Pomeranian

Introduction

The Pomeranian is one of the prettiest, cutest toy dogs on the planet. Its cloudlike halo of soft, fluffy fur and sweet, pointed face that looks like it’s always smiling has endeared this breed even to solemn European royalty, who first made the small Pomeranian famous. But they also make great household pets, thanks to their friendly demeanor, high energy, intelligence, and good health.

History

The Pomeranian descended from a slightly larger dog called the German Spitz. It is thought to be named after Pomerania, a region in Poland and Germany where it was bred.

Queen Victoria of England made smaller Pomeranians famous when she acquired her own in the late 1800s. She named him Windsor’s Marco, and she liked his diminutive size so much that she imported more small Pomeranians to the UK to breed them in her own personal breeding program. Now they are classified as toy dogs, a subset of dog breeds that are tiny in weight and stature.

Since Queen Victoria’s reign, Pomeranians’ popularity spread across the Atlantic Ocean into the United States. The breed was approved in the American Kennel Club in the year 1900. They were favorite pets of the world elite, and they were two of only three dogs rescued from the sinking Titanic along with their owners. Today, they are beloved by all classes of people in Western civilization. As of 2021, the breed ranks 27 in popularity out of the 197 breeds in the American Kennel Club.

Appearance

‍Modern day Pomeranians are small dogs; they usually weigh under 10 pounds. They have a plushy double coat that can come in several different colors and color combinations, such as white, golden, black, brown, and orange. Their proportions are small, with the tallest averaging at 12 inches in height. They’re an excellent choice of breed if you have a small home and a small or nonexistent yard.

Personality

Pomeranians are generally friendly and energetic, but they can be aggressive if they do not receive enough attention or have not been trained how to interact with humans or other dogs. Pomeranians are naturally extroverted, they love to meet new people and dogs, and will often show their eagerness by barking at anything and everything. Be prepared to spend some time patiently training your Pomeranian not to bark, they can be stubborn and it will take time to train this tendency out of them. Like all dogs, Pomeranians thrive on early socialization, the more people and experiences you can expose these dogs to, the more calm and well-rounded your puppy will become.

Exercise Requirements

Pomeranians are great for busy households, as they don’t require much strenuous exercise. Like most dogs, though, they should be taken on short walks and allowed to run. Since they’re small, you can let them run indoors if you don’t have a large outdoor space for them to play. According to the American Kennel Club, Pomeranians only need about 30-minutes of exercise per day, but they can keep us with the best of breeds when they need to. Despite their limited exercise needs, Pomeranians love to get outside to sniff and play, so don’t shortchange your furry little best on their daily outings, because they would much rather two 30-minute walks than one!

With Spot, walks are all private and on-leash to ensure your Pomeranian is always receiving the one-on-one attention they deserve. Dog walks are also conveniently available on your schedule, on-demand walkers are available with as little as 90-minutes notice, while a Spot recurring walker will provide consistency and can be booked on a weekly ongoing basis. So whether you need a dog walker every month or every day, Spot is always just a few clicks away.

Training and Care

Properly trained and given enough attention, your Pom will be friendly and fun to play with. When you’re training your Pomeranian, you’ll find it intelligent and quick to respond to reward systems like treats and toys. It’s important to spend a lot of time with this breed, they are social and can act out if they are not given enough attention or don’t get what they want. This is why behavioral training is highly recommended when it comes to Poms, so that they don’t become aggressive or overly defensive with humans or other dogs.

Try to feed your Pomeranian 2 or 3 small meals throughout the day. This breed is prone to hypoglycemia and therefore needs to be fed throughout the day to keep them feeling healthy and energetic. Total, an adult Pom should have ¼ – ½ a cup of dry dog food per day.

Health

With regular grooming, exercise, and yearly vaccinations, Pomeranians are generally healthy dogs, and will live for 12-16 years on average. The oldest current living Pomeranian currently resides in Florida and is happily enjoying his days at 21-years of age! That being said, the breed is prone to developing certain issues as they grow older. Below is a list of common problems your Pom may experience:​

Hypothyroidism‍

Hypothyroidism is a condition where your Pomeranian has an underactive thyroid. An underactive thyroid will slow down their metabolism, and they will not have as much energy. Other signs of hypothyroidism in dogs include dry hair, a tendency to be cold, high blood cholesterol, and a slow heart rate.​

Luxating Patella

‍Luxating patella is a condition where the patella in a Pomeranian’s leg slides out of place due to the ridges in the patellar groove being too shallow for the patella to stay in place. When it slides out, the leg locks in place above the ground.

Tracheal Collapse

‍Tracheal collapse is when the tracheal rings within a Pom’s windpipe collapse inward. This is a condition that, if your Pom experiences it, will typically grow worse with age. Symptoms that indicate they may be undergoing tracheal collapse include coughing, honking, fainting spells, and an unwillingness to exercise.

Black Skin Disease

‍Black skin disease is largely experienced by male Pomeranians, and is a skin disease where all their hair falls out and their skin turns black.

Cryptorchidism

‍Cryptorchidism is a condition in which one or both testicles in a male Pomeranian do not descend into the scrotum. It’s usually corrected by surgery.

Grooming

Pomeranians’ coats are beautiful, but they shed quite a bit and can get long and tangled without proper grooming. To improve quality of life for your Pom, brush their fur once a day and get their coat trimmed by a professional dog groomer every couple of months. You should also regularly brush its teeth to promote good dental health.

Conclusion

The Pomeranian is a beautiful dog that will make an excellent companion for families and single adult households alike. Make sure you can dedicate some time and love to this dog breed, as they are extremely social and have energy to burn. They don’t require a lot of exercise; but that doesn’t mean that they would prefer to stay inside all day. Pomeranians love to sniff and play, and greatly appreciate every opportunity to head outside for an adventure. In general, they are a healthy breed that requires frequent brushing. Schedule regular vaccinations and dental cleanings to help give your Pom the best chance to reach their full 16-year life span, and with the proper care, your Pom will be your faithful, friendly companion for years to come!