How to Identify a Pomeranian

Your guide to easily spotting a purebred Pomerianian

|

Coat

|

Temperament

|

Q&A

|

Tips

Pomeranians are one of the smallest dog breeds and a member of the toy group.^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} They are spitz-type dogs descended from Icelandic sled dogs.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} Pomeranians can be confused with other breeds, but by identifying their key traits, you can more easily distinguish them. This wikiHow will help you know whether or not a dog is a Pomeranian.

Things You Should Know

Pomeranians are 6–7 inches (15–18 cm) tall, with dark eyes, small ears, and a fox-like face.
Though color and cuts vary, Pomeranians frequently have dense, cream-colored double coats.
Pomeranians are known to be bright, energetic, curious, sweet, and social little dogs.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Body Structure

1
Check the dog's size. Pomeranians are very tiny dogs. They are only 6–7 inches (15–18 cm) tall and weigh 3–7 pounds (1.4–3.2 kg).^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}

Did you know? Not only are Pomeranians the smallest of the spitz breeds (a group of dogs including the Chow Chow, Siberian Husky, Keeshond, Shiba Inu, and other breeds),^{[4]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} but they're one of the smallest dog breeds in the world.^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
2
Examine the eyes. The eyes of a Pomeranian are dark and bright. They are almond-shaped and medium in size.^{[6]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Locate the ears. Pomeranians have small ears. The ears are carried erect and mounted high.^{[7]
X
Research source}
4
Notice the muzzle. A Pomeranian's muzzle is short and straight, usually with a scissors bite and a black nose, though the nose may be self-colored in chocolate, beaver, and blue dogs.^{[8]
X
Research source} The muzzle and face are often called "fox-like".^{[9]
X
Research source}
5
Find the tail. Pomeranians have tails that lie flat and straight on the back.^{[10]
X
Research source} The tails are heavily plumed and set high.^{[11]
X
Research source}
6
Look at the overall structure of the dog. The build of a Pomeranian is compact and sturdy. Pomeranians are medium-boned, short-backed, and moderately muscled.^{[12]
X
Research source} They have a brisk, smooth, balanced gait.^{[13]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Coat

1
Check how the coat appears and feels. Pomeranians have double coats. This includes a short, dense undercoat and a long, harsh-haired outer coat.^{[14]
X
Research source} Pomeranians have ruffs around their necks that frame the head and extend over the chest and shoulders, along with feathered forelegs, heavily coated thighs and hind legs, and plumed tails.^{[15]
X
Research source}
2
Identify the coat color. Pomeranians have a very wide range of coat colors and patterns.
- Coat colors are broken down into three classifications: red, orange, cream, and sable; black, brown, and blue; and any other color, pattern, or variation.^{[16]
  X
  Research source}
- Patterns include brindle, parti, piebald, extreme piebald, Irish, and tan points (which are seen above the eyes, inside the ears, on the muzzle, throat, forechest, legs, feet, and the underside of the tail).^{[17]
  X
  Research source}
3
Notice the "cut". Some people choose to give their Pomeranians specific haircuts rather than keeping the traditional cut. Some of these cuts may include the Teddy Bear cut, Lion cut, Show cut, and Puppy cut.^{[18]
X
Research source}
- The Teddy Bear cut is seen as somewhat short fur with a circular clip around the head.^{[19]
  X
  Research source}
- The Lion cut appears as shaving most of the fur while keeping the fur around the head, chest, and legs long.^{[20]
  X
  Research source}
- The Show cut is cutting to meet dog show standards, such as trimming the fur so it appears long and fluffy.^{[21]
  X
  Research source}
- The Puppy cut is seen as trimming the cost to a short, consistent length.^{[22]
  X
  Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Temperament

1
Watch for affection. Pomeranians are very friendly, affectionate, and loyal. They enjoy spending every second with their families.^{[23]
X
Research source}
2
Notice boldness. Despite their small size, Pomeranians are very bold. They are confident and may be prone to expecting that they're in charge.^{[24]
X
Research source}
3
Look for curiosity. Pomeranians are inquisitive about the world around them. You may see a Pomeranian walking around while sniffing the ground or exploring the area.^{[25]
X
Research source}
4
Pay attention to how social the dog is. Overall, Pomeranians are sociable dogs. They are usually quick to get along with other animals.^{[26]
X
Research source}
5
See if the dog is alert. The Pomeranian is an alert and intelligent breed. Anticipate barking from a Pomeranian, and see if their alertness enables them to be a good watchdog.^{[27]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Question

How can I figure out if a Pomeranian is a boy or girl?

Linnie

Top Answerer

There are few differences between male and female Pomeranians. Unlike many other breeds, both male and female Pomeranians are roughly the same size with the same features. You would need to determine the dog's sex by its anatomy and sex-specific behaviors. Check out How to Tell if a Dog Is a Girl or Boy for more information.
Question

Why do Pomeranians lick you all the time?

Linnie

Top Answerer

Licking is common among all dogs, though the cause can vary. This could be solely instinctual or to demonstrate affection, for example. However, if a dog licks excessively, it could potentially be due to a health issue or anxiety, in which case you should consult a veterinarian.