Hi dog lovers!

I recently adopted this pom (Coco) from my nephew who bought this puppy and couldn't take care of it. The previous owner, who my nephew got the dog from, told him that the dog was 3 months old and a pure breed pomeranian. I've had her for about a month now.

I have a friend with a pom and they are quite different. My friend's pom (Gucci), who is 5 years old, has a shorter snout, shorter legs and is way puffier then Coco. Coco's hair is a lot shorter than any pom I've ever seen. I've read that poms may not grow their full length of hair until after they are 1 year old. Is this true? Also, she is a lot more agile then any other pom I know...she can outrun me!

Take a look at these photos and give me your opinion.

Thanks in advance! :-D

[mightymite]

On first take I would say no. She looks like she has American Eskimo in her or something a bit more "foxy." Maybe even some sort of terrier or sheltie. The snout is too long the ears are too big and pointy and the body is not square. Also, although I can't tell for sure in the photo - it looks as though her tail is more like a fox and less like a spits. Does it curl over her back or hang straight out?

The tail does curl over the back so I think it has spitz characteristics but I also think there is some eskimo or husky like characteristics too.

[mightymite]

Well, on the other hand, we don't know where the original dog owner got your dog from - if he was purchased intially from a pet shop, he most likely came from a puppymill. There's been a lot of controversey over the breeding practices at mills as well as the "paperwork." I have seen dogs who had AKC papers who don't look anything they way they should. Being purebred really only means that the sire and dam of your dog were registered with a purebred registery. Even if your dog looks a "little off" - still could be a purbred Pom! (I have a Yorkie who looks kinda dubious for that matter - also a resuce).

In the end, you love your dog, so enjoy your friend -whatever the breed! ; )

I found out that the previous owner got the dog from someone at her church who's dog had puppies. In any case I've grown really attached to the pup and love her to death. She has a great tempermant and gets along great with my neice who is 3 and my nephew who is 1 and a half.

Thanks for your input!

She looks like a pom to me. I could be wrong though because I'm certainly not an expert. I used to have a sable colored Pom as well. It was one of the larger ones not the toy. She is cute in any regard and if she gets along with the kiddies what more can you ask for. Well....the pom we had was difficult to house break and I have heard others with Poms have the same to say. My pom used to eat his own feces as well. I had to get stuff from the vet to put into his food to make his stools unappetizing to him. Mine was also very possessive over me and did not want even the children to come around me. Also dogs decide a pecking order and this dog was determined that my youngest son was at the bottom of this order with the dog above him. I would not get another Pom.

I've voted for the third option ... not sure

Definately not purebred, and if purebred, she had poor quality parents. I'm gonna say she looks part eskimo too. She's very cute though! Congrats on your puppy

[lil mutt]

Originally Posted by cocothepom

The tail does curl over the back so I think it has spitz characteristics but I also think there is some eskimo or husky like characteristics too.

i also think that it has some spitz in that dog... maybe a mix breed.

My male pom is a fuzzy, furry 14 lbs but he has more the fox face. I think some grow into their looks.
Our pups are weird looking right now.
Mom and Dad are both AKC.
Maybe wait till he's bigger.
I have been on a lot of sites/forums. I love my pups they are bigger and I feel safer *with the kids around them* My dogs have wonderful temperments. No biting or problems.
Who knows though.
Good luck!!!

[natalie265]

I agree w/Kobe. Very unlikely it is a purebred pom unless of extremely poor lineage. Cute though!

[DoggieVogue]

I don't think that you have a pure blooded pom. The face and hair is not pommie. At least your pup doesn't look like the poms I've owned. I'm not a dog expert, and don't know what mix or breed it might be, but I don't think pure pom, unless it was poor lineage. You have a cutie on your hands though!

[Kingsbridge Cav]

If you are truly wanting to know, DNA testing can be done for a nominal fee. Talk to your vet about it.
If you just want to see some other Pom pix, try puppyfind.com and click on Pomeranians. You will find a lot of pups listed for sale, but the nice thing about fdinding all of these pups is that you will see them at many stages of development. I just went onto the site and looked to see if there were others that looked like yours. YEP! They also claim to be purebred and look surprisingly similar to yours. Some pups simply need to "grow into" their looks. You may have a good looking specimen of Pom in the end, even though she may not look like it now. I' not sure the people you got her from are incorrect. If AKC, DNA testing had to be done b4 registration anyway. Try sending a personal message to vetgroomer. You'll get an expert opinion!

Definitely looks like a Pom, but not from the standard, but a lot of American Pomeranian's are bigger than we would see here in the UK.

[pensue]

We have six poms.
we have had 4 litters in recent years. they go through the "uglies". I think you have a full blooded pom.
got this off the internet for you.


Poms are born with wonderfully fluffy coats of fur; this is one the features that makes this dog breed so amazingly special and unique. There is a brief interruption where the fur will fall out. This is only temporary; once the adult coat comes in, you will have your ball of fluff back. The Puppy Uglies is simply a stage that all Pomeranian dogs go through as they are growing. Just as humans enter different stages of growing, this is a phase in which your Pom is losing its baby fur. The "Uglies" will be the stage in which the baby fur is gone, but the adult fur has yet to grow in. The phase will end when the adult fur has fully grown in.

A Pom puppy is born with just one coat of fur. It is soft and so heavenly smooth. After the Puppy Ugly stage is done, the Pomeranian will have its adult 2 coats of fur: undercoat and overcoat. The undercoat will be short and thick, the overcoat will be longer, soft and gorgeous.

Can I Avoid This Stage?

You may, if your Pomeranian is in the 20th percentile of Poms that do not appear to go through this stage. This 20% will actually enter the stage during winter months and not have a full-blown phase; therefore not appearing to have this.

The other 80% of healthy Pomeranian dogs will go through this stage. Please note that we stated "healthy Pomeranian". This process, in which the puppy coat is shed and the adult coat grows in is an elemental part of a growing Pom.

How Can I Be Sure My Pom is Having Puppy Uglies?

This is an important element because there are many medical issues, some serious, that cause a dog to lose fur. If your Pomeranian is losing its fur and they are not at the correct age of having Puppy Uglies, this would be a red flag to bring your dog to the vet ASAP.

The 80% of Poms that enter this stage will do so at the age of 4 to 8 months old. The phase will end when the Pom is 10 to 14 months old. If your Pomeranian is losing substantial amounts of its coat, enough to show patches of skin and the dog is not between 8 and 14 months, you will want to bring them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

[StarryEyedTiGeR]

She looks like an adorable little mix to me! What a doll! I'd guess Pom/American Eskimo.