The Black Pomeranian is a Spitz dog and is often thought to be a completely different breed to the Pomeranian. However, they are a Pomeranian — just a completely black one! White, red and orange Pomeranians are more commonly seen within this breed, but in reality they are all the same dog, just with different colored coats.
These loving and sweet-natured dogs make an excellent companion and lapdog and with their cute little size, there’s not a lot you can’t love about them! Intelligent and friendly, these pups have a big personality and need an owner to match. Take a look below to find out about this interesting breed and whether one of these dogs might be for you.
History Of The Black Pomeranian
The Black Pomeranian is a lively dog that’ll certainly keep you on your toes. Classified as a Toy breed, these dogs make excellent pets for families, couples, individuals and the elderly, as long they understand the needs of a dog of this size. They also excel at agility and obedience training.
The Black Pomeranian is recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). They are also recognized by the Australian National Kennel Club, the Canadian Kennel Club, the Continental Kennel Club, the North American Purebred Registry, the United Kennel Club and American Canine Registry.
Breed Origin
The Pomeranian breed was named after Pomerania, an area in Northeastern Europe which is now part of Poland and Western Germany, where the breed originated from. The Black Pomeranian was bred from it’s Spitz breed ancestors.
Queen Victoria was a huge fan of the Pomeranian and it is thought she is the reason they are the Toy breed they are now. She may have reduced the size of the breed through her own breeding. Queen Victoria bred many different colors of Pomeranians, which is why the Black Pomeranian is seen in the United States today.
Characteristics Of The Black Pomeranian
The Black Pomeranian is a Toy dog and therefore they are tiny when they are born! They usually weigh just a few pounds and can double in size in the first few days of their life. By the time they are 1 year old, they are usually fully grown.
The Black Pomeranian is the rarest Pomeranian breed and is therefore the most expensive. You can expect to pay between $800 to $2,000 for a Black Pomeranian puppy. The Pom litter is normally not bigger than five puppies and in order to have a true black coat, both the parent dogs must carry the gene.
Pomeranians are very popular and common, so finding a breeder will not be difficult. However, you should always ensure you are buying from a reputable breeder, because the black Pomeranian is a rarer breed and puppy mills raise their prices without ensuring that the parent breeds are healthy.
Appearance
The Black Pomeranian has been described as quite fox like in their appearance — they have dark eyes and small, erect ears. Their tail is high and they have a sturdy build. Their fur forms a ruff around their neck which can make them look a bit like a lion, too!
A Pomeranian usually weighs between 3-7 pounds in weight and stands between 6-7 inches tall. Their fur is thick, however, so it can make them look bigger.
Coat
The Pomeranian has a thick coat with straight furs that make them look very fluffy. In reality, these furs are quite hard to touch.
The coat is a double coat with a thick, long outer coat and a soft undercoat. They do not shed very much, but you may still want to invest in a good vacuum cleaner for when they do. They are not considered hypoallergenic so are not the pet for those with allergies. We will go into more detail about grooming later on.
Color
The Pomeranian can have twelve different coat colors, but, unsurprisingly, the Black Pomeranian’s coat is…black! The most common colors for this breed are red and orange but a white Pomeranian is quite common too. A Black Pomeranian must be solid black with no markings to be considered a purebred Pomeranian.
Temperament
Pomeranians are often known for mimicking the temperaments of their owners. If you are confident and outgoing, your Pomeranian will be too, but if you are more relaxed and quiet, your Pomeranian might be a gentler dog. Whatever temperament they take, these dogs love their owners and want to be by your side (or in your lap!) all the time!
These black dogs certainly feel it is their duty to protect your and will bark when they feel something is out of place. This is something to keep in mind, especially if you live in an apartment and have neighbors close by. You will need to ensure you socialize them properly with strangers, unless you want them to be an aggressive guard dog or watchdog!
Lifespan
The Black Pomeranian has a relatively long life expectancy and can live, on average, between 12 and 16 years.
Known Health Issues
Unfortunately, the Black Pomeranian is prone to the same health problems that other Pomeranians are prone to. We have laid out the main health concerns below.
- Patellar Luxation — this is a common condition in smaller dogs and is caused when the patella is not properly aligned. This can cause lameness in the leg or an abnormal gait, sort of like a skip or a hop.
- Tracheal Collapse — this is a progressive disease of your dog’s trachea which typically occurs in smaller dogs and causes respiratory issues, frequent coughing and difficulty eating.
- Entropion — this is the rolling in of the eyelid which can irritate or injure the eyeball. It can be corrected with surgery.
- Distichiasis — this is when an extra row of eyelashes grow on the oil gland in the dog’s eye and protrude along the edge of the eyelid. They can be removed with surgery.
Regular vet checkups and keeping an eye on your dog will ensure you can catch any of these issues before they become untreatable.
Remember — buy from a reputable breeder and the chances your dog will suffer any health conditions will be greatly reduced.
Daily Life
Now we know all about the traits and characteristics of the Black Pomeranian, we can take a look at what living with one of these dogs on a day-to-day basis is actually like. We will cover their food and diet, their exercise requirements and their grooming needs.
Food And Diet
Due to their small size, the Black Pomeranian does not eat very much. They only require around 200 to 300 calories of food a day, based on their weight, which equates to 1/2 to 1 cup of food. You should split their food into three meals a day.
Of course, you should always double check the back of the food packet to see the exact amount of a certain food you should be feeding your dog based on their weight. A dog’s calorie intake will always relate to how much they weigh.
You should also always be feeding them high-quality food that meets their nutritional requirements. It is advised that you find a food that is formulated especially for small dog breeds. Take a look at one food we recommend for the Black Pomeranian below.
Best Dog Food For The Black Pomeranian
AvoDerm Natural Small Breed Dry Dog Food
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We recommend the AvoDerm Natural Small Breed dog food for the Black Pomeranian. This food is specially formulated for smaller breeds, with smaller kibble pieces to fit the jaws of smaller dogs. This food is made with California avocados to promote a healthy skin and coat, as well as a healthy immune system.
There are over twenty vitamins, minerals and antioxidant nutrients to ensure your pup is getting a well rounded and balanced diet, and there are no byproduct meals, wheat, corn or soy. Even better, there are also no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in this recipe.
Exercise
The Black Pomeranian dog is a fairly active breed, but only in relation to their size. These pups require around 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day and can even accompany you while you’re out walking or hiking.
Because of their black coat, the Pomeranian must be monitored while out exercising. They can struggle to regulate their body temperature and keep cool like many dogs with dark coats and can overheat quickly.
If you have a yard for them to play in, make sure it is fenced and that you keep an eye on them! They have been known to escape through very small holes in the fence. They also can sometimes be mistaken for rabbits by larger prey such as birds, so this is why you must watch them when they are outside playing. For this reason, it is a good idea to walk your Pomeranian on a leash if you can.
Family Compatibility
The Black Pomeranian makes an excellent family dog. They also make a great dog for couples, individuals and the elderly. They love their owners and are very loyal to them. They will often feel it is their duty to protect you as well, and will want to be with you at all times.
These dogs are a fairly active breed and will like to accompany you while you’re out hiking or walking, but they are better suited to city living. One of the great things is that because they are so small, they will fit into any home! As we mentioned above, however, socialization is very important if they decide they like to bark at strangers — otherwise your neighbors might hate you!
The Pomeranian is normally tolerable of children and other pets in the house, especially if they are raised with them. Often they are suited to older teenagers rather than young children; the Pomeranian is a small, fragile dog and sometimes young children can be too rough with them.
These dogs can also sometimes see smaller dogs and other animals as prey, so this is something to watch out for. This is also why socialization from a young age is so important. However, the Pomeranian is more likely to get along with smaller pets rather than larger dogs, because they won’t feel as threatened.
Training
The Black Pomeranian is an intelligent dog who loves to please their family, and is therefore not very difficult to train. It is for this reason that they are also often trained as a guide dogs or therapy dogs.
They can be stubborn at times so you must be firm and consistent with them, but once you have established a routine then you shouldn’t find training them to be difficult.
These dogs respond best to reward based training and positive reinforcement training. This includes verbal praise as well as treats. You should never get angry or annoyed with your Pomeranian because this will make them not want to learn.
Remember, due to their intelligence, the Black Pomeranian will excel at agility and obedience training, so this is something to think about.
Socializing
The Black Pomeranian is a friendly dog to those that they know, but they can be aloof with strangers. They can sometimes get aggressive with strangers and bark at them too, which is why socialization from a young age is so important.
If you are introducing the Pomeranian to children, socialization is again important. This is not just for the dog, but for the children too, especially if they are young. You will need to show your children to be gentle with the Pomeranian, otherwise the Pomeranian may feel threatened and bark.
Introduce your Black Pomeranian to new sights, sounds, places, smells, people and animals in a calm and controlled way so your pup learns there is nothing to be afraid of.
Grooming
The Black Pomeranian has a thick coat and therefore requires a fair bit of grooming. If you don’t brush them every day then their fur can become matted and tangled, especially around the ruff where the fur is particularly long and thick.
You can take your Pomeranian to the groomers every four to six weeks to have them trimmed if you would like. Many Pomeranian owners do this to make their fur more manageable. The groomers can also help you keep their nails trimmed.
Try to brush your Black Pomeranian’s teeth often, too. This will help with dental decay and disease. You can always use dental sticks if this is easier.
Black Pomeranian FAQ’s
How much does a Black Pomeranian cost?
A Black Pomeranian can set you back between $800 to $2,000. You should always make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder who can show you health clearances for both parent breeds.
If this is out of your price range, you can always check your local shelter. With the Pomeranian rising in popularity as a pet, they are also becoming more common in shelters as owners don’t do their research and then can’t take care of them properly.
Are Pomeranians good with children?
The Pomeranian is good with children that they are brought up with. A little wary of strangers, these dogs feel it is their duty to protect their family and so may not be tolerable of children who don’t live at the home. This is why socialization is such a good idea from a young age, so you can show your Pomeranian there is nothing to be scared of.
Pomeranians are small animals and therefore often do better in homes with teenagers rather than small children. You children can be over-excitable and playful and may end up hurting the Pomeranian without meaning to. However, again, with socialization this can be fixed.
Summary
The Black Pomeranian is a Toy sized breed that makes the perfect family pet. Lovable and cuddly, these adorable little dogs just want to be by their owners side and spend every moment with you! A playful breed, the Black Pomeranian will make an excellent playmate for you children, too. They are very loyal to their families and can be very protective and often wary of strangers, but this can be fixed with socialization. They also keep you on your toes and can be a great exercise buddy, while showing you lots of love! What do you think, is a Black Pomeranian for you?