🐾 Pomeranian

Pomeranian

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Who it is

• Scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris
• Family & relatives: A small dog breed in the spitz family, related to bigger sled dogs like the Samoyed and the Keeshond.
• How to spot it: A tiny fluffy dog with a thick puffball coat, a foxy face, small pointed ears, and a curled tail over its back.

Its body & abilities

• Size: About 18 to 30 cm tall at the shoulder.
• Weight: Usually just 1.5 to 3.5 kg (3 to 7 lb).
• Body & adaptations: A double coat of soft underfur and long outer hair makes it look much bigger and rounder than it really is.
• Top speed: Quick and bouncy for its size, trotting and darting around at a lively pace.
• Strength: Small but brave, it has a big personality and often acts like a much larger dog.
• Senses: Sharp hearing and a keen nose, quick to notice sounds and alert its family.
• Growing up: Puppies are born tiny and helpless, open their eyes in about two weeks, and grow their full fluffy coat over many months.

Where it lives

• Habitat: A companion dog that lives happily indoors in homes and apartments with its family.
• Where in the world: Kept as a beloved pet in homes all around the world.
• Territory: Its territory is the home and yard, which it guards with cheerful, watchful barking.

What it eats

• Diet: An omnivore that eats dog food, with fresh water always available.
• Favorite foods: Small portions of quality dog food and healthy treats suited to its tiny size.
• How it hunts: It no longer needs to hunt, but loves to chase toys and play games with its people.

How it behaves

• How it moves: Trots lightly and springs about on little legs, always eager and full of energy.
• When it is active: Active and playful during the day, with plenty of naps in between.
• Family life: Friendly and affectionate, it bonds closely with its family and enjoys being the center of attention.
• How it talks: Communicates with lively barks, happy tail wags, and playful body wiggles.
• Babies: A mother dog gives birth to a small litter of one to five puppies after about two months, and nurses and cleans them.

Its place in nature

• Role in nature: Its job is to be a loving companion; as a pet it has no wild predators.
• Conservation: A domestic breed, so it is not a wild animal and is not endangered.
• Dangers: Being so small, it can be hurt by falls or bigger animals, so it needs gentle, careful handling.

Life & legacy

• How long it lives: Around 12 to 16 years with good care.
• In our culture: Made famous when Queen Victoria of England fell in love with the breed and made it popular.
• Where to see it: In homes, parks, and dog shows all over the world.
• Fun fact: Pomeranians were once much larger sled dogs, and were bred smaller and smaller into the fluffy lap dogs we know today.