Pomeranian, scientifically known as the Canis lupus familiaris Pomeranian (commonly known as the English Pomeranian), is also known as the Squirrel Dog and the Pomeranian. It originated in Germany and is a type of German Spitz, as well as a small-size
German Spitz includes the Dutch Pomeranian, large-sized German Spitz, medium-sized German Spitz, small-sized German Spitz, and the Squirrel Dog (also known as the Pomeranian), and is also a highly competitive show dog.
The Pomeranian is small and cute, with a proud, dignified, and lively gait. It tends to bark a little and has a soft, dense undercoat and a coarse, hard topcoat. The base of the tail is high, and the tail has dense feathering curling over the back.
It ranks 5th in intelligence among small dogs, making it very easy to train.
The Pomeranian has a lively and playful personality, is intelligent and adorable, sincere and gentle, loves to play, but is naturally alert and loyal to its owner, making it suitable as a family companion dog.
The Pomeranian originated in the 19th century and belongs to the Spitz breed. Its ancestors were sled dogs from the Arctic, and it is a breed that evolved from sled dogs.
According to the earliest historical records of this breed, it comes from the Pomerania region, which is located at the border of Poland and Germany. In that era, these dogs were used by local people to guard sheep. It wasn't until 1750 that they spread to various European countries, including Italy.
In fact, the breed first gained attention in England in the mid-19th century. The early Pomeranians were larger in size compared to today, mostly white in color, and their body shape, coat, and color were very similar to the German Spitz. In 1870, the Pomeranian was officially recognized by the English Kennel Club, and that was when more and more people became aware of the breed. In 1888, when Queen Victoria visited Italy, the people of Florence presented her with an Italian Pomeranian named Marco. The Queen loved the dog very much and pampered it. She brought it back to England and even had her beloved Pomeranian placed by her bedside before she passed away. This little dog accompanied the Queen until her death. Because Queen Victoria's every move had great influence, the breed became widely popular. Queen Victoria preferred small-sized Pomeranians, which promoted the miniaturization of the breed.
The Pomeranian started participating in mixed breed competitions at dog shows in the United States from 1892. It was officially classified by New York in 1900. In 1911, the American Pomeranian Club held its first dog show. The early winners in American dog shows were Pomeranians with well-developed bones, large ears, and weighing less than 2.72kg.
Pomeranians are small and cute, cheerful, loyal, and friendly. They are very attached to their owners and are suitable for most households, especially for the elderly and children. They also have a strong alertness and can be used as guard dogs.
Pomeranians need regular grooming, and they have a lively and active personality. To prevent them from causing damage indoors, it is best to let them exercise outdoors or take them for walks every day to consume their abundant energy. Therefore, they are not suitable for busy individuals with little free time.
1. Heart Disease
Dog heart disease is often associated with obesity and old age. When dogs have heart disease, they mainly show symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath. Dog heart disease is difficult to detect, and by the time owners notice it, the dog is often very sick.
2. Infectious Diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common malignant infectious diseases in dogs, with high mortality rates. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in time are prone to these two infectious diseases. Once they become ill, they will experience symptoms such as listlessness, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney Disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease cannot be ignored. The dreadfulness of dog kidney disease lies in the unconscious progression of the disease. By the time owners notice it, more than 75% of the dog's kidney cells have already been damaged. Common symptoms when dogs have problems are blood in the urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms are common parasites in dogs. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are emaciation, listlessness, diarrhea, presence of worms in the feces, pale gums, etc. Heartworms are parasites that live in the dog's heart. After dogs are infected, they will show symptoms such as weak vitality, coughing, anemia, asthma, and abdominal fluid.
5. Canine Pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but canine pneumonia is a complication of other diseases. It often occurs in dogs with abnormal upper respiratory tract systems, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral colds, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, nasal congestion, and elevated body temperature are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
Although Pomeranians are small dogs and don't have body odor, they are playful and cute, often getting covered in dust and dirt, so they need to be cleaned. With good living conditions and clean ground, the interval for bathing can be longer, usually cleaning once every two months. The female dog needs to be bathed before giving birth. After giving birth, the tail and buttocks will be dirty. Clean the dirty parts to prevent the puppies from getting infected.
Pomeranian puppies can eat softened puppy food mixed with an appropriate amount of calcium powder to supplement nutrition. After adulthood, it can be switched to dog food. When changing dog food, do not switch everything at once. Mix half of the new food each time and try it for two or three days, gradually increasing the new amount. After a week, switch completely to the new food. In addition, the owner can also add boiled carrots, chicken breast, egg yolks, and other foods to the dog food, which are both nutritious and delicious.
Pomeranian's coat is double-layered, consisting of undercoat and guard hairs. Regular care is also very important. First, use a comb from the feet and comb layer by layer in the direction of the hair. When encountering tangled areas, do not exert too much force to avoid damaging the hair. Then use a brush to comb against the hair direction to fluff it up. Finally, the owner can use scissors at home to remove the hair on the soles of the feet to prevent slipping. In addition, the nails should also be trimmed to prevent foot injuries and affect gait.
1. Do not bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, it should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather like summer, bathe the dog one or two more times, while in winter, reduce the frequency by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Brush regularly
Dogs shed almost every day, especially during spring and autumn. To promote good hair growth, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use pet-specific brushes to help the dog remove naturally shedding hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which helps improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and grow healthier hair.
4. Deworming
Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, robbing them of nutrition. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to deworm both internally and externally. Deworming medication can cause significant harm to the dog's stomach, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order for a dog to have beautiful fur, a good nutritional foundation must be established, and attention should be paid to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for the dog and provides sufficient nutrients to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, the dog can be given a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.