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Breed
Standard,
Pomeranian,
Toy Group,
American
Kennel
Club
The
Pomeranian
is a
compact,
short-backed,
active toy
dog. He
has a
soft,
dense
undercoat
with a
profuse
harsh-textured
outer
coat. His
heavily
plumed
tail is
set high
and lies
flat on
his bakc.
He is
alert in
character,
exhibits
intelligence
in
expression,
is buoyant
in
deportment,
and is
inquisitive
by nature.
The
Pomeranian
is cocky,
commanding
and
animated
as he
gaits. He
is sound
in
composition
and action
Size,
Proportion,
Substance
The
average
weight of
the
Pomeranian
is from 3
to 7
pounds,
with the
ideal
weight for
the show
specimen
being 4 to
6 pounds.
Any dog
over or
under the
limits is
objectionable.
However,
overall
quality is
to be
favored
over size.
The
distance
from the
point of
shoulder
to the
point of
buttocks
is
slightly
shorter
than from
the
highest
point of
the
withers to
the
ground.
the
distance
from the
brisket to
the ground
is half
the height
at the
withers.
He is
medium-boned,
and the
length of
his legs
is in
proportion
to a
well-balanced
frame.
When
examined,
he feels
sturdy.
Head
The
head is in
balance
with the
body. The
muzzle is
rather
short,
straight,
fine, free
of
lippiness
and never
snipey.
His
expression
is alert
and may be
referred
to as
fox-like.
The skull
is closed.
The top of
the skull
is
slightly
rounded,
but not
domed.
When
viewed
from the
front and
side, one
sees small
ears which
are
mounted
high and
carried
erect. To
form a
wedge,
visualize
a line
from the
tip of the
nose
ascending
through
the center
of the
eyes and
the tip of
the ears.
The eyes
are dark,
bright,
medium in
size and
almond-shaped.
They are
set well
into the
skull on
either
side of a
well-pronounced
stop. The
pigmentation
is black
on the
nose and
eye rims
except
self-colored
in brown,
beaver,
and blue
dogs. The
teeth meet
in a
scissors
bite. One
tooth out
of
alignment
is
acceptable.
Major
Faults:
Round,
domed
skull;
under-shot
mouth;
overshot
mouth.
Neck,
Topline,
Body
The
neck is
short with
its base
set well
into the
shoulders
to allow
the head
to be
carried
high. The
back is
short with
a level
topline.
The body
is compact
and
well-ribbed
with
brisket
reaching
the elbow.
The plumed
tail is
one of the
characteristics
of the
breed, and
lies flat
and
straight
on the
back.
Forequarters
The
Pomeranian
has
sufficient
layback of
shoulders
to carry
the neck
and head
proud and
high. The
shoulders
and legs
are
moderately
muscled.
The length
of the
shoulder
blade and
upper arm
are equal.
The
forelegs
are
straight
and
parallel
to each
other.
Height
from
elbows to
withers
approximately
equals
height
from
ground to
elbow. The
pasterns
are
straight
and
strong.
The feet
are
well-arched,
compact,
and turn
neither in
nor out.
He stands
well up on
his toes.
Dewclaws
may be
removed.
Major
Faults:
Down in
pasterns.
Hindquarters
The
angulation
of the
hindquarters
balances
that of
the
forequarters.
The
buttocks
are well
behind the
set of the
tail. The
thighs are
moderately
muscled
with
stifles
that are
moderately
bent and
clearly
defined.
The hocks
are
perpendicular
to the
ground and
the legs
are
straight
and
parallel
to each
other. The
feet are
well-arched,
compact,
and turn
neither in
nor out.
He stands
well up on
his toes.
Dewclaws,
if any on
the hind
legs may
be
removed.
Major
Faults:
Cowhocks
or lack of
soundness
in hind
legs or
stifles.
Gait
The
Pomeranian's
gait is
smooth,
free,
balanced
and
vigorous.
He has
good reach
in his
forequarters
and strong
drive with
his
hindquarters.
Each rear
leg moves
in line
with the
foreleg on
the same
side. To
achieve
balance,
his legs
converge
slightly
inward
toward a
center
line
beneath
his body.
The rear
and front
legs are
thrown
neither in
nor out.
The
topline
remains
level, and
his
overall
balance
and
outline
are
maintained.
Coat
A
Pomeranian
is noted
for its
double
coat. The
undercoat
is soft
and dense.
The
outer-coat
is long,
straight,
glistening
and harsh
in
texture. A
thick
undercoat
will hold
up and
permit the
guard hair
to stand
off from
the
Pomeranian's
body. The
coat is
abundant
from the
neck and
fore part
of
shoulders
and chest,
forming a
frill
which
extends
over the
shoulders
and chest.
The head
and leg
coat is
tightly
packed and
shorter in
length
than that
of the
body. The
forequarters
are
well-feathered
to the
hock. The
tail is
profusely
covered
with long,
harsh,
spreading
straight
hair.
Trimming
for
neatness
and a
clean
outline is
permissible.
Major
Faults:
Soft, flat
or open
coat.
Color
All
colors,
patterns,
and
variations
there-of
are
allowed
and must
be judged
on an
equal
basis.
Patterns:
Black and
Tan - tan
or rust
sharply
defined,
appearing
above each
eye and on
muzzle,
throat,
and
forechest,
on all
legs and
feet and
below the
tail. The
richer the
tan the
more
desirable;
Brindle -
the base
color is
gold, red,
or
orange-brindled
with
strong
black
cross
stripes;
Parti-color
- is white
with any
other
color
distributed
in patches
with a
white
blaze
preferred
on the
head.
Classifications:
The Open
Classes at
specialty
shows may
be divided
by color
as
follows:
Open Red,
Orange,
Cream, and
Sable;
Open
Black,
Brown, and
Blue; Open
Any Other
Color,
Pattern,
or
Variation.
Temperament
The
Pomeranian
is an
extrovert,
exhibiting
great
intelligence
and a
vivacious
spirit,
making him
a great
companion
dog as
well as a
competitive
show dog.
EVEN
THOUGH A
TOY DOG,
THE
POMERANIAN
MUST BE
SUBJECT TO
THE SAME
REQUIREMENTS
OF
SOUNDNESS
AND
STRUCTURE
PRESCRIBED
FOR ALL
BREEDS,
AND ANY
DEVIATION
FROM THE
IDEAL
DESCRIBED
IN THE
STANDARD
SHOULD BE
PENALIZED
TO THE
EXTENT OF
THE
DEVIATION.
Approved
December
9, 1996
Effective
January
31, 1997
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