The smallest member of the Spitz family, the Pomeranian boasts tough sledding dog ancestors. Developed in the Prussian region of Pomerania, the Pomeranian was originally descended from the ancient Spitz breeds of the far north which were brought to Europe and employed to herd sheep. Only when the breed was taken to England was it dubbed the Pomeranian, but these early dogs were not the "Poms" known today. They weighed as much as 30 pounds and were often white. In fact, the Japanese Spitz closely resembles these early Pomeranians and very likely descends from them. Marie Antoinette, Emily Zola and Mozart all owned Pomeranians. In the late 1800s Queen Victoria became a Pomeranian fancier, and established her own kennel for their breeding. She showed her dogs, with some success, making the breed very popular in England. Because Queen Victoria preferred smaller dogs, many breeders began selecting for smaller size. Now the Pomeranian has been bred down from his original size to customary 4-5 pounds. The Pomeranian's intelligence and talent for showmanship has also made it a superior circus performer. This miniature sled dog always attracts admirers and is a very popular pet and show dog.

Appearance
At an average of 3 to 7 lb 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. When born, the tail is not spread out; it may take months for it to grow over the Pomeranian's back, and flatten. The Pomeranian'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.

Character
The Pomeranian is a very active dog who is intelligent, courageous, and a loyal companion. But due to its small size it can suffer abuse from children. Beneath the Pomeranian's fur is a small but muscular dog, similar to a Chihuahua. 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. Although it has a warm coat, it is too small and too family-oriented to live as an outdoor dog.
 

Temperament
The Pomeranian is a curious, lively and playful dog breed. This dog makes a good companion and enjoys extra attention. The Pomeranian makes a good watch dog and may bark at the approach of strangers and unknown pets.

Exercise/Training
The Pomeranian is active but diminutive, needing daily exercise but able to meet its needs with indoor games or short walks. Playing and obedience are very good types of mental exercise. 15 minutes playing with your Pomeranian will be more useful for the dogs exercise then an hour walk on the leash can provide.

Color
For the Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian that have 2 or more colors (usually mostly white, with others), are called "Parti-Color". The AKC also recognizes five "alternative" colors for the Pomeranian: beaver, brindle, chocolate sable, white, and wolf sable.

Grooming
Coat care for the Pomeranian is similar to the Pekingese. A daily or twice weekly brushing is essential to keep the thick, plush coat of the Pomeranian, which sheds seasonally, free of mats. Brushing also helps to prevent dry skin and dandruff. A Pomeranian's coat needs very little trimming only every now and then. Combing is seldom necessary and sometimes totally unnecessary. Regular ear and nail care is recommended for the Pomeranian, along with peak seasonal bathing. However, it is unadvisable to bathe Pomeranians too frequently, as excessive bathing can damage their skin and coat by removing essential oils. If you bath your Pomeranian you always should use a good quality shampoo that doesn't dry the skin and coat and is formulated for a canine coat. Pomeranians are also prone to teeth problems, and it is recommended that their teeth be brushed at least once a week. Ideally, their teeth should be brushed daily. A good nutrition helps to clean the teeth of the Pomeranian and helps keeping the proper coat shine and the skin healthy.

Any breed described as "good with children", the dog must be accustomed to children. Any dog that is not well socialized with children will not behave predictably around them. As with all dogs, they should never be left alone with young children.