Complete Information Regarding the Pomeranian Toy Dog
Your Subtitle text
Small Pomeranian
Small Pomeranian Information
There are not many dogs that are smaller than the Pomeranian. Technically, the Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed, however there are many Poms that are smaller than the Chi.
The average size of the Pomeranian is to weigh (as an adult) between 3 and 7 pounds (1.36 to 3.75 kg) and the Pomeranian's height (at the shoulder) is generally between 8 to 11 inches (20.3 to 27.9 cm). This makes the Pom sometimes larger than the Chi who is generally between 2-6 pounds (.9 to 2.7 kg) with a should height of between 6 to 9 inches (15.32 to 22.9 cm). Therefore, you can have a 3 pound small Pomeranian and a 5 pound Chihuahua!
How the Size of the Small Pomeranian Requires Special Care of this Dog
Being so little, the Pomeranian requires extra loving care. Puppies are very fragile.. most people know that, however one must also know that an adult Pom is also very fragile. No matter how old this dog is, its bones will be very small and there will not be a lot of muscle and fat to protect its body. If you have a Pom, you understand just how small this dog is when you give him or her a bath! All of that gorgeous fluffy hair flat to the body and you can then see just how small this breed is.
Due to its size, there are several health issues that can occur and all of these can usually be avoided with the right care.
Luxating Patella
This is the medical term that means that the kneecap (s) of the dog slip out of place. A Pomeranian can be born with this or it, most often, happens afterward. One of the main causes of this is when the dog jumps from too high of a distance. An owner must be aware that what seems like a simple step down for a human can be too dangerous for a small Pomeranian! If a Pom puppy jumps off of a sofa or bed this can happen. It can also happen if the puppy or dog takes a tumble down a couple of steps on the staircase. For this reason, one must be very careful to keep an eye on their Pomeranian at all times, especially when they are a puppy. This does not mean that you must run all around the home, following your cute bundle of fur. Simply attaching one end of their leash to your belt loop and the other to them and keep them close enough to you while being able to do what you need to around the home.
There is most information about this condition under the Health section, however to summarize, the most apparent signs of this are limping and oddly, letting out a loud yelp only at certain times. The reason for this is because a small Pomeranian may only feel pain from a slipped kneecap when it is slipping out...once out of place, some dogs can then walk, play and even run without pain. The 1st element to fixing this issue is to put the Pom on "bed rest"...that is most often tried first before surgery is considered.
Collapsed Trachea
It is very sad that this painful and awful health issue with small Pomeranian can be so easily avoided if proper care if given! When people imagine "walking the dog" they picture a dog with a collar attached to a leash. However, when you have a small Pomeranian, this should NEVER be done! Never.
This medical condition is exactly what it sounds like...the dog's trachea collapses. It is made of rings of cartilage and when not cared for properly, the rings collapse. Sometimes it cannot be treated and it does not heal, leaving the poor little small Pomeranian to live with this condition.'
What happens is this: With a dog collar, all of the stress and strain is put onto the small Pomeranian's neck. When you are walking your dog, if your Pom lunges forward or jumps, etc all of that pressure and weight is directed to the Pom's neck area, and the trachea rings can then easily be crushed and collapse.
When you use a harness, the weight and stress is distributed on the across the shoulders and on the chest area. Then, if your Pomeranian runs, lunges or jumps, everything is distributed and the neck cannot be injured. Let's take a look:
We are using this photo so that you can clearly see how the harness works, without trying to see it through all of the fluffy fur! As you can see, this is comfortable and keeps your dog safe! Many owners also find that when using a harness, training to "Heel" is much easier.
You can buy all different types and colors. Some are made of mesh, others are thicker and often resemble dog clothes. As long as you do not allow your Pom to sleep in this and you do not leave it on all day, it will NOT affect your dog's fluffy coat. You can also keep a collar on your small Pomeranian for identification purposes while still using this. If any owner does not opt to use a harness, they are most likely going to end up allowing their puppy or dog to be injured!
Hip Dysplasia
Similar to the slipped kneecap (luxating patella stated above), this is a condition in which the small Pomeranian's hip joint slips out of place from the socket. For the same reasons as the slipped knee, an owner must make sure that their pup or dog does not jump from high places. To help prevent either issue, doggie steps can be put in place near the area that you wish for you Pom to go...Your bed, the sofa, a chair, etc.
"Underfoot" Injuries
The Pomeranian is usually like a shadow, wanting to be close to their owner as much as possible. While this is a wonderful trait of the Pom's personality, an owner must take great care to watch underfoot. This is especially important when there are children in the home. Sadly, we know of many instances when an owner has accidentally stepped on their puppy or dog. Injuries can be quite severe. So, while you should keep a good eye on your Pom, especially when house breaking, do be sure to always look down before you step!
Children and Poms
The small Pomeranian is generally wonderful with children...when handled properly. One of the biggest mistakes is to not teach children proper handling techniques. Some children assume that they can "rough play" with their dog and this cannot be done with this breed. Not only can it cause harm to the dog, but it also encourages bad behavior of nipping and aggression. You can certainly play with your dog, Pomeranians love to play! They enjoy fetching balls or small Frisbees, chasing you around, playing hide & seek, playing "tug of war" and so forth. However, this is not a breed to be "thrown"'around during playtime.
This website has lots of needed information, you are encouraged to read all sections. Sections are listed to the left, in alphabetical order. We also have fun sections including The Cutest Pom Photo Gallery, Names and Halloween Poms. For those who have lost a Pomeranian, we have a special Memorial page. And don't forget to become a Free Member, this allow you to receive updates when we add the Topic of the Week (Always very helpful advice) and to know when new photos and information are added!
If You Are Looking For a Puppy
We find large breeder directories to be horrible. They allow anyone and everyone to be listed...and you will have no idea who to trust. For this reason, we have a very exclusive list of trusted, honest, loving and professional breeders...all of whom we personally recommend. Therefore, if you are wondering who to contact, look at our Personally Recommended Breeders.
Have a Pom or Are Getting One? You Will Need This:
There are not many dogs that are smaller than the Pomeranian. Technically, the Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed, however there are many Poms that are smaller than the Chi.
The average size of the Pomeranian is to weigh (as an adult) between 3 and 7 pounds (1.36 to 3.75 kg) and the Pomeranian's height (at the shoulder) is generally between 8 to 11 inches (20.3 to 27.9 cm). This makes the Pom sometimes larger than the Chi who is generally between 2-6 pounds (.9 to 2.7 kg) with a should height of between 6 to 9 inches (15.32 to 22.9 cm). Therefore, you can have a 3 pound small Pomeranian and a 5 pound Chihuahua!
How the Size of the Small Pomeranian Requires Special Care of this Dog
Being so little, the Pomeranian requires extra loving care. Puppies are very fragile.. most people know that, however one must also know that an adult Pom is also very fragile. No matter how old this dog is, its bones will be very small and there will not be a lot of muscle and fat to protect its body. If you have a Pom, you understand just how small this dog is when you give him or her a bath! All of that gorgeous fluffy hair flat to the body and you can then see just how small this breed is.
Due to its size, there are several health issues that can occur and all of these can usually be avoided with the right care.
Luxating Patella
This is the medical term that means that the kneecap (s) of the dog slip out of place. A Pomeranian can be born with this or it, most often, happens afterward. One of the main causes of this is when the dog jumps from too high of a distance. An owner must be aware that what seems like a simple step down for a human can be too dangerous for a small Pomeranian! If a Pom puppy jumps off of a sofa or bed this can happen. It can also happen if the puppy or dog takes a tumble down a couple of steps on the staircase. For this reason, one must be very careful to keep an eye on their Pomeranian at all times, especially when they are a puppy. This does not mean that you must run all around the home, following your cute bundle of fur. Simply attaching one end of their leash to your belt loop and the other to them and keep them close enough to you while being able to do what you need to around the home.
There is most information about this condition under the Health section, however to summarize, the most apparent signs of this are limping and oddly, letting out a loud yelp only at certain times. The reason for this is because a small Pomeranian may only feel pain from a slipped kneecap when it is slipping out...once out of place, some dogs can then walk, play and even run without pain. The 1st element to fixing this issue is to put the Pom on "bed rest"...that is most often tried first before surgery is considered.
Collapsed Trachea
It is very sad that this painful and awful health issue with small Pomeranian can be so easily avoided if proper care if given! When people imagine "walking the dog" they picture a dog with a collar attached to a leash. However, when you have a small Pomeranian, this should NEVER be done! Never.
This medical condition is exactly what it sounds like...the dog's trachea collapses. It is made of rings of cartilage and when not cared for properly, the rings collapse. Sometimes it cannot be treated and it does not heal, leaving the poor little small Pomeranian to live with this condition.'
What happens is this: With a dog collar, all of the stress and strain is put onto the small Pomeranian's neck. When you are walking your dog, if your Pom lunges forward or jumps, etc all of that pressure and weight is directed to the Pom's neck area, and the trachea rings can then easily be crushed and collapse.
When you use a harness, the weight and stress is distributed on the across the shoulders and on the chest area. Then, if your Pomeranian runs, lunges or jumps, everything is distributed and the neck cannot be injured. Let's take a look:
We are using this photo so that you can clearly see how the harness works, without trying to see it through all of the fluffy fur! As you can see, this is comfortable and keeps your dog safe! Many owners also find that when using a harness, training to "Heel" is much easier.
You can buy all different types and colors. Some are made of mesh, others are thicker and often resemble dog clothes. As long as you do not allow your Pom to sleep in this and you do not leave it on all day, it will NOT affect your dog's fluffy coat. You can also keep a collar on your small Pomeranian for identification purposes while still using this. If any owner does not opt to use a harness, they are most likely going to end up allowing their puppy or dog to be injured!
Hip Dysplasia
Similar to the slipped kneecap (luxating patella stated above), this is a condition in which the small Pomeranian's hip joint slips out of place from the socket. For the same reasons as the slipped knee, an owner must make sure that their pup or dog does not jump from high places. To help prevent either issue, doggie steps can be put in place near the area that you wish for you Pom to go...Your bed, the sofa, a chair, etc.
"Underfoot" Injuries
The Pomeranian is usually like a shadow, wanting to be close to their owner as much as possible. While this is a wonderful trait of the Pom's personality, an owner must take great care to watch underfoot. This is especially important when there are children in the home. Sadly, we know of many instances when an owner has accidentally stepped on their puppy or dog. Injuries can be quite severe. So, while you should keep a good eye on your Pom, especially when house breaking, do be sure to always look down before you step!
Children and Poms
The small Pomeranian is generally wonderful with children...when handled properly. One of the biggest mistakes is to not teach children proper handling techniques. Some children assume that they can "rough play" with their dog and this cannot be done with this breed. Not only can it cause harm to the dog, but it also encourages bad behavior of nipping and aggression. You can certainly play with your dog, Pomeranians love to play! They enjoy fetching balls or small Frisbees, chasing you around, playing hide & seek, playing "tug of war" and so forth. However, this is not a breed to be "thrown"'around during playtime.
This website has lots of needed information, you are encouraged to read all sections. Sections are listed to the left, in alphabetical order. We also have fun sections including The Cutest Pom Photo Gallery, Names and Halloween Poms. For those who have lost a Pomeranian, we have a special Memorial page. And don't forget to become a Free Member, this allow you to receive updates when we add the Topic of the Week (Always very helpful advice) and to know when new photos and information are added!
If You Are Looking For a Puppy
We find large breeder directories to be horrible. They allow anyone and everyone to be listed...and you will have no idea who to trust. For this reason, we have a very exclusive list of trusted, honest, loving and professional breeders...all of whom we personally recommend. Therefore, if you are wondering who to contact, look at our Personally Recommended Breeders.
Have a Pom or Are Getting One? You Will Need This:
Web Designer: Dreamz4Duppy Designs, owned by Alisa Chagnon. Copyright . PetPom.com.
All rights reserved. All text protected by copyright laws. Privacy Policy. information@petpom.com
All rights reserved. All text protected by copyright laws. Privacy Policy. information@petpom.com
