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Pomeranian

Pomeranian Breed of Dog:

The Pomeranian dog is a breed of dog that is closely related to the Spitz.



Considering its size, one would be hard pressed to see any real connection between these small animals and other breeds of dogs such as the American Eskimo, Alaskan Malamute and Keeshound, but bloodline traces reveal that the Pomeranian dog shares some heritage with these larger dogs amongst others. The ancestors of the Pomeranians of today originally came from regions like the Arctic Circle and used to perform heavy labor tasks such as pulling sleds and carrying loads as well as aiding in hunts and providing protection for their master and his belongings.



When King George III brought a white colored dog from Pomerania, the British saw it as the perfect animal for the small dogs that they craved. However, on realizing that the dog still wasn’t small enough, they proceeded to downsize them through a variety of breeding techniques – resulting in the small dogs we have today.



As a result of its small size, it is classified as a toy dog and is covered in soft and fluffy fur. The coats come in a variety of colors including brown, orange, sable and white with colored markings.

As far as the temperament goes, these dogs are very playful and extremely active, making Pomeranian training quite a task for some. They thrive on company and will rarely leave their master. The fact that the dogs come across as rather docile and affectionate have made them very popular to many people. Also given the fact that their size allows them to easily adapt to smaller apartments make them an easy choice for many dog lovers. They usually get on well with other canines as well as other animals in the same household, while also being very good watch dogs because of their alertness and ability to raise an alarm through their (at times excessive) barking. Given their over excited behavior at times, it is almost essential to have these dogs trained. During the earlier, formative years, you must teach the animal to bark only a couple of times when the doorbell rings and stop thereafter. Because of its physical structure, dogs from this breed are very likely to suffer from small dog syndrome where, if being trained by someone of low determination, the dog may start to believe that it s the leader of the pack, causing it to become rather disobedient and destructive.

As a result of the various techniques in downsizing the breed, Pomeranians suffer from a number of health problems including early tooth loss, dislocated patella as well as heart and skin problems. Their life expectancy, though, is very high and Poms are known to live up to about 15 years.
 
  Submitted on January 5, 2010  
 
 
 

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