Pomeranian

Pomeranian puppies are friendly, affectionately, and, like all small dogs, have special needs. Pomeranian puppies have an unusually high metabolism. It’s important that they eat often to maintain a healthy body weight of 3-7 pounds by 6 months.

Pomeranians have delicate bones that make them more susceptible to physical injury; puppies should be handled with care. Your puppy will need a safe, cozy place to sleep, with easy access to fresh water.

New Pomeranian puppies are very curious, and full of energy.  Therefore, it’s important for owners should take steps to puppy-proof their home to prevent curious puppies from sticking their noses where they shouldn’t.

Small dog puppies, like the Pomeranian are prone to separation anxiety and may chew furniture, or bark excessively if left alone and not adequately exercised. Your new Pomeranian puppy will also require at least 30 minutes of exercise each day.

Pomeranians are also known to dart off in pursuit of any interesting scent or leaf that peaks their interest. Fenced in yards, leashes and a watchful eye are always recommended.

Pomeranians belong to the Spitz breed group of canines, characterized by a long, thick coat of fur, pointed ears and a tail that often curls over the dog's back. The Spitz breed group is one of the oldest recorded breed groups, with archeological evidence dating back nearly a millennium.

The Spitz breed group includes modern breeds like the Chow Chow, Akita Inu, Malamut’s, Siberian Huskies and the Corgi. Despite the German name, the Spitz breed group originates in the Arctic and Siberia.

The Pomeranian, however, is a Spitz type named for the Pomerania region of north-west Poland and north-east Germany in Central Europe. Classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size, the Pomeranian is commonly known as the Zwergspitz, or "Dwarf-Spitz.”

Spitz breeds are well suited to living in cold northern climates thanks to an insulating, waterproof undercoat which helps to trap warmth close to the body. Characteristically small ears reduce the risk of frostbite, and thick fur that grows on the paws protects the dogs from sharp ice. Spitz breeds excel at herding, and pulling sleds, with many of the larger breeds within the group specializing in hunting large game such as elk and caribou.

A breed standard details the appearance and temperament of an officially recognized breed. The Pomeranian is an officially recognized breed by all major kennel clubs and is therefore subject to a strict breed standard.

Pomeranians are small compact but sturdy dogs with an abundant textured coat. They have a thick double coat that knots and tangles easily, particularly when the shedding, and comes in the largest variety of colors of any dog breed. The most common of which colors are orange, black, or cream/white.

It’s top coat is long, straight, harsh, and forms the Pomeranian’s iconic mane of fur around the neck. Its undercoat is soft, thick, and short. The eyes, nose and paw pads are marshmallow colored.

Its heavily plumed tail is a defining characteristic of the breed. It is set high and lies flat on the back. Poms are alert in character and exhibit great intelligence in expression. They are cocky, animated, and inquisitive by nature.

Head

The Pomeranian’s head is in balance with its body; broad at the back and tapering to the nose to form a wedge. Its expression is “fox-like” alert and intelligent. Its eyes are dark, bright, medium sized, almond shaped and set well into the skull.

Ears are small, pointed, set high on the head, and carried erect. Its skull is closed, slightly round with a well pronounced stop. Muzzle particularly short, straight, and neither coarse nor snipey and capped with a black nose.

Body

The Pomeranians neck is set well into the shoulders, with length enough to allow the head to be carried high and proud. The topline is level with the withers. Body is compact and well-ribbed. Chest is oval and extending to the elbows. Its back is short-coupled, straight and strong. Loins are smooth with a small tuck-up. Shoulders are well laid back, with shoulders blades equal in length with the upper arms.

Legs and Feet

The Pomeranians legs are moderately spaced, straight and parallel when viewed from the front. Shoulders and legs are moderately muscled. Feet are round, tight, and cat-like - well arched, compact, and standing well up on toes. Thighs are moderately muscled, with upper thigh and lower legs equal in length. Stifles are strong, moderately bent and clearly defined.

Tail and Hindquarters

The Pomeranians tail is heavily plumed; profusely covered in long, harsh, and straight hair. It is set high and lies flat and straight on the back. Hindquarters are angulated in balance with the forequarters. Buttocks are well behind the set of the tail.

Coat and Colors

Like most Spitz-type breeds, the Pomeranian is double-coated. Its body is well covered with a short, dense undercoat. Long harsh-textured guard hair grows through to form the longer abundant outer coat which stands off from the body.

A Pomeranian’s coat should form a characteristic mane around the neck, which frames the head and extends over the shoulders and chest. Its coat is tightly packed and shorter in length around the head and legs.

Forelegs are well-feathered, with thighs and hind legs that are heavily coated to form a “skirt.” Females may not carry a coat that is as thick or as long a male coat. Puppy coats are denser and shorter. The Pomeranian’s coat comes in the largest variety of colors of any dog breed, including orange, white, sable, black, brown, red, cream, blue, black and tan, brown and tan, spotted, brindle - Dark cross stripes on a solid color or pattern.

Height and Weight

Pomeranians are small when compared to most breed groups; standing 5 to 11 inches at the withers; weight traditionally falls between 3 and 7 pounds.

Pomeranians are friendly, playful, lively, and respond well to training. They are extroverted and enjoy being the center of your attention, but they can show dominant behavior and stubbornness if not trained and socialized.

Poms are somewhat defensive of their territory and likely to bark at New stimuli, which may develop into a habit. However, they can show aggression when confronted by strange dogs and humans. Poms are alert and highly sensitive to changes in their environment. They have been known to be defensive of their territory and likely to bark at New stimuli, which may develop into a habit.

Pomeranians have an iconically beautiful, albeit profuse double coat that needs lots and lots of brushing but is otherwise easy to care for.

 

Pomeranians are friendly, playful, lively, and respond well to training. They are extroverted and enjoy being the center of your attention, but they can show dominant behavior and stubbornness if not trained and socialized.

 

Poms can show aggression when confronted by strange dogs and humans. Poms are alert and highly sensitive to changes in their environment. This causes them to bark a lot. Poms can also be a challenge to housetrain. Like most small breeds, however, with patience, consistency and lots of loving care and attention, your Pomeranian will quickly become your cutest friend and most loyal companion.

 

Pomeranians are sensitive to heat, especially heat stroke, which can be fatal for dogs. It's important to keep an eye on your puppy's heat level and to find a cool, air-conditioned room when you notice lethargy, drooling, and excessive panting. Also, be sure your Pom always has access to plenty of cool water.

Nutrition

We recommend that you feed your Pomeranian puppy a nutritious brand of dog food twice per day. Keep away from dog food brands that use artificial ingredients, preservatives and fillers like grain, wheat and brewers rice.

You can prevent your Pomeranian puppy from becoming obese by implementing a feeding schedule. At 8 weeks your puppy should learn that food won’t be provided constantly throughout the day.

Be sure to monitor your new puppy’s health and wellness. If they appear skinny and eagerly finish every meal, then you may need to increase the amount of food in their diet. Conversely, if you notice that your puppy is gaining too much weight for their age, you may need to limit the amount of food in their diet.

Pomeranians have small stomachs, so it is important that they not eat spicy or salty foods which can cause digestive issues. There are some foods you should never feed any dog, including:

• Chocolate or Candy
• Alcohol
• Onions and Garlic
• Caffeine
• Grapes
• Diary
• Nuts
• Pitted Fruit
• Salt
• Yeast

Grooming

There’s no way around, the Pomeranian’s one-of-a-kind coat is high-maintenance, but that doesn't mean grooming has to be difficult. It’s playful and affectionate personality makes grooming a fun bonding experience for you and your puppy.

Your Pomeranian will need frequent grooming to keep their beautiful coat from growing out of control, becoming matted, brittle and dry. A solid grooming routine and perfecting your grooming skills can go a long way to ensuring your Pomeranian feels as good as it looks.

Pomeranian puppies should be brushed at least two times per week so it can become accustomed to the feel of the brush. Adults should be brushed at least 3 times per week, but every day is the ideal. It’s important to address any tangles or mats as soon as possible. Brushing on a regular basis will help stop tangles from forming. Never brush a dry coat, as it can destroy the fur over time.

The Pomeranian’s coat is water resistant due to oils imbedded in their undercoat. These oils are essential to the dog's skin health. Frequent bathing, harsh soaps and shampoos can remove these oils; therefore, we recommend bathing your Pom only once per month.

To bathe your Pomeranian simply lather up their coat using lukewarm water and dog shampoo. Rinse their coat thoroughly and repeat. We recommend applying dog conditioner after the second wash.

Blow-dry your Pomeranian when bath time is over. Rubbing the towel onto the coat can create multiple tangles within seconds and can completely ruin the coat. Instead, use a dab and blot patting motion to absorb moisture.

Exercise

Inactivity can lead a Pomeranian to become obese, which can have a devastating effect on the dog's overall health. We recommend that Pomeranians receive at least a two 15-minute walks per day.

Exercise also improves circulation and provides opportunities for your Pomeranian to socialize and explore its environment, which is critical to proper socialization. Though your Pomeranian is more than happy to stay inside they will never turn down a chance to play outside, but make sure they stay on a lead.

Training

Pomeranians are as cute and snuggly as a puppy can be, and like every puppy, they require proper training in order to grow into a well-behaved adult dog. As your Pomeranian grows, it will enter several developmental stages, in which it will exhibit certain behaviors. Though puppies typically grow out of these behaviors, other behaviors may be present for the dog's entire life.

With time and dedication, your Pomeranian can will be an obedient, friendly member of your family, and society. The key to training any puppy is consistency, reward and lots of patience. Remember, Pomeranians respond best to positive, reward-based training methods, not fear of punishment.

Housebreaking

Pomeranians are intelligent, eager to please, and ready to begin housebreaking as soon as they arrive in your home. In fact, the earlier you can begin housebreaking your Pomeranian, the better. Pomeranians are fast learners, but like any dog, it takes time to fully housebreak a Pomeranian.

Begin housebreaking by watching your Pom for indications that they need to do their business. If you see that they are about to go inside clap your hands loudly or call out their name to give them pause.

Hussle your puppy outside to your designated area and let them do their business. When your puppy is about to do its business say something similar to “go potty”, then praise them once they go in the right area. Repeat this process until your puppy associates “go potty” with going outside to do its business. Avoid punishing your puppy for accidents inside the house. Simply ignore it, then clean it up.

Crate Training - Crate training a Pomeranian is easy and quick to achieve. Start with a crate that is big enough for an adult Pomeranian to stand, turn around, and sit or lie down without any hindrance.

We recommend placing its crate in your bedroom for the first few weeks, so they associate the crate with the comfort of your presence. Introduce your Pom to the crate by placing a few treats inside and around the crate.

We also recommend feeding your Pom puppy several times from inside the crate so that they associate food with the crate as well. Well before bedtime, place your Pom puppy in their crate and give them a treat. Then shut and lock the crate. Then leave the room. Your Pom puppy will likely bark once you leave the room. Wait to enter the room again until they have stopped barking.

Avoid petting or praising them when they bark inside their crate or their desire to be let out of the crate will become stronger. Start the process over again after 30-45 minutes. Don’t forget, puppies need a toy, and easy access to fresh clean water when inside their crate.

Socialization

Pomeranians are social, affectionate and friendly. If not socialized early, however, a Pomeranian can develop several undesired behaviors. That’s why it’s important to socialize your Pom from an early age so it can experience positive social interactions with other pets, new family members and strangers.

Start socializing your Pomeranian by assembling the family on the floor and letting the puppy greet them. It's best to introduce any other pets, quietly and slowly, but treats tend to ensure a positive experience for any puppy.

Remember, the key to socializing any puppy is ensuring it feels safe in its environment. If your Pomeranian does not feel safe it will be prone to defensive behavior when presented with new situations, people, or pets.

Obedience Training

Pomeranians are incredibly talented and obedient when properly trained. They are typically non-aggressive, happy little pups, but they do tend to excessively bark. Obedience training can help to stifle some of your Pomeranians urge to bark.

The best way to obedience train a Pomeranian is to spend time with it. Spending quality time with your puppy will strengthen your relationship, and provide opportunities to learn, train and bond together.

As with all thing's puppy, we recommend that obedience training began as early as possible in the puppy’s life. Start with basic reward-based training principles like “sit” and “stay. Use the same words and phrases to indicate when, where and how you want your puppy to execute a command.

Issue your command. Pause. Then reward them with a snack when they get it right. Do not punish your Pom when they fail a command. Simply regain their focus and try again until they get it right.

Do Pomeranians make good pets? Yes! Pomeranians are friendly, affectionate, and small enough to live just about anywhere, except outside. They are even great with kids and other pets when properly socialized.

Are Pomeranians aggressive? No. Pomeranians are seldom aggressive and are mostly described as kind, affectionate, and incredibly sweet.

Can you train a Pomeranian not to bark? Yes, but even when trained, there is no guarantee that your Pomeranian won't bark. Pomeranians bark as a warning, in self-defense, when they are excited, and for attention. The best way to keep your Pomeranian from barking is to ensure it feels safe, does not get too excited, and by showering it with love and attention.

Can I leave my Pomeranian alone? Yes, but we recommend that you not leave your Pomeranian alone for more than a few hours. Pomeranians can be prone to separation anxiety which may cause them to bark excessively until you return.

Are Pomeranians loyal? Yes. Pomeranians become very attached to their owners.

It can be difficult to decide when the history of the Pomeranian begins. The Pomeranian belongs to the Spitz breed group of dogs, which originated in the Arctic and Siberian regions, and is considered the oldest breed group in the world.

The Pomeranian as we know it today is a result of thousands of years of selective breeding and canine evolution, which very slowly turned the large predatory arctic wolf into the diminutive and friendly Pomeranian. Their name is derived from the Pomerania region of Northern Europe, which borders the Baltic Sea, and includes areas of Western Poland and Eastern Germany.

The breeds great popularity can be attributed to Queen Victoria, who was an enthusiast and established a large breeding kennel. The first member of the Pomeranian breed to be registered in to the American Kennel Club was recognized in 1900.

The Pomeranian is a friendly and playful toy breed with an average life expectancy of 12-16 years. The Pom is a fairly sturdy and healthy breed but is still predisposed to health-related issues. It is important to know them and to monitor your dog for any physical or behavioral changes.

Potential Health Conditions:
• Dislocated Kneecap, Patellar Luxation 
•  Inward Turned Eyelids, Entropion 
• Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head, Legg-Calve Perthes Disease (LCP) Disease 
• Trachea Collapsed
• Low Blood Sugar, Hypoglycemia
• Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
• Gum Disease, Periodontal Disease

• Undescended Testicle, Cryptorchidism 
• Recurring seizures, Idiopathic Epilepsy (IE)
• Cataracts
• Hypothyroidism
• Black Skin Disease, Alopecia X

• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• Dry Eye, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS)
• Aberrant Eyelashes, Distichiasis
• Hair loss, Alopecia
• Tear Stains

Suggested Screenings
• Eye Exam
• Knee Exam
• Hip X-ray
• Cardiac Exam

Routine Care
• Neuter or Spay
• Regular Dental Exams
• Eye Care
• Controlled Exercise

 

Life Expectancy

Pomeranians are relatively long-lived when compared to many large breeds, with most living to be 13 to 15 years old.