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