Dog Breeds - Pomeranian

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The Pomeranian is a relative of the Spitz breed that originated in Iceland and Lapland.  The first Pomeranians were not as we know them today, they were much larger and weighed about three times as much!  The breed back then was used for sledding.  Eventually the ancestor of this breed ended up in a German town called “Pommerania” (from which they were named) where they were actually used to herd livestock.  Queen Victoria is credited with helping this breed rise in popularity after she obtained one that was smaller in size from Italy named “Marco”.  Overtime this breed has been bred to be smaller and smaller and is now classified in the toy group.

The Pomeranian makes a great watchdog.  Although they are very small, their bark is very large! This can be a good thing for alerting that someone is at the door, however it is a trait that can get quite annoying if they are not trained properly.  Pomeranians should be taught from a young age that a few barks is okay for alerting the owner, but they must stop after that.  Pomeranians are good with older, considerate children, but they should be carefully supervised around younger children for both their sake and the child’s.  Young children have the tendency to accidentally mistreat small breeds like Pomeranians, so they must be supervised to make sure that they are being gentle with them. Pomeranians can be temperamental and won’t always put up with being grabbed at or pushed around and they can become snappy; an even more important reason to watch them around small children! Owners must also train their Pomeranians not to linger around feet.  They want to be with their owner all the time, but hanging around feet can get them stepped on, which can be medically devastating to their tiny and fragile bodies!

The coat of the Pomeranian is relatively low maintenance; however some care must be taken.  They should be brushed regularly to avoid matting in their long outer coat.  Brushing also helps to prevent dry skin.  They should receive seldom bathing so that their skin does not dry out.  Pomeranians are prone to tooth lose and complications – to help prevent this, regular brushing and dental treats should be administered regularly.  Eye problems and ear problems are also common so they should be cleaned frequently to keep them healthy.