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