Pomeranian. Juliette Cunliffe
years of the 20th century, breeders were already producing very small Pomeranians, more akin to the breed we recognize today.
In the beginning the breed was shown in two sizes, over and under 8 lb, but the larger size really failed to achieve a great deal of popularity. At Crufts in 1894, a resolution was passed that the weight of Pomeranians was to be divided thus: “Over and under 16 lb; over and under 7 lb. Those below 7 lb to be called Toys.” Today in Britain, the size called for in the breed standard is only 1.8–2 kg (4–4.5 lb) for dogs and 2–2.5 kg (4.5–5.5 lb) for bitches. At most shows, however, division was mainly by color, a system that continued for some years, but as breeders discovered that small whites were difficult to breed, this color lost ground.
This stuffed and mounted Pomeranian, presented to the British Museum of Natural History in 1930, was named Brownie.
Sir Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait of the well-known actress, Mrs. Robinson, with her Pomeranian. Note how much largerthe breed was in days gone by.
Entries at shows rose significantly from the breed’s early years in the show ring. In 1890, not a single Pomeranian was shown, but there were 14 in 1891 and by 1901 the number had risen to 60. Frequently there were over 50 Pomeranian entries at a show, and sometimes a popular judge could command an entry of around 100, making 25 or so entries per class. In 1905, there were 105 Pomeranians entered at a show, confirming the breed’s rapid rise in the popularity stakes.
Gainsborough’s “Pomeranian and Puppy.”
Ch. Eng. Boy Blue, winner of 15 champion prizes, circa 1906.
In 1911, The Kennel Club attempted to stop trimming in all breeds, reasoning that dogs should be shown in a natural condition. As the Pomeranian is a trimmed breed, the coat appearing shaggy when the ears are covered with long hair, this caused uproar within breed circles and absurd proposals were made to circumvent the issue. Thankfully the situation did not last long, for in April 1913, The Kennel Club wrote to the Pomeranian Club asking if it wished the Pomeranian to be scheduled among breeds in which trimming was allowed.
Miss Alice Horsfall and her Poms, circa 1908.
Two years later, The Kennel Club decided that all weights were to be registered together and that at Championship Shows only one set of Challenge Certificates (CCs) could be awarded. It had been suggested that the heavier dogs be registered as “Spitz.” The attempt to form a “Spitz” breed failed even though some registra-tions
Center spread: This lovely photograph depicts a young lady surrounded by her white Pomeranians, circa 1919.
were made at that time. Still, in 1916, Certificates of Merit were offered by the Pomeranian Club for Pomeranians above 7 lb, an idea that was discontinued through lack of interest.
World War I caused great disruption among the world of dogs, and presumably because of the breed’s German connections, the Pomeranian fell out of favor. The breed had previously been the top Toy breed, but this position was taken over by the Pekingese and later, in 1962, by the Yorkshire Terrier. By the 1930s, the size of Pomeranians had dropped markedly, down to 9 lb, and by then the coat had developed its characteristic deep frilling.
Champion Pomeranians owned by Mrs. Hall Walkers. From left to right: Eng. Ch. Dainty Boy, Eng. Ch. Gateacre Bibury Bell and Eng. Ch. Gateacre Dainty Belle. The painting was by famous dog artist Maud Earl, circa 1920. The apple in the foreground effectively gives size perspective to the dogs.
Miss Hamilton’s famous kennel competed with Queen Victoria’s and divided most of the honors with the Royal kennels.
It was Miss Hamilton who won the first championship for a Pom.
THE POMERANIAN IN AMERICA
In the US, the first Pomeranian to be recorded by the American Kennel Club (AKC) was Dick, who was registered in 1888. The breed was recognized in America in 1900. That same year, English judge, L. P. C. Astley awarded the first ever Best of Breed to a Pomeranian in this country. This was Mrs. Frank Smyth’s Nubian Rebel, later to become a champion in the breed.
By 1909, the American Pomeranian Club had been accepted as a member club of the AKC and was designated as the parent club for the breed. Not too long after, it hosted the country’s first Pomeranian specialty show at which another English judge, Mrs. L. C. Dyer, drew an entry of 138, finding her Best of Breed in the black Pomeranian, Ch. Canner Prince Charming.
The first regional Pomeranian specialty club was formed in the year 1912. This was the Western Pomeranian Club, formed in Chicago by Mrs. Hebden. Nine years later, in 1921, the American Pomeranian Club was incorporated.
During the 1930s, there was good attendance of Pomeranians at shows and a series of notable breeding lines were developed. By 1958 the first official breed magazine was launched. This was The Pomeranian Review, whose first editor was James Arima.
A spitz-like dog from an engraved bronze jar of Greek workman- ship from the second century B.C. It is on display at the British Museum in London.
From the 1920s, Sunfire of Dara, an orange Pom bred by Mrs. E. B. Goodall in 1928.
The year 1961 was also a landmark in the history of the breed, for this was when the first American-bred bitch took Best in Show at an all-breed show. Bred by Mr. and Mrs. K. Terrel of Fort Worth, Texas, this clever bitch was Ch. Ridglea’s Luscious