Overview
The Pomeranian is a 30-pound sled dog's descendant compressed into a 5-pound firecracker. Fox-faced, gloriously coated, and convinced of its own importance, the Pom has been a favourite companion since Queen Victoria made it famous. It is a true companion breed: bright, busy, and deeply people-oriented, with watchdog instincts far above its weight class.
Temperament & personality
Poms are lively, curious, and bold — often challenging dogs ten times their size with total confidence. They are intelligent and can be trained to a high level, but small-dog indulgence breeds small-dog tyranny: housetrain and set rules exactly as you would for a big dog. Most bond intensely with their person and follow them room to room.
Appearance
A tiny dog with a big presence: foxy face, pointed ears, a profuse double coat forming a lion-like ruff around the neck, and a plumed tail curled proudly over the back. Colours range across orange, red, cream, black, sable, and more — orange is the classic.
Care & daily life
Despite the fluff, exercise needs are modest — 30–45 minutes of walks and play a day. The coat needs brushing two to three times a week to the skin to prevent matting. Dental care matters: small jaws crowd teeth, so regular brushing and dental checks keep problems away. Train early to manage barking and housetraining, where small dogs often get a free pass they shouldn't.
Health & lifespan
The Pomeranian is generally known for the following health watch-points:
- Collapsing trachea — the breed's signature issue, causing a honking cough
- Luxating patella (slipping kneecaps)
- Dental disease from crowded teeth in a small jaw
- Hypothyroidism and heart disease in seniors
- Alopecia X ('black skin disease') affects some lines
Living with a Pomeranian
Pomeranians are ideal apartment and city dogs for people who want personality in a portable package. They need owners who will treat them like dogs — training, boundaries, and all — not ornaments, and households without very small children suit them best.
History
The breed descends from the large spitz sled dogs of the Arctic, miniaturised in the Pomerania region (now split between Germany and Poland) from ancestors weighing 30 pounds or more. Queen Victoria fell for a small Pom in 1888, and royal favour drove the breed's size down and popularity up within a generation.