The Pomeranian is often looked upon as a lap dog but taking a look at his heritage shows us that he originated in the Prussian region of Pomerania and is a direct descendant of the Spitz breed and introduced into Europe primarily as a sheep herder. Famous owners of Pomeranians include Marie Antoinette, Mozart, Emile Zola and Queen Victoria who set up her own kennels to breed and show the dogs. Originally these dogs were much bigger, weighing in excess of 25 pounds but as years passed the size diminished mainly because people preferred the smaller version of the dog, following the lead of Queen Victoria.

Today, the average male Pomeranian weighs around 4 to 4? pounds and his female counterpart approximately 4? to 5? pounds. There is now very little difference in the height and weight of the Pomeranians.

As a toy breed the Pomeranian is probably one of the most independent in this group and he can even charm his way into the affections of people who normally don't like miniature dogs by displaying curiosity, alertness and performing any number of unsolicited tricks. Whether the Pomeranian is pampered or leads an energetic life, going for long hikes with his owner, he will adapt to any situation and enjoy what is offered to him. Never be concerned that he cannot keep up with you because Pomeranians love exercise and possess much more stamina than you would imagine.

This little dog doesn't eat very much around half a half a can of dog food mixed with biscuits or 1? cups of dry complete food. His food intake needs to be balanced with his nutritional requirements so it is important to feed him the right foods.

If you decide to welcome a Pomeranian into your home, be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time grooming him. He has an undercoat and an overcoat so you may need to wet the coat before brushing so that you can see whether the brush is going through the two coats. You will need to frequently perform this procedure especially if you have been out for a walk and his coat has become dirty or wet. If you don't brush him through immediately, his fur will become a tangled and knotted mass and it is likely that you will have to cut chunks of his fur away rather than put him through the pain of brushing.

The Pomeranian makes an excellent companion for single people or families. They are one of the most entertaining and affectionate of all the small breeds. The only possible negative is the maintenance of his coat but if attended to on a daily basis this will only take around 10 minutes of your time; such a small price to pay for your own in-house circus performer!