Pomeranian Description

Pomeranians are short and small toy dogs. In fact, they're one of the smallest dog breeds in the world. They have soft dense undercoats with an abundance of outer coat that is coarsely textured. They have heavily plumed tails that lie flat on their backs. They are medium boned and sturdy in appearance, despite their small size.

The Pomeranian should have a head that is in good balance to the rest of the body, with a short, straight muzzle. They have very alert expressions and often look very much like a small fox. Their ears are very small and erect and are mounted high on the head. They have a very large ruff around the neck that is an important part of their overall appearance. Their eyes are dark and almond shaped and very bright and alert in appearance. They have a black nose and teeth that meet in a scissors bite. Their necks are short and they carry their heads quite high.

Pomeranians are very vivacious and extroverted, which is one of the reasons that this breed tends to be a great show dog. They have a smooth gait and appear very well balanced. Once trained, they will be a standout in the show ring, because they truly enjoy the limelight and love to be watched.

You'll sometimes hear those selling puppies refer to "teacup Pomeranians". Those dogs described as "teacup" typically weigh less than three pounds. It's important to note that there is no official "teacup" variety of Pomeranian. A Pomeranian weighing three pounds or less is likely just the runt of the litter or has health problems. The AKC considers a weight of less than three pounds to be a fault.

Coat Description

The Pomeranian has a double coat, which is one of its most noticeable features. The undercoat sheds constantly. The undercoat is soft and dense, but the outer coat is long and straight, with a very coarse texture. Their coats are very thick and stand off from the body, making the dog look significantly larger than he really is. The coat on the head and legs is tightly packed and shorter than that on the body. The forequarters and hindquarters are typically well feathered. Trimming of the Pomeranian's hair on a regular basis is essential to keeping this breed looking neat.