April 13, 2025
The Pomeranian is a spitz-type dog that were first bred in the 1800’s and named after the Pomerania region of Poland and eastern Germany.
The Pomeranian are generally very playful, active, friendly and intelligent, making them popular pets. They are very loyal to their families and quite alert, which means they are prone to barking and make good little watchdogs.
These extroverted, lively little things are very affectionate, but can be reserved around strangers if not socialised early and properly, which might also see them bark, growl or lunge at them. Early positive exposure with people and other dogs and pets can help ensure they get along well with everyone.
The Pomeranian’s ancestors were actually 50% larger than the breed we see today, but selective breeding has seen their size diminish over time and they are now classified as a ‘toy’ dog. Their fluffy double coat is undoubtably beautiful, and they know it!. The thick undercoat can easily become matted, so you do need to brush them every few days and be sure to rake out the undercoat.
They have a foxy little face with alert, pricked ears and a square body. You can’t miss that fluffy tail either that curls up and over the back. Pomeranians come in a wide variety of solid colors, with red, orange, white or cream, blue, brown, or black being the most common.
Pomeranians are active dogs so they need a walk each day and a lot of mental and physical stimulation. They are very intelligent and obedience and tricks training will keep them mentally stimulated, which is just as important as the physical exercise. These independent, bold little dogs have minds of their own, so you will need to be consistent and firm with your training and setting of boundaries to avoid common dog behaviour problems.
Positive reinforcement training is a must.
You may need to be mindful of their size in households with larger dogs and also families with small children too. They make great companions for people of all ages and aren’t an overly dependent breed. However, they do need a lot of exercise to help reduce excessive barking, boredom and anxiety.
They are more suited to cold climates so can become overheated quite easily, limiting exercise and keeping them cool indoors is important in the hotter months.
The Pomeranian breed are generally considered a very healthy breed living up to 16 years of age, some even longer.
Patellar luxation is particularly common in the breed. This occurs when the kneecap slips out of place and may cause intermittent skipping or early degeneration of the knee joint depending on the severity. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is also seen as is Hip Dysplasia, both affecting the hip joint. Surgery may be undertaken in all cases.
They can also be prone to hypothyroidism, hair loss problems, epilepsy and a collapsing trachea. It is very important to never ignore a honking cough in a Pomeranian, as collapsing trachea can be a life-threatening condition.
Always see your Vet at the first sign that something is wrong, as early treatment for all of these conditions is important and can make a massive difference to the treatment success.
About the Author: Lara Shannon is a certified dog behaviourist and trainer, pet food nutrition specialist, Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play on Channel 10 and editor of Poochesatplay.com. Lara also runs her own dog training business in Melbourne’s Bayside area and is the Author of World of Dogs and Eat, Play, Love Your Dog
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