Pomeranian: History, Personality, Health & Surprising Facts

A fluffy orange Pomeranian sitting on a wooden floor and smiling at the camera

If a dog could be a cotton ball with a personality, it would be a Pomeranian. That round, fluffy coat, the tiny fox face, the little tail curled over the back like a feather duster. Poms look like they were made to be cuddled.

But here’s what surprised me most: the Pomeranian’s ancestors weren’t lapdogs at all. They were big, tough sled and herding dogs from the cold north. The story of how they shrank into the tiny Poms we know today involves two queens, one very small dog from Florence, and an unlikely ride on the Titanic.

From Arctic working dogs to the shores of the Baltic

The American Pomeranian Club explains that Pomeranians come from the Spitz family of dogs from the Arctic, which were bred for herding, pulling sleds, and guarding. You can still see that heritage today in the thick double coat, pointed ears, and tail curled over the back.

These dogs eventually spread along the Baltic Sea coast to a region called Pomerania, which covers parts of what is now Poland and Germany. The name comes from words meaning “on the sea.” Historians believe the dogs there were bred down to around 30 to 40 pounds, still much bigger than today’s Poms.

A large white Spitz-type dog with a curled tail standing in a snowy field near the sea

Two queens who changed everything

The first written mention of a Pomeranian dog comes from the diary of Scottish writer James Boswell, dated November 2, 1764.

A few years later, in 1767, Queen Charlotte of England brought two Pomeranians named Phoebe and Mercury from Germany. The painter Thomas Gainsborough painted them, and they looked quite different from today’s Poms. According to the American Pomeranian Club, dogs of that time could weigh 30 to 50 pounds.

The real turning point came with Queen Charlotte’s granddaughter, Queen Victoria. In 1888, while in Florence, Italy, she fell in love with a small Pomeranian named Marco, who weighed about 12 pounds. She brought him home, showed him, and started her own breeding kennel. Over the years, she owned around 35 Pomeranians.

Because the Queen loved small Poms, everyone wanted one. Wikipedia notes that during her lifetime, the size of the breed was reported to have dropped by about 50%.

And here’s the part that got me. When Queen Victoria was dying in 1901, she asked for her Pomeranian, Turi, to be brought to her. Turi lay beside her on her deathbed.

💡 Did you know? A Pomeranian that weighed 30 pounds in Queen Charlotte’s time would be about four to ten times heavier than most Poms today. One royal family’s taste really did reshape an entire breed.

A small red-sable Pomeranian sitting on a velvet cushion in an elegant Victorian room

Two Poms survived the Titanic

This is one of those facts that sounds made up, but it’s true. When the RMS Titanic sank in 1912, only three dogs are known to have survived, and two of them were Pomeranians.

One was a Pom named Lady, who belonged to Margaret Bechstein Hays. The other belonged to Elizabeth Barrett Rothschild. Both dogs were small enough to be carried into the lifeboats with their owners.

Size

Today’s Pomeranian is a true toy breed. The AKC standard calls for a weight of just 3 to 7 pounds, and most stand around 6 to 7 inches tall.

That’s a huge change from their 30-pound ancestors. It also means they can get hurt easily from jumping off furniture or being dropped, so they need a little extra care.

That famous double coat

A Pom’s fluffiness comes from a double coat: a soft, thick undercoat underneath and a longer, harsher outer coat on top. The undercoat is what makes the outer coat stand out, giving them that puffball look.

Pomeranians come in more colors than almost any other breed, including orange, red, cream, white, black, sable, chocolate, blue, and parti-color. Orange and red are the most common.

The “monkey phase”

New Pom parents are often caught off guard by this one. In Korea, people call it the “원숭이 시기,” or “monkey phase.” Around 4 to 8 months old, many Pom puppies shed their fluffy puppy coat before their adult coat comes in. For a few months, they can look a bit patchy, scruffy, and, yes, a little like a monkey.

💡 Good to know: the monkey phase is completely normal, and the adult coat does come in. It’s just one of those awkward teenage stages, dog-style.

A fluffy cream Pomeranian puppy sitting on a knit blanket

Why you shouldn’t shave a Pomeranian

In the summer, it’s tempting to shave a Pom to help them stay cool. But many vets and groomers warn against it. A Pom’s double coat actually helps protect them from both heat and sunburn.

There’s another reason. Pomeranians are the breed most often linked to alopecia X, a condition where the coat thins and falls out, often leaving darker skin behind. It’s sometimes called “black skin disease.” According to Wikipedia, Pomeranians made up 79.3% of alopecia X cases at one referral clinic in Japan. Shaving doesn’t cause alopecia X, but in some Poms, the coat can grow back slowly, unevenly, or not fully after a close shave. Korean Pom owners often warn about this too, recommending only a light trim.

Personality: a big dog in a tiny body

Poms are lively, curious, and bold. They’re very alert and quick to bark at anything unusual, which makes them great little watchdogs, and sometimes a challenge in an apartment building. Many Korean owners mention barking as one of the biggest surprises of living with a Pom.

They’re also smart and eager to please, and they tend to learn tricks quickly. Gentle, reward-based training, started early, makes a big difference, especially with barking.

A happy Pomeranian running across a green lawn with its fluffy coat bouncing

Health: what to watch for

Pomeranians often live long lives. A UK study found an average life expectancy of about 12.2 years, and a Japanese study found about 14 years.

A few conditions show up more often in the breed:

Luxating patella. One study found it in 6.5% of Pomeranians, the highest rate of any breed studied. It can cause skipping or limping.
Collapsing trachea. A weak windpipe can cause a goose-like honking cough. Many owners use a harness instead of a collar for this reason.
Alopecia X. Coat thinning and hair loss, especially on the body and back of the legs.
Dental disease. Tiny mouths mean crowded teeth, so daily brushing matters a lot.
Low blood sugar. Very young puppies can become weak or shaky if they go too long without eating.

Fun facts and true stories 🐾

A Pom was once called “the world’s cutest dog.” Boo, a Pomeranian from San Francisco, became internet famous in 2010, and his Facebook page eventually had about 16 million likes. His short teddy-bear haircut made him look like a stuffed toy. Boo passed away in 2019 at age 12. His family said he showed signs of heart trouble after his best friend, Buddy, died the year before.

A Pom won Westminster’s Best in Show. In 1988, a Pomeranian named Great Elms Prince Charming II became the first Pom to win Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

They’re one of Korea’s most popular breeds. KB Financial Group’s 2025 Korean Pet Report found that Pomeranians are the fourth most popular breed among Korean dog owners, at 12.8%, after the Maltese, Poodle, and mixed breeds.

Be careful with “white Pomeranian” sales. In Korea, some sellers have been reported for selling larger Spitz mixes as purebred white Poms, and these cases have even made the news. It’s a good reminder to always adopt from a trusted rescue or a responsible breeder.

Small litters. Poms have some of the smallest litters of any breed, usually just 2 or 3 puppies.

Is a Pomeranian right for you?

A Pomeranian might be a great fit if you want a small, lively, affectionate companion, you enjoy brushing and grooming, and you’re ready to work on barking with gentle training.

It might be harder if you have very young children, live somewhere that needs to stay quiet, or don’t have time for regular coat care.

A Pomeranian being gently brushed on a grooming table

Angel Jake Note 🐾

I love how the Pomeranian’s story is really a story about love. A queen’s affection for one small dog from Florence changed the entire breed. And more than a hundred years later, a little Pom named Boo made millions of people smile on their phones.

If you share your life with a Pom, you already know how much joy fits in that fluffy little body. Protect those knees and that windpipe, be patient through the monkey phase, and enjoy every bouncy, sparkly-eyed moment.

Medical Disclaimer

I’m not a vet, and nothing here replaces a real exam. If something about your dog feels off, please trust that feeling and call your veterinarian.