Pomeranian

Fragile as this dog may seem, the Pomeranian is descended from some of the heartiest dogs around: the sled dogs of Iceland and Lapland. His ancestors ended up in Germany, in the province of Pomerania, where they were bred down to the breed's present size. His nickname, Pom, comes from this province and also describes his resemblance to a pom-pom on a winter cap.

The Pomeranian is a little spark plug. He's lively, bold and inquisitive, too. This makes him an excellent and fearless watchdog despite his tiny size. He's smart and will respond well to consistent training. Poms are sometimes suspicious of strangers and other animals.

The Pomeranian's glorious double coat is one of his outstanding features. The outer coat is straight, long, and shiny. The soft woolly undercoat is thick. It causes the outer coat to stand up, especially around the neck. He needs only a twice-weekly brushing, with an occasional scissor trim. He has a foxy head with dark, shining eyes, a dark nose, and an alert expression.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance: Short and squarish in the body ("cobby"), with an intelligent and alert expression.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: Weight--3 to 7 pounds (4 to 5 is ideal).

Fun Facts

In the nineteenth century, Pomeranians made their way to England. Queen Victoria liked hers so much that she had several, and they became popular throughout the land. When Queen Victoria was dying in 1901 (after a brief illness at age 89), she requested that her favorite Pom, Turi, be put in her bed to comfort her. She died with the dog beside her.

Excerpted from The Complete Dog Book For Kids © 1996, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.