Videos Pomeranian Breed Information
Alternative names -
Deutscher Zwergspitz,
Toy German Spitz,
Zwers
Country of origin -
Germany
Common nicknames -
Pom
Classification and breed standards
FCI:|Group
Section 4 #97|Stds
AKC:|Toy|Stds
ANKC:|Group 1
(Toys)|Stds
CKC:|Group
5 - Toys|Stds
KC
(UK):|Toy|Stds
NZKC:|Toy|Stds
UKC:|Companion
Breeds|Stds
The Pomeranian is a breed of dog in the
spitz family, named for the Pomerania region in Central Europe, which is today part of
northern Poland and part of modern eastern
Germany, and classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size. As
determined by the FCI the
Pomeranian is part of the German
Spitz breed, and in German and many foreign speaking
countries known as the Zwergspitz, or Toy
German Spitz.
1. History
The Pomeranian originated from the sled
dogs of Greenland and Lapland, which were eventually brought into
Europe in Pomerania. This region, bordered
on the north by the Baltic Sea, has
been under the control of Wendish Slavs,
Poles, Swedes,
Danes, Prussians and Germans, at various times, and most recently
Poles again. This region extends from the
west of the Rugen Island to the
Vistula River. The name
Pomorze or Pommern comes from Slavic "along
the sea". Breeders in Pomerania improved the coat and bred the
dogs down for city living, but they were still 20 pounds or more
when they reached England.
English breeders, through trial and error and Mendelean theories, are credited for
reducing the dog's size and developing the many colors. The
Pomeranian of today is small due to selective breeding, but the
breed still retains the hardy disposition and thick coat typical of
dogs in cold climates.
Queen
Charlotte first introduced the Pomeranian to English nobility;
however, the Pom gained international popularity when her
granddaughter Victoria returned from
vacation in Florence, Italy with a
Pomeranian named Marco.
The dogs owned by Queen Charlotte &
Queen Victoria
were much larger and were German
Spitz and a Volpino
Italiano. The same is true of any other historical Pom from
before the 19th century.
The FCI
classifies the German Spitz as one
family consisting of the Dwarf (Pomeranian), Small and Standard
(American Eskimo Dog), and
Wolfsspitz (Keeshond). Additional close
relatives of the Pomeranian are the Norwegian Elkhound, the Schipperke, and possibly the Samoyed.
2. Appearance
At an average of 3 to 7 lb (1.4 to 3.2 kg) according to AKC standards, the Pomeranian (Pom)
is the most diminutive of the northern breeds. However, there are
some that may weigh up to 15 pounds, as the teacup or toy size is
not guaranteed.
The head of the Pomeranian is wedge-shaped, making it somewhat
foxy in appearance. The ears are small and
set high. Its tail is characteristic of the
breed and should be turned over the back and carried flat, set
high. When born, the tail is not spread out; it may take months for
it to grow over the Pomeranian's back, and flatten. Beneath the
Pomeranian's fur is a small but muscular dog, similar in
appearance to a Chihuahua
(dog). If you were to ever bathe a Pomeranian or see one wet,
you may easily mistake it for a chihuahua.
The Pom's coat possesses two coats, an undercoat and a top
coat; the first is soft, thick, and fluffy; the latter is long,
straight and coarse. The undercoat is shed once a year by males, by
intact females when they are in season, after delivering a litter,
and during times of stress.
Coat colors vary across the breed. There are thirteen AKC-standard
color combinations: black, black & tan, blue, blue & tan,
chocolate, chocolate & tan, cream, cream sable, orange, orange
sable, red, red sable, and sable. The AKC also recognizes five
"alternative" colors: beaver, brindle, chocolate sable,
white, and wolf sable. Patches of one or more colors over a white
undercoat are called "Parti-Color."
One breed standard calls for a cobby, balanced dog. A cobby dog
is as long or shorter than it is tall; try to picture it as a
circle in a square. A balanced Pomeranian fits together logically
and in proportion. For instance, a small, delicately boned Pom with
a large head looks unbalanced because its head type doesn't
match its body type. A balanced Pom displays legs in proportion to
its body: neither so short as to make him appear dumpy nor so long
as to make it look like he is walking on stilts.
This standard also calls for an expression that imparts great
intelligence, showing that the Pom has an alert character and that
he behaves accordingly. The Pom's alertness makes it a superb
watchdog, and a great companion, However they are very feisty and
stubborn at times (they need a lot of attention).
3. Temperament
Despite its diminutive stature, the Pomeranian is confident,
outgoing, and expressive. The breed is easily adaptable to various
environments, and can be a pleasant and loyal companion for up to
fifteen years.
Pomeranian pups are curious and eager to learn early in life.
They are intelligent, quick-witted, aware of their surroundings,
and can be trained to be watchdogs. They may point out objects that
are out of place before humans notice them. However, they are also
cheeky and cunning and can manipulate humans if not careful.
Pomeranians enjoy mild exercise and are therefore suitable for
apartment life. They are not recommended for homes with small
children as they may quickly become temperamental and nip or bite
if provoked. They can get along well with other household pets if
given a slow and proper introduction.
4. Health
Poms often live 12-19 years. Some very healthy Poms have even
been known to live 20-35 years.
The most common problem in Pomeranians is luxating patella. Also Legg-Calvé-Perthes
syndrome and hip dysplasia can
occur, but are rare in this small breed. Patent ductus arteriosus (a
congenital heart defect) and collapsing trachea have become serious
problems in Poms.
Dry eye, tear duct disorders and
cataracts that can appear in young
adulthood and often lead to blindness are also common. Skin
diseases are quite common, especially allergies (that often leads
to acute moist dermatitis or "hot spots") and
follicular dysplasia (also
known as alopecia X). Other problems that occur regularly include
hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and hypoglycemia. Occasionally, hydrocephalus can occur in Pom puppies.
Poms, like many toy breeds, are prone to bad teeth and harmless
episodes of reverse sneezing.
Also, it is important that Poms are trained not to mingle around
peoples feet. Because of their loyal tendencies, they will follow
from room to room, easily getting stepped on. Their delicate bodies
will injure easily this way.
5. Grooming
Coat care for the Pomeranian is similar to the Pekingese. A daily or twice weekly (damp)
brushing against the hair weekly is essential to keep the thick,
plush coat, which sheds seasonally, free of mats. Brushing also
helps to prevent dry skin and dandruff. A Pomeranian's coat
needs very little trimming only every now and then. Combing is
seldom necessary and sometimes totally unnecessary. Regular ear and
nail care is recommended, along with generally only peak-seasonal
bathing. It is unadvisable to bathe Pomeranians too frequently as
excessive bathing can damage their skin and coat by removing
essential oils, especially if using anti-flea products. Pomeranians
are also prone to teeth problems, and it is recommended that their
teeth be brushed at least once a week. Ideally, their teeth should
be brushed daily and the dog receive dental and vitamin treats.
6. Owners
6. 1. Historical
* Michelangelo had a Pomeranian
who would sit and watch him paint the Sistine Chapel.
* Queen Victoria had 2
Poms.
* Sir Isaac Newton had a
Pomeranian who once upset a candle on his important papers, which
contained more than 20 years of research.
6. 2. Pop culture
* Ice skater Sasha Cohen has a
Pomeranian named Mocha.
* Nick Cave's parents owned a
Pomeranian named Marco Polo, who was stuffed (taxidermy) after his
death and who Cave still has in his Brighton apartment.
* Fran Drescher had a Pomeranian
named Chester who was featured on her show, The Nanny, as C.C.'s pet and in her other
show, named 'Living with Fran'.
* Jeff Hanneman has a chocolate
Pomeranian named Scoolu.
* Paris Hilton has 2 Pomeranians
named Prince and Kimchi.
* Sharon Osbourne has 3
Pomeranians named Minnie, Mr Chips and Pipi.
* Nicole Richie has a Pomeranian
named Foxy Cleopatra.
* Paulina Rubio has a Pomeranian
named Miranda.
* Maria Sharapova has a
Pomeranian named Dolce.
* Brittany Taylor has a cream
Pomeranian named Bandit.
* London Tipton from The Suite Life Of Zack and
Cody has one named Ivanna.
Copyright (c) 2008 Kitt Killion Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
Taken or modified, in whole or part, from Wikipedia.org
