations about life with a Pomeranian dog, prepare to get most of them dashed. These are not smaller versions of the average dog. Despite their bold characters, playful natures and loud yappy bark, they are far more fragile than the average dog. They are sort of the fragile eggs of the dog world. If you want this kind of dog, you must be willing to adjust your life around them.

Pomeranian dogs have big, thick coats that need daily care. If you have ever seen a Persian cat, then you know what a Pomeranian's coat is like and how easily it can get soiled and matted. Pomeranians shed their entire coats twice a year, but leave dog hair all over the place every day. If you are allergic to dogs or annoyed by the sight of dog hair, take this Pomeranian information very seriously before getting one.

Pomeranians make ideal companions for single adults or senior citizens. They are not recommended for homes with small children, as both will wind up hurting each other. Pomeranian dogs do well in urban settings or apartments. Pomeranians do not need a hike in the woods every day in terms of exercise, but still needs to be supervised if left out in the yard. Sadly, Pomeranians are so popular that they have become a magnet for thieves. And Pomeranians don't help matters any by boldly announcing their presence and strutting their stuff before anyone who happens by.

Most Pomeranian information in books or on the Internet only focuses on the good sides of living with Pomeranians. Keep in mind that there are bad sides, as well. Their coat needs a thorough grooming every day in order to keep it tangle-free. They also have surprisingly fragile frames – it has been known for Pomeranians to die just from jumping from your arms to the floor.

Pomeranians need regular check ups and vaccinations just like any other dogs. They need worming medication and rabies shots. Pomeranian dogs are also prone to some illnesses more than other breeds. These illnesses include eye infections, dislocated patella, skin problems, teeth problems and slipped stifle. Their skeletons are also more fragile than the average dog's. A drop from your arms can fracture bones and do internal injuries. Daily grooming can help you not only untangle the coat, but spot potential problems before they become too serious.

Pomeranians can often grow bigger than their parents, but they can still be purebred Pomeranian dogs. Their ancestors were sled dogs of a Spitz-type that were about thirty pounds. Gradually, as the use of dog sleds dwindled, the Pomeranian became smaller for apartment dwelling. Now, they average about seven pounds. With regular care, attention and a sensible diet, they should live well into their teens and forever in your heart.

A Pomeranian is a great pet for retired people who have the time to spend on a demanding pet. This Pomeranian information should help prevent people buying Pomeranians who shouldn't.

Have you ever wondered whether your Pomeranian could be a show dog? Well, here’s your chance. If you want to know what the American Kennel Club considers a good Pomeranian, read on. Get out the bathroom scale so you can find out how your dog measures up to the American Kennel Club standards for Pomeranian dogs. You could have a potential American Kennel Club champion on your hands.

The American Kennel Club establishes standards of the breeds it recognizes for several reasons. First, breed standards document what the breed is supposed to look and act like. Dogs bred for generations to look exactly the same are reliable dogs. If you get a Pomeranian puppy, you know you can count on your full-grown Pomeranian to weigh less than seven pounds. Without standards of the breed, Pomeranians could eventually weigh as much as bulldogs! Pomeranians are also known for their playful, intelligent personalities.

Well-known, established standards for breeds encourage good breeding practices. Toy dogs have fragile skeletal systems, and preventing the breed from getting too heavy helps reduce the likelihood of injury to bones and joints. Nearly everything about the Pomeranian is covered by the standards of the breed, from the dark nose to the high, plumed tail, which, according to breed standards, must lie flat and straight against the dogs' back. Pomeranians should have small, pointed ears, short muzzles and dark, almond-shaped eyes.

Pomeranian standards rely on proportions for definition of the Pomeranian's body. The breed's height from its elbows to its withers is about the same as the height from the ground to the elbows. The shoulder blade and the upper arm should be of approximately equal length. The Pomeranian has a double-coat consisting of a soft undercoat and a long, textured outer coat. The outer coat forms feathers on the legs and a frill around the shoulders and chest. A soft, flat or open coat is a major fault that leads to disqualification.

The Pomeranian coat can be virtually any color. All colors, patterns and color combinations are judged the same. The most often seen Pomeranian patterns include black and tan, brindle and parti-color. Black and tan Pomeranians have light patches above the eyes, on the muzzle, throat, chest, legs, feet, and under the tail. Brindle-coated Pomeranians have a gold or red base with black cross stripes. A parti-color Pomeranian is white but has patches of one or more other colors in its coat.

In specialty dog shows, Pomeranians are split into three different groups for judging, according to the color patterns of their coats. Red, orange and sable dogs make up one group, black and brown dogs make up another, and other variations are judged together in a third group.

The American Kennel Club also sets standards for a Pomeranian's temperament, so owners know what to expect from their dog's personality. Pomeranians should be confident, inquisitive, intelligent and pleasant, with a commanding presence. Pomeranian breed information is available to anyone who wants to breed Pomeranians or just wants to know more about the breed.

The Pomeranian standard requires that length of the dog's upper legs, for instance, should be approximately equal to the length of the dog's lower legs. The AKC makes Pomeranian information that spells out these breed standards available to virtually anyone, so all breeders can easily become familiar with them.