You might not know it to look at her, but the Pomeranian's great-great-grandmother once pulled sleds in northern Scandinavia. Pomeranians (or “Poms,” as their fans call them) were once much larger dogs. In the mid-19th century, Queen Victoria of England had them bred to their current size so they could better fit in the royal lap. The Pomeranian's biography, From Lapland to Lapdog, is coming soon to bookstores near you. (Just kidding.)
For such small dogs, these personality-filled puffballs sure have gotten around. One watched Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. Another was one of only three dogs to have survived the Titanic's sinking. You really can't keep a good dog down, it turns out.
Originally from Germany, this small-sized and medium-energy breed can grow to between 3-7 pounds and lives an average of 12-16 years. The breed is recognized by the American Kennel Club and classified as a member of the Toy group
| AKC Recognized | Y |
| Breed's original pastime | Companion |
| Origin | Germany |
| Breed group | Toy |
| Average lifespan | 12-16 years |
| Size | Mini |
| Bark factor | Moderate |
| AKC Ranking | 13 |
| Family | Northern (companion) |
| Date of origin | 1800s |
| Original function | Companion |
| Today's function | Companion |
| Average size of male | Height: 8-11 Weight: 3-7 |
| Average size of female | Height: 8-11 Weight: 3-7 |
| Other name | None |
| Energy level | High energy |
| Exercise needs | Low |
| Playfullness | Moderately playful |
| Affection level | Somewhat affectionate |
| Friendliness toward other dogs | Shy |
| Friendliness toward other pets | Friendly |
| Friendliness toward strangers | Shy |
| Ease of training | Easy to train |
| Watchdog ability | High |
| Protection ability | Not very protective |
| Grooming needs | High maintenance |
| Cold tolerance | Medium tolerance |
| Heat tolerance | Medium tolerance |
BEHAVIOR & TRAINING
WHAT IS A POMERANIAN'S PERSONALITY LIKE?
These are clever, curious, cheerful, and courageous dogs. Pomeranians are all fur and personality, really. This dog enters a room as though she owns everyone and everything in it, and assumes anyone in her presence is there to meet and admire her. Their teeny size means play with children and other dogs should definitely be supervised.
WHAT IS POMERANIAN BEHAVIOR LIKE?
Pomeranians are fairly active. Folks don't usually think of a seven-pound dog as “athletic,” but these are. While you can meet your Pom's exercise needs with indoor games, she'll appreciate the mental stimulation and socialization opportunities of a walk around the block or a trip to the small dog side of the dog park. (More time outside = more things to explore and more chances for people to admire her.) Don't worry though: this breed is also very happy to snuggle you once you get back home.
Poms can definitely be barkers. Be sure to discourage nuisance barking early and often. This is often a losing battle, but give it your best shot.
HOW EASY IS IT TO TRAIN A POMERANIAN?
Pomeranians respond well to training, though like many toy breeds, they're sometimes slow to housetrain. (Small bladders mean they just can't “hold it” very long.) They are intelligent and eager to please.
These dogs enjoy obedience, rally, freestyle, agility, and tracking events.
CARE & HEALTH
HOW MUCH DO POMERANIANS SHED AND WHAT ARE THEIR GROOMING NEEDS?
Pomeranians have dense, short undercoats overlaid with lots of harsh, longer fur. You know just by looking at this fuzzball that your Pom is going to need a lot of brushing.
WHAT HEALTH PROBLEMS DO POMERANIANS HAVE?
As a breed, Pomeranians are generally healthy. Some have problems with slipping kneecaps. Discourage them from jumping from heights. Others experience unexplained hair loss and, like most small breeds, can be prone to dental problems.
