How to Adopt
Step 1:
Pomeranian Adoption Application
Step 2:
Adoption Form
Step
3:
Order Pets & Vets for
your 5 Year Health Warranty
 |
| BY NEXTDAYPETS.COM |
Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Pomeranian is a compact, short-backed, active toy dog. He has a soft, dense
undercoat with a profuse harsh-textured outer coat. His heavily plumed tail is
set high and lies flat on his back. He is alert in character, exhibits
intelligence in expression, is buoyant in deportment, and is inquisitive by
nature. The Pomeranian is cocky, commanding, and animated as he gaits. He is
sound in composition and action.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The average weight of the Pomeranian is from 3 to 7 pounds, with the
ideal weight for the show specimen being 4 to 6 pounds. Any dog over or under
the limits is objectionable. However, overall quality is to be favored over
size. The distance from the point of shoulder to the point of buttocks is
slightly shorter than from the highest point of the withers to the ground. the
distance from the brisket to the ground is half the height at the withers. He is
medium-boned, and the length of his legs is in proportion to a well-balanced
frame. When examined, he feels sturdy.
Head
The head is in balance with the body. The muzzle is rather
short, straight, fine, free of lippiness and never snipey. His expression is
alert and may be referred to as fox-like. The skull is closed. The top of the
skull is slightly rounded, but not domed. When viewed from the front and side,
one sees small ears which are mounted high and carried erect. To form a wedge,
visualize a line from the tip of the nose ascending through the center of the
eyes and the tip of the ears. The eyes are dark, bright, medium in size and
almond-shaped. They are set well into the skull on either side of a
well-pronounced stop. The pigmentation is black on the nose and eye rims except
self-colored in brown, beaver, and blue dogs. The teeth meet in a
scissors bite. One tooth out of alignment is acceptable. Major Faults: Round,
domed skull; under-shot mouth; overshot mouth.
Neck, Topline, Body
The neck is short with its base set well into the shoulders to
allow the head to be carried high. The back is short with a level topline.
The body is compact and well-ribbed with brisket reaching the elbow. The plumed
tail is one of the characteristics of the breed, and lies flat and straight on
the back.
Forequarters
The Pomeranian has sufficient layback of shoulders to carry the neck and head
proud and high. The shoulders and legs are moderately muscled. The length of the
shoulder blade and upper arm are equal. The forlegs are straight and parallel to
each other. Height from elbows to withers approximately equals height from
ground to elbow. The pasterns are straight and strong. The feet are well-arched,
compact, and turn neither in nor out. He stands well up on his toes. Declaws may
be removed. Major Faults: Down in pasterns.
Hindquarters
The angulation of the hindquarters balances that of the forequarters.
The buttocks are well behind the set of the tail. The thighs are moderately
muscled with stifles that are moderately bent and clearly defined. The
hocks are perpendicular to the ground and the legs are straight and
parallel to each other. The feet are well-arched, compact, and turn
neither in nor out. He stands well up on his toes. Dewclaws, if any on the hind
legs may be removed. Major Faults: Cowhocks or lack of soundness in hind legs or
stifles.
Gait
The Pomeranian's gait is smooth, free, balanced and vigorous. He has good reach
in his forequarters and strong drive with his hindquarters. Each rear leg moves
in line with the foreleg on the same side. To achieve balance, his legs converge
slightly inward toward a center line beneath his body. The rear and front legs
are thrown neither in nor out. The topline remains level, and his overall
balance and outline are maintained.
Coat
A Pomeranian is noted for its double coat. The undercoat is soft and
dense. The outer coat is long, straight, glistening and harsh in texture. A
thick undercoat will hold up and permit the guard hair to stand off from the
Pomeranian's body. The coat is abundant from the neck and fore part of shoulders
and chest, forming a frill which extends over the shoulders and chest. The head
and leg coat is tightly packed and shorter in length than that of the body. The
forequarters are well-feathered and thighs and hind legs well-feathered to the
hock. The tail is profusely covered with long, harsh, spreading straight hair.
Trimming for neatness and a clean outline is permissible. Major Faults: Soft,
flat or open coat.
Color
All colors, patterns, and variations there-of are allowed and must be
judged on an equal basis. Patterns: Black and Tan- tan or rust sharply defined,
appearing above each eye and on muzzle, throat, and forechest, on all legs and
feet and below the tail. The richer the tan the more desirable; Brindle - the
base color is gold, red, or orange-brindled with strong black cross stripes;
Parti-Color- is white with any other color distributed in patches with a white
blaze preferred on the head. Classifications: The Open Classes at specialty
shows may be divided by color as follows: Open Red, Orange, Cream, and Sable;
Open Black, Brown, and Blue; Open Any Other Color, Pattern, or Variation.
Temperament
The Pomeranian is an extrovert, exhibiting great intelligence and a
vivacious spirit, making him a great companion dog as well as a competitive show
dog.