Complete Information Regarding the Pomeranian Toy Dog
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Pomeranian Size
Standard Pomeranian Size
When people wonder about accurate Pomeranian size and comparison, you will find that many sources only list the standards of the AKC.
While this is a excellent, reputable and well recognized kennel club, their standards are not the only accepted nor expected size standards.
With this said, for those in the U.S. we do look to the AKC for established expectations for all conformations including color, temperament, size and more.
If you look at the world as a whole, their are 3 top canine clubs that dominate the standards of purebreds:
The Kennel Club (KC) Standard of England stipulates a smaller range without much room for variation: 4 - 5.5 lbs. for females and 4 - 4.5 for males. As you can see, they are not to fall as small as those in the United States.
The 3rd club that we mentioned above is the Federacion Cynoloque International (FCI) Standard. Per the FCI, it is not weight that sets the standard, it is simply height: 18 to 22 cm from floor to shoulders (withers). This is shorter than the average range of the AKC's 8 - 11 inches (20.32 - 27.94 cm). Poms are actually referred to as Toy Spitz, and those who are taller than the 18 to 22 cm are then classified as Miniature Spitz.
Those who are concerned about this issue may wish to learn more about Miniatures, Toys, Growth, Age and/or Smalls.
Growth Spurts
Pomeranian puppies are just mere ounces when born. When healthy and ingesting enough nutrition, newborns will gain weight each day. Those who have a litter are urged to mark the pups as to not confuse them if they are of similar color....And to weigh them each day....Usually done on a small kitchen scale. This is to ensure that there is indeed a change each day.
The majority of growth will occur from birth to 6 months of age. From 6 months to 1 year, there may be a slight increase of weight, perhaps a pound or so....And the Pomeranian will continue to grow in height until just about 1 year. When the weight begins to maintain, the Pom still grows in height and length....And this is why adult Poms will have a sleeker, fox like look than the more rounded looking puppies.
There is no reason to worry about your Pom growing in size when they are a puppy. They must be fed a high quality food for growth during this time....As it is essential to their health. No matter what their size, providing daily exercise is also an important aspect of keeping your Pom healthy. This includes walks, play time and a bit of cardio.
Smaller Poms
Body structure and bone structure does vary, and some dogs will be less than the low end of the standard of 3 pounds (1.36 kg). It is very important to note that having a Pom that is smaller than 3 pounds (fully grown) does not make that dog a "Teacup". A Toy or Teacup is not a recognized breed nor an accepted variation: any Poms purposefully bred to be much smaller than the standard are done so in a dangerously unhealthy way...and will be susceptible to a huge range of health issues.
The AKC or any other reputable dog kennel club does not recognize a variance for the Pomeranian. For some breeds, this is true...For example the Poodle is recognized in 3 different sizes: Toy, Miniature and Standard. However, for the Pom, there is only one:...3-7 pounds. The words "Miniature", Teacup", "Toy" or any other that imply that the dog is a special variety are misleading.
So, how do we get Pomeranians that are smaller than expected? This can happen for several reasons. First of all, a reputable breeder can always have that 1 puppy who is considerably smaller than the rest of the litter every now and then. This is normal and expected with a toy breed dog.
Those who have a smaller dog must take extra care....harness instead of collars, not jumping to prevent slipped kneecaps and/or hip dysplasia...a close eye on blood sugar levels, etc. While all Poms may need a layer of clothes in cold weather, tiny ones especially need this. Whenever it falls below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, at least a soft sweater should be put on when going outside.
Unfortunately, there are also breeders who strive to produce puppies who are smaller than the breed standard. This is dangerous. These puppies will have brittle bones and be much more prone to health issues such as collapsed trachea, luxating patella, hip dysplasia, hypoglycemia and more. They will have a harder time regulating body temperature....and some are so tiny that they do not make it past the newborn stage (1-7 weeks).
Larger Poms
Just as some litters will sometimes produce a pup who is smaller than average, some will produce Pomeranians who are larger than average. The biggest factor is this is genetics....It is not just the parents (dam and sire) that determine the Pomeranian size, genetics from at least 5 generations can come into play.
A large Pom may not be overweight, they may simply be larger in bone structure.
Another factor is what is known as a "Throwback" Pomeranian. This breed, before being bred down in size, were medium to large sized sled dogs.... Pure white in color and known as Spitz dogs. Every now and then, a Throwback an occur, where the dog will look similar to its ancestors. There have been Poms, not overweight, who have weighed over 20 pounds....And they would fall into this category.
Worrying?
Those who purchase this breed do so for many reasons...And one of those reasons is to have a small, toy breed dog. Therefore, as the puppy grows, many owners worry if their dog is growing too large. Do keep in mind that it is completely normal for there to be rapid growth spurts from birth to 6 months....late bloomers may do so up to 9 months old. If you are thinking about purchasing a Pom puppy, doing so from a reputable breeder will help ensure that you have a dog that fits into the 3-7 pound size range.
If you already have a Pom who is large, there is nothing that you can do in regards to size....Unless your dog is overweight. The most important thing to remember is that the love and bond you have with your dog is much more important than body mass if they are healthy.
When people wonder about accurate Pomeranian size and comparison, you will find that many sources only list the standards of the AKC.
While this is a excellent, reputable and well recognized kennel club, their standards are not the only accepted nor expected size standards.
With this said, for those in the U.S. we do look to the AKC for established expectations for all conformations including color, temperament, size and more.
If you look at the world as a whole, their are 3 top canine clubs that dominate the standards of purebreds:
- The AKC
- The KC
- The FCI
The Kennel Club (KC) Standard of England stipulates a smaller range without much room for variation: 4 - 5.5 lbs. for females and 4 - 4.5 for males. As you can see, they are not to fall as small as those in the United States.
The 3rd club that we mentioned above is the Federacion Cynoloque International (FCI) Standard. Per the FCI, it is not weight that sets the standard, it is simply height: 18 to 22 cm from floor to shoulders (withers). This is shorter than the average range of the AKC's 8 - 11 inches (20.32 - 27.94 cm). Poms are actually referred to as Toy Spitz, and those who are taller than the 18 to 22 cm are then classified as Miniature Spitz.
Those who are concerned about this issue may wish to learn more about Miniatures, Toys, Growth, Age and/or Smalls.
Growth Spurts
Pomeranian puppies are just mere ounces when born. When healthy and ingesting enough nutrition, newborns will gain weight each day. Those who have a litter are urged to mark the pups as to not confuse them if they are of similar color....And to weigh them each day....Usually done on a small kitchen scale. This is to ensure that there is indeed a change each day.
The majority of growth will occur from birth to 6 months of age. From 6 months to 1 year, there may be a slight increase of weight, perhaps a pound or so....And the Pomeranian will continue to grow in height until just about 1 year. When the weight begins to maintain, the Pom still grows in height and length....And this is why adult Poms will have a sleeker, fox like look than the more rounded looking puppies.
There is no reason to worry about your Pom growing in size when they are a puppy. They must be fed a high quality food for growth during this time....As it is essential to their health. No matter what their size, providing daily exercise is also an important aspect of keeping your Pom healthy. This includes walks, play time and a bit of cardio.
Smaller Poms
Body structure and bone structure does vary, and some dogs will be less than the low end of the standard of 3 pounds (1.36 kg). It is very important to note that having a Pom that is smaller than 3 pounds (fully grown) does not make that dog a "Teacup". A Toy or Teacup is not a recognized breed nor an accepted variation: any Poms purposefully bred to be much smaller than the standard are done so in a dangerously unhealthy way...and will be susceptible to a huge range of health issues. The AKC or any other reputable dog kennel club does not recognize a variance for the Pomeranian. For some breeds, this is true...For example the Poodle is recognized in 3 different sizes: Toy, Miniature and Standard. However, for the Pom, there is only one:...3-7 pounds. The words "Miniature", Teacup", "Toy" or any other that imply that the dog is a special variety are misleading.
So, how do we get Pomeranians that are smaller than expected? This can happen for several reasons. First of all, a reputable breeder can always have that 1 puppy who is considerably smaller than the rest of the litter every now and then. This is normal and expected with a toy breed dog.
Those who have a smaller dog must take extra care....harness instead of collars, not jumping to prevent slipped kneecaps and/or hip dysplasia...a close eye on blood sugar levels, etc. While all Poms may need a layer of clothes in cold weather, tiny ones especially need this. Whenever it falls below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, at least a soft sweater should be put on when going outside.
Unfortunately, there are also breeders who strive to produce puppies who are smaller than the breed standard. This is dangerous. These puppies will have brittle bones and be much more prone to health issues such as collapsed trachea, luxating patella, hip dysplasia, hypoglycemia and more. They will have a harder time regulating body temperature....and some are so tiny that they do not make it past the newborn stage (1-7 weeks).
Larger Poms
Just as some litters will sometimes produce a pup who is smaller than average, some will produce Pomeranians who are larger than average. The biggest factor is this is genetics....It is not just the parents (dam and sire) that determine the Pomeranian size, genetics from at least 5 generations can come into play.
A large Pom may not be overweight, they may simply be larger in bone structure.
Another factor is what is known as a "Throwback" Pomeranian. This breed, before being bred down in size, were medium to large sized sled dogs.... Pure white in color and known as Spitz dogs. Every now and then, a Throwback an occur, where the dog will look similar to its ancestors. There have been Poms, not overweight, who have weighed over 20 pounds....And they would fall into this category.
Worrying?
Those who purchase this breed do so for many reasons...And one of those reasons is to have a small, toy breed dog. Therefore, as the puppy grows, many owners worry if their dog is growing too large. Do keep in mind that it is completely normal for there to be rapid growth spurts from birth to 6 months....late bloomers may do so up to 9 months old. If you are thinking about purchasing a Pom puppy, doing so from a reputable breeder will help ensure that you have a dog that fits into the 3-7 pound size range.
If you already have a Pom who is large, there is nothing that you can do in regards to size....Unless your dog is overweight. The most important thing to remember is that the love and bond you have with your dog is much more important than body mass if they are healthy.
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