| The Pomeranian's ancestors include the Spitz sled | | | | Lulu, competed in many dog shows and won at least |
| dog. The breed was bred down in Pomerania, a land | | | | two championships. According to her biographers, in |
| on the southern Baltic coast where Germany and | | | | 1901, from her deathbed, the Queen asked for her |
| Poland are now located. Britain's Queen Victoria | | | | pet Pomeranian Turi, who was brought to her and |
| brought a Pomeranian to England from Italy in 1888, | | | | remained at her side until she died. |
| and the breed's popularity surged in Great Britain. | | | | Besides royalty, other famous Pomeranian owners |
| Pomeranians have inspired classical music and artwork | | | | include a wide range of artists and celebrities, from |
| over the years. They appeal as much to royalty and | | | | Michelangelo, whose dog watched him paint the |
| celebrities as to everyday people who admire the | | | | Sistine Chapel, to actress Kate Hudson, who is by |
| Pomeranian's spunky personality. | | | | now as well known as her mother, Goldie Hawn. |
| Looking at the sturdy Spitz dogs that pull sleds | | | | Hudson's Pomeranian is named Pom Clara Bo. |
| though the deep winter snow of Lapland and | | | | According to Sir Isaac Newton's biographers, a |
| Greenland, it's hard to believe that these dogs were | | | | Pomeranian can drive a person mad. Newton's |
| the forefathers of the diminutive Pomeranian. It's | | | | Pomeranian, Diamond, once knocked over a candle |
| true, though. The tiny Pomeranian was much a | | | | that burned some of his work papers, and the |
| considerably larger dog, large enough to work herding | | | | ensuing stress caused Newton to have a nervous |
| sheep. It's not hard to imagine. | | | | breakdown. |
| The region that comprises the south coast of the | | | | Pomeranians are inspirational. Mozart dedicated an aria |
| Baltic Sea, now known as Germany and Poland, was | | | | to his Pomeranian, and Chopin composed music for a |
| once known as Pomerania. The Spitz sled dogs were | | | | Pomeranian belonging to his girlfriend. The name of |
| imported into Europe through Pomerania, where | | | | historical church leader Martin Luther's Pomeranian |
| breeders worked through generations of dogs to | | | | Belferlein pops up here and there in his writings. |
| reduce the thirty pound dogs closer to today's | | | | The Pomeranian is a natural performer. Actress Cindy |
| Pomeranian, weighing well under ten pounds. The | | | | Williams, of "Laverne and Shirley" fame, appeared |
| Kennel Club in England recognized the breed as we | | | | with her dog in commercials for a weight loss |
| know it in 1870, calling it the "spitz dog." Traces of | | | | program. And then there's Chester, who belonged to |
| the Pomeranian's lineage can be seen in the breed's | | | | actress Fran Drescher in real life, and co-starred with |
| coat and color, which are reminiscent of the wolf | | | | his owner in the hit TV show "The Nanny." |
| blood in the Spitz breed. | | | | The Pomeranian appeals to royalty and celebrities, |
| One of the best known Pomeranian owners in | | | | but this delightful breed also makes a great pet for |
| history was Queen Victoria of England, who ruled | | | | everyday people. Anyone who loves small, confident, |
| between 1819 and 1901. Queen Victoria first saw the | | | | intelligent dogs will love the Pomeranian. |
| dog as a girl, when her mother, Queen Charlotte | | | | Rosie Allan is an expert on British royal dogs and lives |
| kept one as a pet. Queen Victoria got Marco, a | | | | in the countryside of London with two Pomeranians. |
| Pomeranian of her own, in 1888. | | | | The Pomeranian, a favorite of royalty, is a |
| The English royal family had then, and has now, a | | | | descendant of the Spitz sled dogs. Queen Victoria of |
| keen interest in breeding horses and dogs. Queen | | | | England, who once had 35 Pomeranians, made the |
| Victoria applied this enthusiasm for breeding to the | | | | dog popular in England in the late 19th and early 20th |
| Pomeranian, at one time keeping 35 Pomeranian dogs. | | | | centuries. Helpful Pomeranian information such as that |
| The monarch is credited with further reducing the | | | | found here is also available at libraries and through the |
| size of the Pomeranian through her efforts. Her show | | | | American Kennel Club. |
| Pomeranians - Fluffy, Nino, Mino, Beppo, Gilda and | | | | |