Life Span:	12-16 years
Litter Size:	1-2 puppies often require Cesarean sections
Group:	Northern, Spitz Family/Toy Group
Recognized By:	CKC, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR
Color:	All patterns and colors are acceptable, including black and tan, brindle, parti-color, and solid colors such as black, blue, tan cream, brown, red, and sable. Blue and black Pomeranians are particularly valued in North America, but a large number of the Pomeranians you\'ll see on a daily basis are parti-colored, often with a darker face than the rest of their bodies.
Hair Length:	Long
Size:	Toy/Small
Shedding:	Moderate Shed
Male Height:	7-12 inches tall
Male Weight:	3-7 pounds
Female Height:	7-12 inches tall
Female Weight:	3-7 pounds
General info courtesy of terrificpets.com. Additional information about this breed can be found on their website.
Living Area:	Pomeranians are perfectly suited to indoor living, and will even do quite well in an apartment. They are spirited dogs, and do require exercise. However, due to their size, they can get most of what they need running around the house. They can be picky eaters, and since they need to be fed dry dog food in order to prevent tooth loss, feeding them can be a problem. They can get overheated because of their large amount of fur, and should not be left outdoors or in a car in hot weather. However, they are quite tolerant of cold temperatures, though they should not be left outdoors in severe cold either, simply because of their size.

Description

Pomeranians are short and small toy dogs. In fact, they\'re one of the smallest dog breeds in the world. They have soft dense undercoats with an abundance of outer coat that is coarsely textured. They have heavily plumed tails that lie flat on their backs. They are medium boned and sturdy in appearance, despite their small size.

The Pomeranian should have a head that is in good balance to the rest of the body, with a short, straight muzzle. They have very alert expressions and often look very much like a small fox. Their ears are very small and erect and are mounted high on the head. They have a very large ruff around the neck that is an important part of their overall appearance. Their eyes are dark and almond shaped and very bright and alert in appearance. They have a black nose and teeth that meet in a scissors bite. Their necks are short and they carry their heads quite high.

Pomeranians are very vivacious and extroverted, which is one of the reasons that this breed tends to be a great show dog. They have a smooth gait and appear very well balanced. Once trained, they will be a standout in the show ring, because they truly enjoy the limelight and love to be watched.

You\'ll sometimes hear those selling puppies refer to "teacup Pomeranians". Those dogs described as "teacup" typically weigh less than three pounds. It\'s important to note that there is no official "teacup" variety of Pomeranian. A Pomeranian weighing three pounds or less is likely just the runt of the litter or has health problems. The AKC considers a weight of less than three pounds to be a fault.

Coat Description

The Pomeranian has a double coat, which is one of its most noticeable features. The undercoat sheds constantly. The undercoat is soft and dense, but the outer coat is long and straight, with a very coarse texture. Their coats are very thick and stand off from the body, making the dog look significantly larger than he really is. The coat on the head and legs is tightly packed and shorter than that on the body. The forequarters and hindquarters are typically well feathered. Trimming of the Pomeranian\'s hair on a regular basis is essential to keeping this breed looking neat.

History

The Pomeranian is a descendant of the ancient Spitz breeds of the far north. These original Spitz family dogs were the sled dogs from Iceland and Lapland. These breeds were brought to Europe from the Prussian region of Pomerania (an area that\'s part of Germany and Poland today) and used to herd sheep. These original dogs weighed as much as 30 pounds. In the 1800\'s Queen Victoria established a kennel for breeding these dogs, but asked the breeders to develop a breed in a smaller size, since she preferred small dogs. Over time, the breed was developed down to its current size of 4-5 pounds. The Pomeranian that we know today was not in existence until the 19th century. Because of their natural showmanship, this breed became a favorite among those who like to show dogs and among the circus. Pomeranians are talented at agility and many types of tricks.

Many famous people have been Pomeranian owners. These include Marie Antoinette, Emile Zola, Mozart, Michelangelo and Thomas Edison. It is said that Edison\'s Pomeranian spilled ink on papers containing information that he had spent 20 years researching. Michelangelo\'s was said to have watched him as he painted the Sistine Chapel. Queen Victoria owned multiple Pomeranians.

Temperament

Pomeranians are extremely intelligent and extroverted. They are very spirited dogs, and do well with spirited owners. They prefer a lot of interaction with their owners, which is why they are often used as companion dogs for single people. Due to the dog\'s small size, they are easy to transport, and love going everywhere with their humans.

Because of their small size, Pomeranians are not good dogs for small children. When children play rough with this sort of dog it can often make the dog fearful, nervous and snappish. In addition, the rough play of small children can easily injure this delicate toy breed. However, these dogs do quite well with older children who are calmer and more well behaved. If you choose a Pomeranian for a family with children, it is just as important to train the children as it is to train the dog.

Pomeranians can have a tendency to be yippy, and will often bark far too much. To make matters worse, many Pomeranians have a very high pitched bark that can be especially irritating. However, if you begin training them at an early age, you can teach the dog to bark only when appropriate.

Pomeranians tend to be very willful and dominant in their personalities, so early training is critical. They are somewhat cocky, and often will not hesitate to take on a dog that is four or five times their size, as they seem to have no recognition of how small they are. Because of these tendencies, training your Pomeranian thoroughly and at a young age is critical. They are independent and curious and are usually happy and alert dogs. They are full of energy and active, but since they are so small, they are not usually a nuisance. They love to do tricks and bond well to their owners, but are not typically overly clingy. They don\'t like to be left alone for long periods of time, so this is not necessarily a good breed for the family who is gone all day long.

Pomeranians can do well with other pets in the home, but they should be introduced early, since this breed has a tendency to be very dominant.

Thyroid Disease - Low Risk

The Pomeranian ranks #117 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. This is considered a low risk breed so your chances of obtaining a dog with the disease is small. It is still suggested that dogs meant for breeding still be tested to help bring the incidence of disease even lower (or even eliminate it). 

Rank Among Breeds	Number of Dogs Tested	Percent of Dogs With Disease
#117	3,724	2.5%

You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here

Other Health Problems

Pomeranians are prone to several different health problems. The most notable problem is early tooth loss, which is quite common in this breed. To prevent tooth loss, feed your Pomeranian a diet of dry dog food to help keep his teeth and gums in good condition. In addition, it's important to have your Pomeranian's teeth cleaned professionally once a year. Pomeranians can also be prone to eye and skin infections and some lines are prone to dislocated knee caps and slipped stifle.

Pomeranians are also prone to dry eyes, tear duct disorders and cataracts, all of which can cause blindness. Patent ductus arteriosis, a congenital heart defect is common in Pomeranians, as is collapsing trachea. Both of these problems can be quite serious. Before you purchase a Pomeranian puppy from a breeder, it's important to understand the puppy's lineage, so that you know what health problems he is likely to have inherited. It's also critical to have your Pomeranian receive regular veterinary care, since this breed does tend to have more health problems than many other breeds, and because, like other toy breeds, this dog is generally fragile.