Last Updated on January 18, 2026 by Denise Leo

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the appearance, structure, and correct breed type of the Pomeranian. Whether you are a new enthusiast, a dedicated owner, or a future exhibitor, understanding what makes the Pomeranian unique is essential.

In this section, you’ll learn the key features that define correct Pomeranian type — including size, coat, colours, expression, outline, proportions, and overall structure. From their iconic fox-like face and alert expression to their profuse double coat, sound movement, and compact body, every detail contributes to the unmistakable charm and beauty of this wonderful breed.

This guide is written with clarity and expert knowledge to help you recognise true Pomeranian characteristics, appreciate correct conformation, and better understand the breed standard as recognised in Australia.

Let’s explore what makes the Pomeranian not only adorable but a beautifully designed and well-balanced toy breed in every way.

General Appearance

The general appearance is listed first in the standard and is the first thing the judge notes at a show. It’s often the only part of a dog that people who are sitting ringside get to see.

The Pomeranian is the smallest member of the Spitz family. A Pomeranian is a small, compact, and dainty dog with a profuse coat. His huge, fluffy coat is the perfect match for his over-the-top personality. His crowning glory is a dense, double coat, composed of long, harsh, stand-off guard hairs and a soft, woolly undercoat. The Pomeranian’s coat contributes tremendously to the breed’s
visual appeal.

The Pomeranian’s symmetry and balance are in the right proportions to each other, and this is crucial to its overall appearance. His carriage, gait, style, and temperament are also factors to consider.

A perfect Pomeranian should appear to fit into a circle. The Pom has been described as resembling a circle within a square. Another description (and the one I prefer) is that a Pomeranian must be a square within a circle. The square represents the dog’s body. The Pomeranian’s double coat forms a harsh circle and, in the show ring, is trimmed for neatness.

He’s a square breed. His back is short, and his ratio of height to body length, at the withers, is 1 to 1. To calculate the proportions, two measurements are taken. The first is from the ground to the highest point of his withers; the second is from his buttocks to his prosternum.

He’s a short-backed, compact canine, and his cobby body is well-rounded. Because of his huge double coat and short back, he seems to be a floating furball.

The Pomeranian never limps, hops, or sways; instead, he seems to float along on tiptoes. His neck is short and mounted on well-laid shoulders, allowing his head to move along in a high, proud movement.

His tail is set high and straight and flat along his back, and it’s covered by harsh, long, spreading hair. The tail’s profuse plume reaches to the back of his head, and the ruff that sits on the top of his skull and tail merge.

A Pomeranian needs a certain amount of leg, but it shouldn’t be too short or too tall. He must have some leg, but he shouldn’t be too high or too low to the ground. He needs to have a well-balanced, symmetrical outline that’s also dainty, glamorous, alert, and pretty.

A Pom’s sound body and mind let him move properly, and he can hear, see, and smell, can breed, and possesses a poised, alert, cooperative disposition.

Despite the Pomeranian’s classification as a toy breed, the words “placid” and “toyish” do not describe it in any way. He was bred from the Spitz and has the enormous spirit that you would expect from that breed of dog.

The Pom should be so light and dainty on his feet that he seems to dance. He will never develop a coarse tendency. A show Pomeranian needs to be stylish, glamorous, intelligent, and outgoing. Whenever he enters the ring, he will be full of life and self-confidence.

Pomeranian Temperament

A Pomeranian is extremely outgoing with plenty of spirit and bounce. He won’t be in the least bit timid or shy, and bounces like a ball whenever he hears a sound. He’ll easily match the pace of other dog breeds 10 times bigger than he is. He’s a sound dog with all the right body parts in the right places, and they function as they should.

An ideal Pomeranian possesses an exaggerated sense of its own importance. He’s sure of himself and quite cocky. He’s beautiful with exceptional style, and he knows this.

A show Pomeranian needs to be vain enough to show off its beauty to its best advantage. If he doesn’t have this vanity so he can be a show off, it’s as serious a problem as owning a Pom with no good qualities that can be displayed.

Pomeranian Head

The head of a Pomeranian is one of its most distinct features and makes a major contribution to the correctness of the specific breed of dog.

The head is wedge-shaped with a short, fine muzzle. He has medium-sized, almond-shaped eyes, tiny, pricked ears, and an intelligent, sweet expression. The Pomeranian requires a well-proportioned head and muzzle, as well as a lovely expression. His muzzle shouldn’t be dish-faced or downfaced.

A Pomeranian’s head must be in proportion to the dog’s body, and any exaggerations are incorrect. An ideal Pomeranian head is wide behind the jaw, graduating to a fine muzzle. An incorrect long muzzle means the essential wedge won’t exist, and the Pomeranian will have a German Shepherd look. If his muzzle is too short, the muzzle will resemble that of a Chihuahua.

The Pom’s skull is slightly flat and shouldn’t be shaped like a round dome. Pomeranians with a dense head coat can give the impression that their heads are rounder than desired. Lightly run your fingers over his skull to learn what his head really is shaped like. His head should have a moderate stop.

The descriptive word “foxy” in the outline describes the expression of a fox with extreme intelligence and a look of innocence. Even though his head needs to be foxy in his outline, he doesn’t need to have a fox’s long, pointed muzzle. If the Pom’s muzzle is long, he has a snipey, sharp look.

As a standard guideline, the distance from the tip of the nose to the stop and from the stop to the back of the head typically measures 1:2 in most Pomeranians. The halt is dog terminology for the small indentation between a dog’s eyes.

Pomeranian Eyes

A Pomeranian’s eyes are almond-shaped, medium-sized, and dark in colour. If the Pom’s eyes aren’t the correct almond shape, he loses that distinct Pom expression.

When evaluating the size of a Pomeranian’s eyes, consider the total size of the dog. If his eyes appear too small for his head, he’ll have beady eyes and a cunning expression. If they’re too big, he’ll resemble an owl; yet another negative feature.

Pomeranian Ears

Small ears should be positioned high on the head. The Pomeranian’s ear placement can’t be too high, nor can the ears be too tiny. A Pomeranian’s ears are generally covered by short hair. If his ears are set correctly, they give an alert, intelligent expression that is highly valued in this breed.

Mouth

His teeth meet in what’s described as a scissor bite, where his top incisors sit just in front of his bottom teeth. A Pomeranian’s mouth must never be wry, overshot, or undershot. These faults are inherited and cause significant problems in this breed.

In a wry mouth, neither set of teeth is set square in his jawline. This causes his mouth to appear twisted, and sometimes his tongue protrudes out and to one side. Pomeranians are prone to tooth loss at a young age.

In an overshot mouth, the Pom’s upper jaw protrudes a long way over his lower jaw…often giving him a snipey, sharp look.

If he has an undershot mouth, it’s the lower jaw that protrudes over his upper jaw, sometimes making his expression seem ugly and aggressive.

Neck

A Pomeranian’s neck needs to be short and sit well into his shoulders, so he can carry his head high and proud. If he moves with his head forward and down, it ruins his complete outline and balance, making it seem as though it’s stretched.

Pomeranian Forequarters

A Pomeranian’s shoulders are laid well back, sloping back so the point of the withers sits a little bit higher than the line from the back. Each shoulder blade and upper arm is usually the same length (or close to it). His elbows sit well in his sides. The tips of his toes and his throat have to be in a perfect straight line.

Pomeranian Hindquarters

From his side, the buttocks sit way behind the tail. If you view him from the rear, his legs should be straight and parallel.

Pomeranian Feet

The Pomeranian’s feet must be small, compact, and resemble a cat’s paws with strong, straight pasterns. Standing well up on his toes, his compact feet point straight ahead.

Long, thin feet with spreading toes or those that are down on the pasterns are undesirable.
When trimmed, the feet should appear as an extension of the legs, with only a slight definition.

Body

The ideal silhouette of a Pomeranian is that of a stylish, compact, well-balanced, sturdy, yet dainty, small dog.

His back has to be short. His barrel is well-rounded, and his well-sprung ribs provide enough space for his lungs and heart. The Pomeranian is short-coupled, and its well-ribbed body tapers to a short loin.

A Pomeranian possesses a deep brisket and well-developed chest. His body is well-defined and substantial.

Serious faults such as long couplings and slab side bodies spoil the Pom’s shape, typ,e and outline.

Pomeranian Tail

The tail is a unique characteristic of the breed. It’s profusely covered with long, harsh, straight hair and should be carried high and flat over the back. Check the tail set by positioning the palm of your hand up against the dog’s rear. If the tail set is correct, a hard bone won’t be felt.

If the tail is set extremely low, it will sit in an upward “circle” shape. If the root of his tail has a twist, it will fall to the side instead of lying flat, regardless of the height of the set and plume. It should never fall or curl to the side. A low-set tail spoils the Pomeranian’s outline.

Pomeranian Coat

A Pomeranian’s coat is a major characteristic. It had the highest amount of points during the early breed standards. Although the quantity of his coat is essential, it’s also vital that it has the correct texture. His double coat has to be luxurious. The Pomeranian’s coat must meet the quality and quantity requirements for the breed’s ideal appearance.

A Pomeranian’s coat has two parts: the top coat is straight, long, and harsh. His undercoat is dense and soft. His thick undercoat causes his outer hair to stand out from the body, making him look like a little puffball. His coat is heaviest on the front part of his shoulders, chest,t and neck, whereas his head and legs have
the shortest hair.

As a Nordic breed, the requirements of a harsh double coat should never be ignored. A soft, cotton-type coat is undesirable on an adult Pomeranian. A Pom puppy’s coat may be dense and shorter and may (or may not) show guard hair.

The Question of Pomeranian Trimming

When done correctly, trimming can provide a stylish look and outline. However, you should never be able to compare a Pom to a clipped hedge or a trimmed bichon or poodle.

Trimming certainly has its value. If a Pomeranian hasn’t been trimmed, it virtually has zero chance in any show ring. A properly-trimmed Pom won’t look fake; he will be well-groomed and neat in appearance.

Pomeranian Size

The Pomeranian typically weighs 4 to 5.5 pounds (1.8 to 2.5 kg), but may weigh between 3 and 7 pounds. In contrast to most dog breeds, the female Pomeranian is preferred to be larger than the male.

Females play a crucial role in the future of the Pomeranian breed. They must be sound, have substance, and be absolutely suitable for breeding. Pomeranians experience their share of whelping difficulties. Breeding with larger females is encouraged to reduce whelping complications.

Oversized and undersized are serious flaws. If the dog is oversized, he can lose the dainty look and type common to the breed. He may also exhibit a certain coarseness.

If he’s undersized, he may start losing some of his coat, body, and soundness. He may look weedy and lacking in substance.

Pomeranian Movement

The Pomeranian has a smooth, balanced, vigorous gait. He possesses good reach in his forequarters, with strong drive in his hindquarters. The front leg extends forward in a straight line, with its opposite rear leg taking the same action.

Each rear leg will move at the same time as the front leg on the opposite side. To maintain balance, his legs will slightly converge inward toward a center line under his body. As he moves, none of his legs are thrown out or in. His topline stays level, and he maintains his outline and balance.

Pomeranian Colours and Patterns

All whole colours permissible, but free from black or white shadings.

Whole colours are: white, black, brown, blue, orange, beaver, cream, shaded sables, and parti-coloured dogs. 

Detailed information on Pomeranian Colours and Patterns as accepted by the Australian National Kennel Council breed standard. The Kennel Club UK Pomeranian Breed standard which was last updated April 2025:

The colour section of the Pomeranian breed standard:
” All whole colours permissible, but free from black or white shadings. Whole colours are: white, black, brown, light or dark, blue as pale as possible. Orange which should be self-coloured and bright as possible. Beaver. Cream dogs have black noses and black eye rims. Whites must be quite free from lemon or any other colour. A few white hairs, in any of the self-coloured dogs tolerated. Dogs (other than white) with white or tan markings highly undesirable and not considered whole coloured specimens.

In parti-coloured dogs, colours evenly distributed on body in patches. A dog with white or tan feet or chest should not be considered as a parti-coloured dog.

Shaded sables should be shaded throughout with three or more colours, the hair to be as uniformly shaded as possible, and with no patches of self-colour.

In mixed classes, where whole coloured and parti-coloured Pomeranians compete together, the preference should, if in all other points they are equal, be given to the whole coloured specimens.

Any other colour or combination of colours, including merle, unacceptable. “

Conclusion

Understanding the correct Pomeranian breed type is essential for anyone who admires, owns, or works with this beautiful toy breed. From their expressive, fox-like faces and compact bodies to their abundant double coats and lively carriage, each feature contributes to the unmistakable look and charm that make the Pomeranian so loved throughout Australia and around the world.

By learning the key elements that define true breed type — structure, coat, colour, outline, movement, and expression — you can better appreciate the qualities that set a well-bred Pomeranian apart. Whether you’re a devoted pet owner, an exhibitor, or simply a lover of the breed, this knowledge helps you recognise sound, healthy, and correct Pomeranians.

At Pomeranians Australia, we are committed to preserving and promoting the beauty, integrity, and future of this remarkable breed. We hope this guide has deepened your understanding and inspired you to continue celebrating everything that makes the Pomeranian truly exceptional.

N.B. Part of this article was first published on the Pomeranian Headquarters Website and is reproduced here with the written consent of the author.
Copyright Denise Leo,  Pomeranian Headquarters©. All Rights Reserved.

References and Further Reading:
[1] Leo, Denise. “Pomeranian Dog Breed Information.” Pomeranian Headquarters.
[2] Denise Leo, The Pomeranian Handbook.
[3] Official Standard of the Pomeranian (AKC). American Kennel Club, 2011.
[4] English Kennel Club Pomeranian Breed Standard,2017.
[5] ANKC Pomeranian Breed Standard.

The Pomeranian Handbook

( Printed and shipped in Australia).

The Pomeranian Handbook by Denise Leo