At almost 5 months old this little fellow is close to full grown. He will mature, grow coat and a little substance, but, size wise he is very tiny.
Let Talk about Teacup, Toy, Tiny, Tiny Toy, Tiny Teacup, Pocket Poms and there are more adjectives that I haven't named here that people use to describe puppies size!
At best these words are descriptive tools, and at worst they are a gross marketing scam. Many Pom Breeders frown on descriptive words like those above. First, there is no such thing as a Pocket Pom, a Pomeranian is a Pomeranian. However, people will use the above terms to describe the size of a Pom relative to the size of another Pom. Be aware, a Pom is a Pom. You must use common sense and discretion when searching for a smaller Pom.
The pomeranian standard is for Poms to be between 3 and 7 pounds. The vast majority of Breeders strive to produce healthy Poms in the middle of the weight standard. Some are bigger, some are smaller. Such is life.
How do you get a Tiny or Smaller than average Pom? There are several possible scenario's for this.
This part gets a bit complicated but for those who having inquiring minds and need to know please read on!
Canine Reproductive knowledge in the last three years has changed and advanced by leaps and bounds. In fact, the wealth of knowledge is so huge that many general practice vets and breeders alike have had trouble keeping up with the advancements! Reproductive Vets are true gems and anyone lucky enough to have access to one should never move away! For example, we now know that the placement of the puppy in-utero can and does determine the growth of the puppy. Puppies placed in certain spots in the uterous will often be larger or smaller depending upon where they are attached. This accounts for the "runt" theory. The puppy was not as optimally placed as it's littermate was. It is not a genetic difference, rather a placement issue. The "runt" is not less healthy, rather it is the same as it's litter mates, just on a smaller size. Thus, challenges it's littermates face are more difficult for the smaller pup as it's system is smaller and thus more easily comprimised. This new knowledge certainly changes the old school thoughts that a runt is less desireable than it's littermates.
Even more indepth...
For years people have thought that when a litter was born the bigger pups were created first in an earlier breeding, and thus older. They also then thought the smaller pups were created later in the breeding cycle and younger which is why they were born smaller than their littermate. This is not true. We now know all the eggs are released at the same time. They (the immature eggs) are all the same age. Gestation depends on the day the egg is released, not the day it was fertilized. The eggs then ripen in the female and are fertilized by any waiting sperm within hours. If there is no viable sperm, or not enough viable sperm, then unfertilized eggs can die off over a period of time as they decrease in viablility, or they can be fertilized by sperm that was added later. But, all puppys are born at 63 days post ovulation, regardless of the fertilization date. As this new knowledge becomes more common it will change the way breeders view their litters and how they plan their breeding decisions. We are now able to say that a normal litter is born at 63 days post ovulation, even if the egg was actually fertilized later. This is very complicated and I have just partially condensed it into the most basic layman terms. In order to fully understand this a person must read the new published data, and consultation with a good reproductive specialist wouldn't hurt either. If you wish to further your knowledge on this topic, I will be happy to refer you to some of those sources.
We also know that genetics can affect size. If you breed two smaller Poms, you will generally speaking, get smaller babies, being always aware that there is always the possibility of size exceptions, genetic throwbacks or just the way the genes combined, which is why almost all breeders won't guarantee ultimate size. Some breeders are specifically breeding for Tiny Poms without breeding to improve confirmation or temperment. In any species, breeding for a certain trait without regard for the whole animal will destroy type, quality and temperament. Poms are no exception. Beware a breeder who breeds for tiny's without regard for the whole dog. That said, there is nothing wrong with breeding a smaller female to a smaller male when done responsibly.
Gestation or the period of time the Pom Puppy spends in the Mother also affects the size of the puppy. A premature pom baby will be smaller due to the amount of time it was in-utero. Preemies have very identifiable traits to an experienced breeder. These preemie's can grow to be full size poms, or they may stay smaller. Preemie's can have health issues. When a human baby is not full term there can be many health issues and the same holds true for Pom babies. This is where a good breeder can help you make an informed decision.
Other things that can affect size are the care of the mother while she is pregnant, quality of of the mothers milk, parasite infestations, food fed to puppies as well as other environmental factors.
In our experience, we have found the Tiny or Smaller Poms to be more challenging to raise. They have needs demanding more care than your standard sized Poms. In general, anything which is going to be smaller than 4 pounds requires a special committment and understanding of the rather unique nature of a tiny pom. Vet costs can be higher and any ailment can be extremely serious. If you are looking for a Pom on the smaller side please feel free to contact us about the health issues that can affect tiny poms. We will be happy to share our opinions about the fragile nature of these babies.
As always, we would advise adopting parents to chose a healthy independant puppy who has no ongoing health issues. At Mystemas Poms we strive to breed quality healthy poms for lifetime companionship. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. We will be happy to answer your questions or refer you to a qualified reproductive veterinarian who can explain the reproductive cycle in more detail to interested parties. As always, "Knowledge is Power"!
Regards,
Mystemas Poms
