POMERANIAN

Apartment Living

Good for 1st Time Owners

Tolerance Levels

Affection for Family

Kid Friendliness

Stranger Friendliness

Ease of Grooming

General Health

Trainability

Prey Drive

Exercise Needs

Energy Level

The smallest amongst the Spitz canine breed strains, the Pomeranian has been named after Pomerania, a province in Germany. This breed is closely related to the Alaskan malamute, Norwegian elkhound, German Spitz, American Eskimo dog, and other Spitz breeds. Pomeranians have a distinctive fox-like visage, plush feathery double coat, erect pointed ears, square-shaped form, and upwardly curling furry tail.

Eminent luminaries and celebrated personalities down the ages have owned Pomeranians or Spitz-type dogs including but not limited to Mozart, Newton, and Michelangelo. The breed became extraordinarily popular in England during the reign of Queen Victoria in the latter half of the 19^th century. The AKC (American Kennel Club) recognized the Pomeranian as a toy dog breed in 1900.

The majority of Pomeranians happen to be lively, sociable, friendly, playful, alert, and intelligent by nature. The dog is receptive to strangers and other dogs, and also has a massive ego, its small size notwithstanding. Being curious and probing by nature, the Pomeranian will yap at strangers and anybody or anything, he’s not familiar with.

Their tendency to stay vigilant and bark continuously makes them amenable to being trained as efficient guard dogs.

Care

Exercise

The pompom can stay healthy and active if you take him out for a short walk or a casual stroll. This breed being tiny in size can manage light physical activities. Keep an eye on your pet Pomeranian after taking him out as predatory birds could prey on him.

He could also be targeted by large dog breeds so train him to keep out of harm’s way. Though he can withstand chilly weather, thanks to his furry coat, he may not be able to tolerate high heat or acute humidity.

Grooming

The breed has a very fluffy coat that experiences moderate shedding and a plumy tail that bends backward. Brushing nothing less than two times a week would be necessary to maintain the coat’s natural sheen and also prevent knots. Trimming the toenails as well as sprucing the hairs on the hindquarters, face, underside, and ears will make him appear neat and dapper.

A bath once a week, fortnight, or month would be required, depending upon your pet’s level of activity. Since the Pomeranian tends to develop dental issues, make sure you brush his teeth at least once weekly. Many vets recommend daily brushing to keep teeth intact throughout his lifetime.

Carry out weekly ear examinations to check for wax buildup and symptoms of infection or inflammation.

Health

The Pomeranian, on the whole, is a healthy dog but could be vulnerable to health conditions like tracheal collapse, alopecia X, and luxating patella. Your pet Pomeranian could easily live for 13-15 years, the dog breed’s standard lifespan, provided you take good care. If you regularly clean your pet’s eyes, ears, and teeth, he’ll be immune from the risks of developing certain common ailments.

This breed is particularly prone to hip dysplasia, Legg-Perthes Disease, cataracts, specific allergies, corneal dryness, patent ductus arteriosus, hydrocephalus, and hypothyroidism. Also, make sure you offer him dry food on most occasions, or else he could lose his teeth prematurely. Always buy a pup from a reputed breeder who can produce the health certificates of his parents.

Do not forget to take your pompom to a vet once every 3-4 months for a thorough health checkup.

Training

You should start training your Pomeranian pup when he’s 6-7 months old to ensure early socialization with other pets and people of different age groups. Trying to socialize the dog from an early stage will enable him to become a well-behaved and courteous pet. You can also train him to be an effective watchdog as he’s given to yelping vehemently, his small size notwithstanding.

With proper training, you can teach him to bark as well as to stop yapping on commands. This dog breed’s intelligence and receptiveness make him extremely amenable to training. No wonder the Pomeranian makes an ideal family as well as a therapy dog.

Feeding

The amount of food your Pomeranian will eat will largely depend on his metabolism, size, physique, activity level, and age. Nevertheless, an adult pompom will do fine with ½-1/4 cup of nutritious dry food, split into two servings each day. He’ll make do with less quantity of food if you make it a point to always offer him high-quality food.