Померанский шпиц

Photo of Pomeranian | dreamtime.com

Brief description of the breed

Pomeranian (dwarf) Spitz - this is the sweetest animal with unbridled curiosity. Dogs of this popular breed weigh only 3.5 kilograms. These are animals with pronounced eyes, intelligence and temperament. This tiny dog is very smart and active. The owners of such a pet will say with confidence that he has more courage than his large relatives.

Although the pygmy spitz loves his family, he will not sit at the feet of the owner for a long time. Since the dog is very active, she loves to run around on the lawn near the house. Pomeranian - a great option for those who want to have a tiny dog that would have the character of a large shepherd's or sled dog, from which this breed is descended.

It would seem that because of their small sizes even the size of an apartment is enough for a dog to throw out all the energy. However, the Pomeranian loves to run around the park, roll in the leaves and play with his relatives. This is a sports dog, so quite often the Spitz takes part in various sports competitions. The size of this breed allows without problems keep a dog in an apartment, but the animal will feel most comfortable in a private house with its own yard. Naturally, the dog cannot be kept on a chain or in a separate room. The Pomeranian must live exclusively with his family.

Like many other dwarf breeds, the Pomeranian - this is a dog that is quite difficult to train at home. When buying a puppy, you need to learn all the features of care and upbringing. Be sure to ask about the health of the puppy, as well as his parents. In the future, all these nuances may be useful to you. If the dog breeder says that the animal and its parents were not sick with anything, then it is better to refuse the purchase. Most likely you are being lied to! Be sure to ask for documents on the health status of the animal and parents!

The Pomeranian can be weaned from its mother as early as 8-10 weeks of age, but most try to keep the puppy with its mother until 12-14 weeks of age. This will help ensure that the puppies are well formed and ready to live on their own away from their mother.

Pros of the Pomeranian:

  • Fits perfectly in the family;
  • Strongly attached to the owner;
  • Can be kept in an apartment;
  • Ideal friend for adult children;
  • Sensitive, attentive caretaker.

 

Cons of the Pomeranian:

  • Needs careful care;
  • He loves to bark very much;
  • Not suitable for the company of small children;
  • May bully other dogs.

 

basic information

Breed name: Pomeranian
Country of origin: Germany
The time of the birth of the breed: 1870
Type of: spitz and primitive breeds
The weight: 1.6 - 3.5 kg
Height (height at the withers): 18 - 22 cm
Life Expectancy: 12 - 16 years old
ICF classification:
Group 5, Section 4, Number 97
Puppies price: 220 – 2100 $
Most popular nicknames: list of nicknames for Pomeranian

 

Assessment of breed characteristics

Adaptability

(a definition meaning how easily a dog can adapt to changes in life)

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Shedding level

(Level and frequency of hair loss in the animal)

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Tenderness level

(The level and amount of tenderness and affection that the dog gives in return for attention to itself)

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Exercise needs

(Dog's daytime activity level)

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Social need

(The required number of contacts of the dog with other animals, as well as people)

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Apartment content

(A factor that determines the level of noise and other inconveniences that a dog can deliver to owners in relation to the size of the apartment to the size of the dog)

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Grooming

(The number of bathing, brushing, and the number of professional grooming sessions required for the dog)

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Friendliness in an unfamiliar environment

(Features of the behavior of a dog in a society with strangers or in an unfamiliar environment)

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Tendency to bark

(Tendency to bark and its frequency and volume)

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Health issues

(Potential health status of the dog)

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Territoriality

(The dog's tendency to protect his home, yard, or even his owner's car)

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Friendliness to cats

(The tendency towards tolerance for cats and decreased manifestation of hunting instincts)

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Intelligence

(The ability of the dog to think and solve emerging difficulties (not to be confused with learning!)

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Education and training

(The level of difficulty in training the dog to perform certain actions)

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Friendliness to children

(A factor that determines how friendly a dog is to children, whether he likes to play with them and tolerate some childish pranks)

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Game activity

(The concept is determined by its very name, and, as a rule, is found in almost all dogs)

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Observation

(The ability of a dog to detect the presence of a stranger on its territory)

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Friendliness to other dogs

(The tendency of the dog to find common language with his other relatives)

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Pomeranian photo:

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The history of the origin of the Pomeranian

The Pomeranian comes from the so-called peat dog that existed in ancient times, which is considered the progenitor of not only Spitz, but also many other breeds, such as the schnauzer. In Northern and Central Europe, Spitz-like dogs have been known for a very long time. They were of different sizes and had the most diverse colors. In Mecklenburg and in the open spaces of Pomerania, medium-sized dogs were bred.

To England these lovely animals first hit thanks to the princess of Mecklenburg, who later married King George III. The breeders there went further and began to radically change their height down, and the coat into a large one. Small, fluffy dogs weighing about two kilograms became so famous that the British began to consider themselves the founders of the breed. In the place of its breeding, this breed was called the Pomeranian. In 1870, the English Kennel Club approved the breed, and a year later its representatives took part in a cynological exhibition for the first time. More than twenty years later, in 1898, the Pomeranian Club in England developed the first breed standard.

Despite this, the breed was actively developed in Germany, and in 1899 the German Spitz Association arose, which streamlined the differences in the breed in terms of the size of the German Spitz population. First of all, Spitz was divided into large and small, which was not enough and later it was decided to divide the breed into five types by size: the largest wolf, then large, medium, small and dwarf (decorative).

In 1895-1910, a European breed standard was developed, which was later recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. For all, without exception, Spitz of any size, the same anatomical structure was approved with a difference in growth, which must correspond to the sample. Some problems have arisen with the dwarf Spitz. The FCI did not recognize the English Pomeranian as an official breed, but took into account its weight (given that the English standard does not take into account height), which corresponds to a German small or dwarf Spitz, depending on the individual's weight. After some time, the FCI approved the name Pomeranian as the English name of the breed.

We admit that dogs from England look more impressive than their counterparts from Germany. Thanks to their beautiful coat, European breeders are happy to breed this breed. Probably, it is precisely because of its external attractiveness that the Pomeranian in our time is the most popular in comparison with the German. The breed standard of the German Spitz has been updated many times, with the biggest changes being in the coat color of the dwarf Spitz, as individuals imported from England produced very diverse offspring, the color of which was not originally included in the breed standard.

 

The nature of the Pomeranian

The weight of the Pomeranian is about five kilograms, but despite this, the inner world and character of the dog are very rich. The Pomeranian loves to watch the world around him, he loves to sit on the windowsill and bark, thus showing his attention to everything that happens outside the window. Representatives of this breed are perfect for people who are ready to play with a dog and give her their warmth and attention.

The German Spitz has always lived close to people, it was used as a guard and shepherd dog, it perfectly adapted to family life and, if necessary, became an excellent companion. Over time, this has led to the fact that Spitz are strongly attached to their owners. They are easier to win over, they are better trained than hunting spitz and harness.

The Pomeranian is the smallest representative of the breed among his fellows, however, he, like them, is very smart. Full of energy, constantly on the move, bold and a bit pugnacious, not at all associated with the fragile, neat salon dog that it seems at first glance. In fact, this animal is quite noisy, cheerful and friendly, able to adapt perfectly to any environment. He is infinitely attached to the whole family, behaves rather reservedly towards strangers, he needs some time to get used to new people and trust them.

 

Maintenance and care

With regard to grooming, you should pay attention to the fact that the dog has a very dense double coat, so it requires special, careful and regular care. The rest of the care of the dog is not complicated. The animal is prone to barking, sometimes it is quite difficult to stop it!

Pomeranian - it is a breed with a moderate level of shedding that occurs once a year. In this case, dogs may begin to shed from an experienced stressful situation. For normal coat care of this dog breed, it is necessary to comb the coat twice a week. This amount is optimal for maintaining healthy hair and preventing the appearance of wool in the house. The Pomeranian, as a rule, is cut, but the haircut is made on certain parts of the body (paws, muzzle, ears).

Bathing is carried out as needed. Some dogs are bathed every week, others - monthly or even several times a year. Everything will depend on the degree of contamination of the coat of a particular dog.

Small breed dogs are prone to dental problems. Therefore, weekly cleaning is required. Regular brushing will help prevent tooth loss and keep your mouth smelling good.

Check your pet's ears regularly (every week). They should not have suspicious discharge, irritation or inflammation. The auricles are treated with a special solution that can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy.

 

Pomeranian training and education

The Pomeranian is one of those dogs that is not very easy to train and train. They are persistent, do not like to obey, are stubborn. That is why for training you will need a demanding, persistent, self-confident coach. To smooth out such a somewhat eccentric character, early socialization of the pet is necessary.

During training, it is imperative to resort to praise and rewards in the form of treats. The training itself should not be long, otherwise your pet will get tired of it all. Avoid any display of aggression or negative reactions. If you feel that you can not cope with the training, then contact a professional who will definitely help you.

Pomeranian, by nature - the dog is unfriendly and distrustful. She does not like strangers and is often frightened. Therefore, the issue of early socialization is as important as the issue of caring for a pet. Socialization should begin from the first day of the appearance of the Spitz in the house. If this process is started at a later age, the result will not be as successful.

After learning the basic commands and rules of behavior, you can move on to more complex tasks. For example, you can train your pet agility. Do not forget that the Pomeranian is very active. Therefore, all exercises during training should also be active. If the dog gets bored, then all your attempts will be in vain.

 

Health and disease of the Pomeranian

Pomeranian breed dogs live long enough and, with proper care, can live up to 14 years. Even in old age, they are distinguished by good health. Despite their apparent fragility, they are not very pampered dogs, they prefer an active way of life, they tolerate winter weather perfectly, but summer heat and prolonged exposure to the sun - worse. The health problems that most often occur tend to be directly related to short stature. Also, like all decorative dogs, problems with the motor apparatus appear (dislocation of the patella or any kind of injury). Injuries are more often the fault of owners, who must be very careful not to miss or step on their pet. There are also very resistant milk teeth, a tendency to tartar formation, collapse of the trachea, as well as alopecia (hair loss), which is equally common in all Spitz.

It should not be forgotten that this small pet loves to eat and has a great tendency to be overweight, which can go unnoticed for a long time because of his lush coat. That is why you should control the amount of food that your pet eats, and to make him more comfortable, divide the daily portion into 2-3 parts. The problem of excess weight is reflected not so much in the appearance of the Spitz as in his health. The treats that you reward your four-legged pet during training should be symbolic and used alternately with praise, your pet will endure such a restriction in food much easier than treatment for excess weight.

 

Some interesting facts

  • Breed became especially popular in 1888, when Queen Victoria saw this dog while on vacation in Italy, just fell in love with her.
  • Pomeranian has a thick beautiful coat, which can be of different colors, which is quite easy to care for.
  • The animal gets along well with other pets, but it is better to protect it from communication with overly active and irritable children.

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We borrowed material from the wonderful site of our partners  DOGCATFAN.COM about cats and dogs, the author dogcatfan