Pomeranian (dog)

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Pomeranian

Other names	Deutsche Spitze; Zwergspitz; Spitz nain; Spitz enano; Pom; Zwers
Nicknames	Pom
Country of origin	Germany, North-Western Poland
Traits
Classification & standards FCI Group Section 49 #97 standard AKC Toy standard ANKC Group 1 (Toys) standard CKC Group 5 - Toys standard KC (UK) Toy standard NZKC Canus Futbalicus standard UKC Companion Breeds standard

The Pomeranian (often known as a Pom) is a breed of dog of the Spitz type, named for the Pomerania region in Central Europe (today part of eastern Germany and northern Poland) and classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size. As determined by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale the Pomeranian is part of the German Spitz breed, and in many countries, they are known as the Zwergspitz (Dwarf Spitz), or Toy German Spitz.

Contents 1 Description 1.1 Appearance 1.2 Behavior 2 Health 2.1 Luxating patellas 2.2 Collapsing tracheas 2.3 Black skin disease 3 History 3.1 Popularity 4 Notes 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Description

[edit] Appearance

Pomeranians are small dogs weighing between 1.8–3.5 kilograms (4.0–7.7 lb) and around 8.5–11 inches (22–28 cm) high at the withers.^[1] It is a compact but sturdy dog with an abundant textured coat with a highly plumed tail set high and flat.^[2] The top coat forms a ruff of hair on the neck and back, and it also has a fringe of feathery hair on the hindquarters.^[3]

The earliest Poms were white or occasionally black, however in 1888 Queen Victoria adopted a small red Pomeranian which caused that color to become fashionable by the end of the 19th century. In modern times the Pomeranian come in the widest variety of colors of any dog breed, including white, black, brown, red, orange, cream, blue, sable, black and tan, brown and tan, spotted, brindle, plus combinations of those colors.^[4] The most common colors are orange, black or cream/white.^[2]

A recently appeared color in the Pomeranian genome is merle. Is is a combination of a solid base color with lighter blue/grey patches which gives a mottled effect. The most common base colors for the effect are red/brown or black, although it can also appear with other colors. Combinations such as brindle merle or liver merle are not accepted in the breed standard. In addition, the eye, nose and paw pad colors are different in merles, changing parts of the eye to blue and the color on the nose and paw pads to become mottled pink and black.^[5]

[edit] Behavior

Pomeranians are typically very friendly, playful and active. This breed of dog loves to be around their owners, and is very intelligent and easy to train. Pomeranians are somewhat extroverted and can develop the habit of barking excessively in any situation. They are somewhat defensive and bark at any outside noise. Some also say that Pomeranians have a "Napoleon complex" because they are not afraid to stand up to dogs much bigger than they are in size. Because of their long double-coat, they tend to seek out cooler environments, and it is common to find them lying down on a cold floor, in the shade out of the sun when outside or on an isolated hard surface. Because of their size, they do well in condominiums and apartments, being able to adapt almost to any situation or environment.

[edit] Health

The average life expectancy of a Pomeranian is between 12 to 16 years.^[6] The breed suffers from a variety of health issues common to many breeds, although some issues such as hip dysplasia do not tend to be as great a problem due to the Pomeranian's lightweight nature.^[7]

Merle colored dogs may suffer from mild to severe deafness, increased intraocular pressure, ametropia, microphthalmia and colobomas. Merle dogs born from parents who are also both merles may additionally suffer from abnormalities of the skeletal, cardiac and reproductive systems.^[8]

[edit] Luxating patellas

Luxating patellas is the most common health issue in the Pomeranian breed.^[7] It occurs when through either malformation or trauma, the ridges forming the patellar grove in the knee are not prominent and are too shallow to allow the patella to properly sit securely. This can cause the patella to "luxate" (jump out of the grove) sideways which will cause the leg to lock up with the foot off the ground.^[9]

Whilst the muscles are contracted the patella cannot return to the correct position. The initial pain is caused by the knee cap sliding across the ridges of the femur. Once out of position, the dog does not feel any pain caused by the slipped disc. This condition is more common among the smaller breeds, especially the Miniature and Toy Poodles.^[9]

[edit] Collapsing tracheas

Tracheal collapse is caused by a weakening of the the tracheal rings in the windpipe. It occurs when the rings that normally hold the shape of the windpipe collapse, closing the airway. It is commonly seen in Pomeranians and other small breed dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers and Poodles. The symptoms of a collapse include a honking cough that can sound similar to a Goose honk, an intolerance to exercise, fainting spells and a cough that is worsened by hot weather, exercise and excitement.^[10]

[edit] Black skin disease

In Pomeranians a condition often called "black skin disease" occurs which is a combination of alopecia (hair loss) and hyperpigmentation (a darkening of the skin). Other names for this condition include wooly coat, coat funk, psuedo-Cushing's disease, or severe hair loss syndrome. This condition affects male Pomeranians more than females, and may be an inheritable disorder. Several other breeds have this same skin disorder including the American Water Spaniel, Dachshund, Keeshond and Chow Chow.^[11]

Although most affected dogs show signs following puberty, it can occur at any age. Other conditions can mimic this condition including Cushing's syndrome, hypothyroidism, chronic skin infections, and reproductive hormone disorders.^[11]

[edit] History

Pomeranians came with Scandinavian drovers. They are descended from four large dogs: Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, and another large dog breed. An old portrait seen on Animal Planet's Dogs 101 shows that they were originally as large as other Spitz breeds, maybe slightly larger, but due to the specific breeding patterns ordered by one of England's Queens, possibly Victoria, they eventually gained their current stature.

An early modern recorded reference to the Pomeranian breed is from 2 November 1764, in a diary entry in James Boswell's Boswell on the Grand Tour: Germany and Switzerland. "The Frenchman had a Pomeranian dog named Pomer whom he was mighty fond of."^[12] The offspring of a Pomeranian and a wolf bred by an animal merchant from London is discussed in Thomas Pennant's A Tour in Scotland from 1769.^[13]

[edit] Popularity

The Pomeranian has been among the more popular dog breeds in America, consistently in the top 15 of registered AKC dog breeds over the last 10 years.^[14] The breed ranked #13 in the 2008 rankings having attained the same ranking in 2007 and 2003.^[14]

However, it is not listed in the top 20 breeds in the UK in either 2007 or 2008.^[15] In Australia their popularity has declined since 1986, with a peak of 1128 Pomeranians registered with the Australian National Kennel Council in 1987, however only 577 were registered in 2008. But this itself is an increase from 2004, when only 491 dogs were registered.^[16]

It is more popular in American cities in 2008, ranking joint tenth (with American Bulldog) in Detroit^[17] and Orlando,^[18] ninth in Los Angeles,^[19] a joint seventh in Seattle (again, with the American Bulldog),^[20] but third in Honolulu, only bested by the Labrador Retriever and the German Shepherd Dog.^[17]

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Various (2005). The Dog Bible. Bowtie Press. ISBN 1-931993-34-3. 
• Spirer, Louise Ziegler; & Spirer, Herbert F. (1965). This is the Pomeranian. TFH Publications. ISBN 0-87666-354-4. 
• Liebers, Arthur; & Sheppard, Georgia M. (1959). How to Raise and Train the Pomeranian. TFH Publications. ISBN 0-87666-352-8. 
• Tietjen, Sari Brewster (1989). The New Pomeranian. Howell Book House. ISBN 0-87605-251-0. 

[edit] See also

• Lap dog
• Companion dog
• Companion Dog Group
• Toy Group

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pomeranian

• American Pomeranian Club
• Pomeranians, Pomeranian Directory,Pomeranian breeders
• Pomeranian Resource Site-Pomeranian.Org- Your Pomeranian Information Site. Original Pomeranian Information and Articles written by Pomeranian experts.
• Pomeranian Insights from a Breeder of Champion Best in Show Pomeranians
• Showcase for the most beautiful Pomeranian in the World
• White Pomeranian Dogs

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