by Janice Jones |Last Updated 04-10-2023
Pomeranians,
Poms, Pom-Pom or just puffball, whatever you call these little cuties, everyone
knows the name and the adorable face that accompanies that face. These little
guys are stereotypical small, yappy, very energetic, but also a great pet to
its owners and family.
These are very energetic and athletic dogs that excel at
many dog sports including agility and obedience. If you cannot keep up with the
energy of the Pomeranian, this dog may not be for you.
Poms
are basically the epitome of a big dog personality in a little dog. They have a
ton of personality and demand attention and pampering. Even though they are
small dogs, they are also very sturdy. Pomeranians are the type of dog that
loves to please others.
They cannot get enough attention and affection from
their owners. Although these dogs are pretty athletic and energetic, they do
not need an excessive amount of exercise.
That is, unless they are being
trained for any type of dog sport or agility type event. Other than that, they
just need to be loved, like any other dog.
Related: 13 Pomeranian Facts You Might Not Know
| Traits | Rating |
|---|---|
| Playfulness | |
| Affection Level | |
| Friendliness Towards Strangers | |
| Good with Children | |
| Good with Other Dogs | |
| Good for First Time Owners | |
| Exercise Needed | |
| Ease of Training | |
| Watch Dog Ability | |
| Grooming Requirements | |
| Shedding | |
| Cold Tolerant | |
| Heat Tolerant |
Dog Breed Ratings Got You a Little Confused?
Here’s a little help in understanding them
- Playfulness: Most Playful = 5 Least Playful = 1
- Affection: Most Affectionate = 5 Least Affectionate = 1
- Friendliness Towards Strangers: Most Friendly = 5 Least = 1
- Good With Children: Great= 5 Not Good with Children = 1
- Good With Dogs: Great = 5 Not Good Around Dogs = 1
- Good With First Time Owners: Fine=5 Not Appropriate = 1
- Exercise Required: Extensive Daily Exercise = 1 Minimal = 1
- Ease of Training: Very Easy = 5 Difficult = 1
- Watch Dog: Excellent Watch Dog = 5 Minimal = 1
- Grooming: Time Consuming = 5 Minimal = 1
- Shedding: Heavy Shedder = 5 Minimal = 1
- Cold Tolerance: Well Tolerated = 5 Poor Tolerance = 1
- Heat Tolerance: Well Tolerated = 5 Poor Tolerance = 1
Quick Facts
Other
Names Used: Pom, Pom-Pom
Affiliation:
Toy group; AKC recognized in 1888
Size
Height:
7-12 inches
Weight:
4-6 pounds
Coat
Type: Long, thick double coat
Colors:
Gray- shaded, tan, black, white, orange, and brown; Merle is a newer color
being produced by breeders
Country
of Origin: Poland and Germany
Activity
Level: Moderate
Life
Expectancy: Approximately 15 years
Good
with Children: They are not recommended for families with small children
because of their delicate and fragile frame, but they will get along great with
kids under close supervision
Good
with Other Pets: If raised and socialized appropriately, Poms are good with
other dogs and pets
History
Pomeranians
have quite the history, and it is actually said and known to believe that Poms
were one of only 3 canines to survive the sinking of the Titanic.
Others say
that Michael Angelo painted the 16th chapel with a Pomeranian right
by his side. Contrary to belief, these small furry friends were not all that
small once. They are now considered the
smallest member of the Spitz family.
The
average Pomeranian today weighs anywhere from four to six pounds, but they once
weighed seven times that size. Older
Pomeranians were said to have weighed thirty pounds and were solid white.
They
were bred by England’s Queen Victoria, and in the late 1800s, Queen Vic
established her own kennel and began importing smaller Poms of all colors and
created her perfect little lap dog that we all know and love today.
Pomeranians
are decedents of sled dogs from Ice and Lapland. Their ancestors include the
Alaskan malamute, the Samoyed, Siberian husky, and Khase-hand. Poms are essentially just a mini version of
those dogs.
Personality/Temperament
Even
if you don’t know much about Pomeranians, everyone pretty much knows that they
are very energetic, lively, bouncy dogs that can tend to have a large voice to
them.
Pomeranians are extremely happy-go-lucky dogs that crave human
companionship.
They are great lap dogs and live to please. Focusing their
energy is a huge component of owning a Pom.
If you don’t, then they can be a
bit unruly. Also starting socializing and working on barking as early as
possible is highly recommended.
People think the Pom is a very yappy, annoying
dog, but true Pomeranian loves know better.
It really all depends on how
early you start working on training and socialization.
Poms
are not recommended for families with very small children due to the fragile
frame that they have.
These little guys do not demand a ton of physical
activity, but will need a daily walk. If not a walk, at least a good romp in a fenced
in yard will help release some of that energy.
The time that they spend playing
will take care of most of their exercise, but you need to keep them healthy and
in shape. Lack of exercise can lead to behavior problems.
Poms have the
tendency to overheat in their thick double coat, so do not let them overwork
themselves. Supervision while playing outside in the heat is crucial. Pomeranians don’t do well in hot weather.
Their beautiful dense
plush coat heats up quickly so they need to be kept out of the heat, especially
that of a locked car.
They are
also very adaptable and can pretty much adapt to most living conditions. These
dogs can be great apartment dwellers. They make excellent watchdogs, and with
the proper teaching of when barking is allowed, will be a perfect watchdog for
you.
The main thing that the Pomeranian needs is love and affection, and they
will be your furry friend for life.
Housetraining is often a problem in small breed dogs and the
Pomeranian is no exception. Owners often
report that their Pom just doesn’t like a rainy day, and this stubbornness can
extend to other weather too. Poms can be
taught to use an indoor potty system such as wee wee pads or paper
training.
Teacup Pomeranians
You might have seen these advertised as being ultra-tiny
versions of the standard Pomeranian, often weighing in at no more than one or
two pounds.
Don’t be misled into
thinking this is a different breed or something extra special in some way. Most reputable breeders would not
deliberately breed smaller than the breed standard so beware of anyone trying
to sell a “teacup” version of any breed, especially the Pomeranian.
Grooming
Grooming
for the Pomeranian can be a bit tricky because of their thick, long, double
coat.
The inner coat is soft and fine
and the outer coat is thick and harsh. One
down side to owning a Pom is that they are heavy and constant shedders.
Daily
brushing with a high quality slicker brush is a must to deal with all of the
shedding and to keep mats from forming. Poms should not be bathed until a thorough
brushing is done. It is also highly
recommended to take your pup to a professional groomer every four to six weeks
to keep the shedding and coat in general in check.
Other than brushing, the rest of grooming
falls into the category of must dos for all dogs: nail clips, anal glands, ears and eye
cleaning. Did we mention brushing
teeth? That too!
Health Concerns
Pomeranians
are generally healthy and have a long life span (12-16 years); some of the
issues are minor and some are more serious.
Do not let the list below frighten you into removing the Pomeranian from
your short list of possible perfect breeds for you.
Luxating Patella
An inherited condition where the knee slips in and out of place when bent.
Dental Issues
All dogs are susceptible to dental problems but some breeds seem to build up more tarter and plaque.
Tracheal Collapse
When the rings making up the trachea begin to flatten or collapse, breathing becomes more difficult.
Skin and Coat Problems
Coat loss problems also called
Black skin disease, Severe Hair Loss Syndrome or Alopecia X can be a problem in
Pomeranians. Hair loss can be caused by
hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, eczema, parasites or allergies.
Heart Problems
The most common heart problems in the Pomerian includes heart murmurs, enlarged heart and mitral valve prolapse.
Eye Problems: Entropion
A congenital condition where the eyelids roll inward. It can also occur due to injury or a long standing eye lid infection that causes scaring.
Legg-Perthes Disease
Seizures or Idiopathic Epilepsy
A reoccurring seizure disorder, idiopathic epilepsy does not have a known cause.
Pin for Future Reference
Pros
- Very adaptable
- Love to please people
- Can be great watchdogs
- Highly intelligent
- Proud and loyal
- Great lapdogs and overall companions
Cons
- Heavy and constant shedders
- Can be yappy if not properly trained
- Tend to be overprotective to objects
- Very fragile and can be hard with young children and
toddlers - Problems with their knees, teeth, and gums
- Grooming is quite the task
References and Gifts for the Pom Lover
Breed Club & Rescue
Breed
Club:
American
Pomeranian Club, Inc.
http://www.AmericanPomeranianClub.org/
Breed
Rescue:
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