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The Pomeranian is a breed of dog in the spitz family, named for the Pomerania region of Poland and eastern Germany, and classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size.
Origin: The Pomeranian originated from the sled dogs of
Iceland and Lapland, which were eventually brought into Europe
in Pomerania. This region, bordered on the north by the Baltic
Sea, has been under the control of the Celts, Slavonic,
Poland, Sweden, Denmark and Prussia, at various times.
This region extends from the west of the Ruegen Island to
the Vistula river—there it became popular both as a pet and
working dog. The name Pomore or Pommern, meaning "on the
sea" was given to the district about the time of
Charlemagne.
History: Breeders in Pomerania improved the coat and
bred the dogs down for city living, but they were still 20
pounds or more when they reached England.
English breeders, through trial and error and Mendelian
theories, are credited for reducing the dog's size and
developing the many colors. The Pomeranian of today is small
due to selective breeding, but the breed still retains the
hardy disposition and thick coat typical of dogs in cold
climates.
Queen Charlotte first introduced the the Pomeranian to
English nobility, however; the Pom gained international
popularity when her granddaughter—Queen Victoria returned
from vacation in Florence, Italy with a Pomeranian named
Marco.
The closest relatives of the Pomeranian are the Norwegian
Elkhound, the Samoyed, the Schipperke, and the whole Spitz
group.
Appearance: At an average of 3 to 7 lb (1.4 to 3.2
kg) according to AKC standards, the Pomeranian (Pom) is the
most diminutive of the northern breeds.
The head of the Pomeranian is wedge-shaped, making it
somewhat foxy in appearance. The ears are small and set high.
Its tail is characteristic of the breed and should be turned
over the back and carried flat, set high.
The Pom's coat is its glory, two coats, an undercoat and a
top coat; the first is soft, thick, and fluffy; the latter is
long, straight and coarse. The undercoat is shed once a year
by males, by intact females when they are in season, after
delivering a litter, and during times of stress.
The AKC recognizes thirteen colors or color combinations:
black, black & tan, blue, blue & tan, chocolate,
chocolate & tan, cream, cream sable, orange, orange sable,
red, red sable, and sable. The dogs that have 2 or more colors
(usually mostly white, with others), are called
"Parti-Color". The AKC also recognizes five
"alternative" colors: Beaver, brindle, chocolate
sable, white, and wolf sable.
One breed standard calls for a cobby, balanced dog. A cobby
dog is as long or shorter than he is tall; try to picture him
as a circle in a square. A balanced Pomeranian fits together
logically and in proportion. For instance, a small, delicately
boned Pom with a large head looks unbalanced because his head
type doesn't match his body type. A balanced Pom displays legs
in proportion to his body: neither so short as to make him
appear dumpy nor so long as to make him look like he is
walking on stilts.
This standard also calls for an expression that imparts
great intelligence, showing that the Pom has an alert
character and that he behaves accordingly. The pom's alertness
makes him a superb watchdog.
Temperament: The Pomeranian is an active dog who is
intelligent, courageous, and a loyal companion. The Pomeranian
may not interact well with small children, and due to its
small size can suffer abuse from children.
Pomeranians have proven themselves to be excellent
watchdogs by announcing intruders with loud, sharp barks.
The Pomeranian easily adapts to life in the city, and is an
excellent dog for country living with its strong hunting
instincts from its wild ancestors.
Health: Pomeranians are generally a healthy, hardy,
and long-lived breed—often, Poms often live 12 to 16 years
or so.
The most common problem in Pomeranians is luxating patella.
Also Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome and hip dysplasia can occur,
but are rarer in this small breed. Patent ductus arteriosus (a
heart disease) and collapsing trachea have become serious
problems in Poms. Dry eye, tear duct disorders and cataracts
that can appear in young adulthood and often lead to blindness
are also common.
Skin diseases are quite common, especially allergies (that
oten leads to acute moist dermatitis or "hot spots")
and follicular dysplasia (also known as alopecia X). Other
problems that occur regularly include hypothyroidism,
epilepsy, and hypoglycemia. Occasionally, hydrocephalus can
occur in Pom puppies. Poms, like many Toy breeds, are prone to
bad teeth and harmless episodes of reverse sneezing.
Grooming Tips: Coat care for the Pomeranian is
similar to the Pekingese. A daily or twice weekly brushing is
essential to keep the thick, plush coat, which sheds
seasonally, free of mats. Regular ear and nail care is
recommended, along with peak seasonal bathing. Pomeranians are
prone to teeth problems, and it is reccomended that their
teeth be brushed at least once a week. Ideally, their teeth
should be brushed daily.
In Literature: Beatrix Potter, who wrote and
illustrated the famous and much loved "Peter Rabbit"
books, also wrote a story about a black Pomeranian, Duchess.
In The Pie and The Patty Pan, the little Pomeranian is invited
over to her cat-friend's house for tea. Feeling certain her
friend will be serving mouse pie, Duchess goes to considerable
lengths and gets herself in quite a pickle to avoid having to
eat mouse while at the same time trying not to offend her
friend. "The Pie and The Patty Pan" is Number 17 in
the Beatrix Potter book series.
In Movies: The 2006 movie Superman Returns features
two Orange-Sable Pomeranians. A clever pomeranian escapes from
his would be kidnappers in Screwed. Will
Smith's character in Enemy of the State has a white
pomeranian.
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