| The Pomeranian breed originated in | | | | has now, a keen interest in breeding |
| Lapland and Greenland, with the Spitz | | | | horses and dogs. Queen Victoria applied |
| sled dogs. The dogs were imported to | | | | this enthusiasm for breeding to the |
| Europe through Pomerania, where they | | | | Pomeranian, at one time keeping 35 |
| were bred to a smaller scale. Queen | | | | Pomeranian dogs. The monarch is credited |
| Victoria of Britain in the late 1800s | | | | with further reducing the size of the |
| contributed not only to the breed's | | | | Pomeranian through her efforts. Her show |
| popularity but also to the development | | | | Pomeranians - Fluffy, Nino, Mino, Beppo, |
| of the breed. The queen kept over 30 | | | | Gilda and Lulu, competed in many dog |
| Pomeranians at one time and diminished | | | | shows and won at least two |
| the size of the breed beyond what | | | | championships. According to her |
| earlier breeders had accomplished. | | | | biographers, in 1901, from her deathbed, |
| Pomeranians have inspired classical | | | | the Queen asked for her pet Pomeranian |
| music and artwork over the years. They | | | | Turi, who was brought to her and |
| appeal as much to royalty and | | | | remained at her side until she died. |
| celebrities as to everyday people who | | | | Besides appealing to royalty, through |
| admire the Pomeranian's spunky | | | | the decades the Pomeranian has also been |
| personality. | | | | a favorite of a variety of artists and |
| It's hard to believe it, but the tiny | | | | celebrities. Perhaps the most famous |
| Pomeranian descended from the Spitz sled | | | | artist in history, Michelangelo, painted |
| dogs in Lapland and Greenland. Before | | | | the Sistine Chapel with his Pomeranian |
| the Pomeranian was bred down to a | | | | at his side. |
| smaller size, the larger dogs worked as | | | | Actresses love Pomeranians. Kate Hudson |
| shepherds. Indeed, it is not difficult | | | | has one; Cindy Williams who will always |
| to imagine today's Pomeranian yapping | | | | be remembered as Shirley in "Laverne and |
| around the edges of a herd of sheep. | | | | Shirley," appeared in weight loss |
| Pomeranians got their name because they | | | | advertisements with her Pomeranian. And |
| were imported into Europe through | | | | the best-known canine television star of |
| Pomerania, a land on the southern Baltic | | | | the 1980s was Chester, who co-starred |
| coast where present day Germany and | | | | with his real-life owner Fran Drescher |
| Poland now sit. In Pomerania, the dogs | | | | in "The Nanny." |
| were bred down closer to their | | | | If you believe Sir Isaac Newton's |
| modern-day size. It took many | | | | account of what caused his nervous |
| generations of Pomeranians to reduce the | | | | breakdown, then you believe that a |
| twenty-pound dog of the 19th century to | | | | Pomeranian can drive a person mad. |
| the four to six-pound standard of the | | | | Newton's Pomeranian, Diamond, upset a |
| breed today. The Kennel Club in England | | | | candle that burned some of Newton's |
| recognized the breed in 1870, calling it | | | | important work papers, and he had a |
| the "spitz dog." Traces of the | | | | nervous breakdown because of the stress. |
| Pomeranian's lineage can be seen in its | | | | Pomeranians inspire their owners. The |
| coat and color, which are reminiscent of | | | | composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
| the wolf spitz breed. | | | | dedicated one of his arias to his |
| One of the best known Pomeranian owners | | | | Pomeranian and Chopin wrote a piece for |
| in history was Queen Victoria of | | | | a Pomeranian that belonged to his |
| England, who ruled between 1819 and | | | | girlfriend. |
| 1901. Queen Victoria first saw the dog | | | | Pomeranians aren't just for royals and |
| as a girl, when her mother, Queen | | | | celebrities. This confident, |
| Charlotte kept one as a pet. Queen | | | | intelligent, breed will make a great pet |
| Victoria got Marco, a Pomeranian of her | | | | for anyone who loves small dogs and |
| own, in 1888. | | | | wants a loyal, attentive companion. |
| The English royal family had then, and | | | | |