PetPom | Pomeranian Information Center

Complete Information Regarding the Pomeranian Toy Dog

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The Pomeranian

The Pomeranian is the most amazing dog breed in the world. Okay, maybe we are a bit biased...However, the Pomeranian (often called simply the "Pom") is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world and is known for being very loyal, friendly, loving and with a very cute and interesting personality.

The most obvious feature
of the Pomeranian that sets this dog apart from all other dog breeds is its gorgeous fluffy coat. The Pom is part of the Spitz family...its ancestors were rather big (20 pound) arctic dogs with solid white coats. The fur and size of the Spitz allowed the dogs to be perfect for outside work dogs (pulling sleds, etc.).

In time, the breed was bred down in size, giving us the tiny Toy dog that we know of today. Luckily, the one thing that did not change was the beautiful coat of fur. What did change (beside the size) is the color! Once only white, today's Pomeranian comes in a literal rainbow of colors. Just about any color you can envision can be found...From solid black, to light cream...partis (2 or more colors) and even the rare lavender! You will find very helpful info in our Color Section, such as the fact that blue Pomeranians are a diluted black..and the very rare lavender is a diluted blue.

The Pomeranian has 2 layers of fur. They are known as the inner coat and the outer coat. The inner coat is short and thick. The outer coat is long. Both combined together gives us the "ball of fur" that this dog is so famous for. One of the most important elements of owning this fur ball is grooming! Fur grows quickly and with so much of it, the #1 element is to keep tangles and mats away! Once fur tangles, it can be very hard to remove...and the tangle will grow and grow until you have such a mess that the puppy or dog would need to be shaved down! Grooming is not that hard once you get into a good schedule and be sure to keep the dog maintained so that you are not overwhelmed. You will find very good tips in our Grooming section.

People who have not had this type of dog before, often panic when fur starts to fall out...However the Pomeranian goes through a growth stage dubbed the "Puppy Uglies"...and it is necessary. The puppy coat falls out, leaving the pup to look quite a mess for several months, and then the gorgeous, amazing adult coat grows in. This is a separate issue that BSD and we recommend that everyone reads about both topics.

The AKC standard calls out for the Pomeranian to weigh between 3 and 7 pounds when a full grown adult dog (1.36-3.17 kg) and the height of this dog (at the shoulder) is between 8 -11 inches (20.3 - 27.9 cm). Many people mistakenly believe that there is a separate dog breed known as the "teacup" Pom...this is not true at all !

Many times, breeders will simply call their Poms "teacups" since the public is so in love with the word. In, sadly, in some cases, an unethical breeder will purposefully breed tiny dogs, much smaller than the AKC standard. This is very dangerous! If the Pomeranian is under 3 pounds as an adult, there will most likely be many health issues and life span is cut much shorter. For this reason, we have an exclusive list of Personally Recommended Breeders, so that you know who to trust when getting a Pom.

Life span is long when this dog is taken care of well...given the proper environment, fed well, up-to-date on shots, etc. In general most Poms live up to 16 years...longer in some cases.

There are some health issues that this breed is prone to (as is such the case with just about every type of dog breed). Most are due to its very small size. This does not mean that your Pomeranian will have any of these issues, it simply means that owners will want to be aware of luxating patellas, hip dysplasia and collapsed trachea, etc so that if symptoms do arise, you will know what to do. (All found in our Health section).

Many of the possible issues can be avoided with proper care. For example, collapsed trachea (a condition in which the cartilage rings surrounding the dog's throat collapse under pressure) can be avoided by using a harness as opposed to a dog collar. Of course, when one pictures "walking the dog", they automatically imagine using a leash and collar. This should never be done with the Pomeranian! Due to their very small size, along with the Chihuahua, Shih Tzu and other small breed dogs, a harness should be used instead. They are very easy to attach, it only takes seconds...and it redistributes the weight and stress across the chest and shoulders, not the neck. In this way, if the pup or dog suddenly lunges forward, the trachea is not harmed.

The temperament of the Pomeranian is quite adorable. This dog breed is highly devoted to its owner(s)...often following like a shadow, although calmer (and usually older) dogs will sometimes be content laying in the sunshine near a window and simply watching. Many Poms love to sleep in their owner's bed and to be carried. Offering daily exercise if very important, and many people find that their Pomeranian enjoys the walk there....but loves to be carried back! Due to the loving nature of the dog, some owners do find that their Pom experiences Separation Anxiety, when the dog cannot handle being left home alone... Some will display destructive behavior, others will cry and cry...some will show signs of depression...and others will have difficultly handling the overwhelming joy when their owner does come back home. This can certainly be dealt with to make both owner and canine family member happy.

You will see that we offer information on just about everything, including Chewing Issues, causes of Bad Breath and even Jealousy Issues.

We are dedicated to the health and care of the Pomeranian. Here on this website, you will find just about everything you need to know...and more! All sections are to your left, in alphabetical order. We also have fun sections such as the Cutest Pom Photo Gallery, an interactive Name area and Halloween Poms!

Our Topic of the Week will keep you constantly updated with new information. Each week, we bring you a new topic of interest regarding the Pomeranian, so that you will always learn something new, to help both you and your Pom. It is easy to become a Free Member, so that you will receive updates when new information is added, so be sure to join the PetPom family.

Do please take some time to learn about this fascinating dog breed...whether you are thinking about bringing one into your home or if you already have one, two, three or more...You will always find something new on PetPom!

Looking for much more Pomeranian information? Do you have a Pom question and would love direct advice from the PetPom Experts? Forget about those silly little Pomeranian books that already tell you what you know ! It is time for something different!