History of the Pomeranian Dwarf Spitz

I – The Stone Age (6000 BC)

II – In Germany

III – In England

IV – In the United States

V- In Asia

VI – Is the dog descended from the wolf? By C’est pas Sorcier

Ancient seal C 3,000BC

A direct descendant of the bog dog (Canis familiaris palustris), it was the first breed to be domesticated during the Stone Age.

According to archaeological excavations, preserved in peat, the Canis familiaris palustris resembled the large spitz dogs of today.

These dogs are certainly the ancestors of all European and Asian Spitz breeds, including the Japanese Spitz, Italian Spitz and related breeds such as the Finnish Spitz, Samoyed, Chow Chow, Husky… It is likely that all these breeds are cousins.

Thousands of years ago, the ancestors of the Pomeranian were Spitz dogs, medium to large in size, found in the Arctic region. In Iceland, people used them as sled dogs, in the far north as sheepdogs and hunting dogs, and in Scandinavian tribes for hunting moose.

Over the centuries that followed, Spitz dogs developed alongside humans, while adapting to the different needs of different regions.

History tells us that they weighed between 30 and 40 pounds (14 to 18 kg) and were mostly light-skinned. Due to their hard physical labor, they were very muscular and strong.

They were able to cope with negative temperatures thanks to their thick double coat (Today, they still have this same coat).

The great ancestors of the Pomeranians had a similar look and size to the Keeshond. The Keeshond, Samoyed, Pomeranian and other Spitz breeds are all descended from these same dogs. Spitzes being lupoids (its appearance is reminiscent of a wolf), it was given the name “wolf-dog”, which is a diminutive of the “Pomeranian” “loulou”.

Some migrated to southern Europe, and more specifically to Germany.

The classification of the Pomeranian as a German Spitz in the FCI countries is interesting. As various offshoots began to develop, Pomerania was reduced to a smaller size, in a specific European region that was formerly called ‘Pomerania’ (this region is now near the Baltic Sea and covers parts of modern sections of Germany and Poland).

In the 18th century, there was a large population of medium to large white Spitzes with a well-defined character, used as guard dogs.

The first reference to these dogs dates from 1764 and is attributed to the Scottish journalist James Boswell.

In the 19th century, the nobility began to take an interest in them. It was at the very end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th century that the Pomeranian dog became well known.

The creation of the Pomeranian Spitz as we know it today is attributed to Queen Victoria (1819-1901).

Queen Victoria was the granddaughter of Queen Charlotte, and inherited her grandmother’s passion for Pomeranians.

Many improvements have been made to the Pomeranian breed type since the time of Queen Victoria. It is now called the German Spitz and is even shown in a different group in countries that are not members of the FCI.

Many celebrities have succumbed to its pretty face, such as Marie Antoinette of Austria, Catherine II of Russia, Michelangelo, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Emile Zola, Princess Ludovica of Bavaria, Empress Eugénie, or Josephine de Beauharnais.

Mozart dedicated one of his finished arias to his pet Pomeranian, Pimperl.

Frédéric Chopin, inspired by his friend’s Pomeranian chasing its tail, wrote the song “Waltz of the Little Dog”.

When Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel, his Pom sat underneath on a satin pillow and watched him.

 

In France, the Pomeranian is not considered a distinct breed but a variety of the German Spitz.

The German Spitz was definitively recognised by the FCI on January 1957.

Some countries, such as the USA (American Kennel Club) and England (The Kennel Club), which are not members of the FCI, distinguish between two separate breeds: the German Toy Spitz and the Pomeranian.

The name Pomeranian was only accepted by the Germans in 1974; they used the generic name German Spitz and claimed that this “German Spitz” was a German national breed.

This German Spitz was a healthy, robust and strong dog. It was a large working dog, often found in the Arctic regions of northern Europe. Its original name was Wolfspitz, a term referring to its small erect ears.

Origin and name Pomeranian

Spitz breeds are a family of dogs that lived in certain regions of Europe and Asia. Spitz dogs have erect ears, tails that curl over their backs and a thick double coat.

The name “Spitz” was not used as a name for these breeds until the 15th century. However, the name “Chien-loup” has been used and it is thought that the French phase “lou-lou” is derived from this name. Historians find no records of the Spitz dog before George III sat on the throne in England.

In Germany, various older regional names for these dogs are translated into English and become the Wolf Spitz, the Lion Spitz, the Bear Spitz and the Great (aka Gross) Spitz.

The smallest dogs included the Fox Spitz and, a little later, the Mannheimer Zwerg-Spitze. In 1886 the Pomeranian breed was known as German Toy Pomeranians or Mannheimer Zwergspitze.

Where do Pomeranians come from?

The breed has evolved in a number of parts of Europe and has been given various names, several types having no connection with Pomeranian.

In France, Lulu, Pomeranian Dog or Lou Lou.

In Holland, the Wolfshond, during the 1780s this name was changed to Keeshond.

In Italy, the Italian Spitz, Florentine Spitz, Quirinale Cane, Lupino and Volpino. The Italian variety was usually bright orange or yellow.

The Swedish naturalist, Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) spent much time classifying the dogs of his time. He mentions the Canis Pomeranus and provided ample evidence to support his theory that these dogs were well known in Central and Northern Europe.

Pomeranie dog 1885

Wolf or Pomeranian dog

Pomeranians developed as a breed by English enthusiasts

The Pom dog was developed as a breed and became known as the Pomeranian in England. It was only in the 18th century that the Pomeranian (then known as the Wolf dog) became firmly established in England, the breed having aroused the interest of members of the English monarchy.

In 1761, upon marrying King George III, Queen Charlotte of the Duchy of Mecklenburg (a German territory bordering Pomerania), then 17 years old, brought her companion dogs to England. Queen Charlotte’s dogs were what was then called the “wolf-dog” type and were primarily white in color.

The King’s son (King George IV) continued this royal tradition, and examples of this can be seen in paintings by Gainsborough and Stubbs.

Queen Victoria, granddaughter of Queen Charlotte, inherited her grandmother’s passion. She was widely regarded as the most famous person who owned and exhibited Pomeranians during her lifetime.

Over the years, she imported many Pomeranians from different parts of Europe. The dogs had coats of different colors and her kennel in Windsor housed more than 30 of them.

While on holiday in Florence in 1888, Queen Victoria purchased a basic stock of Italian Spitz dogs also known as Volpino Italiano or Florentine Spitz.

When reading about the Queen and her passion for Pomeranians, you must understand that the dogs she loved at the time are not classified as Pomeranians today by the English Kennel Club.

English Pomeranians were generally kept as pets, and much of the information about these dogs comes from various paintings.

Written by William Taplin and published in London in 1803, ‘The Sportsman’s Cabinet’ deals with race in detail:

“POMERANIAN or, WOLF-DOG.

The dog so called in this country is only a little over eighteen or twenty inches in height, and is distinguished by its long, thick, and rather straight coat, forming a most formidable ruff around the neck, but short and smooth on the head and ears; they are for the most part of a pale yellow or cream colour, and lighter on the under parts.

Some are white, some black, and some but very rarely spotted; the head broad towards the neck, and tapering to the muzzle; ears short, pointed, and erect; nose and eyes chiefly black; the tail large and bushy and invariably curled in a ring over the back. Examples of smooth or short-haired hairs are very rare; in England, it is morefamiliarly known as the fox-dog, and this may originally have arisen from the fact that he has much affinity with that animal around the head; but, by those who in their writings describe him as a native of Pomerania, he passes under the appellation of Pomeranian dog.”

Start Toy Pomeranian or Zwerg Spitz

Pomeranians Mesdames Kennel Club Show Angleterre 1896

Pomeranians made an impact in England after 1870

In 1859, Newcastle hosted the first ever English dog show and in 1861 another was held at Belle Vue Zoo in Manchester.

The English Kennel Club has registered the breed as Pomeranian

The Pomeranian Club was formed by nine members in 1891. This very first Pomeranian club was launched on 11 February 1891 at the Agricultural Hall, Crufts Dog Show.

There was a growing interest on the part of breeders to reduce the size of the dogs they were breeding, but also to produce new colours.

Whites and blacks were no longer at the forefront of breeding programmes and the show ring. Now there were other colours such as orange, sable, blue and chocolate.

During this period, shows offered classes for small, medium and large dogs and it took the English Pomeranian Club much longer to agree on an appropriate weight range for these incredible dogs.

The original Pomeranian breed standard dates from 1898.
A revised and significantly improved breed standard was developed in 1909. A meeting was held at the Pet Dog Show with representatives from all the Pomeranian Club’s constituent clubs.
Reports from this meeting indicate that the 1909 Pomeranian standard harmoniously embodied the views of all the Pom clubs.
These clubs included the Pomeranian Club, the North of England Pomeranian Club, the East Lancashire Pomeranian Club, and the Midland Pomeranian Club.

reference : pomeranian.org – Denise Leo, pomeranian breed expert, of Dochlaggie fame. Breeder and exhibitor of Best in Show Supreme, Grand Champion and Champions since 1975.

Pomeranian Shelton Master Atom

In the United States: Pomeranian dog

Mme Frank T. Clarke and Pomeranian Fanion Broadcaster

Champion Banner Prince Charming and Banner Sa Seigneurie

American Pomeranians originated from imported Poms, primarily from England. In the late 1880s, Pomeranians began appearing at various dog shows in the United States. In 1900, the nation’s Kennel Club officially recognized the breed.

Prior to this official sanction, the breed had to participate in the miscellaneous class. Not having a winning class meant that championship titles were not available during this period for the breed. The first known Pomeranian to be shown in America was Sheffield Lad, in New York in 1892.

In 1896, Pomeranians Prince Bismarck was placed 2nd and Wolfgang 3rd in the Miscellaneous class. Kansas City in 1898, saw the Pomeranian Clayton Chieftain win the Miscellaneous category.

In 1899, interest in the breed increased and large numbers of quality Pomeranians arrived from England.

Around 1900, the American Kennel Club recognised the breed and approved admission to the stud book. The American Pomeranian Club (APC) was formed.

White, blue and brown were the most popular colours.

The 1900 New York Show was the first to hold a winners’ class for Pomeranians. A brown dog, Nubian Rebel, belonging to Mrs. Frank Smyth, won this first prize. Nubian Rebel later became a champion.

In 1901, the New York Show was judged by MRF Mayhew and Hatcham Nip was ranked first. Hatcham Nip later became the first international champion of the breed. During this period, Mrs RF Mayhew and Mrs George Thomas were the main exhibitors in Pomerania.

In 1909, APC was accepted as a member club of the AKC and became the designated parent club for the breed.

In 1911, the APC organised its first specialist exhibition with an entry of 262 Pomeranians. The first Best of Breed winner was Champion Bannière Prince Charmant, owned by Mrs Frank Smyth of Swiss Mountain Kennels.

In 1912, the second Pomeranian show organized by the American Pomeranian Club took place in New York. The 185 Poms entry was judged by Charles G. Hopton. Best of Breed at this show was the English import, Champion Offley Kew Marco.

reference : pomeranian.org – Denise Leo, pomeranian breed expert, of Dochlaggie fame. Breeder and exhibitor of Best in Show Supreme, Grand Champion and Champions since 1975.