30+ Facts About Pomeranians That You May Not Know

It's hard to believe, when looking at the Pomeranian that there is some wolf in the bloodline, however hundreds of years of breeding down the size of this dog brought us the adorable tiny toy that we know today.

There are 20 other purebreds in the AKC toy group, aside from the Pomeranian. Size is the deciding factor in classifying a dog in this group. Weighing between 3 and 7 pounds (1.36 to 3.175 kg) and with an adult height ranging from 8 to 11 inches (20 to 28 cm) places the Pomeranian as one of the smallest toy breeds.

Smaller breeds such as the Pomeranian have an average life span that is longer than large breeds. The Pom lives, on average, 12 to 16 years. Toys also reach emotional maturity faster than bigger breeds. The Pom is considered to be an adult at the 1-year-old mark, while larger breeds often take 2 years to reach that point.

Alternative breed names are: the Toy German Spitz (Zwergspitz ) which is the term used in many countries around the world, and the Dwarf Spitz. The most common and frequently used nickname is "Pom".

Perky and friendly, Pomeranians, even though small, need regular exercise and thrive on training. They are intelligent, but sometimes do not realize they are small and will confront larger dogs.