General Appearance
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 back. 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
three to seven pounds, with the ideal weight for the show specimen being
four to six 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
Copyrighted by The
American Kennel Club.
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