Facts
Pomeranian Facts
The Pomeranian is one of the most popular dogs in the world. This breed's nickname is 'Pom' and they are often referred to as 'balls of fluff'. Let’s look at some Pomeranian facts to learn more about this amazing dog breed.
# 1 While the Pomeranian was perfected in Pomerania (a location that is now shared between modern day Poland and Germany), the dog’s ancestors were from Iceland. These were much larger dogs at that time, up to 20 pounds and pure white. Because they had such a full, warm coat of fur, they were often used as sled dogs.
Once in a while, a 'Throwback' Pom can be born. This is unpredictable and always a surprise...a puppy can be born that resembles the Pom's ancient Spitz ancestors...the dog will often be pure white and in cases of "Throwbacks" they will weigh upward of 20 pounds
Lilly, 1.5 years old
Photo courtesy of owner: Hester Burnett
#2 This dog breed is one of only a few that comes in just about every color
possible. including the unique and wonderful Merle.
Not only are there solid color Poms such as the orange or white Pomeranian, but also partis (more than 1 color). For this reason, Pomeranians are like snowflakes, one never will look exactly like another.
#3 One of the most interesting Pomeranian facts is that it is possible for a Pom dam (mother) to have twins. Because Pomeranian twins can be (and generally are) completely different colors, usually only the person who is present at the delivery would know that the puppies were twins.
How can one know? When the puppies are born, each is enclosed in their own individual sacs; however they share 1 umbilical cord.
And while we are on this topic, like all canines, a Pom dam can carry pups from 2 different fathers.. this is called dual siring...it is never done on purpose (we hope!) but rather by accident when a dam in heat ties with 2 different sires within 3 days.
Her pregnancy will appear normal... And only DNA testing would prove which newborn belonged to which male.
# 4 These tiny little dogs make great watchdogs!
While their size makes them too small to “follow through”, they are very loyal to their human family members and will bark and alert you to noises, people or any other situations that they feel may threaten their family.
#5
When the Titanic sank in 1912, due to the lack of lifeboats 1,517 of the 2,223 passengers did not survive.
However, a Pomeranian survived! The dog belonged to a woman named Miss Margaret Hays and was saved by being allowed into lifeboat number 7.
# 6
One of the United States presidents owned a Pom…It was Theodore Roosevelt who had his canine family member, named Gem, living with him.
#7 It was in the year 1900 that this dog breed was recognized by the AKC and the very first dog show in the U.S. that included a Pom was in 1911.
#8 While this dog appears to have one very fluffy coat of fur, there are actually 2 separate and distinct coats….An undercoat and an overcoat.
The undercoat is made of very short and thick fur…The overcoat as you may have guessed is the long hair. Both combine to make the gorgeous “ball of fur” that makes this dog so beautiful.
Zoey, photo courtesy of owner: Lena Hogan
# 9
This dog breed has starred in many famous movies.
Some of the more well known movies are “To Die For” with Nicole Kidman, “Harlem Nights” with Robin Givens, “The X-Files”, “Cadillac Man” with Robin Williams and “Dumb and Dumber” with Jim Carey.
# 10 The average cost of a purebred AKC Pom puppy is between $750 and $1200.
# 11 This dog is well known for going through an awkward growth stage in which the puppy coat falls out and the adult coat grows in. During this time the pup can look very strange, with balding spots and fur sticking out as if they were electrocuted!
This is known as the 'Puppy Uglies' and keeping the skin healthy during this time is an important part of Pomeranian puppy care.
However, about 20% of Pomeranians will not have a dramatic stage of transition; it happens more slowly for them, and an owner may not even notice a difference.
# 12 Poms change color! Not like a chameleon of course, however a Pomeranian puppy rarely stays the same color when he or she becomes an adult.
Sometimes the change is drastic and sometimes it is not as noticeable.
An example of an extreme change is when a puppy is a cream color and during the coat change the dog turns into a brown and white parti Pom. Creams can turn bright orange, browns can turn cream, brindle Poms often lose the brindling pattern during the changeover, etc.
# 13
The Pomeranian belongs to the Spitz family of dog breeds. Those in the group are characterized with having long, thick fur (often white - like the Pom's ancestors).
Nanuk, 1.5 years old
Photo courtesy of owner: Valerie Orlando
# 15 Smaller breeds such as the Pomeranian have an average life span that is longer than large breeds. The Pom lives, on average, 12 to 16 years. Toys also reach emotional maturity faster than bigger breeds. The Pom is considered to be an adult at the 1-year-old mark, while larger breeds often take 2 years to reach that point.
Fur Elise, 3 years old, photo courtesy of Lynne B.
# 19
The Westminster Best In Show winner in 1988 was a Pomeranian named Ch Great Elms Prince Charming III.
# 20 If you look at the AKC website, only 19 colors are listed, however breeders see a larger, more comprehensive color list when registering Pomeranians. Additionally, the Pom can have other coat colors that are not listed. In these cases, one would choose the color that is the closest. For example, a rare pink may need to be registered as a cream.
