Pomeranian History
By: Carol Keen
In the creation of the Pomeranian several breeds of Nortic dogs were used. The Spitz was definitely a foundation for today's Pomeranians, and close genetic markers are found with the Keeshounds, as well as the Samoyed. The Poms of "old" were not the same size as today's Pomeranians. They were often 30 or 35 pounds, and many were working as herding dogs. Some of them even pulled sleds like the Husky. The size of their ancestors is why the size of our current Pomeranians can vary so much from time to time. Occasionally recessive genes crop up and a Pom will wind up way over size in the current standard. Purebred Poms who weigh 20 pounds have been reported, as well as Poms who are as tiny as 2 pounds.
Poms had their start in Pomerania, which was North of Russia. In 1761 Queen Charlotte married King George III. She brought with her 15 pound white dogs from Pomerania. When she got them to England they became called Pomeranians. Queen Victoria is the one who made Poms well known when she started showing Poms. She also fell in love with Volpinos, who look very much like Poms, but they are white. It is quite possible they were bred together back then, and brought more color into our Pomeranian breed. Queen Victoria got her dogs in 1888. By 1915 they were officially called Pomeranians. In 1870 the Pomeranian was recognized by the Great Britain's The Kennel Club, and AKC (American Kennel Club) recognized them as their own breed in 1900.
Most Pomeranians have a thick undercoat, and longer course guard hairs. This is sometimes called a double coat. They have tails that curl up over their backs, and they often seem to show off endless energy. While they shouldn't be kept too cold of course, they still flourish when playing outdoors in cooler weather where they tend to show off the ancestry that formed them into the Pomeranian breed.
I sure hope this page has helped! Please feel free to ask questions if you have any. ;)
Carol :)
