Pomeranian Spitz: description of the breed and character, colors and care

Modern dog breeders are divided into two interest camps. Some are breeding dogs of large breeds, others are raising miniature four-legged friends. But despite the differences between the size of the dogs and their external data, each individual breed of dog requires high attention, especially for Pomeranian spitz.

Not every dog ​​is ready to boast such an interesting and eventful history of its breed. It is hard to imagine that the ancestors of small fluffy lumps peacefully sniffing on the litter were much larger in size and originally lived in the northern parts of the modern European continent. The evidence of this fact is archaeological excavations, among which were found the burial of the Neolithic era, where the skeletons of ancient Spitz were found.

At that time, peat dogs were used as draft dogs, as they were distinguished by their endurance and remarkable strength. Incidentally, this method of transportation is still popular in countries with eternal winters.

In the southern countries, these dogs were kept and raised as guards of moored boats and ships. Also, the ancestors of the Pomeranians protected real estate. But with the advent of the medieval era, the life of peat dogs changed radically. Thanks to their cute appearance, enthusiasm and energy, these dogs began to bathe in the attention and love of European aristocrats. Rich ladies began to appear at social events in the company of a furry four-legged friend.

The sufficiently large and very tangible interest in the described dogs, from which the Pomeranian spitz came, was first shown by the inhabitants of Germany. The dense and intensive work of German dog breeders led to the emergence of a breed of Spitzhund, which by the 8th century had been distributed practically throughout the territory of the medieval state.

For a long period of time, cynologists from different countries could not find reliable data and come to a common opinion on the issue related to the homeland of Pomeranians. Some claimed that the city of Württemberg, considered the center of German dog breeding, was the place of their origin, while others argued that the roots of Pomeranians originate in Pomerania. Still others compared Spitz to dogs residing in China, Egypt, and Greece.

The first representatives of peat dogs weighed no more than 15 kg, in size they were much higher and more, when compared with modern specimens of oranges. In turn, German dog breeders were eager to reduce the size of the breed, so they chose exclusively miniature puppies for breeding.

Following the German dog lovers, English lovers of four-legged friends entered the struggle for the external characteristics of the breed. By the way, it was in England that dog breeders managed to bring different shades to the hair of animals.

Repeatedly, royal dogs won at various exhibitions. Everyone who first met these fluffy lumps turned on a dream to get the same lovely miracle. And at the end of the 19th century, the Pomeranian breed was honored to have a separate club. Its first participants were noble ladies. After some time, it turned out to organize the first nursery with oranges of certain coat colors.

Thanks to the hard work, English dog handlers managed to make changes in the proportion of oranges at the gene level. As a result, dogs became much smaller when compared with German relatives. At the same time, animals began to be divided into several weight groups.

The first included dogs weighing less than 3.1 kg, by English standards 7 feet. Others, respectively, had a slightly larger mass. Thanks to the special efforts of English breeders, Oranges received the first breed standards to which dog lovers from around the world brought their pets.

Pomeranian Spitz conquered the inhabitants of America in 1892. Moreover, the local cynological organization did not recognize the breed, but most dog breeders instantly evaluated the external data and the nature of the dogs. Special attention was paid to the fur of the four-legged babies.

But everything changed at the beginning of the XX century, it was then that the American club of Pomeranian Spitz was formed. This fact led the American Association of Cynologists to the official recognition of the breed. 11 years after the creation of the club, the first exhibition event was held, where many breeders exhibited their pets and fought for the right to take first place. Spitzs themselves proudly presented to the onlookers their unique wool of different colors.

Black, white, chocolate, cream and blue spitzs fought for first place. Each of them caused special admiration for the guests of the exhibition event. But, unfortunately, only one pet was awarded the highest award. It turned out to be Banner Prince Charming, which has a charming black fur.In subsequent years, exhibition events were also held, which were won by a variety of representatives of Oranges. Each winner managed to give multiple offspring.

The progress made by English breeders seemed insufficient to American lovers of four-legged friends, and they decided to continue the process of improving the breed. And soon they abandoned this idea, realizing that making dogs more miniature is not possible. The small size of the body leads to the inability to continue the genus, which negatively affects the reproduction of elite offspring.

An important fact is that in America, the correct name has been established for the breed - orange. In other countries, they are mistakenly called "German Spitz". Of course, the Pomeranian Spitz sounds more familiar to our days, but nevertheless, the breed is officially registered as a “German Spitz” in the official lists of the International Cynological Federation.

Having become acquainted with the history of the breed, it becomes clear that representatives of Spitz had to go a fairly serious way, from peat dogs to today's representatives of elite handsome men. Nowadays, oranges are the main exhibitors. Animals admire the guests who came to the event with their mind, enthusiasm and external data, among which body size and fur are especially appreciated.

The breed Pomeranian spitz originates in Germany. The period of their origin is the VIII century. After some time, the breed received enormous changes in appearance, after which special standards were identified, according to which they began to determine the pedigree of individuals and identify culling.

At the visual level, the miniature fluffy looks like a tiny teddy bear, although this is not related to the dog handlers' estimates. Important indicators of the standard are the growth and body weight of the dog, where the weight of the orange should be between 1.5 kg and 3.2 kg, and the height of an adult should be from 18 cm to 22 cm.

A distinctive feature of the Pomeranian spitz is fluffy and delicate wool, assuming different colors. Experienced breeders note that oranges very easily find common ground with new people. They treat their master gently, and most importantly, show fidelity. Spitz is considered the ideal companion for older children.

Despite its size, dwarf spitz is an ideal watchdog. In case of danger, he can throw himself at the offender’s feet and even bite him with his small but sharp teeth. In addition, they have a fairly loud voice, so owners do not need to install a doorbell - the dog will inform the arrival of uninvited guests immediately.

Dwarf dog breeds, including oranges, are not suitable for keeping them on a chain or in a cage. Fluffy babies need freedom of movement in their home environment. According to their characteristics, oranges are not violent, but if the owner is weak, they may try to dominate and be stubborn, which in the future will be very difficult to cope with.

Oranges, according to their size, belong to dwarf breeds of dogs. They are distinguished by a dense physique and strong muscles, but this does not affect the grace of movements and grace of gait.According to the standard, exhibits must be about 20-21 cm tall, and their weight should not exceed 2 kg. The head of Pomeranian Spitz has a small size. The back side of the skull is quite wide, gradually tapering to the nasal region, forming a kind of wedge. The frontal part has a rounded shape, perfectly contrasting with a fairly pronounced nape.

The cheekbones on the face are almost indistinguishable, and all because of puffy cheeks. Small and neat nose, lips and eyes have a pronounced black color. The size of the face of an orange is half that of its skull. Standing ears, having the shape of a triangle with a sharp tip, are located on the top of the head next to each other. At birth, the ears of oranges hang down, but rise as they grow.

The eyes are small, in all varieties of the breed are presented in dark color. They are oval in shape, they are often compared with tonsils. The eyelids are black, in some oranges they can be dark brown, depending on the coat color of the animal. Each look feels liveliness and mischief, due to which they are compared with foxes.

In the mouth of adult oranges, 42 teeth are present. At the same time, the upper jaw is slightly larger than the lower jaw, therefore it covers it from above. It is important to note that such a jaw is not a defect in the breed.

Under the plentiful hair of oranges is hidden a strong neck of medium length, slightly curved, flowing smoothly into the withers on one side and into the back on the other. The loin gradually passes into a shortened croup. The chest of the baby is quite developed. The abdomen should be in a taut state, and the ribs should be felt with the fingers. The tail of oranges according to the standard should be located high on the body from the back side, have an average length and a ring-shaped shape, placed on the back of the dog.

The front legs of the thoroughbred specimen are widely spaced. Muscles are visible on the shoulders. The toes fit snugly together, resembling a cat’s paw. On the pads there is black pigmentation characteristic of most varieties of Spitz. The exception is the owners of red, cream and brown wool.

The hind legs are parallel to each other. The hips and legs are equal in size, small in size and not so rounded. The toes of the hind legs are quite compressed, black claws grow on the tips.

Oranges move quite easily. Their plastic movements resemble the dance of ballerinas. The hind limbs are endowed with strong muscles, which is why dogs are well repelled from any surface. Based on this fact, it seems that when walking the dog is slightly springy.

A distinctive feature of oranges is their bright and rich coat, under which a dense undercoat is hidden. Short and soft to the touch hairs cover the entire head of the animal and the front sides of the limbs. On the main part of the body grows a long straight coat, and its density covers the shoulders and other parts of the body.

From the above information, it is possible to recognize breed defects that are considered a deviation from the standard and indicate culling of the pet:

• sharp transition of the skull from the back to the nose;
• a head shaped like an apple;
• light shade of watery eyes;
• prancing step;
• double twisted tail.

Happy owners of oranges note that the representatives of this breed are very kind.They are very inquisitive, love to make fun of themselves, are always ready to explore something new, they are ready to go on any trip with great enthusiasm, even if this is a usual walk in an unfamiliar yard. Fans of peace and quiet should not have oranges as a pet. With them, you can’t lie on the couch and watch TV. For these fluffy lumps it is very important to spend any free minute in active mode.

Oranges are especially fond of walks in the fresh air. Dogs of the described breed are happy to play a ball on the street, can play catch-up with birds, and if necessary, rush to defend their master from the approaching threat. And the danger may be a bicycle or a small insect. Therefore, each walk with an orange causes a storm of positive emotions in the owner.

A distinctive feature of the character of the Pomeranian Spitz is the ability to find a common language with its owner and his relatives. They freely adapt to the lifestyle of the family. A faithful furry companion will never bother his owner or other family members with early awakenings without special need. They will all behave quietly and calmly, wait until someone wakes up. And after awakening the owner will follow on his heels.

Oranges are very attached to the people they live with and can be sad if they stop receiving proper attention. Many owners who spend the whole day at work say that when they get home, fluffy lumps show extraordinary joy. It is worth noting that Spitz prefer to always be in the company of its owner. The dog will spin nearby while cooking, cleaning and resting.

Another distinctive feature of oranges is a bright and flooded bark. They respond to any noise and rustling, causing suspicion. This little fluffy lump can be a great watchman who can easily scare away uninvited guests. The main thing is that these guests do not see the size of the dog that scared them. There are times when oranges begin to bark for no reason. In this case, the owner will have to start raising the baby in order to eradicate this bad habit.

Most parents want a Pomeranian baby as a friend for their child. It is important to understand that the attitude to the newly made family member should be kind, but still wary. If an orange from a puppy's age is used to talking with children, parents will not have any problems. If an adult did not previously have acquaintances or even minimal communication with babies, the dog will prefer to stay away and watch children's games from afar, but will not take part in them.

Pomeranians are very friendly in communicating with other animals, although they can sometimes be dominant in perseverance. Anxiety in an orange occurs when another dog appears in the house. Raging passions and emotions will make the furry baby prove to the owner that he is the main dog in the house. But if the Spitz from puppyhood communicated with other representatives of pets, such problems do not arise.

Pomeranian Spitz is by nature a breed breed bred in Germany. Over the years, thanks to ongoing breeding on different continents, dog breeders managed to create 3 additional subspecies of this variety, distinguished by the shape of the head.

• Pomeranian dwarf spitz. The muzzle is round, sharply turning into a triangular, can be flattened. The color of the coat may be brown or red.

• Fox type Pomeranian. The appearance of the muzzle is much like a fox. The chin is narrow, the nose looks like a button. The fur coat has a chocolate and cream shade.

• Pomeranian toy type. Representatives of the subspecies resemble a teddy bear with a short and slightly flattened muzzle.

There are no official requirements in the cynological association regarding the muzzle of the Spitz, although many participants who take prizes at exhibitions note that the judiciary prefers babies with a bear and fox type of head to a greater extent.

Presented 3 subspecies of oranges are officially recognized and are included in the German classification. Along with them there are 2 more miniature subspecies, which are close relatives of oranges, because of which an ordinary person can decide that in front of him is one of the representatives of the usual varieties of the breed.

• Japanese Spitz. These dogs were bred in the period 1920-1930 by crossing a German Spitz with a Samoyed husky, where the like - Japanese specimens received a snow-white and blue color. Their growth turned out to be slightly higher than exhibition standards, about 40 cm. Distinctive features of character from standard orange are the absence of barking.
• American Eskimo Spitz. Another breed breed bred according to a similar crossbreeding principle. Only instead of the Samoyed husky, northern dogs were used, from which the obtained dogs also received a white color.

Wanting to have a small fluffy lump, each person needs to make out the pros and cons. Understand whether the future owner is able to pay special attention to his pet, spend enough time with him, care for him properly and maintain. There is a certain list of advantages of oranges, on the basis of which everyone can determine whether this dog is suitable for him or not.

• Oranges have a fun character. They are cheerful, active, ready for constant communication creatures. Prefer outdoor games, very difficult to endure hours of loneliness.
• By their external data, oranges express friendliness to others. Sometimes it seems that they are smiling at passers-by.
• Representatives of the Pomeranian breed are neat creatures. They independently take care of paws and wool. For this reason, some breeders compare them to cats.
• A developed mind allows Oranges to constantly learn something new. They remember teams well, master tricks without any problems.
• Pomeranians are ideal companions, they are happy to accompany their owner to any place.
• They are distinguished by their patience with other animals living with them on the same territory.
• Pomeranians are quite friendly towards children.

For fluffy babies, not only advantages are characteristic, but also some disadvantages.

• The cost of puppies. Unfortunately, elite dogs are not always affordable for an ordinary lover of miniature breeds.
• Loud barking. For dogs, this is a way to express feelings, for humans it is an extra stimulus.
• Fearlessness of nature. The size of the pet will not protect the person in the event of a real threat.

There is no consensus among professional dog breeders and breeders regarding the minuses of the breed. The only common drawback is health.

• Jaws Owners need to constantly observe and brush their teeth in order to prevent gum disease and stomatitis.
• When changing milk teeth, the owner must seek help from a veterinarian, and all because of the deep root base.
• Spitz quite often has problems with the cardiovascular system.
• Oranges are short-footed dogs. Due to their activity and jumping ability, the likelihood of injury is increased.

Each newly made owner will be able to draw new knowledge from the information provided. For example, the appearance of a pet requires special attention, a lot of time and financial investment.

Before bringing a puppy to a new home, it is important for the owner to decide on a further standard of lifestyle for the dog, which he will not be able to deviate from. If the pet will be exhibited at shows, then it is necessary to consider puppies of a show class.

The future owner should initially understand that there are no guarantees of prizes and high fecundity. Everything will depend only on the person, on his attention to the four-legged friend, on the quality of the maintenance and care of the pet. It is known that not all show-class dogs can take first places at exhibitions, although even representatives of the pet class can win with proper treatment. It follows from this that any individuals can occupy an honorable first place, the main thing is that the owner of the animal should not be lazy, but will work hard on his furry friend.

One of the important selection rules that applies to all classes of dogs is health. The puppy to be acquired must be active, playful, mischievous, curious. These same qualities indicate the absence of disease in the animal.

A distinctive feature of Pomeranian Spitz is the intensive development from the size of a puppy to an adult. In this same period, special attention should be paid to feeding the animal. In the first 2 weeks, babies have enough mother’s milk. In some cases, artificial feeding is required. To do this, you will have to purchase a milk substitute sold in veterinary pharmacies.

Approximately on the 15th day of the puppy's life, cereal cereals prepared on the broth can be introduced into the diet. Already at 4 weeks, a healthy fluffy appears first teeth. This indicator says that the digestive system perfectly copes with their work. For this reason, in the kid’s menu, you can include finely chopped minced meat without fat and soup with vegetables. Starting from the 25th day of life, little oranges need to be given mashed vegetables, such as carrots or zucchini, seasoned with sour cream.

With the onset of a month old, the diet of puppies needs to be slightly changed. The daily feeding rate should be at least 5 meals. It is important to include boiled meat, chicken fillet in the kid’s menu. As additional dishes, it is allowed to give rice, buckwheat and wheat porridge, cooked in milk. Delicious delicacy puppy seems cottage cheese, kefir or yogurt.

With the growth of the puppy, it is necessary to gradually reduce the number of daily feedings. When approaching one-year-old age, the diet should consist of 3 approaches: breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the menu of a grown dog, kefir, sour cream, dried apricots must be present.Do not forget about carrots, cereals, broths, sea fish, zucchini, squash and pumpkin.

Individuals who have reached the age of one must be transferred to two meals a day, namely, morning and evening. For breakfast, it is enough to give meat sliced, an egg and a few crackers. The dog's dinner should consist of vegetables with a protein supplement and a small amount of olive oil, which can be mixed with prepared food.

Owners of a Pomeranian spitz need special attention to be given to the pet's coat. It requires daily care, thorough combing. The molting procedure in these animals occurs 2 times a year. Moreover, the first molt occurs at the six-month-old age of the dog. At the very moment when the puppy fluff is replaced by adult hair. Adult females, in turn, molt during estrus and after childbirth.

Therefore, breeders should not worry about excessive hair loss, considering that this is a lack of vitamins in the body of the animal. Anxiety should be shown when bald spots occur, where the hair is completely absent.

Oranges can be washed no more than 2 times a month, but it is best to try to avoid frequent contact of the animal with detergents and water. As a detergent, diluted shampoo must be used, since a concentrated mixture can have a negative effect on the coat.

At the end of the wash, it is important to treat the coat with air conditioning, due to which the hairs become soft and supple, which will allow combing the dog without much difficulty. Drying of the animal should be carried out with a hairdryer. The comb for combing should have long teeth. During combing, the dog's coat should be wet.

The owner needs to pay special attention to the teeth of his ward and brush them with special paste about 4 times a week. Dogs are not always good at this procedure, so toothpaste should have a pleasant smell and taste. Instead of a toothbrush, you can use the nozzle on the finger. To avoid tartar, solid food should be included in the dog’s diet.

Highly developed intelligence is the quality that nature endowed with a Pomeranian. Thanks to this fact, the process of training an animal proceeds much easier. However, the stubborn nature of the pet can put sticks in the wheels.

The main rule in raising a baby is to forget about his appearance. Often, novice owners treat Oranges as small children, believing that they are weak and sophisticated, so they will not be able to carry out complex commands. However, the Pomeranian himself needs only a solid and confident master, capable of showing leadership potential. Just feeling these qualities, the dog will meet and begin to learn commands and tricks. Spitz, who considers himself the dominant personality in relations with the owner, simply refuses to obey.

It is very important to treat your pet delicately and to encourage him with your favorite treats during the training process.. Pomeranian is a rather wayward creature who does not tolerate criticism. In response, the dog may show insolence and sometimes aggression.

A well-bred dog should understand and carry out the simplest action commands, namely: “sit”, “lie”, “to the foot”, “near” and “place”. Owners of puppies should pay special attention to the bark stop command. After all, not everyone will be able to endure a prolonged barking of a pet.

In general, training an orange is quite simple. The only serious problems that may arise are accustoming the baby to the toilet. And all because of the structure of the dog. It is quite difficult for them to keep fluid in the bladder, so they can relieve the need right in the apartment. But if you teach your child to ask to go outside, then the problem will disappear by itself. And only particularly creative dog lovers are able to teach a puppy to walk in a cat tray.

Puppies of oranges grow quickly enough before the age of six months. It is during this period that they increase in size and gain mass. Around the age of six months, furry creatures begin to resemble adults, although dogs, like human children, are distinguished by individual development. Some already in 4 months have the form of adult dogs, while others and in the 9-month old are just beginning to change their appearance.

Breeders, for their part, argue that the period of puppies' active growth stops when they are one year old. However, even after setting a stable weight, oranges can begin to gain weight or are slightly extended at the withers. These changes can occur before the age of one and a half years. But visual changes in the body are not indicators for changing the status of a puppy to an adult. After all, internal organs and the skeleton continue to form. At this very time, the coat is changing. The final developmental stop of puppies occurs in 3 years.

Spitz are the owners of a unique and intense heat transfer, which their nature has awarded. Accordingly, the use of different wardrobe items can lead to overheating of the animal and thereby harm it.

Most activists insist that overheating leads to the destruction of the mental state of the animal, and this negatively affects the relationship between the pet and its owner. But if we consider the issue on the other hand, then go to extremes is not worth it.

When walking in bad weather, getting dirt on the wool cannot be avoided - the Spitz wool gets wet pretty quickly and gets very dirty. However, bathing is often prohibited. The only way out of this situation is jumpsuit. The main thing is that he does not have a strong insulation.

In turn, breeders argue that for the maintenance of oranges it is necessary to acquire a few mandatory things, which will be quite enough for the pet:

• raincoat or raincoat-overalls;
• blanket;
• panties;
• boots.

The raincoat does not allow the wool to get wet, it does not let moisture in and protects the animal from dirt. Blankets are purchased exclusively for females. It is able to protect the mammary glands from frostbite, and also will not allow the mud masses to get on the nipples. No female can do without panties. They are worn on the dog only during estrus. This wardrobe will avoid blood stains on the floor and furniture. Shoes used only in the cold season save the animal's paws from reagents.

The proverb “how many people, so many opinions” is largely consistent with the content of oranges. In most cases, only the positive aspects of dogs are considered. Happy owners note that Pomeranian spitz-dogs are distinguished by a developed mind, powerful intellect.

Unfortunately, almost all breeders talk about the poor health of the Pomeranian breed. Some dogs have been diagnosed with epilepsy, others suffer from frequent dental problems, while others suffer from heart failure.

But despite this, fluffy lumps remain the most beloved and charming pets. What is their cute image and enchanting look filled with love, care, warmth, and most importantly, trust.

All about Pomeranian spitz see in the next video.