Pomeranians are small dogs with a big personality, and their physical appearance is just as unique as their spirit. They typically weigh between 3-7 pounds and stand about 6-11 inches tall at the shoulder.
Their thick double coat is one of their most distinctive features. It's soft and dense on the inside, with a harsher outer layer that sheds heavily.
Pomeranians come in a variety of colors, including orange, red, blue, and merle. Some have a solid color, while others have a mix of colors or markings.
Their head shape is another key characteristic - it's wedge-shaped, with a black nose and erect ears.
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Physical Characteristics
A Pomeranian's weight can range from 6.1 to 11.4 pounds for males and 4.6 to 7.3 pounds for females. Their height at the shoulders is typically between eight to 11 inches.
Their bodies are somewhat square, with a fluffy and curled up tail. Pomeranians boast a luxurious double coat, complete with a thick ruff around the neck.
Here are the possible colors a Pomeranian can come in:
- Red
- Red sable
- Black
- Black and brindle
- Black and tan
- White
- Cream
- Blue
- Blue sable
- Blue Merle
- Blue and tan
- Orange
- Orange sable
- Cream sable
- Wolf sable
- Tri-colored
- Chocolate
- Chocolate merle
- Chocolate sable
- Chocolate and tan
- Beaver
- Beaver sable
- Brindle
- Blue brindle
Characteristics
A Pomeranian's head is wedge-shaped with a short fine muzzle, featuring medium-sized almond-shaped eyes and tiny pricked ears.
Their muzzle should be in proportion to the rest of their head and body, with a moderate stop. A Pomeranian's head should not be dish-faced or down-faced, and their muzzle should not be too long or too short.
Their eyes are almond-shaped, medium-sized, and dark in color, with a distinct Pom expression. If their eyes are too small or too big, it can give them a beady or owl-like appearance.
A Pomeranian's ears are small and positioned high on their head, giving them an alert and intelligent expression. Their ears should be covered by short hair that is trimmed to make them look their best.
Their neck is short and sits well into their shoulders, allowing them to carry their head high and proud. A Pomeranian's body is compact, well-balanced, and sturdy, with a short back and well-rounded barrel.
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Their tail is a unique characteristic of the breed, being profusely covered with long, harsh, straight hair and carried high and flat over their back. A Pomeranian's tail should never fall or curl to the side.
Here are the different colors a Pomeranian can come in:
- Red
- Red sable
- Black
- Black and brindle
- Black and tan
- White
- Cream
- Blue
- Blue sable
- Blue Merle
- Blue and tan
- Orange
- Orange sable
- Cream sable
- Wolf sable
- Tri-colored
- Chocolate
- Chocolate merle
- Chocolate sable
- Chocolate and tan
- Beaver
- Beaver sable
- Brindle
- Blue brindle
Feet
When trimmed, a Pomeranian's feet should look like an extension of the legs with only small definition.
Pomeranians have compact feet that resemble a cat's paws with strong, straight pasterns.
Their feet must be small and point straight ahead while standing on their toes.
Long thin feet with spreading toes are undesirable in Pomeranians.
Standing well up on their toes is a characteristic of a Pomeranian's compact feet.
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Coat and Size
A Pomeranian's coat is a major characteristic, with a harsh double coat being essential for the breed's ideal appearance. His coat has two parts: a straight, long, and harsh top coat, and a dense and soft undercoat.
The Pomeranian's coat is heaviest on the front part of his shoulders, chest, and neck, while his head and legs have the shortest hair. This gives him a distinctive "puffball" appearance.
A Pomeranian's ideal weight is 4 to 5 pounds, with females being preferred to be larger than males. In fact, breeding with larger females is encouraged to help reduce whelping complications.
Coat
A Pomeranian's coat is a major characteristic that had the highest amount of points during early breed standards.
The coat is made up of two parts: the top coat is straight, long, and harsh, while the undercoat is dense and soft.
A Pomeranian's coat is heaviest on the front part of his shoulders, chest, and neck, whereas his head and legs have the shortest hair.
A harsh double coat is a requirement for a Pomeranian, and a soft, cotton-type coat is undesirable on an adult Pom.
A Pom puppy's coat may be dense and shorter, and may or may not show guard hair, but it's essential to remember that a harsh double coat is a must.
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Size
Pomeranians ideally weigh between 4 to 5 pounds, but can range from 3 to 7 pounds.
The female Pomeranian is preferred to be larger than the male, which is a deliberate breeding choice to help reduce whelping difficulties.
Females play a crucial role in the future of the breed, and must be sound, have substance, and be suitable for breeding.
Oversize Pomeranians can lose their dainty look and type, while undersize Pomeranians may start losing their coat, body, and soundness, looking weedy and lacking in substance.
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Movement and Colors
Pomeranians come in a variety of whole colours, including white, black, brown, blue, and orange.
Whole colours must be free from black or white shadings, and orange should be self-coloured and bright as possible.
In contrast, cream dogs have black noses and black eye rims, and whites must be quite free from lemon or any other colour.
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Movement
The Pomeranian's movement is a sight to behold. He possesses a smooth, balanced, vigorous gait.
His front leg extends forward in a straight line, with his opposite rear leg taking the same action. This creates a harmonious movement that's a joy to watch.
Each rear leg moves at the same time as the front leg on the opposite side, which helps him stay balanced. His legs will slightly converge inwards to a centre line under his body.
His topline stays level, and he maintains his outline and balance as he moves.
Colours
Whole colours are permissible in Pomeranians, but they must be free from black or white shadings. These colours include white, black, brown, blue, orange, beaver, and cream.
A cream Pomeranian has black noses and black eye rims. Whites must be quite free from lemon or any other colour.
Dogs other than white with white or tan markings are highly undesirable and not considered whole-coloured specimens.
For another approach, see: Cream Shiba Inu
General Information
Pomeranians are a small breed of dog, typically standing between 6 to 7 inches tall.
Their weight can vary, ranging from 3 to 7 pounds, making them a great companion for those who live in small spaces.
One of the distinctive features of Pomeranians is their long double coat, which requires regular grooming to prevent matting and tangling.
Pomeranians come in a wide range of colors and combinations, including red, orange, cream, sable, black, brown, and blue.
On average, a Pomeranian's lifespan is between 12 to 16 years, making them a long-term companion.
Their bold and alert temperament makes them lively and affectionate, but also requires regular exercise and socialization to prevent behavioral issues.
For your interest: Good Companion Dogs
Sources
- parti-coloured dogs. (pomeranian.org)
- Shaded sables (pomeranian.org)
- cream. (pomeranian.org)
- orange, (pomeranian.org)
- brown (pomeranian.org)
- Pomeranian Headquarters (pomeranian.org)
- ANKC Pomeranian Breed Standard. (ankc.org.au)
- English Kennel Club Pomeranian Breed Standard (thekennelclub.org.uk)
- Instagram (instagram.com)
- X (twitter.com)
- Pomeranian Dog Breed Information (akc.org)
- related to (britannica.com)
- Pom Squad Rescue (pomsquadrescue.com)
- Pomeranian Rescue (rescueme.org)
- American Pomeranian Club (ampomclub.org)
- Pomeranian Rescue (rescueme.org)
- American Pomeranian Club (ampomclub.org)
- Pomeranian Dog Breed Information and Pictures (dogbreedinfo.com)
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