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Affectionally known as Poms or Pom-Poms, these gorgeous little dogs have charmed their way into our hearts and homes for over two centuries and still remain one of the most popular breeds in the world and originated from where else but Pomerania, a region in north-east Poland, north-west Germany and close to the Baltic Sea. Due to its diminutive size they are classed as a 'Toy' breeds however genetically they are descendants of the German Spitz which in turn is related to big sled dogs, most notably the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute and the American Eskimo dog. Don't be fooled by their stature, this is a big dog in a small dog's body.

Not properly documented until their arrival in the England circa 1767 when Queen Charlotte introduced two Poms to London society, they caught the attention of Sir Thomas Gainsborough who featured them in his paintings, one thing led to another and they became a sensation within aristocratic circles. Thus began the first commercial breeding programme and by 1891 the initial breed standard was set up, a few years later they were officially registered by the American Kennel Club.

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Bold and sometimes head-strong, these are intelligent little fellas and super loyal to the owners, often called velcro dogs because they love nothing more than being around their owners. Curious, alert, and smart, this feisty dog has long been held in admiration by the movers and shakers of society. When Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel, his beloved Pom sat on a silk pillow right by his side as he created his masterpiece and Mozart's Pomeranian,'Pimperl', even had an aria dedicated to him. In fact Chopin owned one, so Napoleon's wife, Josephine, as well as Elvis, Harry Houdini, Emile Zola, Sir Isaac Newton and let's not forget David Hasslehoff! Two Poms famously survived the sinking of the Titanic, one called 'Lady' managed to escape with her owner, Margaret Hays and another belonging to Elizabeth Barrett Rothschild survived too. So beloved is the breed that when Queen Victoria was on her death bed, she asked that her favourite, 'Turi' be brought to her moments before she died.

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Now for the Pom facts... 

• Pomeranians come in the widest selection of colours of any recognised dog breed, a whopping 23 variations. Most commonly in tan, orange, cream and black. Many puppies change their colours as they mature, a brown can become orange and a cream grow into a brown. The 'merle' is the new kid on the block, consisting of a solid base colour high lighted with blue grey patches that create a mottled effect.
• They have a thick double coat, the outer layer is long and straight with a slightly wired texture whilst the under coat is short and straight. They shed twice a year but do need regular grooming and breeders suggest a daily brush/comb through to cope with their coats which can easily tangle. 
• They are one of the few breeds that can actually give birth to twins.
• Curious and alert, Poms are generally very playful and love nothing more than a good long walk exploring sites and meeting new people. This is a super friendly dog.
• While some say Poms are hard to house train, all they really need is consistency and firmness.You'll need to establish yourself as top dog otherwise this bundle of fur and attitude can become snappy. That said, if you put in the time, the results are more than rewarding.
• Most can easily reach 15 years of age especially if provided with a good diet and daily exercise. Health issues most commonly arise due to lack of grooming and poor hygiene. Pay attention to those ears and eyes but above all, their teeth as they are prone to tooth loss.
• They make wonderful therapy dogs and are often used as hearing assistants.
• 'Jiff' the Pom, ( you may remember him from his cameo in Katy Perry's 'Dark Horse' video or maybe not), once held the two Guinness world records. The first for the fastest 10 meter run on hind legs only (6.56 seconds) and the second for the fastest 5 meter run on front legs only coming on at 7.76 seconds. 
• They are a social media sensation! Before his death in 2019, 'Boo' the world's most famous Pomeranian had an astonishing 16 million followers as well as being the subject of four books.

Clyde

This little poppet pictured above is Clyde. He's a fox-faced Pom-Pom and I met him and his amazing owner recently. He belongs to a lovely man called David who spends his time rescuing and re-homing dogs amongst other things. He was only meant to foster Clyde for a while until a new forever home came about but he fell in love and they're inseparable now.

This made be a toy-breed but this is no toy. This is a small dog with a massive heart and one of the loveliest pet companions you'll ever find so If you fancy a pint-sized sweetheart with oodles of personality, this could be your one and only. Better still why not foster or adopt like David.

Clyde