The Pomeranian descended from a large German spitz dog of the 16th century, like the related Keeshond, Samoyed, and Norwegian elkhound. It was probably bred down in size from a 30-pound sheep dog. He is very eager to please, active, alert, but gentle. The Pomeranian is a compactly built dog with a foxlike head and small, erect ears. Its long coat, especially full on the neck and chest, may be any of a variety of colors, including white, black, brown, and reddish brown. The Pomeranian stands about 6 to 7 inches high and weighs about 3 to 7 pounds.
As with the Papillon, the Pomeranian dog is a member of the Toy breed. Unlike the Papillon though, the Pomeranian is not recommended for families with small children. They do tend to be a little temperamental and will snap at children they find to be too aggressive. The Pomeranian does make a great pet though for families with older children or elderly people.
The key to how good of a pet your Pomeranian is, will be how well you
train it at an early age. If you don't train it well, then you will find that it doesn't listen to you with easy to understand commands. The Pomeranian usually will get to about 9 inches tall, and will weigh about 5 pounds. Grooming is very important with these dogs, with special attention needed for the eyes and ears.
Fondly described as "animated puff-balls", Poms appear in 12 different colors:black, brown, chocolate, beaver, red, orange, cream, orange sable, wolf sable, blue, white and prticolored. The coat is amazingly thick and upstanding, with exaggerated ruff that completely surrounds the small foxy face, and a fluffy tail which is held up over the back.
A very well illustrated page of the wide range of color in Pomeranians.
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Pomeranian Breed Outline
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Country of Origin: | Germany
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| FCI Classification: |
Group 5 - Spitz and primitive types; Section 4 - European Spitz (without working trial) |
| Utilization: |
Watch & Companion Dog |
| AKC Classification: |
Toy Group |
| Personality: | Intelligent, vivacious, very devoted to its owner. Pomeranians are wary of strangers and make good watchdogs. |
| Size: | Small |
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Height: | 7-11 inches at shoulders |
| Colors: |
Black, brown, white, orange, grey-shaded, and other colors |
| Other Names: | Pom, Dwarf Spitz |
| Average Litter Size: | 3 |
| Life Span: | 9-15 years |
| Grooming Requirements: |
They need to be brushed 1-2 times a week and trimmed once in three months. |
| Shedding: | Heavy |
| Social skills: |
Pomeranians usually get along with other cats and dogs but can be aggressive toward unfamiliar dogs. |
| Suitability for Children: | Pomeranians may not be friendly even with all members of their families and will not tolerate young children. They will guard their toys and food and, if teased, can become nervous which can lead to defensive biting. They are usually good with older children. |
| Exercise Needs: | Although primarily known for being a lap dog, Pomeranians have plenty of energy that can exhaust their owners. |
| Train Ability: | Begin obedience training early. Consistency and patience required. Poms responds well to sensitive, firm owner. |
| Health & Behavioral Issues: |
Responsible breeders will make sure that their breeding stock does not have hereditary disorders.
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