3-7 lbs
8-11"
Germany
The Pomeranian — often affectionately called simply Pom or Pom-Pom — is known as a feisty dog. While this can be true, they also make a loving and loyal companion pet. Although they weren’t always as small, today they’re a tiny dog known as a toy breed.
In this guide to the Pomeranian dog, you’ll learn:
They may be small in size, but the Pomeranian has a big heart and even bigger personality. In fact, they often forget how small they are and can be feisty and confident, even around much bigger dogs.
It’s a toy breed and so often referred to as the Toy Pomeranian, although there is an even smaller version of the breed which is known as the Teacup Pomeranian.
So, how much is a Pomeranian? Well, you could choose to rescue this breed. The cost to adopt is always lower than the cost of buying and you can expect to pay around $300. If you’ve been looking at Pomeranian puppies and have your heart set on buying one, then you can expect to pay between $500 and $2,000 from a reputable breeder. However, they can go for as much as $6,000. The cost is dependent on several factors, including their color.
The Pomeranian life span is typically between 12 to 16 years. They’re a toy breed, which, due to their small size, often live longer than larger breeds.
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The Pomeranian dog originates from the province of Pomerania in Germany — which explains where the name comes from.
Pomeranian dogs are descendants of the ancient Spitz breed, with some of their closest relatives being the American Eskimo, the Norwegian Elkhound, German Spitz, Samoyed and Schipperke.
You may be surprised at how big some of this breed's relatives are. That’s because the first dogs of this breed were actually much bigger than the ones we know today. These dogs could weigh up to 30 lbs and at this time they were actually used as sheep herding dogs.
They were also very popular among royalty. Queen Charlotte introduced them to England in 1761 when she and her two Poms moved there and married King George III. They really started to grow in popularity when her daughter, Queen Victoria, bred them. Her dogs were the first to ever be shown and from 1900 to 1930 they were the breed with the highest number of entries at dog shows.
During this time, the dog started to become smaller and their color range expanded.
The first Pomeranian was entered in the American Kennel Club in 1888, and they quickly gained popularity in the United States in 1900. The American Pomeranian Club was founded in 1909.
This breed is so small, even a full grown Pomeranian will still be a little, toy-sized dog. They have a thick double coat. The undercoat is soft and fluffy while the outer coat is shiny, with long, straight hair.
The hair around the neck and chest is the longest, creating a frill around the face. They have high-set, erect ears. Meanwhile, their tails lie flat and fan up across their backs. Their tails are a familiar characteristic but they aren’t actually born with fluffy tails; these take several months to develop.
This breed comes in a range of patterns such as brindle and parti-color. You could then get a white Pomeranian or you might end up with a black Pomeranian — this breed comes in a wide variety of colors. They could also be tan, cream, red, brown, orange — or even a combination of colors.
A wire slicker brush and metal comb should be used to brush your Pomeranian twice a week. You’ll need to part the hair when brushing to make sure you reach the undercoat.
You can trim the hair, especially around the ears, face, hind end and feet, but you don’t have to.
They don’t require regular baths, just as and when they need them. You will, however, have to brush their teeth daily and trim their nails regularly.
You may want to take them to a groomer, who can do a full groom once a month or so.
Due to their small size, this breed can live in apartments and are known as lap dogs. But, they do need a decent amount of exercise each day, through a mixture of walks and playtime. They can go on long walks but will struggle on a hot day. When out, be aware of predators such as hawks that can mistake them for rabbits. They can also escape from small spaces. Watch out for this!
They love their toys but can get bored of them easily. To prevent this (and save you from spending all your money on toys) you can rotate the ones they do have to keep it exciting for them. They will particularly enjoy toys that can be a challenge.
The Pomeranian is a fairly healthy breed, but there are — of course — some health conditions you need to be aware of. These include:
There’s also a chance of epilepsy, allergies and cataracts, although these are only minor concerns.
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Patellar luxation is common in toy breeds. It’s when the kneecap is dislocated from the knee joint. If the condition is congenital, the pup is born with it. If it’s developmental, it develops later in life. It’s usually in the back legs and symptoms will include limping and pain when moving their leg.
Entropion is when the eyelids are inwards and so the eyelashes rub against the eyeball. This usually affects the lower eyelid — although it can be the upper and sometimes both. This causes discomfort and often leads to painful sores which could result in blindness. You may notice your dog pawing at their eye or squinting. They’ll require surgery to treat this.
Cryptorchidism is when one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) testicles fail to drop into the scrotum. Both should drop by eight weeks and at the very latest by 16 weeks. If they haven’t, this can cause serious and even life-threatening health issues. The only treatment is to neuter them.
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (LCP) is an issue with a dog's hip joint. It tends to occur within their first year. It can cause stiffness and pain. An X-ray will be required to determine if this is the cause of their symptoms such as limping. The treatment they need will depend on how severe it is. In some cases, surgery may be the only option.
A collapsed trachea is when the trachea has narrowed. This tends to get more serious over time, so it’s important to see your vet as soon as you suspect they may have this. Symptoms to look out for include gasping for breathing, coughing or wheezing, as well as difficulty eating and drinking.
Your Pomeranian will benefit from high-quality protein and nutrient-dense ingredients. This will also help to keep their coats looking healthy and shiny.
Be careful not to overfeed them — their small size means they could easily become overweight.
Treats are an ideal way to reward your Pomeranian when you are training them, but make sure you take this into account when serving up their meals.
Do you want to make sure you are feeding your Pomeranian the best possible diet? Take a look at the advice from our friends at Dog Food Advisor, including the best dog food for small dogs and the best dog food for Pomeranians.
You might have heard reports of an angry Pomeranian but this breed isn’t actually known to be aggressive — and proper socialization will avoid this anyway. The Pomeranian temperament can just be a little feisty. The punchy Pomeranian pup can often forget how small it is, occasionally challenging bigger dogs.
It’s best to start training early to avoid this. This is a breed that also frequently barks. This, coupled with their alertness, can make them good guard dogs despite how small they are. But, you may want to train them not to bark as this can get out of hand and become a nuisance.
The Pomeranian is very smart and picks up new tricks easily. They do, however, have a short attention span and can be stubborn, so keep your training short and sweet. They will respond well to praise and rewards. They’re also very skilled in obedience, agility, flyball and tracking.
Pomeranian behavior is generally playful and confident; lively and energetic; loyal, protective and loving.
They adore meeting new people and other animals, including cats. They are good with children but it will do best with older kids rather than younger ones. Their small size means they can be hurt easily and need people who know to be gentle with them.
Written by Ellie Roddy
Published: 08/30/2006, edited: 01/03/2024
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