Complete Guide To The Pomeranian: Care, Grooming, Feeding and More
If you are looking for a big dog personality in a small dog body, the Pomeranian is the perfect pet for you. This little dog is full of fight and bark but rarely is over 7 pounds. The Pomeranian is loving and devoted to his family and likes to be left alone from time to time. Regular exercise and frequent grooming are necessary to keep the little Pom happy. The Pomeranian is a loving and adaptable dog that can live with adults, children, or seniors, in either a suburban yard or a rural high-rise apartment.
As someone who has worked with dogs for over 30 years, the past 20 as a veterinarian, I’ve seen many, many Pomeranians. They’re fun, wonderful little dogs.
Table of Contents
How Big Do Pomeranians Get?
| Weight | Height |
| 3-7 lbs | 6″-7″ at the shoulder |
Although originally bred from much larger dogs, the Pomeranian is a petite dog belonging to the Toy group of dogs. Male and female dogs are typically the same size. A Pomeranian should never weigh over eight pounds.
What Is The Coat Of A Pomeranian Like?
The trademark characteristic of this adorable little dog is the soft, fluffy, and thick coat. The Pomeranian’s fur consists of a double coat that has a frill on the chest and shoulders. The topcoat is coarser than the soft and downy undercoat.
Coat Colors Can Include:
| Beaver | Black | Black and Tan | Blue |
| Blue and Tan | Blue Merle | Blue Sable | Chocolate |
| Chocolate and Tan | Cream | Cream Sable | Orange |
| Orange Sable | Red | Red Sable | Tri-Colored |
| White | Wolf Sable |
What Is The Personality Of A Pomeranian?
While the Pomeranian may only be seven pounds, nobody told him that. The Pomeranian has a big personality, wants to be the center of attention, and makes friends easily. This dog is bold and independent and usually has a mind of its own when it comes to its daily behaviors. Because of this independence streak, training has been known to be particularly challenging with this breed, especially house training. Fair and consistent training is recommended, and crate training is the preferred method to house train this tiny pup.
The Pomeranian is a dog well suited to many family types. The dog is happy to live alongside a single adult or with a family with children. It is important to teach children that a small dog is not a toy but rather a loving member of the family. As long as children treat the small dog with respect, the Pomeranian is happy to allow children into its family. With moderate exercise and playtime, the Pomeranian also makes a great pet for senior adults.
It’s important to remember that the Pomeranian is not a couch potato by any means and still requires regular exercise. Because of their small size, though, exercise can usually be accomplished with a vigorous play session in your home. The Pomeranian likes to learn new behaviors and tricks and is eager to keep his mind active. This little dog is well suited for apartment life and lives very well in an urban setting if he is given a moderate amount of daily exercise.
What Are The Grooming Needs Of A Pomeranian?
One of the trademark characteristics of the Pomeranian is the thick double coat. This feature makes the dog soft and adorable and makes it a high maintenance dog when it comes to grooming. To avoid painful mats and possible skin infections, the dog should be brushed daily with a brush or a comb. Be sure to brush all the way down to the skin to pull the healthy oils through the fur and avoid deep matting in the fur.
If you feel comfortable enough performing routine grooming every day, it is perfectly alright to perform the much-needed maintenance at home. However, it is recommended that a professional groomer should be used. Take your dog to the groomer about every four to six weeks to have the dog bathed and brushed.
How Much Exercise Does A Pomeranian Need?
The Pomeranian is happy to live the life of a lapdog, pending he gets his fair share of exercise during the day. This little dog has a medium amount of energy and enjoys a short walk, run, or a chance to romp around in a fenced area. Be careful with this small dog, though, because they have a reputation for being an escape artist. The dog can easily squeeze through small gaps in fences escaping the yard.
The Pomeranian is a small and delicate dog. Owners should never allow the dog to jump onto or off of high spaces, including furniture. A dog that lands incorrectly could easily damage his tiny, delicate bones. Small staircases and steps are available for your small dog to help give him a way to safely get onto the couch and snuggle next to you.
Although this is a small dog, more frequently, Pomeranians are trained to compete in dog sporting competitions. Pomeranians have been known to do very well with agility, tracking, flyball, and obedience competitions. Further, the intelligent dog can make an excellent therapy or service dog. These dogs can help brighten a person’s day, being a regular at the hospital or nursing home. Plus, they can help as hearing assistance animals.
How Long Does A Pomeranian Generally Live?
12-16 years based on information from the American Kennel Club
What Health Concerns Do Pomeranaians Have?
The national breed club has put out a list of health concerns that they see in Pomeranians. It’s pretty complete but don’t let that scare you off from getting a Pomeranian. In my experience, there’s just a handful of diseases that the Pom is most likely to have and many of them are preventable:
- Obesity
- Dental Disease
- Luxating Patella
- Collapsing Trachea
- Heart Murmurs as they age
Keep your Pom at a healthy weight, brush its teeth daily and have a professional cleaning when necessary, and have your Pom wear a harness instead of a leash. Those tips alone will vastly improve the health of your Pomeranian and (hopefully) allow him/her to live a very long, healthy life.
What Kind Of Dog Food Is Best For Pomeranians?
Most small kibble dry dog foods will be suitable for a Pomeranian. These little dogs have a pretty small mouth so large kibble will be a lot more difficult to chew.
Grain-free diets are a myth. Please do not feed your Pomeranian a grain-free diet unless there are specific food allergies that would benefit from a grain-free diet. Always consult your veterinarian before you decide to make any major diet changes.
Some good brands that I recommend include:
I usually tend to go with the bigger dog food companies because of the amount of time and money they have to research and test their products. They also have a stronger history of safe foods (very rarely will they have recalls) over the newer, more boutique-style dog foods.
It is important always to give your dog high-quality dog food. Monitor the number of treats and “people food” you give your dog to keep him healthy and fit. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight is the best and easiest way to extend the life of your Pomeranian.
Where Can I Find a Pomeranian?
American Pomeranian Club’s Breeder Referral Page
Search for a local Pomeranian Club in your area and ask for a local breeder referral.
If you are open to adopting a Pomeranian, several rescues specialize in finding homes for this particular breed of dog. Consider visiting the New England Pomeranian Rescue, the Northwater Rescue, or the Ponderosa Pomeranian Rescue to start your search for an adoptable Pomeranian. Finding a pup to rescue is a great way to not only help a dog in need but to find a purebred dog of your choosing.
Fun Facts About The Pomeranian
- The dog is technically part of the Spitz family of dogs and is related to the American Eskimo Dog, Samoyed, and the Norwegian Elkhound. These are all dogs from Northern territories that are known for their wooly fur and upturned tails.
- They are descendants of sled dogs used in Iceland.
- Pomerania is where the breed was downsized.
- As a breed it’s been around since the late 1800’s
- Its popularity grew after Queen Victoria brought them back to England after a trip to Italy
