Breed Standard
Head: The head of the Pomeranian is wedge-shaped, making it somewhat foxy in appearance.
Ears: The ears are small and set high.
Tail: Its tail is characteristic of the breed and should be turned over the back and carried flat, set high. When born, the tail is not spread out; it may take months for it to grow over the Pomeranian's back, and flatten.
Color: The AKC recognizes twelve colors or color combinations: black, brown, chocolate, beaver, red, orange, cream, orange-sable, wolf-sable, blue, white, and parti-color.
Weight: At an average of 3 to 7 lb (1.4 to 3.2 kg). The Pomeranian (Pom) is the most diminutive (diminutive means tiny/small, etc.) of the northern breeds.
History
The Pomeranian originated from the sled dogs of Iceland and Lapland, which were eventually brought into Europe in Pomerania. This region, bordered on the north by the Baltic Sea, has been under the control of the Celts, Slavs, Poles, Swedes, Danes and Prussians, at various times. This region extends from the west of the Rügen Island to the Vistula river - there it became popular both as a pet and working dog. The name Pomore or Pommern, meaning "on the sea" was given to the district about the time of Charlemagne.
Breeders in Pomerania improved the coat and bred the dogs down for city living, but they were still 20 pounds or more when they reached England.
English breeders, through trial and error and Mendelian theories, are credited for reducing the dog's size and developing the many colors. The Pomeranian of today is small due to selective breeding, but the breed still retains the hardy disposition and thick coat typical of dogs in cold climates.
Orange Sable Pom's face Queen Charlotte first introduced the Pomeranian to English nobility, however; the Pom gained international popularity when her granddaughter Victoria returned from vacation in Florence, Italy with a Pomeranian named Marco.
It should be noted that the Pomeranian as a modern breed did not exist until the 19th century, The dogs owned by Queen Charlotte & Queen Victoria were much larger and were European Spitz. Probably a German Spitz and a Volpino Italiano. The same is true of any other historical pom owners from before the 19th century)
The closest relatives of the Pomeranian are the Norwegian Elkhound, the Schipperke, the German Spitz(and American Eskimo Dog), the Samoyed, and the whole Spitz group.
Behavior
The Pomeranian is a very active dog who is intelligent, courageous, and a loyal companion. But due to its small size can suffer abuse from children. Beneath the pomeranian's fur is a small but muscular little dog, similar to a Chihuahua.
Pomeranians can be trained to be good watchdogs by announcing intruders with loud, sharp barks or yips. Unfortunately, lack of very dedicated training has instead led this breed to a reputation for constant, undirected barking. For this reason, these dogs can prove very stressful company for those unaccustomed to their vocal nature. But stating "NO!" in a firm, gentle voice will let them know when it is wrong for them to bark.
The Pomeranian easily adapts to life in the city, and is an excellent dog for country living with its strong hunting instincts from its wild ancestors.
A daily or twice weekly brushing is essential to keep the thick, plush coat, which sheds seasonally, free of mats. Brushing also helps to prevent dry skin and dandruff.
Function
Pet.
Health
Pomeranians are prone to dislocated patella (kneecap), slipped stifle, heart problems, eye infections, skin irritations and tooth decay and early loss. It is recommended that they are fed dry dog food or crunchy Milk Bones daily to help keep the teeth and gums in good condition. Newborn Pom puppies are very tiny and fragile. Three newborns can be held in the palm of one’s hand. Dams on the smaller side often need to deliver by cesarean section. When the dog is old it may become molted with bald spots.
