Collins Complete Dog Manual

Group: Toy

Country of Origin: Portugal/Malta?

Male and Female:

Ideally 15–23 cm (6–9 in)

Coat: Comes in smooth-coated and long-haired varieties in any colour or mixture.

Life Expectancy: 15–20 years

Guarding Instinct: Will warn of approach of strangers.

Temperament & Grooming

Temperament: Very affectionate, active and a bit feisty.

Grooming: The smooth-coated variety needs minimal grooming, but the long-haired variety should be brushed and combed lightly twice weekly.

Exercise & Feeding

Exercise: Active and athletic, this little dog loves a walk and to play in the garden. However, it does not need excessive exercise. A daily walk with plenty of play.

Feeding: There are no special feeding requirements.

Health Problems

Slipping patella and some heart murmurs. Check with your vet.

Pomeranian

A happy and amusing dog that is very fond of its family and given to being noisy unless trained otherwise. Full of vitality and fun, Pomeranians are always anxious to involve themselves in family activities. An ideal pet for a busy urban family. A type of tiny Spitz dog is depicted on some Roman artefacts and there is evidence of this dog’s existence throughout Europe ever since.

History

It is likely that this minuscule dog is closely related to the much larger Nordic Spitz breeds, such as the Samoyed and Keeshond. It came to Great Britain from Pomerania, Germany, in around 1870 in the form of the much bigger German Spitz – the British bred them smaller and gave them their new name. However, they did not become popular until Queen Victoria exhibited her own dog at the Kennel Club’s show, after which the breed’s future was assured.

Description

A Lilliputian dog, a tiny round ball of fluff. The adult coat is abundant, thick and plush. All colours are permissible, including whole colours – white, black, brown, pale blue or vivid orange – and parti-coloured. They have a large, distinctive Spitz-type ruff of fur. Pomeranians look very cute but they are actually good watchdogs and will warn of approaching strangers – being self-confident, they aren’t worried by bigger dogs.

Fact File

Group: Toy

Country of Origin: Scandinavia/Germany

Male and Female: Ideally 22–28 cm (8½–11 in)

Coat: Abundant, thick and plush.