Pomeranian

Companion Dog Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

The Pomeranian is the smallest member of the Northern Breeds, and is a true Spitz type in miniature. Its name comes from Pomerania, once a part of Germany, from which the breed was imported to England. Originally, Pomeranians were much larger, weighing as much as thirty pounds; and were used as herding and working dogs. The present smaller size originated from undersized, but otherwise normal, pups that appeared in litters with normal-sized puppies.
The Pomeranian was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1914.

General Appearance

The Pomeranian is a true toy Spitz, square in proportion, with a profuse, stand off double coat, a foxy face and small, high set, pointed ears.

Characteristics

The breed is alert, intelligent and lively. They are devoted to their owners, and make excellent companions.

Head

Viewed from above, the head is wedge shaped.

SKULL

The skull is slightly rounded but not domed. There is a marked stop. The cheeks are rounded but not protruding.

MUZZLE

One half the length of the skull, tapering to the end, but not snipy, with tight fitting lips. Pigment is black except in brown, blue or beaver colored dogs, where it is self-colored.

TEETH

A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors or even bite. A few lacking premolars are tolerated.

Serious Fault: Undershot bite, or overshot bite. Note: One tooth out of line does not indicate an undershot or overshot bite.

EYES

The medium size, almond-shaped eyes are dark in color, and set on a slight slant. The expression is alert and fox-like. Pigmentation around the eyes must be black, except in brown, blue and beaver colored dogs, when it may be self-colored.

NOSE

The small, round nose is black, except in brown, blue and beaver colored dogs, when it may be self colored.

EARS

The small, pointed ears are set high on the head, and carried erect.

Serious Fault: Too large ears.

Neck

The medium length neck is set well back on the shoulders to allow for high head carriage. It is slightly arched and covered with a profuse ruff.

Forequarters

The shoulder blades are long and well laid back, forming an angle of nearly 90 degrees with an upper arm of the same length.

FORELEGS

The straight, parallel forelegs are of medium length and sturdy in bone. The elbow fits close to the brisket. The pasterns are straight and strong. Dewclaws may be removed.

Body

The cobby body is well-ribbed, and rounded. The topline is level, and the back is as short as possible. The fairly deep chest is not too wide. Loin and croup are short and broad.

Serious Fault: Flat sided.

Hindquarters

Angulation is in balance with the forequarters. The buttocks are considerably behind the set on of the tail.

HIND LEGS

Thighs are moderately muscled. Stifles are clearly defined, and moderately angulated. The rear pasterns are moderate in length and parallel to one another. Dewclaws may be removed.

Serious Faults: Cowhocks. Unsound in hind legs and/or stifles.

Feet

The feet are very small and compact. This breed stands well up on its toes.

Tail

The tail is profusely covered with hair. Characteristic of the Pomeranian, the tail is set high, turns over the back and is carried flat.

Coat

The breed is double coated, with soft, dense undercoat and harsh, glistening outer coat that is long, straight and held off the body by the undercoat. The hair on the head, front of legs and feet is short and thick. On the rest of the body, it is abundant, with a good neck frill, or ruff, and profuse furnishings on the back of the legs and the tail. The breed is to be shown as naturally as possible. The trimming of unruly and excess hair is allowed on the feet, on the ears and from around the anus.

Serious Faults: Soft, flat or open coat.

Color

All of the following are acceptable colors, and are to be judged on an equal basis: any solid color; any solid color with lighter or darker shadings of the same color; any solid color with sable or brindle shadings; parti-color; sable; and black and tan.
Parti-color is white with any other color distributed in even patches on the body, and a white blaze on the head. Black and tan is a black base coat with sharply defined tan, or rust, appearing above each eye and on the muzzle, throat and forechest, on all the legs and feet and below the tail.
In UKC Conformation events, Pomeranians are not divided by color varieties.

Weight

Weight ranges from 3 to 7 pounds; the 4 to 5 pound range being the ideal.

Serious Faults: Over or under the allowed weight.

Gait

Action is sound, smooth, free and vigorous, and the dog maintains the same outline moving as he does standing.

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.