The Pomeranian comes from Pomerania, a region on the Baltic coast that today belongs to Germany and Poland. Its ancestors were big, sturdy Spitz dogs that pulled carts and herded livestock. The little Pom you can scoop up in one arm is the product of more than a century of selective breeding. At Bánh Bò, we breed to the FCI standard. That document puts the breed’s history into numbers.

It’s old history, but it shapes how you care for your Pom today. Once you know where the breed comes from, you’ll understand why your puppy has such a thick coat. It also explains why the word “teacup” appears in no breed standard.

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Where did the Pomeranian originate?

The name Pomeranian comes from Pomerania, a strip of land along the southern shore of the Baltic Sea. Today it is split between Germany and Poland. The Pom’s ancestors belonged to the German Spitz group. These dogs had pointed ears, a thick double coat and a tail curled over the back, and they were built for cold weather and hard work.

Back then they were much bigger. According to a breed history roundup on the UK blog Waggel, early Pomeranian-type dogs weighed around 13–22 kg (29–49 lb), about the size of a medium dog. Eighteenth-century paintings show dogs far larger than the modern Pom. Even so, they already had the dense coat, the ears and the curled tail that still mark the breed.

The FCI still classifies the Pomeranian as the smallest variety of the German Spitz. Its country of origin is Germany.

Black and gray Pomeranians with long, fluffy coats standing side by side on a light background

How did the Pom go from working dog to toy dog?

The biggest turning point came in 1888. On a trip to Florence, Italy, Queen Victoria of England acquired a red sable Pom named Marco. He weighed about 5.4 kg (12 lb), which counted as very small at the time. She kept him, bred him and showed him. After that, English dog fanciers began breeding only from small dogs.

Victoria’s grandmother, Queen Charlotte, had already brought two Pomeranians to England in the 18th century. Still, the breed did not shrink dramatically until Victoria’s reign. The English Wikipedia article on the Pomeranian notes that the breed’s size dropped by about half during her lifetime.

White Pomeranian held in someone's lap in a classic garden setting

Some articles also claim Mozart or Michelangelo owned Poms. We treat those stories as legend. Michelangelo lived in the 16th century, long before the breed carried the name Pomeranian, and we have not found any primary source that confirms the story.

When was the Pomeranian officially recognized?

Short answer: the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the Pomeranian in 1900. Some sources say 1888. That was the year a Pom named Dick was entered in the AKC stud book, before the breed itself was recognized. The American Pomeranian Club was also founded in 1900.

Poms soon became a familiar sight in the show ring. According to Waggel, the first Pom to win Best in Show at Westminster was Glen Rose Flashaway, in 1926. The proud chest and the tail fanned over the back stood out in the ring. Breeders still judge for that outline today.

Long-coated Pomeranian held in someone's arms in front of an old brick house

How tall should a Pom be under the FCI standard?

Under FCI Standard No. 97 (German Spitz), the Pomeranian stands 21 cm (8.3 in) at the shoulder, with 3 cm (1.2 in) allowed either way, or roughly 18–24 cm (7–9.5 in). The standard gives no fixed weight. It only asks that weight be in proportion to height. The FCI places the breed in Group 5 (Spitz and primitive types), and lists its purpose as watchdog and companion dog.

Young Pomeranian with a cream and tan coat standing in a pen with a gray cushion and a blue cover

Black Pomeranian standing next to a person by a brick doorway

“Teacup” and “mini,” the words you often see online, are sales labels. The FCI recognizes neither one. It describes the Pom as square-built (height equal to body length), with a muzzle-to-skull ratio of about 2:4. A correct Pom is a balanced Pom. Smaller is not automatically better.

Our lines lean toward a short “baby face,” a dense coat and a small size. The FCI standard is still our yardstick. Our motto is that a Pom should not only be beautiful but also be correct.

How do you care for a cold-climate coat in hot, humid Ho Chi Minh City?

Dry it thoroughly, brush it regularly and keep your Pom out of the heat. The double coat is a holdover from the breed’s Baltic ancestors, with a dense undercoat close to the skin and a long outer coat on top. Ho Chi Minh City, where we breed, is tropical. It stays hot all year, and the rainy season brings long stretches of humidity.

After a bath, dry your Pom all the way down to the undercoat. If the outer coat feels dry while the undercoat stays damp, fungus and skin inflammation get ideal conditions, especially in the rainy season. Regular brushing removes shed undercoat. That lets the skin breathe.

Many owners want to shave their Pom to keep it cool. We advise against it. The double coat shields the skin from the sun, and in Poms, closely shaved hair may grow back slowly or unevenly.

Poms handle heat poorly. During the midday heat, keep your Pom in a well-ventilated or air-conditioned room, and save walks for early morning or evening. Nonstop panting, a dark red tongue, lethargy or vomiting after time in the heat are signs of heatstroke, and your Pom needs a veterinarian right away. On the way there, wipe your Pom down with a towel soaked in cool water (not ice water) and keep your dog where the air is moving. This only lowers body temperature for a while. It does not replace an exam.

Small white Pomeranian standing on a street in front of a wall and doorway

Small breeds like the Pom are also prone to luxating patella. That means the kneecap slips out of place. If your Pom limps, or now and then lifts a hind leg and then keeps running, take your dog to a veterinary clinic to have the knees checked.

How does breed history help when choosing a Pom puppy?

It tells you what to check. The modern Pom is the result of deliberate selection, so a purebred Pom should show the trail of that selection in its paperwork. Before you put down a deposit, ask the seller for the following:

Vietnam Kennel Association (VKA) papers and a pedigree that list your puppy’s parents and grandparents.
Real photos of the puppy’s parents, with details on their build and height.
Your puppy’s vaccination and deworming records.
If your puppy is going abroad: a microchip and the documents your country’s import rules require.

Bánh Bò Pomeranian started in 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City, originally as Cải Bắp Kennel. Our breeder is a veterinarian. We breed to the FCI standard, we are a VKA member, and we handle the full export paperwork for clients in the USA and Canada. All of our breeding dogs have complete papers and a clear FCI pedigree, ready for you to review.

Two small, soft-coated Pomeranian puppies, one brown and one white, held in someone's hands

Nobody can say for sure how a tiny, fluffy puppy will turn out as an adult. The pedigree and the parents are your best guide. Even so, no one can predict it completely.

Three small pale cream Pomeranian puppies held in someone's hands in a display area

Curious about our Pom puppies? You can chat with us on WhatsApp and ask about any of them. If you’re in Ho Chi Minh City, our kennel is at 52 Lê Lai, Bảy Hiền Ward (formerly Tân Bình District). Book an appointment first, then come meet the puppies.

Medical information in this article was reviewed by veterinarians at Home Pet Veterinary Clinic on October 10, 2026.