If you are looking for a loyal, faithful, small dog, then a Pomeranian is the right match. Pomeranian is a breed of Spitz-type dogs. They are descended from the larger Spitz-type dogs, specifically German Spitz. The name Pomeranian comes from the Pomerania region in north-west Poland. The Pomeranian dog belongs to the family of the toy group because of its small size. This dog breed is well known for its glorious coat and positive traits. Another name of the Pomeranian dog is Pom, one of the world’s most popular toy breeds.
Pomeranian is a small, lively, and playful breed that can be carried easily on a pouch or backpack. They are attentive to their owners and love having a job to do. Because of its small size, Pomeranian does not look like a typical service dog. This dog breed seems like a cuddly teddy bear. They have a natural talent for alerting its owners to issues such as chronic medical illness, low blood sugar, or an imminent seizure. This dog breed is commonly used to aid people who have difficulty hearing, alerting them to fire alarms, sirens, and doorbells.
Table of Contents
Appearances
Pomeranians are a small toy breed and great companion dogs. They are intelligent and charming dogs with a big heart. Its expression is alert and fox-like, having smooth gait. The Pomeranian dog has a small body with a double coat. They are sturdy and compact dogs with textured fur. Pomeranian has a dark, almond-shaped eye that sparkles with intelligence and curiosity. Their noses can be dull or the same color as their coats. They have a distinctive plumed tail that fans out over their back. Its height ranges from 8 inches to 14 inches at the withers, and they weigh about 3 to 7 pounds. They have a wedge-shaped head with high and erect ears. Pomeranians are suspicious of strangers and can bark a lot.
Types of Pomeranian Dog
Pomeranians are friendly and playful. Here, the face is the distinguishing feature in the Pomeranian group. Some kinds of Pomeranian dog based on the facial structure is described below:
1. Fox Face Pomeranian
Fox Face Pomeranians are also described as Fox Pomeranian or Foxy Pomeranian. They include a more elongated or fox-like snout as compared to other face varieties. They have fluffy cheeks, button nose, narrow chin, and a fox face.
2. Teddy-Bear Face Pomeranian
Teddy-Bear Face Pomeranian has a kind of pushed in look. The face of cute Pom is described as a teddy bear face. The teddy-bear face Pomeranian has a shorter snout, and the cheeks appear to be fuller. Their look is somewhat rounder than standard.
3. Baby-Doll Face Pomeranian
Baby-Doll Face Pomeranian looks similar to Teddy-Bear Face Pomeranian, and it is difficult to distinguish between them. They have baby-like features, and the snout has flatter appearances on top. It is not broad and chunky like Teddy-Bear Face Pomeranian.
Height
Pomeranians are bouncy and bold. It reaches its maximum height in a year. But some pom may grow until 15 to 18 months. The average height of a Pomeranian dog is 7 to 12 inches at the shoulder. The male Pomeranian dog stands from 8 inches to 11 inches while the female one stands from 7 inches to 11 inches.
Weight
Pom’s growth is never linear, meaning they won’t grow the same amount each day or week. They have a fast growth rate. Pomeranian puppy weighs about 2.5 oz to 6 oz. The average weight of a Pomeranian dog is 3 to 7 pounds. The male Pomeranian dog weighs about 3 to 7 lbs while the female weighs 3 to 6 lbs.
Pomeranian Coat Color
Pomeranian dog is a double-coated breed. The undercoat is short, soft, and thick while the outercoat is straight, long, and harsh in texture. They always shed because of the thickness of the coat. Males typically shed their undercoat while females shed when they are in season.
The Pomeranian coat comes in two dozens colors with various patterns and marking. The Pomeranian coat comes up in many colors, including black, white, red, cream, brown, chocolate blue, sable, brown and tan, black and tan, parti, brindle, spotted, or even in the combination of these colors. The primary color of the Pomeranian coat is orange, black, red, or cream/white.
The lifespan of a Pomeranian Dog.
Pomeranian Dog is a healthy, service breed with an average lifespan of 12 to 16 years.
Cost of Pomeranian puppy
Pomeranian is a gorgeous breed that has the hearts of many people. Their fluffy body brings joy to everyone. The average price for the Pomeranian ranges from $500 to $1500. When you are picking your Pom, you should consider age, coat color, and gender. These factors also affect the price of Pomeranian.
How to groom Pomeranian Dog?
Pomeranian dogs are easy-going breed, and their coats are easy to care for. They shed moderately, mostly in spring and fall, so you should groom your Pom regularly. Grooming a Pomeranian is an enjoyable bonding time among family. A good quality wire slicker brush, nail clippers, a steel or metal comb, and spray are some of the essential grooming suppliers of Pomeranian dog.
Some of the steps to groom your Pom are:
Set Up Your Pomeranian Grooming Station
First of all, choose a comfortable place to groom your Pomeranian. Some people select the place where they can sit to watch television and groom their dog while watching TV. Other people prefer to groom their pets in a bathroom, balcony, laundry room, or additional space to clean the floor afterward easily. Just select a place where you can clean the area quickly.
Inspecting
Begin each grooming session of your Pomeranian with a head to toe massage. Massaging a dog helps to loosen dead hair and skin. Pick up each foot, wiggle each toe, and gently rub each ear to make your feel pleased.
Prepare your Pomeranian dog’s coat for grooming.
Spend some extra time for the Pomeranian’s body where the fur is thick. Brush the coat from head to toe once a week. Remove matted hair with the help of a sharp pair of scissors. The brushing action simulates the natural oil in the skin and keeps their coat glistening. If your Pomeranian is dirty and smelly then, bath it before grooming. Bath your pet with a quality shampoo and warm water, once in every two months. The bathing suppliers are available in the dog store or some supermarkets. After bathing, comb, or brush your Pom again to straighten out the coat.
Trim your Pomeranian’s coat
Pomeranian is a double-coated breed, which helps to keep the dog at a comfortable temperature. So, avoid trimming your Pomeranian’s entire skin and use a pair of thinning shears for fur trimming. Trim the coat of Pom from feet, leg, body, chest, neck, ears up to its tail. Do not trim the fur too short. Trim the length by tapering the coat from base to its tip.
Complete the grooming of Pomeranian dog
The grooming of the Pomeranian is not complete without paying attention to its ears, eyes, and nails. If your pet’s ears look dirty, clean the visible parts with a cotton ball. Check your pet’s eyes daily for discharge or irritation. Use mineral oil and cotton ball to clean your dog’s eyes, but do not apply directly in the eyes. Take your time and cut your Pom’s toenails. Use a good pair of dog nail trimmers for nail clipping. If you don’t want to bath your pet, then apply dry shampoo. To complete the grooming rituals, remember to use flea and tick preventive.
Health issues of Pomeranian Dog.
Pomeranian dogs are generally healthy, like other breeds. But, they are prone to some of the health diseases. If you plan to get Pomeranian as a family pet, you must be aware of their health problems and take good care of them. Not all Poms will be affected by all or any of these diseases, but you should know them.
Some of the severe health conditions are:
1.Dental problems
Pomeranian dogs are mostly affected by dental problems. They are prone to teeth problems, gum problems, and early tooth loss. Take your Pom to the vet for a regular dental check-up. Brush your Pom’s teeth daily.
2. Allergies
In addition to the loyal and friendly nature of Pomeranian dogs, they develop some allergic problems. They can be allergic to various substances like house dust, food, chemicals, bacteria, and pollen. In response to these allergies, the dog’s immune system produces a protein called immunoglobulin E, which makes their skin itchy, causing inflammation and irritation. The feet, folds of skin, belly, and ears are most affected. Some common allergies in Pomeranian include food allergies, inhalant allergies, flea allergies, and bacterial allergies. The allergy symptoms in a dog are similar to those in humans. Licking the paws, hot spots, frequent ear infections, and rubbing the face are the most common signs of allergies. There are many treatment options available for the allergies, and get your pet checked by your vet.
3. Patellar Luxation
Patellar Luxation is a central health problem commonly seen in small toy dog breeds like Pomeranian dog. The word patella refers to the kneecap, and Luxation means dislocation of the bone. Simply patellar Luxation means dislocation of the kneecap. This problem arises when the knee joint slides in and out of place, causing pain. The problem is diagnosed through palpation of the knee, and it can be treated through medications. If the problem is excessive, then surgery can be helped to cure this health problem.
4. Epilepsy
Pomeranian dogs are a small toy breed, which is mostly affected by epilepsy. There are three different types of seizures: reactive, primary, and secondary. Reactive seizures are caused by the brain’s reaction to problems like organ failure or low blood sugar. Secondary seizures are the result of stroke, trauma, or brain tumor. And primary seizures result in no other cause. If your Pomeranian dog has any seizure, prevent it from injuring himself, and he/she may accidentally bite you. Long medication helps to keep these seizures under control.
5. Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is one of the severe health conditions in dogs, and Pomeranian is affected by this problem. It is an abnormal formation of the hip socket, which eventually causes arthritis and lameness of the hip joints. The word dysplasia refers to the faulty development of bones. Difficulty in jumping and running, lameness in the hind end, narrow stance, and loss in thigh muscles are symptoms of hip dysplasia. This health issue can be diagnosed with radiographs of the pelvis. There is no complete cure for this problem, but it can be controlled with medications, routine exercises, and physical home therapy. If the problem is not cured through medication, then surgery is considered.
6. Elbow Dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia is one of the most common causes of lameness in young dog’s forelimb. It is a heritable disease. Difficulty in getting up, swollen joints, reluctancy to go on walk or play are some of the causes of this illness. You can diagnose this health problem through radiographs. If you suspect that your Pomeranian is suffering from elbow dysplasia, visit the veterinarian as soon as possible. Treatment options of this disease depend on how severe your pet’s condition is. If the problem is mild, it can be controlled with medications, routine exercises, and physical home therapy. If the problem is not cured through medication, then surgery is considered. Most commonly, fiber optic scope or arthroscopy is used as a surgical method.
How to care for Pomeranian Dog?
You should take special care if you are raising a toy breed Pomeranian. Make a schedule to care and help your Pomeranian dog to stay healthy and live longer. Proper diet and exercise routine are also crucial for their health.
- Pomeranian dogs have a thick, double coat so, trimming should be done every two months.
- Poms can have dental problems, so brush your dog’s teeth daily.
- You should groom your Pomeranian dog once in two days. The eyes and ears should be cleaned weekly.
- Pomeranian has a long, dense double coat, so brush it regularly from head to toe.
- Trim your Pom’s nail regularly.
- Feed them a high-quality diet appropriate according to the age.
- Pomeranians are an active breed, and they mostly enjoy indoor playing and short walks.
- They have a medium-high energy level, so routine exercise is highly recommended, but do not overdo it.
- Because of its feisty nature, socialization and adequate training are necessary.
- They have a passion for water, and swimming is a perfect form of exercise.
- Do not let your Pomeranian puppy play on the harsh substances until the joins are fully formed.
- Pomeranians are mouthy, and they love having something to carry in their mouth. Try giving them a ball, newspaper, or a soft toy but not hard ones.
- Because of its small size, the Pomeranian dog can be preyed upon by large birds like hawks or owls.
- If your pet shows any kind of pain, then visit the vet as soon as possible.
- Keep your Pomeranian dog in good shape.
Can Pomeranian Dog be mixed with other breeds?
The answer to this question is yes. The purebred Pomeranians are a small beautiful breed, and its mixes are amazing too. This versatile breed can be mixed with many other adorable kinds to make some pretty cross-breeds.
Some of the Pomeranian dog mixes are:
- Pomeranian x American Rat Terrier = Pomerat
- Pomeranian x Australian Shepherd = Aussie Pom
- Pomeranian x Beagle = Pomeagle
- Pomeranian x Border Collie = Border Pom
- Pomeranian x Cavalier King Charles Spaniel = Cavapom
- Pomeranian x Chihuahua = Pomchi
- Pomeranian x Cocker Spaniel = Cockeranian
- Pomeranian x Corgi = Corgiranian
- Pomeranian x Husky = Pomsky
- Pomeranian x Lhasa Apso = La Pom
- Pomeranian x Maltese = Maltipom
- Pomeranian x Smooth Fox Terrier = Smooth Pom Terrier
- Pomeranian x Tibetan Spaniel = Tibetan Pom
- Pomeranian x Toy Fox Terrier = Pom Terrier
- Pomeranian x Yorkshire Terrier = Yoranian
The preferred food for Pomeranian Dog
Pomeranian dogs are prone to specific health issues, and choosing high-quality food may reduce the risk of health problems. They need a high-quality diet, which is rich in nutrients and calories. The primary source of this nutrition is animal sources like meat, fish, and poultry. The food of Pomeranian should be made from natural ingredients, and nutritionally balanced. Feed your dog two times a day in a proper amount. The recommended amount is ¼ to ½ cup of high-quality dry food per day. The dog foods are available in Pet shops, online stores, or in some grocery stores.
Some of the preferred foods for Pomeranian are listed below:
- Bella Natural Bites
- Purina Dog Chow Little Bites for Small Dogs
- FirstMate Small Bites Australian Lamb Meal Formula LID Dry Food
- Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Small Breed Salmon & Whitefish Recipe
- Taste Of The Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe
- NomNomNow Fresh Food Delivery
- Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Small Breed Dog Food
- Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Small Breed
- Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Small Bites
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Toy Breed Adult Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
Puppies of Pomeranians have unique nutritional needs as compared to puppies of other breeds. You should select the formula containing DHA that helps to nourish the brain and vision development of the Pomeranian puppies. They need lots of proteins and calories for their growth and development. The following foods meet the needs of a growing puppy:
- Purina Puppy Chow
- Beneful Healthy Puppy
- Purina One Smart Blend Healthy Puppy
- Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Toy Breed Puppy