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Animal register · DogIn the app

Pomeranian

Pom, German Toy Spitz, Zwergspitz

The Pomeranian is the smallest spitz: the FCI keeps it as the toy variety of the German Spitz, 21 cm ± 3 cm at the withers, and The Royal Kennel Club's standard describes a compact, short-coupled little dog with a fox-like head, small erect ears and a tail turned over the back. Its double coat has a soft, fluffy undercoat and a long, straight outer coat that forms a frill round the neck. The standard allows many whole colours, such as orange, cream, white, black and brown, but never merle; PetPrep draws a natural, untrimmed coat.

The FCI calls its character companionable and cheerful, and The Royal Kennel Club's standard calls it extrovert, lively and intelligent. The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to 30 minutes of exercise a day and suits it to a flat or apartment; the PDSA says its double coat needs brushing two to three times a week. The AKC says Pomeranians tend to be a better fit for families with older children, can get along well with other animals if socialised early, and highly recommends early socialisation and puppy classes. The Royal Kennel Club gives its lifespan as over 12 years.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Pomeranian — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
small — The Royal Kennel Club S247
Adult weight
males 1.8–2 kg, females 2–2.5 kg — The Kennel Club S249
Daily exercise
up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S247
Brushing
more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S247
Shedding
sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S247
Lifespan
more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S247

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

  • apartment livingS247
  • family lifeS246
  • homes with other petsS251

Keep in mind:

  • small dog — better with older childrenS251
  • needs brushing several times a weekS247S250
  • shedsS247S250

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S247

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S247
  • Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S247
  • Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S247

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S247

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 8–12 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S247
  • Height at the withers: males 18–24 cm, females 18–24 cm — FCI S246
  • Adult weight: males 1.8–2 kg, females 2–2.5 kg — The Kennel Club S249

Training

  • No. 23 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 97, group 5 (spitz and primitive types); origin: Germany. — FCI S246

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Pomeranian need?

According to our sources, the Pomeranian needs this much exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S247.

How long does a Pomeranian live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Pomeranian is: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S247.

How big does a Pomeranian get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Pomeranian, according to our sources: Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S247; Adult weight: males 1.8–2 kg, females 2–2.5 kg — The Kennel Club S249.

How much grooming does a Pomeranian need?

Coat and grooming of the Pomeranian, according to our sources: Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S247; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S247; Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S247.

Who is the Pomeranian a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Pomeranian as a good fit for: apartment living — The Royal Kennel Club S247; family life — FCI S246; homes with other pets — American Kennel Club S251. Keep in mind: small dog — better with older children — American Kennel Club S251; needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S247S250; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S247S250.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 3,000 from month 3
Young dogmonth 923,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)23,000 steps
Seniormonth 108 (9 years)22,300 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 30 minutes, so 3,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands 1.5× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 108 (9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing 3 times a week.
  • Care: a visit to the groomer every 4 weeks — a reminder for the parent.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA, American Kennel Club S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S247S250S251

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. — PDSA S250
  • Tracheal collapse, where the rings of the windpipe collapse and make breathing difficult, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S250
  • Eye problems occur in the breed, such as progressive retinal atrophy, which can slowly lead to blindness, cataracts, which cloud the lens, and eyelids that turn inwards (entropion); eye testing is available. — PDSA S250
  • Elbow dysplasia, a poorly developed elbow joint that can eventually lead to arthritis, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S250
  • Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia, a painful condition with fluid-filled cavities in the spinal cord near the brain, can occur in the breed; breeders are advised to screen the parents (UK: BVA/KC scheme). — The Royal Kennel Club S247
  • An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which can affect weight, skin and energy levels, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S250

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Further tests for best practice

  • MRI screening for Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia (UK: BVA/KC CM/SM scheme) — The Royal Kennel Club S247
  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S247

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S246FCI — FCI-Standard N° 97 — German Spitz, including Keeshond and Pomeranian (EN PDF, FCI development host)https://dev.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/097g05-en.pdf
  11. S247The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Pomeranian — breed information page (Breeds A to Z, current address)https://thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/toy/pomeranian
  12. S249The Kennel Club (UK) breed standard, hosted by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA) — Pomeranian — KC standard (most recent changes effective 01/07/2025) (PDF)https://www.kusa.co.za/images/BREED%20STANDARDS%20EFFECTIVE%2001%20JULY%202025/Pomeranian%20-%20KC%20[07-2025].pdf
  13. S250PDSA — Pomeranian breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/small-dogs/pomeranian
  14. S251American Kennel Club — M. Erickson (updated 2025-12-04) — Is a Pomeranian the Right Dog Breed for You?https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/pomeranian-right-for-you/
  15. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  16. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  17. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  18. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  19. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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