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The American Kennel Club classifies the Pomeranian as a member of both the toy and Spitz groups. This breed is considered a toy because adult Pomeranians grow to a size of only three to seven pounds and eight to eleven inches tall. Pomeranians are considered a member of the Spitz group because of their ancestry. These toy dogs are descended from large sledding dogs found around the Baltic Sea, particularly in Iceland. Many of these sledding dogs are inter-related and belong to the generalized Spitz group. In the late 1800s, it became popular to breed specific types of Spitz to be smaller. The Pomeranian, for example, is a toy version of the much larger German Spitz.

A Pomeranian puppy has some of the traits of its ancestors including the thick, double-layered fur coat and muscular, compact body frame. This toy dog is much more delicate and doll-like in its facial features and even in the way it walks. Most Pomeranians look more like miniature foxes than the more wolf-like sled dogs from which they descend.

There are many reputable breeders of toy dogs such as the Pomeranian. These breeders can assist a potential Pomeranian buyer in finding a purebred Pomeranian puppy and in learning how to care for it. Pomeranian breeders should sell American Kennel Club (AKC) certified puppies and should be able to provide registration papers and/or pedigrees. They should also provide the owner with health and immunization information and offer a warranty on the Pomeranian puppy's health. It is important to note that a purebred dog of any breed should only be bought from a certified breeder or rescue center that specializes in that breed. Pet stores and pet brokers do not care about the puppies they sell. A good breeder will provide a questionnaire for the buyer to fill out and may reject someone if that person or household is deemed inappropriate.

A breeder should be able to assist a buyer in choosing a name for a Pomeranian puppy. Some of the show names versus real names of previous winners from the Pomeranian breed include Kalo's Rock and Music City (aka Nash), JJ's Victorian Angel (aka Spirit) and Wee Hearts Excuse Me (aka Mimi).

Owners of a purebred Pomeranian puppy often give them show names if they plan to have their dogs compete. Many reflect the puppy's sire or dam name. Show names are very different from the true names owners give their dogs for use at home. For example, one champion Pomeranian's show name is "Kalo's Rock and Music City". This dog's actual name is "Nash".

Owners can consult Internet sites or puppy name books to find the perfect name for their Pomeranian puppies. Some of the most popular dog names are Maggie, Sadie, Lady, Max, Buddy and Sam. Some of the more creative names include Crimson, Firenze, Artemis and Abracadabra. Another option is to name the tiny Pomeranian something opposite its size such as Goliath, Bear or Lord of Windsor. The most important thing to remember in naming a Pomeranian puppy is that this is the name it will be using for as much as the next nineteen years.