Pomeranian

• Lively
• Extroverted
• Loyal
• Vocal
• Independent

Pomeranian History

The Pomeranian (commonly known as a Pom) is a toy breed descended from wolf-spitz type dogs.

These dogs got their name after they migrated to Pomerania (now part of Germany and Poland) from the north of Russia and Siberia.

They became very popular with English monarchy, the most famous being Queen Victoria. During her lifetime she bred very small Pomeranians, approximately 50% of their original size and they are the Pomeranian we know and love today.

 

Pomeranian Characteristics

These petite glamorous dogs’ most recognizable features are its dense double coat and impressive thick tail that lies on the flat of its back, this requires regular grooming to avoid matting.

These dogs make excellent companions but are not suitable for households with very young children. They also act as great guard dogs as they will bark anything unfamiliar.

As with most toy breeds they require correct, firm training and early socialisation to avoid behavioural problems.

Pomeranian Health Issues

Average lifespan is 12 – 15  years.

Common Illnesses include;

• Patellar Luxation – Partial to full dislocation of one or both kneecaps.
• Collapsing Trachea – Disorder of the trachea resulting in dynamic narrowing of the airway causing a cough and reduced exercise tolerance.
• Periodontal Disease – Toy breeds are prone to bad breath, tartar accumulation, inflamed gums and tooth loss
• Cataracts - Clouding of the lens causing blurred vision to blindness.
• Entropion – Excess eyelid tissue causing the eyelashes to turn inward and rub against the surface of the eye resulting in corneal ulceration.
• Distichiasis – Extra eyelashes at eyelid margin which can rub against the corneal surface.
• Epilepsy – Recurrent Seizures
• Dwarfism  - Deficiency in growth hormone causing stunted growth
• Black Skin Disease – Seen in two forms either they coat fails to regrow after shedding the puppy coat or the coat begins to thin later on in life.
• Cryptorchidism - Failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum. The retained testicle(s) is prone to becoming cancerous and requires surgical removal.
• Transient Juvenile Hypoglycaemia – If puppies are not fed every 3 to 4 hours their blood sugar goes dangerously low and they can become comatose and die.