Where do Pomeranians come from? The real origin story
See the real story – guest starring your dog.
You are probably wondering why your small, fluffy Pomeranian carries the name of a place you may never have heard of. Pomeranians take their name from Pomerania, a historical region on the Baltic coast, which is credited with the breeding that led to the original Pomeranian type of dog. That region did not create the breed you know today, though. The dogs behind your Pomeranian were much larger German Spitz-type working dogs, and selective breeding in Britain over the 1800s shrank them into the toy companion breed you have now.
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The story in 5 parts
A short version first. The full story, with every detail, is further down.
Part 1
The short answer: a region, not just a breed name
Pomerania is a historical region on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, split today between Germany and Poland.
Part 2
The spitz family tree behind the Pomeranian
Your Pomeranian descends from the German Spitz, a working dog type.
Part 3
How the dog got smaller over time
Early written accounts show just how large the original Pomeranians were.
Part 4
Why the name stuck even though the breed changed so much
Pomerania is credited with the breeding that led to the original Pomeranian type, though the area was not the origin of the breed itself.
Part 5
What the geographic origin does and doesn't tell you about your dog today
Knowing where the name comes from does not tell you much about how your dog behaves day to day.
Read the full story
Part 1
The short answer: a region, not just a breed name
Pomerania is a historical region on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, split today between Germany and Poland. Cities such as Szczecin and Gdańsk sit within its old borders. The Pomeranian breed is named for this region, though the region was not the origin of the breed itself. Pomerania is credited with the breeding that led to the original Pomeranian type, a type that was properly documented only after the dogs reached Britain. Early Pomeranians were far larger dogs, closer to the northern spitz breeds used for outdoor work.
Part 2
The spitz family tree behind the Pomeranian
Your Pomeranian descends from the German Spitz, a working dog type. The forerunners of the breed were large working dogs from Arctic regions, commonly known as the Wolfspitz or Spitz type. The word spitz is German for sharp point, a term used in the 16th century to describe the dog's nose and muzzle. These spitz-type dogs were large working animals from Arctic regions. A modern kennel standard groups the Pomeranian together with the Keeshond under the German Spitz standard.
Part 3
How the dog got smaller over time
Early written accounts show just how large the original Pomeranians were. A pair of Pomeranians named Phoebe and Mercury, painted in 1785, reportedly weighed as much as 30 to 50 pounds, far more than a modern Pomeranian's 3 to 7 pounds. Queen Charlotte brought two Pomeranians to England in 1767, introducing the breed to British royal circles. Queen Victoria, Charlotte's granddaughter, found a small red sable Pomeranian in Italy in 1888 that reportedly weighed only 12 pounds. She exhibited this dog, named Marco, in 1891, and the smaller type became immediately popular, so breeders began choosing only the smaller dogs to breed from. During Victoria's lifetime, the size of the Pomeranian breed decreased by half.
Part 4
Why the name stuck even though the breed changed so much
Pomerania is credited with the breeding that led to the original Pomeranian type, though the area was not the origin of the breed itself. The first Pomeranian breed club formed in England in 1891, and the first breed standard followed shortly after. The breed was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1898 and recognized in 1900.
Part 5
What the geographic origin does and doesn't tell you about your dog today
Knowing where the name comes from does not tell you much about how your dog behaves day to day. Modern Pomeranians are classed as a toy breed because of their small size, and they are descended from the German Spitz. Still, some physical traits echo that northern spitz ancestry. Paintings of early Pomeranians already showed the heavy coat and a tail curled over the back, features your dog likely still carries.
Things you might not know
- The word spitz is German for sharp point, a term used in the 16th century to describe the dog's nose and muzzle.
- Queen Charlotte brought two Pomeranians to England in 1767, introducing the breed to British royal circles.
- The first Pomeranian breed club formed in England in 1891, and the first breed standard followed shortly after.
- During Victoria's lifetime, the size of the Pomeranian breed decreased by half.
Year by year
- 1767Queen Charlotte brought two Pomeranians to England in 1767, introducing the breed to British royal circles.
- 1785A pair of Pomeranians named Phoebe and Mercury, painted in 1785, reportedly weighed as much as 30 to 50 pounds, far more than a modern Pomeranian's 3 to 7 pounds.
- 1888Queen Victoria, Charlotte's granddaughter, found a small red sable Pomeranian in Italy in 1888 that reportedly weighed only 12 pounds.
- 1891She exhibited this dog, named Marco, in 1891, and the smaller type became immediately popular, so breeders began choosing only the smaller dogs to breed from.
- 1891The first Pomeranian breed club formed in England in 1891, and the first breed standard followed shortly after.
- 1898The breed was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1898.
Questions people ask
Where is Pomerania located today?
Pomerania is a historical region on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, split between Germany and Poland.
Are Pomeranians originally from Germany or Poland?
The breed is named for Pomerania, and that region is credited with the breeding that led to the original Pomeranian type. The ancestral dogs behind the breed were larger German Spitz-type working dogs.
Why were Pomeranians bred to be smaller?
Breeders began favoring smaller size after Queen Victoria's small Pomeranian, Marco, was exhibited in 1891 and became immediately popular.
Did Queen Victoria really shrink the Pomeranian breed?
During her lifetime, the Pomeranian breed's size decreased by half. She also imported smaller Pomeranians of different colors to add to her own breeding program.
Are Pomeranians related to other spitz breeds?
Yes, the Pomeranian descends from the German Spitz. A kennel standard groups the Pomeranian with the Keeshond under the German Spitz standard.
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Sources
- Pomeranian dog - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
- Pomerania - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
- Western Pomerania - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
- Maps. My Pomerania - German and Polish Genealogy, Jan 15, 2017.
- Province of Pomerania (1815–1945) - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
- Pomerania facts for kids. kids.kiddle.co.
- The Pomeranian Feast. Notes from the Road.
- History of Pomerania - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
- History Of The Pomeranian | Pom Full Of Love. Pom Full Of Love.
Written by TimeWalkies EditorialLast updated How we research