Monday, April 21, 2008

Standards Pomeranian Breeders Strive For

The American Kennel Club establishes standards of various dog breeds, including the Pomeranian. Before the American Kennel Club recognizes a breed, the breed has to have certain characteristics, referred to as standards of the breed, that remain stable generation after generation. Breed standards serve several functions. A dog owner buying an American Kennel Club recognized breed of dog knows how big a puppy will be when it grows up. All puppies start out small, but a Pomeranian owner knows he or she will end up with a dog that weighs in at seven pounds or less. Breed standards also predict temperament, and the owner of a Pomeranian puppy knows the grown dog will be playful, energetic and extroverted.

If you want to see you your Pomeranian compares to the show dogs that win American Kennel Club championships, grab your dog and your bathroom scale. You're about to find out whether you have a potential champion on your hands.
Another benefit of having standards for different breeds of dogs is to encourage good breeding practices. Dogs in the toy group are notoriously fragile, and restricting the weight of the Pomeranian to seven pounds maximum helps prevent the breed from getting too heavy and risking injury to bones and joints. The standards of the breed covers a surprisingly extensive array of features, from the darkly pigmented nose to the plumed tail lying flat and straight against the back. Pomeranians have small ears, short muzzles and dark, bright, almond-shaped eyes.

Proportion is integral to Pomeranian standards. The dog's height from its elbows to its withers should be approximately the same as the height from the ground to the elbows. The length of the shoulder blade and the upper arm should be approximately equal. The Pomeranian is double-coated, with a soft undercoat and a fluffy, textured outer coat that settles in a frill around the Pomeranian's shoulders and chest. A soft, flat or open coat is a major fault that leads to disqualification.
The standard of the breed permits the Pomeranian to be virtually every color, and all colors and variations must be judged equally. Common Pomeranian patterns include black and tan, brindle and parti-color. With black and tan, light patches appear above the eyes, on the muzzle, throat, chest, legs, feet, and under the tail. A brindle coat has a gold or red base with bold black stripes. A parti-color Pomeranian is white with patches of any other color, although a white blaze on the head is preferred.

In specialty shows, Pomeranian dogs are categorized into three different groups according to the color combinations of their coats. Red, orange and sable dogs are judged together while black and brown dogs are judged in a second group, and other variations are judged in a third group.

The AKC also judges a dog's temperament. The Pomeranian should be confident, intelligent and extroverted, spirited and full of personality. Breed standards define the dog and promote predictability. The American Kennel Club makes Pomeranian breed information available to anyone who wants to know what a champion Pomeranian looks like.

The Pomeranian standard for the body are measured by proportions, for instance, the dog's upper and lower legs are approximately equal. Breeders can easily obtain more detailed Pomeranian information that specifies the precise standards of the breed from the AKC.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Do Pomeranian Dogs Make Good Pets?

Like many of the breeds in the toy group, the Pomeranian's personality is far bigger than their bodies. They are hot stuff and they know it. They boldly bounce around life and rule their people like benevolent dictators. They can be willful and stubborn and usually suspicious of strangers. However, many have been able to get along with other pets and other dogs.

They are protective, loyal and demanding. Pomeranian dogs demand little in terms of food or exercise – just playing in the house will suffice on most days – but they are demanding in terms of needing your attention to their presence and attention to their magnificent but easily matting double-layered coats. If you groom your Pomeranian every day, not only will your Pomeranian get used to being handled, but it will save you less time caring for the coat in the long run. Grooming can be a great way to interact and give worshipful attention to your Pomeranian.
Pomeranians seem to be born entertainers. They strut, preen and pose for everyone that they are comfortable with. They know they are cute and will twist you around their dewclaws when they can. Their behavior problems are usually more difficult than dangerous. They often become very vocal and need to learn when not to bark. They also can have problems with house training, due to their tiny bladders and not for lack of intelligence. At least they make little messes.

The biggest things Pomeranians have going for them (despite their adorable looks) is that they genuinely want to please their people. If you are patient, persistent and keep training sessions short, fun and use lots of positive reinforcement, Pomeranians can be trained just as well as bigger dogs. Some Pomeranians have been circus dogs, some learn complicated agility courses for agility races and one even guest starred as an alien dog on Star Trek.
Pomeranians need regular check ups and vaccinations just like any other dogs. They need worming medication and rabies shots. Pomeranian dogs are also prone to some illnesses more than other breeds. These illnesses include eye infections, dislocated patella, skin problems, teeth problems and slipped stifle. Their skeletons are also more fragile than the average dog's. A drop from your arms can fracture bones and do internal injuries. Daily grooming can help you not only untangle the coat, but spot potential problems before they become too serious.

Pomeranians can often grow bigger than their parents, but they can still be purebred Pomeranian dogs. Their ancestors were sled dogs of a Spitz-type that were about thirty pounds. Gradually, as the use of dog sleds dwindled, the Pomeranian became smaller for apartment dwelling. Now, they average about seven pounds. With regular care, attention and a sensible diet, they should live well into their teens and forever in your heart.

If you know what to expect from a Pomeranian it is easier to decide if the breed will fit into your lifestyle. This Pomeranian information should help prevent people buying Pomeranians who shouldn't.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Your Peerless Pomeranian

The Pomeranian is a popular breed, and no wonder. Most dog breeds in the toy group make wonderful pets. Some domesticated dogs were bred to provide some kind of labor service to humankind. Dogs like the Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, and Doberman Pinscher provide useful services like water rescues, snow rescues and property guard duty. Appropriately enough, these dogs are all members of the working group.

Dogs in the sporting group work at hunting and field trials. These dogs include spaniels, setters, pointers, and retrievers like the American Water Spaniel, the English Setter, the German Wirehaired Pointer, and the Curly-Coated Retriever.

The hound group works by tracking prey, either by scent or by sheer stamina. Scent hounds include the Bloodhound, the Basset Hound and the Beagle. While the Greyhound, Saluki and Whippet can outrun nearly any prey animal over the long haul.

The Pomeranian, in contrast to these hard workers, was bred to be a lap dog, a friend and constant companion.
Pomeranian dogs are quite confident and have even been described as cocky. They are secure in their position as top dog in the household. In fact, it takes a confident owner who is not afraid to show the dog who is boss to take charge of a Pomeranian. Your Pomeranian will demand a fair amount of your attention, so be ready to deal with interruptions and disturbances while you try to read the paper or watch TV. These are little dogs with huge personalities. Pomeranians are inquisitive and intelligent, animated and alert.

Pomeranians can develop intense attachments to their owners, becoming extremely protective when they think their master is being threatened. This protectiveness leads them to be suspicious of new people and strangers. A Pomeranian's friendship must be earned. Some Pomeranian dogs yap incessantly when they encounter a stranger, especially visitors to their home territory. It's as if the Pomeranian is trying to drive the stranger away by barking at it. The Pomeranian's cocky behavior must not be allowed to get out of control, as Pomeranians have been known to act out by snapping, biting, meanness, and general unpleasantness.
Many Pomeranians get along well with other dogs that are household companions, but they are territorial and will try to chase strange dogs, even dogs that are substantially bigger than they are. With appropriate training, the Pomeranian dog can be an excellent pet. Socialize the Pomeranian early on to avoid his developing bad habits like sharp or shrill barking. Start housebreaking at an early age to get the best results.

The majority of Pomeranians, puppies and adult dogs alike, can be trained and socialized to be loyal, manageable companions. To be sure, your Pomeranian will provide you with endless entertainment and more than enough companionship to ward off loneliness.

If you decide to get a puppy, ask your breeder to suggest an obedience trainer. If you are getting an older dog or a rescue Pomeranian, spend some time with the dog to see what its temperament is like, and seek professional training help if you run into obedience issues.

The Pomeranian is a playful, confident dog who loves to be the center of attention. Pomeranians information reveals that they are lively, appealing pets who love to be the center of attention.

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