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Pomeranian

Dwarf Spitz, Toy German Spitz, Pom, Zwergspitz

Family: CanidaeCanis lupus familiarisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Justin Brough

   The Pomeranian is a classy looking toy breed, being small and fluffy with a fox-like face.

  Pomeranians are lively and smart. They are also independent and strong-willed. Many people fall in love with this little fluffy dog because of its beautiful presentation. It smiling wedge-shaped face, dark almond shaped eyes, and button nose are simply enchanting.

The Pomeranian or Dwarf Spitz is one of the small dog breeds, and is affectionately called the the Pom. They are great companion dogs for adults and older children. If this toy dog is properly socialized, it can also usually get along well with other pets. They catch on quickly when training, and can learn lots of tricks. When selecting a Pomeranian, pay special attention to the condition of its eyes and teeth. It is also advisable to check bloodlines for hereditary problems.

Common Name(s)   Pomeranian, Zwergspitz, Dwarf Spitz, Toy German Spitz, Pom

Breed Type   The Pomeranian is a toy breed, and is intended to be a house pet. The Pomeranian is rather sensitive to heat, so it does best in fairly cool climates.

Background   The Pomeranian's origins go back to sled dogs from Greenland and Lapland. Selective breeding by English breeders reduced the breed's size. The Pomeranian is known for being very popular among royalty. Queen Victoria made Pomeranians very popular in late 1800's and many famous people at that time had Poms as pets. The Pomeranian is now a member of the American Kennel Club toy group, originally they were classified in the miscellaneous group until 1892 when the AKC classified them into the toy dog group.

Description   Pomeranians are very small and fluffy. They have a fox-like face, usually dark eyes, and pointed ears. They are most commonly solid colored, but some are parti-colored. Their average height is 7-12 inches, and they usually weigh between 3 and 7 pounds. They can be found in a wide variety of colors such as orange, red, white, blue, brown, black and cream.

Care and Feeding   Pomeranians do best on a diet of dry food due to the likelihood of tooth and gum problems. Foods containing fish, beef, and wheat are recommended. Giving the dog teeth cleaning chews is also a good idea.
  Pomeranians need frequent brushing. They can be cleaned with dry shampoo as needed. Their eyes and ears need special attention, and should be cleaned each day. It's also important to take good care of their teeth, brushing them at least once a week.
  Pomeranians need annual checkups to keep them healthy. Vaccinations should be given as follows:

• 6-8 weeks: Distemper, Leptospirosis, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvo, and Corona virus (DHLPPC)
• 10-12 weeks: Second DHLPPC
• 14-16 weeks: Third DHLPPC and rabies
• Annually: DHLPPC and rabies booster
  

  Poms shed heavily, so frequent vacuuming is a must. It's also best not to leave blankets and pillows lying around on the furniture, because your Pomeranian can curl up under them for a nap and potentially be sat on.

Housing Your Dog   Pomeranians are indoor dogs, and they are quite content in small apartments. They are active and love to play with small dog toys. They may become overheated in hot weather, so it is best to keep them inside in the air conditioning if possible.

Social Behaviors   Pomeranians can do well with other pets, as long as they are familiar with them. They are independent, yet they make wonderful companions for adults, the elderly, and older children. They tend to get nervous around young children.

Handling and Training   When training a Pomeranian, being firm is the key to success. They have minds of their own, and trainers must let them know who is boss. They can learn to do tricks, and they usually respond well to crate training. They also make great show dogs.

Activities   Pomeranians need regular exercise, but not as much of it as larger breeds. Short daily walks and regular play sessions should take care of their activity needs.

Breeding/Reproduction   When considering a mate for a Pomeranian, it is important to research the potential mate's bloodline. Pomeranians are susceptible to a number of hereditary problems. Females sometimes need Cesarean sections when giving birth, especially if they are very small.

Common Health Problems   Frequent ailments of Pomeranians include slipped stifle, dislocated kneecaps, eye infections, heart problems, and skin disorders. Regular visits to the veterinarian will help keep your Pomeranian in good health and aid in early detection of these problems.

Availability   Pomeranians are easier to find in some areas than in others, but most people can locate nearby breeders. They are available in some pet stores as well. Prices vary, and can range from $350 to $1,000 or more.

References "Pomeranian", Dog Breed Info Center, Copyright 1998-2008
"Pomeranian (dog)", Wikipedia, Copyright 2008
Cusick, William D., "What to Feed a Pomeranian", Referenced online, 2008
"Pomeranian Puppies for Sale", Copyright PuppyFind.com, LLC, Referenced online, 2008

Lastest Comments on Pomeranian View all 14 comments on Pomeranian Add Your Comment

liz - 2012-05-16 Hi, I have a beautiful female,one year old pom. And the problem is she has a mind of her own and very fussy about everything. I have a couple of questions: My mum and bro feeds her a lot of fish as she isn't interested in anything else either including dog food or chicken. Is too much fish safe? Also, she doesn't obey any commands.. And get ferocious sometimes and if I try to make her obey she will bark continously.. Please help! Charlie Roche - 2012-05-16 Fish isn't a good mainstay diet for a pup, just not enough nutrition, too watery and too much oil. Try feeding her a healthy food (I like Eukanuba) and use the fish as a treat for obedience training. Don't give her so much fish in training she doesn't eat her food. ou can also put a little juice from fish over her food and eventually eliminate that or try and little yogurt. Reply

Anonymous - 2012-04-02 Hi, I have a very cute pomerainan. She is very active but I do need some help. She does not know her name. How do I get her to know her name and when to come and stay. Just wondering if you knew how to train her :) Charlie Roche - 2012-04-02 A trainer told me that when a pup comes to you to 'CALL HER NAME' out. Then be real happy that she has come to you and say good dog and wonderful etc. So when she comes to you for any reason - say her name and really make over her. That is what a trainer told me. I decided that the pup I had just didn't like the name I gave her. So I sat there and said a bunch of names. The one she responded to via jumping up and down and wagging the tail - she seemed to like it. So I named her SAM even though a gal but she always came when I called her after that. Reply

Kevin - 2011-08-12 I want to buy a pom puppy. Charlie Roche - 2011-08-13 So, are you going to do it? krysta - 2012-02-01 i have one Reply

krysta - 2012-02-01 how do stop the puppes anger. Toto, Sydney, 7 y o. - 2012-03-10 Hello, Pom friend. Anger to you? If so, spend more time with the dog. Get down to his level. ie: I feed from my fingertips when I am lying on the floor near him. He's too snobby to use a bowl! LOL :-) Spend more time playing/ scratching/ massaging/ fooling around with him etc. I am his best buddy. Wife and daughters don't get the devotion that I get. He is angry to other people if I am holding him in my arms. He is a little angry to ME if wife/daughter is holding and I come close. Generally with other people he's ok but he yaps at little kids and tries to harass skaters and rollerbladers. Because of their noise. Maybe that will help. Treat the dog as you would treat a small person and/but NEVER threaten the dog with shouting, a stick or rolled newspaper etc. Maybe, stones in a tin, shaken, or a water sprayer etc, are deterrent... Good luck. Reply

Julz - 2012-02-29 I wat a toy Pom so badly! Toto, Sydney, 7yo. - 2012-03-10 Hello Pom friend. Read up all you can about Poms. This site is good. Wiki too. My little buddy is 7 y o now and he's just great. All the advice on this site is good. Our boy only knows, 'wait/wait a bit'. and 'lets go, lets go'. We don't bother with the other silly nonsense. Some Poms seem to be aggressive towards little kids but its more bad manners than attack. Some will be yappy but train them early and they only shout when someone's at your front gate etc. Great guard dog in that respect. Sadly medical probs because of overbreeding. Genetic faults multiplying through each successive reproduction, I think. When you get one, save money to help with your vet bills. We don't brush ours and we trim him to help with the heat. Teeth are small and its very important to use dog toothpaste, otherwise, $$$$! Start with 'pomrescue' in google etc and find breeders. Warning: They are Pomeranians. (period) Teacup/miniature/toy is garbage! Don't go to people who advertise this nonsense. Colour also includes sable/brindle, which is a mix of dark long hairs in the regular coat, giving an attractive definition and character to the dog. Good luck. :-) Ours actually answers back! Backtalk! can you believe it? I could not, the 1st time we told him inside when we were leaving. He gave a very dissatisfied growl and turned around. NOT happy :-) ha ha ha. He still does it :-) Reply

zubair - 2012-02-23 WOW, What a nice puppy dog. Reply

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