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Dog Articles
Past and Present:
Pomeranian
Toy dogs
have been developed from larger breeds by selective breeding. They
all serve one main purpose, and it is a good one - they bring joy
and companionship to the thousands of people who own them. And they
do harm to none, unless it be to those very few foolish people who
lose all sense of values and make themselves the slaves of their
canine pets.
As
companions, even little dogs are far preferable to cats. They love
with an unselfish love, which cats do not, and they are guiltless of
the slaughter of the millions of useful birds which are destroyed by
cats in the United States alone every year. If we keep pets, it is
our duty to keep those which are not perennially destructive to
useful things.
One of the
most popular toy dogs in this country and in England is the
Pomeranian, which from his general appearance, including the bushy
tail curled over the hind quarters, would appear to be descended,
long ago, no doubt, from the Samoyed dog of the north. Their more
recent forefather is the Spitz, and today the chief difference
between a Spitz and a Pomeranian is in size.
As a
result of careful breeding, many ‘Poms’ are less than five pounds in
weight, and in addition to black and white we now see several
beautiful colors, including blue, brown, sable, red, orange, and
fawn.
The best,
or at least most desired, class scale under eight pounds. They are
deep-furred, kitten-footed, round-headed, pointed-nosed,
prick-eared, mincing little toy dogs, and they come in all colors,
but the parti-colored ones are not so desirable and are seldom seen.
The coat
consists of a deep, soft, fluffy underfur, through which protrudes a
plentiful overfur of long, straight, glossy hair covering the whole
body, being especially full and abundant on the throat, chest,
neck, rump, and hindquarters. The tail is a pompon flowing over the
back. The legs are straight and delicate, and the dog in action is
exceedingly light and steppy.
Source:
National Geographic 1919
Recommended Reading
Dog Training
Mastery - An Owners' Manual
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