Dog breed
Pomeranian
The Pomeranian, or Dwarf Spitz, is the smallest variety of the German Spitz: it stands about 21 cm at the withers and usually weighs 1.5–3 kg. It has a profuse, stand-off coat, a foxy face and a tail carried over its back. It's an alert, cheerful apartment dog that happily barks to report everything happening outside the door.
- FCI Group V · Spitz and primitive · standard no. 97
- Weight
- 1.4–3.2 kg
- Height
- 18–24 cm
- Lifespan
- 12–16 years
- Origin
- Germany
Temperament
The Pomeranian's personality is much bigger than its body. It is lively, curious and self-confident, quickly learns the house rules and likes being the center of attention. The FCI standard describes it as always attentive, cheerful and deeply devoted to its owner, which sums up daily life with this dog well. It has a well-developed watchdog instinct, so the doorbell, footsteps in the stairwell or a delivery driver outside usually set off a string of barks. Without work on settling down, it easily turns into a tiny alarm system. It usually gets along with other pets because it has little prey drive, but it can be feisty with big dogs. It enjoys tricks and scent games, and with good training it can even compete in agility. Small children may hurt it by accident, so it does better with adults or older kids.
- Energy
- calmvery energetic
- Affection
- independentvelcro pet
- With children
- not idealgreat
- With other pets
- difficultgreat
- Trainability
- stubborneager to learn
- For first-time owners
- for experienced ownersyes
- With strangers
- waryoutgoing
- Playfulness
- dignifiedeternal puppy
- Shedding
- minimalheavy
- Grooming
- easydemanding
- Being left alone
- strugglescopes well
- Apartment living
- needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
- Barking
- quietvocal
- With other dogs
- difficultgreat
- Protectiveness
- lowhigh
- Drooling
- hardly anya lot
- Cold tolerance
- feels the coldexcellent
- Heat tolerance
- strugglescopes well
Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits
Who is the Pomeranian for?
The Pomeranian suits city dwellers who want a small but bright and sociable dog and don't mind regular brushing. It works well for a single person, a couple or a senior who spends plenty of time at home. It isn't the best fit for families with toddlers, for an apartment building with thin walls unless you work on the barking, or for anyone looking for a dog that doesn't shed.
Pros
- small and comfortable in an apartment
- smart and quick to learn
- long-lived
- cheerful and sociable
Challenges
- barks a lot
- demanding, dense coat and heavy shedding
- fragile around small children
- prone to alopecia X and dental problems
Size and looks
| Height at the withers | males 18–24 cm, females 18–24 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | males 1.4–3.2 kg, females 1.4–3.2 kg |
| Lifespan | 12–16 years |
| Coat | long |
| Colors | orange, white, black, brown, gray shaded, cream |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Classification | Group V: Spitz and primitive types |
| Also known as | Zwergspitz, Dwarf Spitz, Pom |
Care and exercise
About half an hour of exercise a day is enough for a Pomeranian, ideally split into two or three walks with time to sniff, plus play at home. The coat takes the most work: the dense undercoat and stand-off outer coat need brushing down to the skin several times a week, especially behind the ears and on the trousers, and daily during shedding. Don't clip it short, because the double coat may grow back unevenly. Brush the teeth daily and trim the nails regularly, since a dog this light doesn't wear them down much. Use a harness instead of a collar. In training, focus from the start on rewarding calm when there are noises in the stairwell and on recall: this dog learns fast but likes to test boundaries.
How much should the Pomeranian eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.Health and breed-related conditions
The Pomeranian is usually long-lived, often reaching 12–16 years. The breed is affected by alopecia X, a symmetrical hair loss with darkening of the skin whose cause is not fully understood. As in many toy breeds, patellar luxation, tracheal collapse and dental disease from crowded teeth occur, and puppies can suffer drops in blood sugar. Eye problems are also described, including cataracts and abnormally growing eyelashes. The Royal Kennel Club recommends eye exams for breeding dogs and places the breed in Category 2 of Breed Watch. Be wary of breeders offering “mini boo” or “teacup” dogs: extreme miniaturization and a very short muzzle are health risks.
- alopecia X (black skin disease)Symmetrical hair loss and darkening of the skin, usually without itching; the cause is not fully understood.
- tracheal collapseA weakened windpipe causes a honking cough; a harness instead of a collar reduces pressure on the neck.
- patellar luxationCommon in toy breeds; shows up as skipping on one leg.
- dental diseaseA small jaw and crowded teeth encourage tartar and periodontal disease.
- hypoglycemiaThe risk mainly affects puppies that eat too infrequently.
Health tests to ask the breeder about
- eye exam (ECVO)
- patella assessment
- teeth and bite check
This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.
Breed history
German Spitzes are among the oldest dog types in Central Europe, and the FCI standard traces them back to Stone Age dogs and prehistoric lake settlements. The smallest variety was developed in the historic region of Pomerania, which gave it its English name. Its popularity in Britain came from the royal court: Queen Charlotte already kept Spitzes, and later Queen Victoria did too. It was in Britain, and later in the US, that ever smaller dogs with very profuse coats were bred. The FCI treats the Pomeranian as one variety of the German Spitz, described in shared standard No. 97 alongside the Wolfspitz, Giant, Medium and Miniature Spitz.
Fun facts
- The FCI standard gives the Pomeranian a height of 21 cm ± 3 cm and sets no weight: weight should simply match height.
- The Polish name “szpic miniaturowy” corresponds to the German Zwergspitz; in the English translation of the standard, “Miniature Spitz” is a different, larger variety (called “szpic mały” in Polish).
- Queen Victoria kept Pomeranians and helped make them popular in Britain.
- The German Spitz varieties share one FCI standard with the Keeshond, also known as the Wolfspitz.
Frequently asked questions
Do Pomeranians bark a lot?
Usually, yes. It's an alert watchdog in miniature that reacts to the doorbell, footsteps and outside noises. From puppyhood, reward calm behavior in those situations and give it things to do, because a bored dog barks even more.
How much grooming does a Pomeranian need?
Mostly it costs time: the dense coat needs brushing down to the skin several times a week, and daily during shedding. A slicker brush and a metal comb are all you need. Clipping it short isn't recommended, because the double coat may grow back unevenly.
How much does an adult Pomeranian weigh?
The FCI standard sets only height (21 cm ± 3 cm), and weight should be in proportion. In practice, adult dogs usually weigh about 1.5–3 kg.
Are Pomeranians hypoallergenic?
Not really. They have a dense undercoat and shed heavily, especially twice a year. No dog is fully hypoallergenic, and with a Pomeranian the amount of hair around the house can be considerable.
How long does a Pomeranian live?
The typical lifespan of the Pomeranian is 12–16 years. Genetics, weight, exercise and regular preventive vet care all make a difference.
This breed also appears in
Sources
- 1FCI standard nr 97 – Deutscher Spitz (German Spitz)fci.be
- 2Royal Kennel Club – Pomeranianroyalkennelclub.com
- 3PetMD – Pomeranianpetmd.com
- 4Wikipedia – Pomeranian dogen.wikipedia.org
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
