The Pomeranian is classified under the Toy Dog Group and is the smallest member of the Spitz family of dogs that have a strong and extensive legacy of sledding. Till this day there is some dispute over the exact development pedigree of the Pomeranian dog breed. Some dog historians contend that the direct ancestor of the Pomeranian was the Deutscher Spitz while others insist otherwise!

What is not disputed by all and sundry is the understanding that the Pom (as it is affectionately referred to by fanciers of the Pomeranian breed) derived its name from the northern German district of Pomerania.

Although the Pomeranian is a German dog by origin, soon enough its birth country was eclipsed by what can best be described as its adopted country—England! Following the introduction of the Pomeranian dog in the 18th century to the English court by German born Queen Charlotte when she ascended to the British throne the breed became a rapid favorite.

In fact the extensive miniaturization of the Pomeranian dog breed began in England. The dogs that Queen Charlotte introduced to the English court although apparently referred to as Pomeranians differed significantly to the modern Pom. Those dogs were considerably bigger than modern Pomeranians weighing in at approximately 20–30 pounds (as compared to the 4–5 pounds of the modern dog). Another manner in which Queen Charlotte’s Pomeranians differed was that they were all pure white. In fact those original Pomeranians resembled the Standard Spitz more than anything else.

The Pomeranian truly began to flourish as Toy Dog following the visit of Queen Victoria to Florence in Italy where she was presented with some specimens equivalent in size to the Miniature Spitz of today. From that point onwards the popularity of the Pomeranian really took exploded despite the fact that the breed had been recognized by the English Kennel Club since 1870.

Queen Victoria not only added Pomeranians to the Royal Kennel she went on to breed them and exhibit them at dog shows. In fact in 1891 at the Cruft’s Show one of her Poms called Windsor Marco won the best of breed class.

At the time of her death in 1901 the Queen was attended by her beloved and ever faithful black Pom, Turi. As the years passed following her death, the size of the already diminutive Pomeranian shrank evermore!

So much more admired were the smaller Poms in Britain that before long  their larger counterparts had all but disappeared! Those larger variety of Pomeranians still exist in Europe but do so under other names usually combined with the appellate Spitz.

In 1891 the first Pomeranian Club came into being in Britain and a few years later the first specimens had crossed the Atlantic to make their debut in America. By 1900 the Pomeranian dog breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and in 1911 the American Pomeranian Club hosted its first show.

Today the Pom exists in a variety of 12 different colors on a spectacularly thick and what is often described as a puff-ball coat!

The Pomeranian is classified under the Toy Dog Group and is the smallest member of the Spitz family of dogs that have a strong and extensive legacy of sledding. Till this day there is some dispute over the exact development pedigree of the Pomeranian dog breed. Some dog historians contend that the direct ancestor of the Pomeranian was the Deutscher Spitz while others insist otherwise!

What is not disputed by all and sundry is the understanding that the Pom (as it is affectionately referred to by fanciers of the Pomeranian breed) derived its name from the northern German district of Pomerania.

Although the Pomeranian is a German dog by origin, soon enough its birth country was eclipsed by what can best be described as its adopted country—England! Following the introduction of the Pomeranian dog in the 18th century to the English court by German born Queen Charlotte when she ascended to the British throne the breed became a rapid favorite.

In fact the extensive miniaturization of the Pomeranian dog breed began in England. The dogs that Queen Charlotte introduced to the English court although apparently referred to as Pomeranians differed significantly to the modern Pom. Those dogs were considerably bigger than modern Pomeranians weighing in at approximately 20–30 pounds (as compared to the 4–5 pounds of the modern dog). Another manner in which Queen Charlotte’s Pomeranians differed was that they were all pure white. In fact those original Pomeranians resembled the Standard Spitz more than anything else.

The Pomeranian truly began to flourish as Toy Dog following the visit of Queen Victoria to Florence in Italy where she was presented with some specimens equivalent in size to the Miniature Spitz of today. From that point onwards the popularity of the Pomeranian really took exploded despite the fact that the breed had been recognized by the English Kennel Club since 1870.

Queen Victoria not only added Pomeranians to the Royal Kennel she went on to breed them and exhibit them at dog shows. In fact in 1891 at the Cruft’s Show one of her Poms called Windsor Marco won the best of breed class.

At the time of her death in 1901 the Queen was attended by her beloved and ever faithful black Pom, Turi. As the years passed following her death, the size of the already diminutive Pomeranian shrank evermore!

So much more admired were the smaller Poms in Britain that before long  their larger counterparts had all but disappeared! Those larger variety of Pomeranians still exist in Europe but do so under other names usually combined with the appellate Spitz.

In 1891 the first Pomeranian Club came into being in Britain and a few years later the first specimens had crossed the Atlantic to make their debut in America. By 1900 the Pomeranian dog breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and in 1911 the American Pomeranian Club hosted its first show.

Today the Pom exists in a variety of 12 different colors on a spectacularly thick and what is often described as a puff-ball coat!

Article on Pomeranian by Kayye Nynne