13 Cool Facts About Pomeranians

If you had to sum up a Pomeranian in a word, it would be fluffball, wouldn’t it? Fluffball, puffball, ball of fluff; these tiny little soft guys are nothing if not c-u-t-e. And there are a great many things to learn about them as well — the Pomeranian is a breed with fascinating facts aplenty, from its royal history to its record-smashing color range.

If you own a beautiful little Pom, you’ll know that they’re frisky, fabulously smart, fun, and, yes, fluffy. If you aren’t as familiar with the Pomeranian breed, read on for some insights into its unique world.

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Where are Pomeranians from? Well, despite originally being from Iceland, they’re predominantly said to hail from a part of central Europe in the north of both Germany and Poland which, adorably, is called Pomerania.

This isn't their birthplace, in fact, but simply the part of the world in which they were successfully bred. 

No one would ever accuse a Pomeranian dog of being a coward. Like most small dogs, they presumably imagine themselves to be far larger than they are, failing to appreciate just how mismatched they look against a comparatively massive dog like a German Shepherd.

This behavior is amusing, of course, but on the serious side confrontations between dogs should never be encouraged. If you see your Pom seizing itself up in front of any dog, regardless of its size, take it away and try to calm it down. 

This desire to get into scraps and be as good a guard-dog as possible can extend to a Pomeranian’s interactions with humans as well. If you asked us “Are Pomeranians good with kids?” we’d say yes, but you need to make sure the children in question don’t irritate the dog too much and that they are always accompanied by an adult.

The dog’s small size is a bonus — a child will be less intimidated by it and will be able to pick it up — but their size also makes Pomeranians fragile like other small dogs. Make sure you teach your dog as best you can to stay calm in these situations.

Unbelievably, yes. Before being bred into the smaller dogs they are today, Pomeranians were actually used to pull sleds and herd reindeer. This may seem unfathomable unless you know that Pomeranians are actually Spitz dogs that are closely related to breeds such as Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, and Akitas, all of which originate from Arctic regions.

Unlike in humans, giving birth to twins is extremely rare in the world of dogs, and it seems that it wasn’t until 2016 that any dog had ever given birth to identical twins. Pomeranians, however, have a higher-than-average chance of giving birth to twin Pomeranian puppies — although it doesn’t seem clear why.

Whether or not this is good news will depend on how many Poms you want in your life…

If you look after your Pomeranian, it could also live to 21 years old — like the infamous Coty, who passed away in 2016 — but the upper limit is more likely to be around 16 years. This longevity will only happen, however, if you take excellent care of your Pomeranian. This is a breed that can be vulnerable to health conditions like hypoglycemia, hip dysplasia, distichiasis, and Cushing’s disease. 

In addition to your pet insurance, a wellness plan for your dog can cover routine vet appointments and boosters.

This might seem like an unlikely fact, because there is something seemingly modern about the Pomeranian, but their popularity today is partly explained by their history with the royal family. In 1888, the famously stern Queen Victoria was on a trip to Florence when she fell deeply in love with a small auburn Pomeranian, which prompted her to dive headfirst into the fluffy world of the Pomeranian.

A century earlier, the Queen Consort Charlotte - Victoria’s granddaughter — had owned Pomeranians as well. Victoria being the Queen of England, she was able to have whatever she desired. Soon she had four Pomeranians of her own: a red sable called Marco (after the Italian traveler Marco Polo); a white female called Gina; and two more. In the royal kennels she is said to have held as many as 35 at one point in time.

In 1901, Victoria died — but not before specifically requesting that her cherished Pomeranian Turi was right by her side. This almost obsessive love of the breed did wonders, no doubt, for the world’s fondness of the Pomeranian. In the US it is regularly in the top 20 most popular breeds of dog.

We don’t mean she shrank them with her hands or anything, but history suggests that Pomeranians were larger once upon a time, even large enough to be used as sheep herders, and that the Queen actually bred them to become smaller because she had a preference for the petite variety, this being her favorite iteration of the breed. 

Since the 19th century, therefore, Pomeranians have become smaller (by an alleged 50%) and lighter, an adult now weighing in the region of six pounds at most. In order to keep your Pomeranian the right weight, you need to ensure you’re feeding them right.

Check out our friends at Dog Food Advisor who can give you valuable insights into what to feed your pet — including best dog food for small breeds, which would suit Pomeranians.

In total, there were 12 dogs aboard the Titanic when it sank. Only three of those dogs survived, two of which were Pomeranians. One belonged to Elizabeth Rothschild, who refused to board her lifeboat without her canine companion.

The other, named Lady, belonged to Margaret Bechstein Hays, who wrapped her dog in blankets before carrying her aboard lifeboat number seven.

A remarkable array of iconic individuals throughout history have chosen to have a Pomeranian by their side. Martin Luther, Michelangelo, President Theodore Roosevelt, Elvis, Charles Darwin and Mozart each had a Pomeranian. 

In Mozart’s case, he was fond enough of his dog Pimperl to dedicate an aria to her; Martin Luther mentioned Belferlein in his writings; and Michelangelo is said to have painted the Sistine Chapel while accompanied by a Pomeranian, who reclined on a satin pillow. (History does not record how much paint the artist splashed onto the dog or the pillow.)

When they’re born, Pomeranian puppies come in a breathtaking range of colors. They come in hues including (deep breath) black and tan, white, brown, cream, red, blue, brown and tan, parti, brindle, merle, black, and even lavender.

In fact, the approximately 25 colors make it the most colorful breed of dog in the world. Not only that, as puppies, Pomeranians may start life as one color, and then change colors as they mature.

A blue dog? That would be spectacular, but — disappointingly – a blue Pomeranian isn’t classified as such because of the color of their fur.

Instead, a blue Pomeranian is distinguished by the color of his nose. Blue Poms have dull black fur and noses with a bit of blue coloring on them; they may sometimes have blue eyes as well.

There are, of course, thousands of different types of Pomeranians with their own individual personalities and idiosyncrasies. But you’ll know, if you have a Pomeranian, that these are headstrong animals who know their own mind.

This can make them a little bit trickier to train than the average dog. But it’s extremely possible. Adult Poms have the intelligence of a toddler so certainly have the capacity to learn behaviors. Use a firm voice, make it fun — and don’t give up!

A Pomeranian is what’s known as a double-coated dog. This simply means that it has an inner layer of fur but also an outer layer of fur. The inner - or the undercoat - is what keeps it warm in the winter months and cool in the summer months: it comprises soft, compact, short fur that the Pom sheds when it has to. 

The outer layer of the Pom’s coat consists of long hairs known as guard hairs, which are coarser and may stand out. When the dog is transitioning from a puppy to an adult, its soft puppy coat will fall out - but it will happen faster than its adult fur can grow back, meaning it can go through an ‘ugly’ stage of having patchy and uneven fur!