Pomeranian Breed

Pomeranian Breed Information Sheet

The Pomeranian is one of the toy breeds and weighs between 3 and 7 pounds (there are larger poms, and although not to the breed standard, they still make wonderful loving pets!). Intelligent and vivacious, these little dogs will steal your heart, but don’t let them get away with too much as they must be properly trained or they will become too demanding. With proper care your Pom can live to about 15 years old.

Pomeranian Breed History

Todays tiny Pomeranians weigh in at around 5 pounds, but did you know the breed was once as large as 35 pounds? Cousins of the Spitz type dogs, Pomeranians once were at home in the arctic along with Huskies and Malamutes.

These vivacious lap dogs get their name from the province “Pomerania” which was located where Eastern Germany is now. Originally brought to England in the 1700’s, by Prince George III’s new bride, this larger version of the toy dog would not become popular until the late 1800’s when Queen Victoria who brought home a 12 pound Pom from Italy.

The popularity of these tiny dogs spread quickly around the European upper class and the dog was soon bred down to it’s current size of about 5 pounds. Many of the famous favored the Pom including Michelangelo whose Pom would sit on a silk pillow while he painted the Sistine chapel, Martin Luther who mentioned his toy dog in his work, Mozart who dedicated and aria to his pet Pom and Chopin who wrote the Valse des Petits Chiens for his girlfriends Pom

Pomeranian Breed Dog Care and Grooming

Pomeranians are easy to care for but do need some special attention. They can be easily groomed in less than 1 hour a day, but I am sure you will want to spend much more time than that bonding with your pet!

Teeth

It is important that your pet get good dental care. Pomeranians are prone to tooth loss and bacteria build up. If the bacteria is allowed to run unchecked, this can cause problems with your pets overall health. Luckily, maintaining good dental health is easy! Simply buy an enzymatic toothpaste that fights bacteria (your vet can recommend a good brand) and a small tooth brush (I use the one that has a loop that fits on my finger). Try to brush your dogs teeth every day. Have your vet do a dental exam once a year and scaling if necessary.

Fur

Brushing your Pomeranian every day is a good way to bond with your pet as well as insure his coat is healthy and looks good. Poms have a double coat that can easily become matted so brushing is necessary. A once a week – or every couple of weeks – bath is a nice way to keep your Pom smelling and looking good! Don’t forget to groom around his paws and tail area as well as clip his nails.

Eyes

Like most small dogs, Poms can have a buildup of discharge from their eyes that can cause a lumpy mess. This buildup can stain the fur and, although my Pom’s never said anything, I’m sure it must be uncomfortable. To avoid this mess, simply clean the eye area each day with a Q-tip. Be sure not to get too close to the eye as you don’t want to accidentally poke your pet in the eye!

Of Interest

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