Note: This is not the current version of the breed standard.
Appearance- The Pomeranian in build and appearance is a cobby, balanced, short-coupled dog. He exhibits great intelligence in his expression, and is alert in character and deportment.
Head- Well
proportioned to the body, wedge-shaped, but
not domed in outline, with a fox like
expression. There is a pronounced stop with
a rather fine but not snipy muzzle, with no
lippiness. The pigment around the eyes, lips
and on the nose must be black, except
self-colored in brown and blue. A round
domey skull is a major fault. Light pigment
on nose or eye rims is a major fault.
Teeth – The teeth
meet in a scissors bite, in which part of
the inner surface of the upper teeth meets
and engages part of the outer surface of the
lower teeth. One tooth out of line does not
mean an undershot or overshot mouth. An
undershot mouth is a major fault.
Eyes – Bright,
dark in color, and medium in size,
almond-shaped and not set too wide apart nor
too close together.
Ears – Small,
carried erect and mounted high on the head,
and placed not too far apart.
Neck and Shoulders- The neck is rather short, its base set well back on the shoulders. The Pom is not straight-in-shoulder, but has sufficient layback of shoulders to carry the neck proudly and high. Out at elbows or shoulders is a major fault.
Body – The back must be short and the topline level. The body is cobby, being well ribbed and rounded. The brisket is fairly deep and not too wide.
Legs – The forelegs are straight and parallel, of medium length in proportion to a well balanced frame. The hocks are perpendicular to the ground, parallel to each other from hock to heel, and turn neither in nor out. The Pomeranian stands well up on toes. Down in pasterns is a major fault. Cow hocks or lack of soundness in hind legs or stifles is a major fault.
Tail – The tail is characteristic of the breed. It turns over the back and carried flat, set high. Is is profusely covered with hair.
Coat – Double-coated; a short, soft, thick undercoat, with longer, coarse, glistening outer coat consisting of guard hairs which must be harsh to the touch in order to give the proper texture for the coat to form a frill of profuse, standing-off straight hair. The front legs are well feathered and the hindquarters are clad with long hair or feathering from the top of the rump to the hocks. A soft, flat, or open coat is a major fault.
Color – Acceptable colors to be judged on an equal basis; any solid color, any solid color with lighter or darker shadings of the same color, any solid color with sable or black shadings, parti-color, sable and black & tan. Black & tan is black with tan or rust, sharply defined, appearing above each eye and on muzzle, throat, and fore chest, on all legs and feet and below the tail. Parti-color is white with any other color distributed in even patches on the body and a white blaze on head. A white chest, foot, or leg on a whole-colored dog (except white) is a major fault.
Movement – The Pomeranian moves with a smooth, free, but not loose action. He does not elbow out in front nor move excessively wide nor cow hocked behind. He is sound in action.
Size – The weight of a Pomeranian for exhibition is 3 to 7 pounds. The ideal size for show specimens is from 4 to 5 pounds.
Trimming and Dewclaws – Trimming for neatness is permissible around the feet and up the back of the legs to the first joint; trimming of unruly hairs on the edges of the ears and around the anus is also permitted. Dewclaws, if any, on the hind legs are generally removed. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed. Over trimming (beyond the location and amount described in the breed standard) should be heavily penalized.
Classification – The Open Classes at Specialty shows may be divided by color as follows: Open Red, Orange, Cream & Sable; Open Black, Brown & Blue; Open Any Other Allowed Color.
Approved October 14, 1980
