History

The Pomeranian is a descendant of the ancient Spitz breeds of the far north. These original Spitz family dogs were the sled dogs from Iceland and Lapland. These breeds were brought to Europe from the Prussian region of Pomerania (an area that's part of Germany and Poland today) and used to herd sheep. These original dogs weighed as much as 30 pounds. In the 1800's Queen Victoria established a kennel for breeding these dogs, but asked the breeders to develop a breed in a smaller size, since she preferred small dogs. Over time, the breed was developed down to its current size of 4-5 pounds. The Pomeranian that we know today was not in existence until the 19th century. Because of their natural showmanship, this breed became a favorite among those who like to show dogs and among the circus. Pomeranians are talented at agility and many types of tricks.

Many famous people have been Pomeranian owners. These include Marie Antoinette, Emile Zola, Mozart, Michelangelo and Thomas Edison. It is said that Edison's Pomeranian spilled ink on papers containing information that he had spent 20 years researching. Michelangelo's was said to have watched him as he painted the Sistine Chapel. Queen Victoria owned multiple Pomeranians.

Temperament

Pomeranians are extremely intelligent and extroverted. They are very spirited dogs, and do well with spirited owners. They prefer a lot of interaction with their owners, which is why they are often used as companion dogs for single people. Due to the dog's small size, they are easy to transport, and love going everywhere with their humans.

Because of their small size, Pomeranians are not good dogs for small children. When children play rough with this sort of dog it can often make the dog fearful, nervous and snappish. In addition, the rough play of small children can easily injure this delicate toy breed. However, these dogs do quite well with older children who are calmer and more well behaved. If you choose a Pomeranian for a family with children, it is just as important to train the children as it is to train the dog.

Pomeranians can have a tendency to be yippy, and will often bark far too much. To make matters worse, many Pomeranians have a very high pitched bark that can be especially irritating. However, if you begin training them at an early age, you can teach the dog to bark only when appropriate.

Pomeranians tend to be very willful and dominant in their personalities, so early training is critical. They are somewhat cocky, and often will not hesitate to take on a dog that is four or five times their size, as they seem to have no recognition of how small they are. Because of these tendencies, training your Pomeranian thoroughly and at a young age is critical. They are independent and curious and are usually happy and alert dogs. They are full of energy and active, but since they are so small, they are not usually a nuisance. They love to do tricks and bond well to their owners, but are not typically overly clingy. They don't like to be left alone for long periods of time, so this is not necessarily a good breed for the family who is gone all day long.

Pomeranians can do well with other pets in the home, but they should be introduced early, since this breed has a tendency to be very dominant.