Pomeranian

Pomeranians (pronounced: US pom-uh-rey-nee-uhn, -reyn-yuhn) is a tiny and friendly dog breed with a big personality. 

It is tagged as a “toy dog” because of its small size with a foxy face and prick ears; the tiny dog who thinks he can. It is available in many colors, but the most common is a rich red.

Quick information

History of Pomeranian 

Pomeranians are miniatured Spitz-type dogs that originated in Germany. It is named after Pomerania, a region in the northeast part of Germany 

and northwest Poland. Queen Victoria was fond of the breed and allowed her Poms to be shown in a conformation show. The German Spitz is the ancestor of Pomeranian in an attempt to create a tiny version of such a charming dog. 

Temperament and Behavior

Pomeranians are tiny, friendly dogs with huge personalities. They tend to bark a lot, especially to strangers. They don’t seem to realize they are small; rather think they are alpha and can always scare away large dogs.

Even though they are small, they are smart and alert. They make a perfect alarm dog because of their nature of barking at strangers and even with minimal stimuli. Nevertheless, they are good with children and other pets. 

Health and Care

Poms are generally healthy as long as proper care and nutrition are provided. However, like other dog breeds, they are prone to certain health conditions.

So before buying a pom, make sure you ask for information or, better yet, look for the health clearances of the puppy and its parents. Health clearances ensure that the puppy is tested and cleared for a certain health condition. 

Common Health Problems

Pomeranians are prone to the following health conditions:

• Allergies/food allergy
• Epilepsy
• Eye-related problems such as dry eye, cataracts, and tear duct problems
• Hip dysplasia
• Legg-Perthes disease
• Patellar luxation
• Collapsed trachea 
• Dental-related problems 

Grooming

Pomeranian requires regular grooming, bathing, and brushing because of its long, thick, soft, and fluffy fur. It sheds moderately. Female poms shed whenever they are in heat, stressed, or after delivering their litter. Male poms shed at least once a year.

Make it a habit to brush your pom twice a week using a metal comb or slicker brush to prevent matting and tangles. Bath them at least once or twice a week using a mild dog shampoo.

They also need dental hygiene and regular nail clipping. Poms, just like many dogs, don’t like clipping their nails or even holding their paws. Start grooming your puppy at an early age using praise and rewards. Positive reinforcement always works with dogs. 

Training

A significant part of training a Pomeranian is teaching it to walk on a leash at an early age. It tends to escape from the house, so you need to be extremely patient and consistent during training.

Keep it from jumping on and off high surfaces such as the ouch and bed as it is prone to injury, especially the joints and bones. It makes a perfect therapy dog because of its affectionate, agile, and obedient nature.