Typically,
a Pomeranian is:
Very small, has a thick coat and an
adorable, characteristic face;
Is lively, bold and sometimes too
smart for his own good;
Can’t be tricked easily and keenly
aware of everything going on around him;
Is a thief by nature and will hide
those items he’s “found”;
Is loyal to the end, and creates a
bond with his owner that is like no other breed;
The
American Kennel Club describes the Pom “Standard” as follows:
General Appearance
“The Pomeranian is
a compact, short-backed, active toy dog. He has a soft, dense
undercoat with a
profuse harsh-textured outer coat. His heavily plumed tail is set high
and lies flat on
his back. He is alert in character, exhibits intelligence in expression, is
buoyant in deportment,
and is inquisitive by nature. The Pomeranian is cocky,
commanding, and
animated as he gaits. He is sound in composition and action.”
Size, Proportion, Substance
“The average
weight of the Pomeranian is from 3 to 7 pounds, with the ideal weight for the
show specimen
being 4 to 6 pounds. Any dog over or under the limits is objectionable.
However, overall
quality is to be favored over size. The distance from the point of shoulder
to the point of
buttocks is slightly shorter than from the highest point of the withers to the
ground. The
distance from the brisket to the ground is half the height at the withers. He
is
medium-boned, and
the length of his legs is in proportion to a well-balanced frame.”
SIDE NOTE: There is no such thing as a tea-cup or
pocket-size Pom. Pom’s are a toy
breed. Very tiny Poms are more prone to
health issues, shorter life spans, and should not be priced at a higher rate
than Poms within the standard. An
ethical breeder will not breed for Poms under or over the standard size of 3 to
7 pounds. The tea-cup/pocket-size
labels are a marketing ploy from unethical breeders trying to charge outrageous
prices to an unknowing potential buyer.
Please do not be taken by these tactics!