 History And Origin Of The Pomeranian The Pomeranian is the smallest of the Spitz family of dogs, and is thought to descend from Iceland and Lapland sled dogs although the history of the Pomeranian tends to be sketchy at best. Fortunately much of the origin and history of the Pomeranian can be traced to the archives of the Royal family. Pomeranians derive their name from the area between east of Germany and Western Poland known as Pomerania. Before they received their name the ancestors of this breed pulled sleds, carried loads, and hunted in the cold of the Artic Circle. It was in the 1700's that owners then brought these dogs back to Pomerania where they were used to herd livestock. Most likely it was the Deutscher Spitz that Pomeranians were bred from when they arrived in Pomerania. |
PAINTING FROM 1785
The Royal History Of Pomeranians
In 1767, Queen Charlotte, the German wife of King George III, imported two Pomeranians to Britain. She named them Phoebe and Mercury and fell in love with these types of dogs because of what she considered royal lines and elegant natures. She lived in West London, the home of then famous artist Gainsborough. 
He took an interest in the breed and completed several paintings of the royal dogs. These Pomeranians were painted considerably larger than today's standards so no one is really sure how large they were back then.
Queen Charlotte's granddaughter, Queen Victoria took an interest in this breed later on in her years, long after Queen Charlotte has died. She came across this breed again in Italy in 1888, and as a dog fancier she was enchanted by the 12 pound red-sable Pomeranian she called Marco. Not only Queen Charlotte's companion, Marco also became a frequent winner at dog shows. The chic, elegant look of the Pomeranians made them all the rage in Britain thanks to the Queen. Towards the end of the 19th century the smaller red Pomeranians became more of a popular look then the larger white ones of earlier years.
By that time the Pomeranians also made their way into the United States and entered into the American Kennel Club. The first registered AKC Pomeranian was in 1888. Four years later the first Pomeranian was exhibited in New York City, and in 1900 the breed was finally recognized as an official breed by the AKC.
Not only due to the stylish and graceful look of the looks, but because of the wonderful Pomeranian temperament, had the Pomeranian continued to enjoy popularity throughout both the AKC and the households of America. Among the 143 breeds acknowledged by the AKC, the Pomeranian ranks as the 10th most popular breed.
Queen Charlotte med hendes Pomeranian i 1807
Painted by Peter Edward Stroehling
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| painting of 'Marco on the Queen's Breakfast Table', by Charles Burton Barber, 1893 | painting of Queen Charlotte's Pomeranians.Thomas Gainsborough. Pomeranian Bitch and Pup | QUEEN'S POMERANIANS 'GINA' born in 1887 |
Pomeranian Temperament
There is no question that the Pomeranian is a lively little dog. They are very intelligent, eager to learn, and are very loyal to their handler and the family that they live with. They can also be willful, audacious, and even sometimes very temperamental. Those are all things you have to consider when thinking about getting a Pomeranian.
First we'll talk about the positives of the Pomeranian dog, as there are numerous reasons to love this dog. Pomeranians can be excellent watchdogs because of their alert and keen nature. They are constantly on the watch for something to happen, and are usually right there when it does. For such little dogs they have a resounding bark, and are often thought to be much larger than they really are.
As one of the most independent of the toy breeds, they do not cling to their families or handlers, in fact they are often thought to be standoffish. They are proud and happy animals when they are with their loved ones, but can spend the some of the day alone and not cause any damage if trained correctly. Pomeranians also are very attentive if they feel you need it. This is what makes them excellent companions to older children and the elderly. They go where they are needed, and are delightful to have around.
Concerns About The Pomeranian Temperament
For all their good qualities that they have, there are also a few negatives about this dog. Although for the most part they do get along with other household pets, but because of their willful nature if they don't feel that they are king of the house they may turn on bigger dogs. They always want to be top dog so to speak.
Training is mostly the cause of their bad behavior, but there are some Pomeranians that are just naturally nasty to people. Of course you want to stay away from buying these types of dogs, but if it can't be helped then you need to know how to handle it. This can be rectified with the proper training as with most of their behavior. Barking is a constant problem, if not taken care of when you first bring the Pomeranian puppy home. Teaching them to bark a few times when the doorbell rings, or someone comes in the house is key to alleviate the massive amount of barking they can do on a regular basis.
Pomeranians need a firm hand, if they have owners that show nervousness and non confidence then they will be like that also. They may be independent but tend to take on the habits of the handler or owner. That is why you need to be the boss, and the puppy will follow in turn. If you let the dog run amuck then you will have a Pomeranian who can't be controlled. This is why they may not be considered good dogs with younger children. Children often can't control themselves with this small breed of dog, causing the Pomeranian to act out by biting or barking.
Simply showing the dog love and care will take you a long way in having a dog with a good temperament. This brings us to the physical appearance of the Pomeranian. Although temperament and appearance seemingly have nothing in common, with a Pomeranian one big part of their personality is the way they look. They are constantly trying to appear larger then they really are, by using their personality.