The POM goes back about 10,000 years in its history,
but we will only focus on about the last 200 to 300 years. The POM is a descendant of the wolf, particularly from
the northern branch of the family known as the Northern European Gray Wolf. It is generally accepted that the POM comes
from an area between Eastern Germany and Poland, known as POMERANIA. Although they are named after this area,
the POM actually originated in southern Germany.
The POMERANIAN is a descendant of the European working dogs, such as the Akita,
Malamute, Norwegian Elkhound, Samoyed, Keeshond, Chow Chow, Finnish Spitz, and Schipperke.
These dogs were also held in high esteem in Greece and Rome, where they were prized as ladies pets.
The earliest POMERANIANS differed in appearance from our current tiny version; they
weighed between 30 and 35 pounds, with larger ears, longer muzzles, and longer backs. They didn't
have the wide variety of colors that we see in our present day POMERANIANS.
White or biscuit seemed to be the most common color; with some black, blue,
and brown. Early historians and early literature don't mention the parti-color, but some of the paintings of the
early 1700's show POMS with this pattern, so it did exist.
The earliest mention of POMS in the United States appeared in the late 1880's, when
the AKC registered the first POM. In 1900, the AKC recognized the POM with the result that at dog shows,
the POM could now leave the Miscellaneous classes and exhibit in the Non-Sporting Group. He stayed in this group until
1928 when the Toy Group was established. This is the group in which he still shows today.
The same year that the AKC recognized the POM, (1900) the American Pomeranian Club was
founded and in 1909 the club became a member of the AKC, and also became the parent club of the breed.
In recent decades, the POMS have gained both Conformation Championship titles as well
as top awards at Obedience Trials. In February 1988, a POM was awarded BEST IN SHOW at the Westminster Kennel
Club Show in New York City's Madison Square Garden. POMS have also displayed their prowess in the field of Good Citizenship.
In 1995, the POM first won a Novice Agility title. Today, the POM is ranked among the top ten breeds
registered by the AKC and has been ranked as such since 1994.
