The roots of today's Pomeranian breed can be traced back to Prussia, in the region of Pomerania - which stretches across modern Germany and Poland along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. Around 1850, the breed was brought to England where it was given the name Pomeranian, in honor of its homeland, and recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1870. At that time, Pomeranians were much larger than the breed standard we know today.
Today's more diminutive Pomeranian was established when breeders set out to create a breed adequate for city living. Through selective breeding, English breeders were finally able to produce a dog that weighed less than twenty pounds and today's breed standard of around five pounds demonstrates just how much the breed has evolved. In 1888, Queen Victoria was gifted with a Pomeranian, and the breed's association with this influential monarch did much for its popularity all over the world.
By 1900, the Pomeranian had been recognized by the American Kennel Club and today, the Pomeranian's manageable size and feisty character have made it one of the most popular breeds.
