Dwarf Spitz, Loulou, Pom,
Pomeranians are members of the toy group and are the smallest of the five sizes of German Spitz. They are now used as companions and in the show-ring. There are two sizes: the smaller ones which are produced for the show-ring and the slightly larger ones used for companionship.
< £4 per week
Poms cost very little to feed as they are not big eaters, preferring to pick regularly rather than sit down to a set meal.
After the initial purchase of around £500 for a puppy, this is not an expensive breed to keep. Care must be taken to ensure they do not damage their fragile bones or vet fees will be unavoidable.
9 - 15 years
Poms will live into their teens, 15 being the average lifespan.
Average Litter Size
Normal litter sizes are between 2 to 4 puppies.
General Physical Description
Weight Height Range
These dogs should measure between 18 to 22cms for the smaller variety and 22 to 28cms for the larger ones and weigh between 1 to 3kgs; bitches can be heavier than dogs.
Poms are considered to be one of the hardiest of the toy breeds but certain problems are known to occur. Loose knees, open skulls, low blood sugar, loss of teeth, dwarfism and eye problems have all been reported. Dislocation and broken bones can be common and great care must be taken with puppies to deter them from jumping.
Susceptibility To Illness
Pomeranians are almost certainly descended from the sledge-pulling dogs of the Arctic and are probably related to the Keeshond, Norwegian Elkhound and the Samoyed. The first reliable records of the breed came from Pomerania, a region bordering the Baltic, and date from the 1800's, although these dogs were much larger (around 13kgs). Litters of around 10 puppies were being born and soon the smallest of these were preferred. By the mid 1800's, the breed had spread to European countries and in 1888 Queen Victoria fell in love with the breed and brought it home from Italy. She, herself, extensively showed her dogs (which still weighed between 5 - 8kgs) at British Dog Shows, which encouraged the popularity of the breed. British breeders then bred them for a smaller size with more and more coat. Therefore, although the breed is named after their homeland, they are considered to be an English breed.
Poms are intelligent and eager to learn and, therefore, are quite easy to train. However, perseverance is a must when it comes to house training. It is important to train them only to bark once or twice when the doorbell rings and then to be quiet as they are prone to producing a barrage of fairly shrill yapping!<
The head and nose should be fox-like in appearance, the nose being either black, brown or self-coloured depending on the coat colour. The nose should never be parti-coloured. The jaws should be strong with a complete scissor bite. The eyes are medium-sized, slightly oval in shape and should not be set too wide apart. The ears should be small and carried erect. The neck should be rather short and well set into clean, well-laid back shoulders. The back should be short with a compact body and well-rounded barrel. The front legs should be fine-boned and perfectly straight and the hindquarters, again, fine-boned. The feet should be small and cat-like. The tail should be set high, carried over the back and profusely covered with long, harsh spreading hair.
Country Of Origin
0 - 20 minutes per day.
Poms are very undemanding in their exercise requirements and are quite happy with short walks or a run in the garden. They are able, however, to walk quite a distance before becoming tired.
Distress if Left Alone
Guard Dog Suitability
Risk of Sheep Worrying
Tendency to Bark
Level of Aggression
Compatibility With Other Animals
Suitable For Children
General Character And Temperament
The breed is full of its own self-importance and likes nothing better than to strut about either in the show-ring or when out for a walk! They are lively and energetic little dogs who are very loyal to their families. Poms love to be carried about and handled but do not overdo this, as they can become jealous and even a bit nippy! They make excellent guard dogs as they are very vocal and would certainly deter intruders. Despite their gentle and affectionate natures, care must be taken, especially with younger children, that they are not tormented or man-handled, as this can cause them to be nervous. They will accept other animals in the household but will not hesitate to attack outsiders, regardless of their size.
Once a week
Requires Professional Groomer
During adolescence extra grooming is required to assist the coat change, but once this has happened, grooming can be reduced to once a week. Check regularly for matting in the undercoat. Do not use too fine a comb as this will damage the undercoat which will spoil the fullness. The coat should be well combed with a coarse comb and then lightly brushed. Occasional trimming is required around the feet.
Poms come in twelve colours! Choose from black, brown, chocolate, beaver, red, orange, cream, orange sable, wolf sable, blue, white or particolour.
Suffers From Allergies