Pomeranians are small in stature with a personality as big as their hair. With their cunning face and big, round eyes, they always appear to be smiling. Their coat is extremely robust and can be one of almost two dozen colors or patterns, however, most Poms are orange or red.
They are the smallest of a family of breeds called the Spitz family, which also includes the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Samoyed, and others. In some regions, Pomeranians are also called Zwergspitz, Deutscher Spitz, Dwarf Spitz, and affectionately, Poms or Pom-Poms.
Pomeranians are very intelligent and excel at sports like agility, rally, and obedience. House and leash training, however, can be a chore with this breed. It is best to introduce training early on and be consistent and patient.
Pomeranians are hearty little creatures, living anywhere from 12 to 16 years. All breeds, however, are susceptible to some health issues and for the Pom, they include patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, heart failure, seizures, and alopecia X.
The distinguishing feature of the Pomeranian is its luscious double coat. This coat requires regular, thorough brushing- at least once per week, to stay gorgeous. A full groom (bath, brushing, nail trim) is recommended at least once per month.
Poms are excellent lapdogs, but they also enjoy activity and love to have space to run and play. If you take them outside, keep a close eye on them. Their small size makes it easy for them to squeeze through a hole in the fence and they have also been mistaken for rabbits by birds of prey.
Short and sweet, Pomeranians stand 7-12 inches tall at their shoulder, weighing in at somewhere under 8 pounds.
