The Pomeranian Dog Breed, Your Fluffy Urban FriendLove your Pomeranian? Then create a dedicated page by clicking here.
AppearanceThe Pomeranian dog breed is the smallest of all Spitzes, with a height of only 7-12 inches (18-30cm).Weighing around 5 pounds (3kg), it's a perfect breed for anyone living in an apartment building without an elevator. It's also great for anyone not quick on the feet as it's unlikely that the small dog will push you down or pull you down on the leash. The Pom dog (makes me think of pompoms) basically looks like a ball of fur. This is mostly due to its thick, double coat. Especially around the neck and chest area. The thick, feathery tail is worn over the back. Along with the short muzzle and pointy, erect ears, this makes for a very compact small dog breed. The eyes are almond-shaped and should be dark and bright. The teeth close in a scissors bite. The colour of the nose is usually dark or the colour of the coat. Several different colours are accepted. In solid colour: red, orange, cream, white, brown, black or blue. In parti-colour: black & tan, white with markings, orange or wolf sable. The most popular colours are red and orange.
Temperament
Even though he's very loyal to his owner, the pom dog is not as clingy as most other toy dog breeds. Seperation anxiety shouldn't be a problem as long as he's well trained. Socialize your Pomeranian puppy well at a young age, otherwise they might be reserved towards strangers later on in life. A well socialized pom will have no difficulties living with other dogs and pets. Despite it's small size, the Pomeranian dog breed does need a firm, consistent pack leader. Otherwise a number of problems may arise such as seperation anxiety, stuborness, barking, guarding, nervousness, growling, snapping, biting. So you need to set rules and limits for your pom dog. They make good little watchdogs, but you'll need to teach your Pom to stop barking after a couple of barks. Supposedly, they're picky eaters and difficult to housetrain. I'm not sure whether it's breed specific, or because a lot of owners just let the cute little furballs get away with anything... I wouldn't recommend the breed with small children as their small size makes them rather fragile. Older children with a sense of responsibility shouldn't be a problem. They are very eager to please and affectionate. You can keep them busy with agility or by teaching them all sorts of tricks. If you're a good pack leader, provide your dog with enough exercise and mental stimulation, you'll have a stable, trustworthy companion to brighten your city life. HealthcareBecause of the thick, double coat the Pomeranian dog breed doesn't do well in extreme heat. Make sure your little furball has cool place to lie down in summer.Certain bloodlines are prone to a number of health problems; slipped stifle, dislocated patella (knee-caps), heart problems, eye infections, skin problems, early tooth loss, bald spots when they get older. Let your vet take extra car of your Pom's teeth every time you visit. Most smaller female dogs need a cesarean to deliver puppies. Keep this in mind if you want to be a Pomeranian breeder. The double coat doesn't necessarily need frequent brushing. However, Pomeranians are constant shedders, so unless you like dog hair all over the place, I would advice you to brush daily.It's time consuming but pretty easy if you brush correctly. First part the coat and then brush it forward. That way, the hair will fall right back in place.The undercoat sheds heavily once or twice a year.If your Pom dog gets dirty, dry shampoo is preferred (just think how long it will take to dry the double coat...). The Pomeranian has a life expectancy of around 15 years. Breed BackgroundThe Pomeranian dog breed is a descendant of several northern Spitz breeds. It was first developed in Pomerania (roughly Poland and Germany) to herd sheep. I should probably add they originally weighed up to 30 pounds.The breed only became smaller after Queen Victoria fell in love with it in the late 1800's. As she preferred smaller dogs, breeders started selecting smaller Pomerians to breed. Because of it's intelligence, it was a very popular breed in the circus.
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