Pomeranian breed – Facts and traits

The Pomeranian is a very fluffy little dog, but don’t let that fool you! These little pups have the heart of a wolf. As a matter of fact, these little dogs’ ancestors were from Iceland and Lapland and were slay dogs. Actually not just any slay dog, but the Alaskan Malamute, the Samoyed, the Siberian Husky and the Keeshond. The Pomeranian dog breed was originally a white medium sized dog weighing between 14 – 16 kg.

The Pomeranian is a dog breed of the Spitz type, that is named after the Pomerania region that is part of north-west Poland and north-east Germany in Central Europe. The person responsible for downsizing this breed was England’s Queen Victoria. She loved Pomeranian’s. In the late 1800, she established her own kennel and began importing smaller Poms of all colours and created her perfect lap dog. The stereotypical Pomeranian is now known as a small, yappy, excited, energised little pup and is a great pet to their parents, only weighing between 2 – 4 kg.

Although a Pomeranian can not pull a slay, they certainly are a miniature version of their ancestors, as they are very vivacious and well known for their cute little faces and thick double layered coats, looking like a little energised ball of fur running around.

One of the most identifiable characteristics of the Pomeranian is their abundant double coat, which consists of a long harsh-textured outer coat that covers a soft dense undercoat. Their triangle shaped ears contribute to the foxy look of this breed. They actually have these tiny little straight up ears that sometimes can be difficult to see, because of their plush coat. The high set tail is heavily feathered and lies flat on the Pomerian’s back.

Underneath that very fluffy coat and that very cute face, is a very athletic dog that excels at a lot of different dog sports including agility, fly ball and obedience. The Pomeranian is truly a big dog personality in a little dog package, they have a lot of personality and demand attention and a lot of pampering.    

These dogs are quite versatile and they can live just about anywhere, just don’t confuse their size with their energy levels, they will need a daily walk. Pomeranians are also known to bark excessively, therefore it is important for dog owners to work on barking issues early on. This is a dog that if you do not focus on its energy level, you are going to get a lot of notes/complaints from your neighbours about your dog keeping them awake all night.

Pomeranians live from up to 12 to 15 years of age and are prone to tooth loss, therefore feeding them dry food is recommended. They also suffer from luxating patellas or slipping kneecap. Pomeranians are constant and heavy shedders, making daily grooming a must with this breed to avoid tangling and matting. Check the ears for any matting and make sure the nails are trimmed back and that you take your dog to a professional groomer every 4 to 6 weeks.

Pomeranians are very happy-go-lucky dogs that crave human companionship and who love to be either on your lap or next to you on a coach. They just love to be petted all the time. Pomeranians are great for just about anyone, however, they are not recommended for families with young children because of their fragile frame. Training should start early on and should be consistent. Poms are very intelligent but they are headstrong and are not the easiest dog to train.