1. Pomeranians are named for a region on the shore of the Baltic Sea
The area known as Pomerania, from which the Pomeranian gets its name, is found on the south shore of the Baltic Sea, and spreads over part of Germany and part of Poland.
Pomeranians take their name from this place because the breed was largely developed there, although the ancestors of these dogs are originally from Iceland.
2. Two pomeranians survived the sinking of the Titanic
There were several animals aboard the doomed ship RMS Titanic, including various birds, cats and dogs.
Of all the animals, including at least 12 pet dogs, only three dogs survived when their owners brought them aboard life boats.
Two of the three were Pomeranians, while the third was a Pekingnese.
3. England’s Queen Victoria made pomeranians popular
Before 1888, Pomeranians were an obscure breed.
But that was the year Queen Victoria took a fateful trip to Italy, where she saw her first Pomeranian, named Marco, and fell in love with the breed.
When the Queen of England becomes an advocate for a particular dog breed, people notice, and so the breed’s popularity exploded.
Victoria was also responsible for developing Pomeranians into the dogs we recognize today.
At the time, Poms were much larger, around 20 pounds, and closer in resemblance to their Akita and Samoyed cousins. But one of Victoria’s dogs was particularly small and cute, so breeders bred other Poms down to around 6 pounds, more closely resembling the queen’s pooch.
4. Pomeranians are one of the most colorful dog breeds
Some dog breeds come in only one coat color. Others have a few.
Pomeranians boast one of the widest variety of color options in one breed.
The American Kennel Club lists 23 accepted colors and combinations.
5. Pomeranians are “spitz” dogs
“Spitz” is a dog type describing several breeds that share loosely common ancestry and traits.
Physically, spitz dogs typically have thick and dense fur, pointed ears and muzzles, and puffy tails that curl up and over their rears. They descend from ancient breeds that came from Arctic regions.
As spitz dogs, Pomeranians are related to breeds like Akitas, Huskies, Malamutes and Samoyeds. Pomeranians are the smallest spitz dogs.
Related: Meet this husky-pomeranian mixed puppy – People can’t get over just how cute he is
6. The “world’s cutest dog” is a pomeranian
Boo, the self-proclaimed “World’s Cutest Dog,” is arguably the most famous Pomeranian of all time.
With his unique, short haircut and plushy-cute face, Boo took the Internet by storm in the early 2010s on several fronts, particularly Facebook and YouTube.
Boo’s popularity eventually afforded him the chance to travel the world and even “write” a book.
