BREED HISTORY
An incredible ball of fur and eyes, vivacious by nature, sweet, attention demanding, loyal and totally full of fun are just some of the words describing today’s modern day Pomeranian. Many people don’t realize this dog originates from Iceland and Lapland, having a genetic bond with sled dogs. Back then, our Pomeranians averaged about 30 pounds and eventually ended up in Pommerania Germany as livestock herding dogs. Imported into England the downsizing of the Pomeranian officially began, and Pomeranians became very popular. In 1870 the Pomeranian was recognized in Great Britian, and in 1900 the American Kennel Club followed suit. Today the Pomeranian averages at 5 to 6 pounds, although some are much smaller and others much larger.
Pomeranians
Is this the dog for you?
- There are energetic Poms, and laid back Poms.
- Stubborn Pomeranians and sweet Pomeranians.
- Some Poms are clowns, and others very serious.
- Introverted Pomeranians, and Pomeranians who love everyone.
Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed...
- Is very small and "spitz-like", with pricked ears, a foxy face or a baby face, a thick coat, and curled tail, and neat cat like feet
- Is vivacious and spunky, bright and attentive, always alert and ready to participate.
- Is delightfully alive and aware of everything going on around him and vigilant when protecting or warning against approaching strangers.
- Is usually fine with other pets.
- Becomes very devoted to his/her special family members
A Pomeranian may be right for you.
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If you aren’t prepared for… |
- The time a devoted toy dog needs from his or her owners, they don’t do well without people spending lots of time with them, they pine.
- The fragility of toy breeds (see below)
- Suspicious yappiness toward strangers, or those not in the “inner circle”
- A pet who wants to follow you and be with you everywhere you go.
- Barking, yes, dogs bark
- Regular brushing and combing, bathing and blow drying.
- Occasional heavy shedding, but some shedding all the time
- Housebreaking difficulties, all toy breeds are more difficult to housebreak.
A Pomeranian may not be right for you.
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If You are considering a Pomeranian... |
My major concerns would be:
1. Temperament of the Parents. Pomeranians are awesome little dogs, but, the temperament of the parents can have an influence on the temperament of the puppies. Make sure the parents have good personalities. Pomeranians are often offered for sale by people who don't have the slightest idea of how to breed good-tempered dogs. Make sure the breeder has experience with breeding and selectively chooses his/her breeding stock for good temperament.
2. Fragility. Too many people acquire a toy breed puppy without understanding how incredibly fragile a toy breed is. You can seriously injure or kill a Pomeranian puppy by stepping on him or by sitting on him when he's curled under a blanket or pillow, where he frequently likes to sleep. And Pomeranians can seriously injure or kill THEMSELVES by leaping from your arms or off the back of your sofa. A larger dog can grab a Pomeranian and break his neck with one quick shake. Owning a toy breed means constant supervision and surveillance of what's going on around your tiny dog. Pomeranians must always be kept indoors, in a safely fenced yard, or on-leash -- they are just too easy to injure when not under your complete control. A note here about Teenagers and wrestling… a Pomeranian is very easily injured when the teens get wrestling around and shoving. You will find Poms want to be involved in everything. Small children present only one kind of danger to Poms, teens can be just as dangerous, in a different and unthinking manner.
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If you have small children, I do not recommend a small Pomeranian. Children can accidentally trip on, or drop, or even fall on the Pom. Injuries are serious, sometimes fatal. Poms and small children are not a good mix. |
3. Suspiciousness. Standoffish by nature, Pomeranians need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become suspiciousness. Puppy socialization classes, obedience and taking your Pom with you help avoid this.
4. Mind of their own. Pomeranians are not a submissive or sissy breed. Poms often think they are very big dogs! They are very bright, and have an independent mind of their own. You must be consistent with your training and have lots of patience.
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Always make sure your Pom is fully immunized before taking them to an puppy/obedience classes. Never use a community bathroom area for dogs, and never let you Pom sniff around where other dogs have relieved themselves. |
5. Barking. Pomeranians are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to teach them to be quiet when you tell them to. It goes without saying that an unsupervised dog, left outdoors can be an annoyance to neighbors. Size makes no exception here. Pomeranians should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised. Hawks, owls, dogs, even other people can make a Pom disappear in the blink of an eye.
6. Grooming. To keep their thick coat free of mats, Pomeranians require regular brushing and combing, and occasional trimming of straggly hairs. Keep nails trimmed short, and brush their teeth with a doggie finger toothbrush and special paste. All toys, Poms included have notorious bad breath and teeth.
7. Shedding. Pomeranians shed. If you groom regularly it is controlled, but you will find a couple times a year the shedding is heavier, and yes, you will find hair on your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture etc. Shedding is a fact of life with a dog. Frequent vacuuming becomes a way of life. Make sure you're REALLY up for this. If you don’t vacuum, consider a different pet!
8. Housebreaking. Toy breeds are almost always more difficult to housebreak. It is so easy for them to sneak behind a chair or under a small table, and it takes only a few seconds for the deed to be done. The results can be hard to see. When you don't see it, you don't correct it -- and so the bad habit becomes established. If you hope to housebreak a toy breed, consistent crate training or room restricting is needed. Pomeranians should not be loose in the house unsupervised or accidents can be tough to monitor. If you are paper training, put paper in every room, gradually move the papers together in a central room, and then move that paper towards the eventual destination area… all this takes time, until their small internal organs become strong enough for reliable control.
