Pomeranians are a fantastic
breed of dog with a gregarious personality. They are perfect
for cuddling up on the couch, playing fetch in the yard, and
expressing extreme interest in anything you say and do.
In my mind, they really are the perfect
breed. So how can this fuzzy little dog be improved upon? Well,
some think the only thing left to do is make the dog smaller.
If you're in that boat, you'll be quite excited to hear about
what a Pomeranian really is. The proper size for a Pomeranian
is 3 to 7 pounds, already the tiny fun sized creature that you
are looking for.
If you're thinking about
buying one of these fuzzy little dogs, already own one, or just
enjoy reading about them - this article will provide you with
many important facts, and should help answer any questions you
might have. It's important to be informed about any "buying
decision" (or adoption decision in this case!), and bringing
home a living creature which you must care for, through their
entire 12-18 year life, is absolutely no different.
It should be pointed out
that, in the United States, there is no official recognition, by the AKC or anyone
else, of size classifications or variations in Pomeranians. According to the AKC
standards the Pomeranian is a “Toy" breed group ranging from 3 to 7
pounds in size. UKC standards hold the same size range, but
refer to them in the “Companion” group. This size is very often
referred to, in puppy mill marketing terms, as “Miniature” or “Teacup”.
Even though you often see larger Poms, these are generally
either the result of either the breeder not taking any “Breed
Type” into consideration, or throw backs into their larger
ancestors. Since they were bred down from their 30 pound Spitz
ancestors, throwbacks into those past generations may be seen.
Through years of selective breeding the small size was
accomplished to be the very tiny dogs you see in the show ring
now. They are physically no different - they're just smaller.
These are not the "midgets" of the dog world, and there is
nothing on their body that is different. The proportions are the
same; they are just small.
If you're looking for one of
these dogs to make your own, you can start looking anywhere you
might seek out a full-sized dog. Check the newspaper, online at
sites like Puppy Finder, Ebay Classifieds, directly from breeders, or
from a rescue. Rescue sites such as Pet Finder and Pets
911 are great resources. Ask the usual questions about the dog, and treat
the "interview" process just like you would when buying any
other dog.
In your investigations, keep
in mind that adult size is extremely difficult to predict. There
is no getting around Mother Nature. As a puppy it is a best
guess at adult sizes. The size of the parents plays a big role,
but since they were bred from 30 pound ancestors a puppy can
easily end up large than the size of the parents.
Generally by 12 weeks of age a good breeder will have a pretty
good idea.
Many breeders will simply use
“teacup” as a marketing term to sell the dog and draw attention
to their ads. This “Teacup” puppy may grow up to be a whopping
16 pounds. This means you need to do your homework. Ensure that
the parents and grandparents are within the size you are looking
for. Find out about other puppies from these parents.
Generally speaking, a Pomeranian will grow to be about
the same size as its parents, so ask to meet the puppy's
biological mother and father or other relations. This is also a great chance to
check the health of the parents, and see if there are any health
issues that run in the blood lines (such as heart disease and
joint problems).
Pomeranians 4lbs and under
can be more delicate in health. Since their body mass is so
slight it is important to ensure they are eating regularly,
especially before 18 months of age. The biggest problem seen in
these little guys is hypoglycemia from over doing, stress, or
not eating regularly. Untreated hypoglycemia often results in
death. When you purchase a Pomeranian puppy the breeder or
seller should be informing you of the risks of hypoglycemia, how
to identify a puppy having issues, and what to do to resolve
it. One general safeguard when purchasing a puppy would be to
meet the parents. Of course, you are not going to be able to
see the internals, but if they both seem healthy you are likely
to be safe. A breeder should be willing to speak to the health
of their lines. No line is 100% health perfect. They should be
open, understand what is behind their dogs, and be willing to
talk about what is there. Just because a grandparent has
an issue doesn't mean you puppy will have one, but it does mean
that there is a risk. Be sure to have your puppy or dog
health checked by your Vet within 48 to 72 hours of purchasing
them. Any reputable seller will stipulate that in their
contract and offer a full refund if a major genetic issue is
found.
If the dog is an incredibly
small female (4 pounds or less), breeding is not recommended -
meaning you should have that girl spay as soon as possible. The
process of breeding is a great stress to these tiny creatures.
Breeding is a risk for both mother and puppies. C-sections are
seen in about 60% of these dogs. With a C-section the puppies
often do not survive, mothers often do not get milk, and mothers
sometimes do not survive. Careful consideration is required
before risking the life of your much loved pet in having
puppies.
There's a lot to consider
when adopting any dog, and the size-factor just serves to make
things more complex. Remember “Teacup” or “Miniature” is a
term that has been created to attempt to describe the sizes of Poms. There is actually no true designation of Teacup,
Miniature or Standard for Poms. They are all part of the Toy or
Companion Breed Group and with proper breeding should be in the
3-7 pound range. Smaller than that is simply little and
bigger than that are simply big.
Hopefully we have given you a
place to start from, and have answered some of the questions you
might have about this breed that has been rolled up into a tiny
"fun-sized" package.
