Pomeranian
One of the more famous fluffy dogs, the energetic Pomeranian has a big personality contained in a tiny body. They are spunky and ready to take on anything. Poms are also intelligent, loyal, and playful, so they can be pretty easy to train unless they are being stubborn.
Breed Profile
Height
6 - 7
Inches
Weight
3 - 7
Pounds
Life Span
12-16
Years
Health
health
Patellar Luxation
What is it?
Patellar luxation occurs when the kneecap (patella) displaces itself.
Clinical signs:
Sudden lameness, skipping (holding one leg up while walking), and kicking the leg out.
Treatment:
Deepening the groove, arthritis medication, correcting structural abnormalities, reconstruction of tissues
Other risks:
If your pup is overweight, patellar luxation might be more difficult for your dog to handle. They also shouldn’t climb stairs or try to jump onto furniture.
Eligible vet bill
$2,000
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
health
Tracheal Collapse
What is it?
Tracheal collapse is a condition where your dog’s trachea collapses, which will cause difficulty breathing.
Clinical signs:
Coughing that sometimes sounds like a goose, gagging, respiratory discomfort, wheezing, inability to exercise, and bluish gums
Treatment:
Steroids, oxygen, cough suppressants, surgery, airway dilators, weight reduction, tracheostomies
Other risks:
If your dog’s trachea collapses, heat and humidity make their breathing problems worse. If your dog is overweight, it can also affect the severity of tracheal collapse.
Eligible vet bill
$4,500
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
health
Entropion
What is it?
Entropion is a genetic condition that causes the eyelids to fold inwards so that the eyelashes are rubbing against your pup’s cornea.
Clinical signs:
Excessive tearing, mucousy discharge, and red eyes.
Treatment:
Surgery to remove part of the eyelash
Other risks:
If entropion is not treated soon, it can damage the cornea by continuing to irritate the eye. If there was scarring on the cornea due to entropion, it needs to be treated to prevent further visual damage.
Eligible vet bill
$1,500
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
Personality
Playful
If there’s one thing a Pomeranian loves to do, it’s play. They’re too small for games that require roughhousing (although they might think otherwise), but games like fetch or even agility training can help them get the daily walks they need and have fun.
Energetic
Poms are extroverted and have lots of energy for their small size, so they need to have plenty of exercise. Fortunately, there are many fun things that you can do with your Pomeranian, from taking a walk to playing a game of fetch.
Intelligent
Pomeranians are pretty smart pups, so they can learn tricks quickly, as long as they are in the mood to participate. They need plenty of mental stimulation, so you might want to try to come up with inventive ways to teach them tricks and not repeat each one too often once it’s mastered.
Spunky
Pomeranians might be small, but that doesn’t affect their belief that they could take on anyone in a fight. They aren’t likely to challenge another dog, but they have a tendency to be cocky. They enjoy new adventures, so their bravery isn’t only when it comes to other dogs.
Loyal
If you own a Pom, the only people in the world that they would want to hang out with are you and your family. They don’t enjoy meeting new people, so it’s important to give them socialization from an early age to get them used to the idea of strangers.
Lifetime Care
Coat
Poms have long, double-layered coats.
Colors
Red, red sable, orange, orange sable, cream, cream sable, beaver, wolf sable, white, tri-colored, chocolate, chocolate and tan, blue, blue sable, blue and tan, blue merle, black, black and tan
Hypoallergenic
No, Poms are not hypoallergenic.
Grooming
Poms should be brushed at least once a week. Their nails should be trimmed regularly, and their teeth and ears need to be cleaned frequently.
Training
Pomeranians can be stubborn, but if you use positive reinforcement and moderate amounts of treats, it should be easier to train them. It is difficult to housebreak them, though.
Learn more about the cost of caring for a Pomeranian.
Pomeranian: Cat Breed Information Guide 2022
If you’re looking to bring a little sunshine into your life, consider adopting a Pomeranian. These adorably fluffy dogs have great personalities, although they can sometimes be bossy.
They’re small dogs who think they’re bigger than they are, but that’s not really a bad thing. It just means they’re exuberant and ready for a challenge, so if you adopt one of these lovable pups, you’ll need to keep an eye on them.
Adopting a new furry friend is a difficult task, but we at Spot Pet Insurance are here to help. We may not be able to help with the physical side of things, but we can help you prepare yourself to bring a pup into your home. After all, one of the key ingredients to being a good pet parent is knowing your pet.
Hopefully, with the help of our educational resources, you can learn more about your pup.
The history of the Pomeranian
Pomeranians (known as Zwergspitz in Germany) are descendants of the dog families known as spitz breed dogs, the same family that corgis, German spitz, Norwegian elkhounds, and samoyed are said to have come from. All spitzes have fluffy coats, tails, and tiny ears to help protect them from the cold.
Today’s Pomeranians are a small toy breed, but earlier versions of this pup were much bigger, weighing around 30 pounds. However, they still had the same fluffy fur and tails.
Pomeranians get their name from the Pomerania region of Germany and Poland. As time went on, their popularity grew throughout Europe. They were even the first dogs to live in Buckingham Palace in England after it was finished.
Queen Victoria initiated the interest in smaller Poms since the Pomeranian she adopted was around 12 pounds. The Pomeranian continued to decrease in size until we got the smaller Poms of today.
In the early 1900s, the American Kennel Club accepted them as an official breed. Although they weren’t popular initially, the Pomeranian fanbase quickly grew until they became one of the top dogs to own worldwide.
Pomeranian: An introduction to the breed
Purebred Pomeranians are considered toy dogs, even though they usually have the attitude of a much larger dog.
What is a Pomeranian’s coat like?
Dogs of this small breed have long double coats with an outer coat and undercoat, so they are very fluffy, which makes the nickname Pom even more suitable. Depending on the cut, their fur can have a rounded appearance or look lion-like.
Their plumed tails are curled, and their tiny ears stick up, giving the Pomeranian a perky appearance. Just looking at a Pomeranian could brighten your day.
Pomeranians are usually an orange or reddish coat color, but there are many other colors they can be. They can also have a lot of different markings, like white markings, masks, or sable. Some poms have parti-color coats.
What kind of grooming does a Pomeranian require?
Since they have a double coat, they should be brushed at least weekly with a slicker brush and a pin brush. It’s also a great idea to find a groomer to help you maintain your Pomeranian’s coat.
Are Poms good family dogs?
Pomeranian puppies and adults alike make excellent companion dogs, and they can be great in lots of different homes. They get along well with young children, although it’s important to make sure your child plays with them gently and responsibly, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on them while they play.
They love their families, but they are shy around strangers. They also aren’t partially big fans of other dogs. They are wonderful watchdogs, though. They love to bark to warn you, and they’ll sometimes bark just for fun. They are vocal pups.
What kind of exercise do Poms need?
Pomeranians need some kind of activity to help them manage their energy levels. You could take them on a walk or play games with them, like tug-o-war or fetch. They do have a knack for escaping, so it’s important to keep an eye on them if you let them out to play in the yard.
It’s also good to give them some mental activities to keep their minds active. All Pomeranians should be trained to walk with a leash and other basic obedience commands. They’re also good at agility training, rally, or even being therapy dogs.
What are some other things you need to consider when adopting a Pomeranian?
Although Pomeranians are great little guys to have around, there are some things you need to be aware of before you adopt one.
As we’ve mentioned before, Pomeranians are pretty little dogs, which means you need to be pretty careful with them. They can’t really rough house with either dogs or kids, and they are potential targets for predators, including birds.
Your Pomeranian being picked up by a bird is pretty unlikely, but it’s still a good idea to keep an eye out. If you have a yard, you will want to doggy-proof it since Pomeranians are excellent at finding ways to escape.
What are the potential health conditions for a Pomeranian?
It is an unfortunate fact of life that your pup can get sick. It may not happen, but it’s best to be prepared for any possibility. It is also possible for your pup to develop a hereditary condition.
For example, patellar luxation is a common concern for Poms. It’s unstable, so it luxates (moves) either too far up or down (vertically/laterally) or horizontally (medially). How the kneecap moves depends on the reason for the patellar luxation.
Sometimes your dog’s knee cap will become displaced because the femoral groove is too shallow. Other potential issues could be a malformed femur or tibia.
Although the cause of patellar luxation could be an injury, it’s also very common to see patellar luxation in dogs without injuries, so it appears that a gene can cause it. The particular gene hasn’t been discovered yet, but it can be an inherited condition.
Tracheal collapse is another concern. The trachea is the tube through which your pup breathes. The cause of a tracheal collapse is unknown, but there are some theories.
The most likely theory is that there is an issue with the cartilage and the way it fuses with the trachea, which then causes structural problems. The collapse begins at the top of the trachea.
It becomes flat, which then causes your pup to have problems breathing. It is treatable, but depending on the severity of the collapse, it may not last more than a few years.
Other potential health conditions for Pomeranians:
Alopecia (hair loss)
Sources:
Entropion Surgery for Dogs Cost - in 2022 | The Pricer
Eyelid Entropion In Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals
Patellar Luxations | American College of Veterinary Surgeons | ACVS
The Pomeranian Cost Guide (with Free Calculator) | PetBudget
Pomeranian | Collapsed Trachea Information
Pomeranian Dog Breed Hypoallergenic, Health and Life Span | PetMD
Pomeranian Dog Breed Information | akc.org
Pomeranian | VCA Animal Hospitals