Pomeranian

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What He's Like:

The Pomeranian, or "Pom," is a vivacious, independent, outgoing, playful and affectionate companion. He is a loyal and devoted pet who wants to spend time with you and go everywhere he can with you; yet he's not an overly clingy dog, much less a couch potato. He's a high-energy dynamo who wants to be busy doing things! He loves to play, work and train, and is eager to please you and quick to learn new tasks. This makes him very easy to train. He will stand on his hind legs for you, spin wildly in front of you, or sometimes simply stare intently into your eyes. He can be obstinate and headstrong at times, and confident to the point of being cocky. When out walking he needs to be on a leash because he is willing to confront much larger dogs. He can be quite territorial. He makes an alert watchdog because he is suspicious of strangers, and quick to bark and yap at unexpected visitors and sounds. He may bark too much, or for no reason at all, and must be taught not to do this. He can be difficult to housebreak. He is an active indoor dog who should not be left outside, although he does love to play outdoors and needs a daily walk. He can get along with other pets if he is introduced to them while still young. He is good with older, responsible children, but can be nervous around small children, and may bite. Because he is so small, he should be protected from jumping from furniture and high places. He can be a picky eater, and needs regular trips to the dentist because his teeth tend to develop tartar on them. He gets warm easily, and will often seek out cool places, and may splash in his water bowl to cool down. He is an extremely heavy shedder, and so would not be a good pet if you dislike dog hair and vacuuming frequently.

Appearance

The Pomeranian is 8 to 11 inches tall (to shoulders) and weighs 3 to 7 pounds. He has a double coat consisting of a thick, straight, medium-length outer coat and a soft, thick undercoat. His coat can be solid-colored or two-toned, with common colors being cream, orange, sable, black, brown and blue, or white with colored markings.

Grooming

His coat only needs an occasional brushing but you might find yourself brushing it daily to catch and minimize the amount of hair that falls out in your home.

History

The Pomeranian is named for a region that once included parts of Poland and Germany, but he is descended from the Spitz dogs of Lapland and Iceland. He was not well known until the Kennel Club (of England) recognized him as a "spitz dog." In 1888, Queen Victoria fell in love with and brought a "Pom" back from Florence, Italy, and began the trend toward smaller and smaller versions of the breed. The Pomeranian was known in America as early as 1892, but not properly classified until 1900. The American Pomeranian Club held its first show in 1911, and the "Pom" has been increasingly popular ever since. His AKC popularity was 13th out of 157 breeds in 2007.