Pomeranian breed guide

Alert and intelligent, Pomeranians are easily trained and make fine watchdogs and perky pets for families with children old enough to know a toy dog from a toy. AKC says they should learn to walk on a leash early and come when called.

Housebreaking may be a challenge, so consistency and patience are key.

Pomeranians live 12 to 16 years. Breeders screen for luxating patellas, hypothyroidism, collapsing tracheas, congestive heart failure, seizures and alopecia X, black skin disease.

AKC says to keep a Pomeranian from jumping on and off couches or beds, because it can injure joints or even break a bone.

The thick double coat is one of the Pomeranian's most distinguishing features and needs frequent brushing: go through the dog with a pin brush and a slicker brush down to the skin once a week to keep the hair from matting.

Poms benefit from some exercise and enjoy running, playing and walks. Keep a close eye outdoors, since they are notorious for escaping through small crevices or gaps in fencing or climbing over short fencing.

The Pomeranian is a miniaturized relation of the powerful spitz-type sled dogs of the Arctic, named for Pomerania, the area of northeastern Europe that is now part of Poland and western Germany, where its ancestors were bred down from much bigger, burlier cousins.

Also known as the Zwergspitz in some countries, it is the smallest of the spitz breeds. AKC credits much of its popularity to Queen Victoria, who became smitten with the breed.