COUNTRY: Great Britain
WEIGHT: 3-7 pounds
HEIGHT: 11 inches maximum
COAT: Very abundant spitz-type coat
COLOR: 12 allowed colors: black (and
black/tan), brown, chocolate, beaver (dark beige), red, orange, cream, orange sable, wolf sable, blue, white, or particolor
REGISTRY: AKC, UKC, TKC, CKC
GROUP: Northern
The origins of this breed hail from European herding spitz dogs. When the first specimens were brought to England from the German province of Pomerania, they were larger (up to 30 pounds), usually white and less profusely coated than our modern specimens. Litters often included smaller pups, and soon the smallest species was preferred.
Queen Victoria fell hi love with the tiny ball of fluff, bringing it home with her in 1888. She exhibited Poms extensively at British shows, and hers were generally in the 12-18 pound range. Large by modern standards, hers made the Poms of that day look monstrous by comparison. This encouraged an upsurge throughout England, where they were exhibited at that time as "spitzdogs." British breeders systematically bred them for smaller and smaller size, and more and more coat. Modern show specimens are usually four to five pounds! So, although they have been named for their homeland, they are considered to be an English breed, developed in Britain to their modern form. The FCI, however, does not separately register the Pomeranian, considering it the same breed as the German Zwergspitz. The Pomeranian came to North America around the turn of the century and quickly gained favor on that continent as well.
The Pom is a beloved companion dog throughout the world. Despite its diminutive size, the breed retains the spitz personality with a brilliance of colors. Pomeranians have the alert, active, and curious character of their larger brethren, and are useful alarm dogs and fine, accurate obedience dogs. The breed is "full of itself," and likes nothing better than to "strut its stuff in a show ring or on a neighborhood walk.
Weekly grooming keeps Poms neat. They make wonderful playmates for children who are old enough to be considerate of their tiny stature. Their easy care, beauty and diminutive size suit them as companions to the elderly.
Queen Victoria fell hi love with the tiny ball of fluff, bringing it home with her in 1888. She exhibited Poms extensively at British shows, and hers were generally in the 12-18 pound range. Large by modern standards, hers made the Poms of that day look monstrous by comparison. This encouraged an upsurge throughout England, where they were exhibited at that time as "spitzdogs." British breeders systematically bred them for smaller and smaller size, and more and more coat. Modern show specimens are usually four to five pounds! So, although they have been named for their homeland, they are considered to be an English breed, developed in Britain to their modern form. The FCI, however, does not separately register the Pomeranian, considering it the same breed as the German Zwergspitz. The Pomeranian came to North America around the turn of the century and quickly gained favor on that continent as well.
The Pom is a beloved companion dog throughout the world. Despite its diminutive size, the breed retains the spitz personality with a brilliance of colors. Pomeranians have the alert, active, and curious character of their larger brethren, and are useful alarm dogs and fine, accurate obedience dogs. The breed is "full of itself," and likes nothing better than to "strut its stuff in a show ring or on a neighborhood walk.
Weekly grooming keeps Poms neat. They make wonderful playmates for children who are old enough to be considerate of their tiny stature. Their easy care, beauty and diminutive size suit them as companions to the elderly.