The Pomeranian is a breed of dog of the Spitz type, named for the Pomerania region in Central
Europe. Classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size, the Pomeranian is descended
from the larger Spitz type dogs, specifically the German Spitz. It has been determined by
the Fédération Cynologique Internationale to be part of the German Spitz breed, and
in many countries, they are known as the Zwergspitz. The breed has been made popular by a number
of royal owners since the 18th century. Queen Victoria owned a particularly small Pomeranian
and consequently the smaller variety became universally popular. During Queen Victoria's
lifetime alone, the size of the breed decreased by 50%. Overall, the Pomeranian is a sturdy,
healthy dog. The most common health issue is Luxating patella. Tracheal collapse can
also be an issue. More rarely, the breed can suffer from a skin condition colloquially
known as "black skin disease", or Alopecia X. This is a genetic disease which causes
the dog's skin to turn black and lose all or most of its hair. The breed is currently
among the top 15 most popular in the USA, and the current fashion for small dogs has
increased their popularity worldwide.
Appearance
Pomeranians are small dogs weighing 1.9–3.5 kilograms and standing 5.0–11 inches high
at the withers. They are compact but sturdy dogs with an abundant textured coat with a
highly plumed tail set high and flat. The top coat forms a ruff of fur on the neck,
which Poms are well known for, and they also have a fringe of feathery hair on the hindquarters.
The earliest examples of the breed were white or occasionally brown or black. Queen Victoria
adopted a small red Pomeranian in 1888, which caused that color to become fashionable by
the end of the 19th century. In modern times, the Pomeranian comes in the widest variety
of colors of any dog breed, including white, black, brown, red, orange, cream, blue, sable,
black and tan, brown and tan, spotted, brindle, plus combinations of those colors. The most
common colors are orange, black or cream/white. The merle Pomeranian is a recent color developed
by breeders. It is a combination of a solid base color with lighter blue/grey patch which
gives a mottled effect. The most common base colors for the effect are red/brown or black,
although it can also appear with other colors. Combinations such as brindle merle or liver
merle are not accepted in the breed standard. In addition, the eye, nose and paw pad are
marshmallow color, changing parts of the eye to blue and the color on the nose and paw
pads to become mottled pink and black. Pomeranians have a thick double coat, and
while grooming is not difficult, breeders recommend that it be done daily to maintain
the quality of the coat and because of its thickness and the constant shedding, with
trimming every 1–2 months. The outer coat is long, straight, and harsh in texture while
the undercoat is soft, thick and short. The coat knots and tangles easily, particularly
when the undercoat is being shed, which happens twice a year.
Temperament
Pomeranians are typically a very friendly, playful and lively breed of dog. They love
to be around their owners and are known to be protective of them. Pomeranians are alert
and aware of changes in their environment and barking at new stimuli can develop into
a habit of barking excessively in any situation. They are somewhat defensive of their territory
and will thus bark when they encounter any outside noises. Pomeranians are intelligent
dogs, respond well to training, and can be very successful in getting what they want
from their owners. They are extroverted and enjoy being the center of attention but can
become quite aggressive and dominant if not well trained. The use of toys can be an effective
tool in encouraging Poms to spend time alone. Health
Overall health The life expectancy of a Pomeranian is 12
to 16 years. A well-bred dog on a good diet with appropriate exercise will have few health
problems, and if kept trim and fit a Pomeranian is a sturdy dog. The breed does have similar
health issues to many dog breeds, although some issues such as hip dysplasia are uncommon
due to the Pomeranian's lightweight build. Some health issues can develop as a result
of lack of attention to grooming, and teeth, ear and eye cleaning. With routine care these
problems can be avoided. They are prone to early tooth loss and feeding them dry food
is recommended. Poms are one of the breeds with the smallest average litter size, with
various source giving numbers of between 1.9 and 2.7 puppies per litter.
Common problems Merle colored dogs may suffer from mild to
severe deafness, increased intraocular pressure, ametropia, microphthalmia, and colobomas.
Merle dogs born from parents who are also both merles may additionally suffer from abnormalities
of the skeletal, cardiac and reproductive systems.
Luxating patella is another health issue in the Pomeranian breed. It occurs when, through
either malformation or trauma, the ridges forming the patellar groove in the knee are
not prominent and are too shallow to allow the patella to properly sit securely. This
can cause the patella to "luxate" sideways which will cause the leg to lock up with the
foot off the ground. Whilst the muscles are contracted the patella cannot return to the
correct position. The initial pain is caused by the knee cap sliding across the ridges
of the femur. Once out of position, the dog does not feel any pain caused by the slipped
disc.
Tracheal collapse is caused by a weakening of the tracheal rings in the windpipe. It
occurs when the rings that normally hold the shape of the windpipe collapse, closing the
airway. The symptoms of a collapse include a honking cough that can sound similar to
a goose honk, an intolerance to exercise, fainting spells and a cough that is worsened
by hot weather, exercise and excitement. In Pomeranians, a condition often called "black
skin disease" occurs which is a combination of alopecia and hyperpigmentation. Other names
for this condition include wooly coat, coat funk, pseudo-Cushing's disease, or severe
hair loss syndrome. This condition affects male Pomeranians more than females, and may
be inherited. Although most affected dogs show signs following puberty, it can occur
at any age. Other conditions can mimic this condition including Cushing's syndrome, hypothyroidism,
chronic skin infections, and reproductive hormone disorders.
Another common disorder in male Pomeranians is cryptorchidism. This is when either one
or both of the testicles do not descend into the scrotum. It is treated through surgical
removal of the retained testicle. History
Origins
The forerunners of today's Pomeranian breed were large working dogs from the Arctic regions.
These dogs are commonly known as the Wolfspitz or Spitz type, which is German for "sharp
point" which was the term originally used by Count Eberhard zu Sayn in the 16th Century
as a reference to the features of the dog's nose and muzzle. The Pomeranian is considered
to be descended from the German Spitz. The breed is thought to have acquired its
name by association with the area known as Pomerania which is located in northern Poland
and Germany along the Baltic Sea. Although not the origin of the breed, this area is
credited with the breeding which led to the original Pomeranian type of dog. Proper documentation
was lacking until the breed's introduction into the United Kingdom.
An early modern recorded reference to the Pomeranian breed is from 2 November 1764,
in a diary entry in James Boswell's Boswell on the Grand Tour: Germany and Switzerland.
"The Frenchman had a Pomeranian dog named Pomer whom he was mighty fond of." The offspring
of a Pomeranian and a wolf bred by an animal merchant from London is discussed in Thomas
Pennant's A Tour in Scotland from 1769.
Two members of the British Royal Family influenced the evolution of the breed. In 1767, Queen
Charlotte, Queen-consort of King George III of England, brought two Pomeranians to England.
Named Phoebe and Mercury, the dogs were depicted in paintings by Sir Thomas Gainsborough. These
paintings depicted a dog larger than the modern breed, reportedly weighing as much as 30–50 lb,
but showing modern traits such as the heavy coat, ears and a tail curled over the back.
Queen Victoria, Queen Charlotte's granddaughter, was also an enthusiast and established a large
breeding kennel. One of her favoured dogs was a comparatively small red sable Pomeranian
which she named "Windor's Marco" and was reported to weigh only 12 lb. When she first exhibited
Marco in 1891, it caused the smaller type Pomeranian to become immediately popular and
breeders began selecting only the smaller specimens for breeding. During her lifetime,
the size of the Pomeranian breed was reported to have decreased by 50%. Queen Victoria worked
to improve and promote the Pomeranian breed by importing smaller Pomeranians of different
colors from various European countries to add to her breeding program. Royal owners
during this period also included Joséphine de Beauharnais, the wife of Napoleon I of
France, and King George IV of England. The first breed club was set up in England
in 1891, and the first breed standard was written shortly afterwards. The first member
of the breed was registered in America to the American Kennel Club in 1898, and it was
recognized in 1900. In 1912, two Pomeranians were among only three
dogs to survive the sinking of RMS Titanic. A Pomeranian called "Lady", owned by Miss
Margaret Hays, escaped with her owner in lifeboat number seven, while Elizabeth Barrett Rothschild
took her pet to safety with her in lifeboat number six.
Glen Rose Flashaway won the Toy Group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1926,
the first Pomeranian to win a group at Westminster. It would take until 1988 for the first Pomeranian,
"Great Elms Prince Charming II", to win the Best in Show prize from the Westminster Kennel
Club. In the standard published in 1998, the Pomeranian
is included in the German Spitz standard, along with the Keeshond, by the Fédération
Cynologique Internationale. According to the standard "Spitz breeds are captivating" and
have a "unique characteristic, cheeky appearance." Popularity
The Pomeranian has been among the more popular dog breeds in the United States, featuring
consistently in the top 20 of registered AKC dog breeds over the last 10 years. The breed
ranked #17 in the 2011 rankings, dropping two spots from the previous year.
It is not listed in the top 20 breeds in the UK in either 2007 or 2008. In Australia their
popularity has declined since 1986, with a peak of 1128 Pomeranians registered with the
Australian National Kennel Council in 1987; only 577 were registered in 2008. However,
this is an increase from 2004, when only 491 dogs were registered.
It is more popular in American cities in 2008, ranking joint tenth in Detroit and Orlando,
ninth in Los Angeles, a joint seventh in Seattle, but third in Honolulu, only bested by the
Labrador Retriever and the German Shepherd Dog.
See also Companion dog
Companion Dog Group Lap dog
Therapy Dog Boo
References
Further reading
External links Pomeranian at DMOZ