Mini Pomeranian: Your Complete Guide
Pomeranians are small dogs that have been around for decades, but the mini Pomeranian is an even smaller version of this popular breed.
Sometimes called a micro or teacup Pomeranian, these dogs are even smaller than the original breed and only reach heights of around 11 inches and can weigh less than 5 pounds. Because of their small size, the mini Pomeranian is a sought-after dog by people worldwide.
Mini Pomeranians are also known for their loving personalities, even if they’re a little more high-maintenance than some other dogs. That said, they typically enjoy all aspects of family life and can live in almost any environment as long as you have the time to care for them.
Still, it’s not always easy to know if the mini Pomeranian is right for you. The good news is that we’re here to help. We’ll take you through everything you need to know about the mini Pomeranian, which includes their size, coat type, height, temperament, and anything else you’d need to know before adopting.
Read on to learn more below.
Quick Look at the Mini Pomeranian
Below is a quick glance at the mini Pomeranian breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 6-11 inches tall, 2-6 pounds |
| Coat Type | Double coat, soft, long, straight |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Loyal, attentive, gentle, standoffish with strangers |
| Good With Kids | |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 12-16 years |
What Is the History of Mini Pomeranians
Mini Pomeranians have a long history that dates back to the 1800s. In fact, they have a history that ties back to loyalty and the famous Queen Victoria. She bred smaller Pomeranians together to end up with an even smaller Pomeranian, which is what led to the creation of the mini Pomeranian.
They were bred to be smaller than your average 30-pound Pomeranian, which resulted in dogs that weigh between 3-10 pounds.
Since they were initially bred, the breed has become widely popular, and many famous individuals like Mozart and Theodore Roosevelt have owned mini Pomeranians. Today, mini Pomeranians are bred across the United States and around the world and they continue to rise in popularity as breed standards are established.
What Do Mini Pomeranians Look Like?
Mini Pomeranians look like, well, miniature Pomeranians. They share the same features but with a smaller size. You’ll find the same long, fluffy coat with a thick, dense undercoat. The coat can be a handful of colors, but the most common is a tan color with patches of white. Still, black, brown, and even some shades of red can be found in their coats.
Accompanying their coat, they have a fox-like face with a short, black snout and pointy ears shaped like triangles. Their eyes are black or brown, and they have big foreheads.
As for their tail, it’s usually small and puffy, like a big ball of fur mounted on their back. Most miniature Pomeranians will also have longer hair around their neck and forelegs.
What Size Is a Mini Pomeranian?
Mini Pomeranians are one of the smallest dog breeds you’ll find. On the lighter end, they’ll only weigh three pounds, which is lighter than most cats. On the heavier end, they’ll only reach a weight of about seven or eight pounds.
Mini Pomeranians also look tiny. They’re only a few inches tall and about a foot long – their little tails don’t do them much justice here. There isn’t much variation between males and females because they’re so small.
What Is a Mini Pomeranian’s Coat Type and Length?
Mini Pomeranians have two different coat types. Their coat types vary because they have two different types of coats. They have an undercoat and a topcoat, which both have other properties. For example, the top coat is long, coarse, and straight. It’s the coat that you see the most, and you have to reach through it if you want to get to the undercoat.
The undercoat, on the other hand, is soft and fluffy. Their undercoat is necessary to keep them warm in the winter months.
It’s also important to note that mini Pomeranians go through molts, which are different stages of their coat. This occurs as they get older but ends at around three years of age. For example, from about 12-18 months, they will grow through and shed another coat.
What Is a Mini Pomeranian’s Temperament?
Mini Pomeranians are active, playful, friendly, and smart dogs. Yes, they love to sit on your lap, but they also love to get outside and play a good game of fetch.
Mini Pomeranians are also social animals that love to explore your home and learn about other people, dogs, and pets that you may have. Once they’re socialized with the family, they’ll love to snuggle up with you on the couch or get some quality head pets on your lap.
Mini Pomeranians are friendly with people that they’re used to, but that doesn’t include strangers. Sometimes, you’ll notice that your mini Pomeranian is standoffish with new people. Thankfully, mini Pomeranians will open up once they get to know someone.
The last thing to note about their personality is that they can get possessive of their home. New dogs, people, or pets introduced to their environment can lead to problems.
Also, mini Pomeranians can be vocal about their feelings. If you’re not giving them enough love, they’ll bark because of it, and they might bark when they see strangers. This is the inner watchdog coming out for the mini Pomeranian.
Are Mini Pomeranians Good With Kids?
Mini Pomeranians are great with kids, but they’re best suited for older children. Young kids may play rough with them (by accident), which can result in them getting aggressive or standoffish. It’s also important to note that young children can accidentally hurt a mini Pomeranian because they’re more fragile than their larger Pomeranian cousins.
Are Mini Pomeranians Good With Other Animals?
Mini Pomeranians are good with other animals because of their small size. They won’t bother with larger dogs and don’t have a prey drive that results in them chasing or harming smaller animals. Therefore, they’re pretty balanced, all things considered. If your mini Pomeranian isn’t getting along with other dogs, socialization training is the way to go.
Are Mini Pomeranians Aggressive?
Mini Pomeranians are not aggressive. They’re gentle, loyal, and mostly calm. While they have a lot of energy, mini Pomeranians are happy to cuddle up next to their owners and enjoy snuggles.
Still, Pomeranians are known to have an aggressive side, which is true for mini Pomeranians. It’s not exactly an aggressive side, but more of a standoffish side. They’re unhappy if you leave them alone for long periods and may lash out. Additionally, mini Pomeranians may lash out if they get hurt.
Do Mini Pomeranians Bark?
Mini Pomeranians love to get vocal with their owners and may bark at strangers if they’re unfamiliar. Their loud, high-pitched bark may result in some unhappy neighbors if you live in a place with noise restrictions. For these reasons, mini Pomeranians aren’t the best fit for apartments with neighbors or noise restrictions if you don’t have the time to train them.
Are Mini Pomeranians Affectionate?
Mini Pomeranians are affectionate dogs once they get to know you. They might be aloof or standoffish at first, but once they open up to you, they love to sit on your lap or follow you around the house. Mini Pomeranians are also loyal and will express their affection by being around you and alerting you to potential threats – almost like a caring sibling.
Are Mini Pomeranians Intelligent?
Mini Pomeranians are intelligent dogs. They’re smart enough to learn complex tasks, respond to human emotions, and deduce when something is wrong. Additionally, they’re great at memorizing their home, family members, and commands. While mini Pomeranians are intelligent, they’re not always willing to act like it. For example, they have short attention spans and will get distracted if something more interesting happens elsewhere.
Are Mini Pomeranians Energetic?
Mini Pomeranians are energetic dogs that love to play and go for long walks. High-energy dogs like mini Pomeranians need attention, plenty of toys, and a large space to roam around.
Ignoring their energy levels results in an unhappy dog that will start lashing out by running around the house, peeing on the floor, or damaging furniture. So, make sure you give them a few hours of exercise per day whenever possible.
Are Mini Pomeranians Easy to Train?
Mini Pomeranians are easy to train when they’re willing to listen. They can be prepared for agility shows, service dog work, and anything else you need. The only caveat is that they have a short attention span, so they might not pay attention during training. Thankfully, you can keep their attention with treats and engaging training techniques.
Are Mini Pomeranians Good Watchdogs?
Mini Pomeranians make great watchdogs; if all you want is a dog that watches and alerts you, don’t confuse them with guard dogs. That said, mini Pomeranians are smart enough to tell friends from foes and will bark often if something strange is going on outside your home.
For the best results, provide mini Pomeranians with some training to prevent them from barking at everything going on outdoors.
Are Mini Pomeranians Good Service Dogs?
Mini Pomeranians are great service dogs as long as they’re used for the right purposes.
As smaller dogs, they’re only suitable for helping people who have mental health disorders. Dogs that help in this regard are known as psychiatric service dogs. They can apply deep pressure therapy, help people take their medication, or get help when someone is having a panic attack or seizure in public.
Mini Pomeranians are also good emotional support animals (ESA) because of their size and emotional intelligence. They can recognize when someone needs comfort, and they’re small enough to go with you in public without causing discomfort for others. If you train them not to bark frequently, they can also live with you in apartments that aren’t pet-friendly if you have an ESA letter.
Like an ESA, mini Pomeranians are also useful as therapy dogs. These are similar roles, but therapy dogs comfort large groups of people in places like nursing homes, schools, or hospitals.
How to Care for a Mini Pomeranian?
Mini Pomeranians are easy to care for once you get the basics. It comes down to giving them a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and regular vet visits for health examinations.
As for grooming, brush their coat daily if possible to keep up with shedding, especially when they’re shedding their undercoat. It’s also important to bathe them once a week, and you might have to clean them even more often if they get dirty.
Brushing a mini Pomeranian’s teeth is also required to prevent dental health issues. Use a brush your vet recommends and incorporate treats that clean their teeth if you’re uncomfortable with the process.
Some other quick tips for taking care of a Pomeranian include:
- Making sure they’re comfortable to get plenty of sleep
- Keeping an eye on illnesses like hyperthyroidism that lead to dry skin and problems with their coats
- Feeding them a healthy diet high in healthy fats and protein
- Ensuring that your mini Pomeranian gets an hour or two of exercise per day
As long as you keep this in mind, you won’t have problems caring for a mini Pomeranian.
Do You Need to Groom a Mini Pomeranian?
Yes, you need to groom a mini Pomeranian. It’s important to use a brush that’s suited to their coat once or twice a week to control their shedding and to prevent matting. Bathing them once a month will also keep them clean and prevent them from shedding too often.
Moving on to their teeth, brush their teeth at least twice per week to ensure they’re dentally healthy. You can also use treats to keep their gums and mouth healthy. Also, if your mini Pomeranian’s nails aren’t getting ground down by walking or playing, you’ll have to clip them yourself or bring them to a groomer.
Do Mini Pomeranians Shed?
Mini Pomeranians shed more than most dog breeds because of their long hair and double coats. While their topcoat sheds consistently throughout the year, their undercoat will shed twice per year during the change of seasons, which results in a lot of excess hair. Expect to be cleaning a lot of hair during the fall and spring.
What Health Problems Do Mini Pomeranians Have?
Mini Pomeranians come with health problems that you’ll find in regular-sized Pomeranians, but also some unique issues that come with their small size.
You need to take all of these health issues into account when adopting a mini Pomeranian and take them to the vet when you can for routine checkups. These go a long way in preventing health problems or addressing them while they’re early.
One of the most prominent health conditions is hypothyroidism. It results in an ability to regulate hormones properly, which results in dry skin and dry hair. Other symptoms can range from weight loss to aggression.
Watch for heart problems, cataracts, and issues with their hips and elbows as they age. Vision loss is common, and conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia result in inflammation of the joints, which leads to pain and discomfort.
These health conditions aside, mini Pomeranians risk breaking bones and gaining too much weight because of their size.
How Long Do Mini Pomeranians Live?
Mini Pomeranians can have a long life if you feed them properly, take them to the vet for checkups, and help them exercise. Doing so will help them live for 12 to 16 years. Monitor health conditions as they age to prolong their life and treat conditions before they worsen.
What Should a Mini Pomeranian Eat?
Mini Pomeranians are small dogs, so they don’t need to eat too much food. Plus, it’s important to monitor their weight to prevent weight gain. Weight gain can also increase the risk of joint problems, thyroid issues, and heart problems.
That said, feed them a healthy diet that consists of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. You can find a healthy blend from most brand-name dog food companies in your local pet store or grocery store – just make sure you focus on food specifically made for small dogs.
Is a Mini Pomeranian the Right Dog for Me?
Mini Pomeranians are a good fit for many people, but you have to consider a few factors before adopting or purchasing one.
The biggest factor to consider is their personality because they can be a little fiery if you get too rough with them. If your children play too harshly with them, you might encounter some problems where they get snippy and bite. While this can cause your little one to cry or become upset, it shouldn’t be enough to hurt them. Still, they’re better for families with older children.
Another factor to consider is their living situation. They’re small enough to do well in apartments, but you need enough space for them to expend some of their energy. Plus, it shouldn’t be a place with noise restrictions because they like to bark. To be on the safe side, take them for walks or make sure you have a park nearby for them to play.
The last factor you need to consider is how often you’re home. If you don’t have a family member at home, they can become upset and lash out. You don’t have to have someone with them 24/7, but try not to leave them home alone for more than five hours daily.