Pomeranian vs. Spitz: What's the Difference?

Here's something that surprises a lot of people: Pomeranians aren't just similar to Spitz dogs — they are Spitz dogs. The Pomeranian is a member of the Spitz family, full stop. But the confusion around this is completely understandable, because "Spitz" gets thrown around in a few different ways that mean very different things. Let's sort it out.

The Short Answer

Pomeranians are a Spitz-type breed. "Spitz" isn't a single breed — it's a large family of Nordic working dogs that share common ancestry, physical traits, and behavioral characteristics. The Pomeranian is the toy-sized member of that family, bred down over centuries from much larger sled-pulling dogs.

So when someone asks "is a Pomeranian a Spitz?" — yes. Absolutely. That's not a debate. The confusion usually comes from the fact that there's also a breed called the German Spitz, which is the Pomeranian's closest relative and the source of most of the mix-up.

What Is a Spitz Dog?

Spitz dogs are a group of northern working breeds that developed over thousands of years in cold climates — primarily Scandinavia, Russia, and Germany. They were bred to pull sleds, hunt, herd reindeer, and work in harsh conditions that would shut down most other dogs.

You recognize a Spitz dog by their distinctive physical profile:

• Thick double coat — a dense, insulating undercoat beneath longer guard hairs. Built for cold.
• Foxlike or wedge-shaped face — pointed muzzle, alert expression.
• Curled or sickle-shaped tail — carried up and often curled over the back.
• Erect, pointed ears — always up, always listening.
• Compact, sturdy body — muscular despite often being small.

The Spitz family is large. Well-known members include:

• Siberian Husky
• Samoyed
• Keeshond
• Finnish Spitz
• American Eskimo Dog
• Shiba Inu
• Akita
• Norwegian Elkhound
• Alaskan Malamute
• Chow Chow (an ancient Spitz relative)

And yes — the Pomeranian. The smallest of the group by a wide margin.

Pomeranian History: How a Sled Dog Became a Toy Breed

The Pomeranian's origin story is one of the most dramatic size transformations in canine history.

The breed descends from large Spitz sled dogs in the Pomerania region — a historical area along the Baltic coast that now spans northeastern Germany and northwestern Poland. These original Pomeranian-type dogs were working animals, weighing anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds, used for herding and sled work in the cold northern climate.

The transformation to the toy-sized Pom we know today happened primarily in 18th and 19th century England. Breeders selectively bred for smaller and smaller dogs, and the breed's popularity exploded when Queen Victoria fell in love with a particularly small Pomeranian during a trip to Italy in 1888. She brought several back to England and actively participated in breeding them smaller. Under her patronage, Pom size dropped dramatically — reportedly by as much as 50% during her lifetime.

By the time the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1888, the modern Pomeranian was established: a tiny, fluffy companion dog that retained all the personality and coat of its much larger ancestors while fitting in a lap.

How Poms Differ from Other Spitz Breeds

The Pomeranian shares the Spitz family's signature traits, but stands apart in several meaningful ways.

Size. The Pom is the smallest Spitz breed by a significant margin. An adult Pomeranian typically weighs 3–7 pounds. Compare that to a Samoyed at 35–65 pounds, a Keeshond at 35–45 pounds, or even the American Eskimo Dog's toy variety at 6–10 pounds. The Pom is in a size class of its own within the family.

Temperament. Pomeranians are famously bold for their size — arguably the feistiest Spitz breed pound for pound. They don't carry themselves like small dogs. They have the alertness and confidence of their larger working-dog relatives packed into a fraction of the frame. This leads to the "big dog in a small body" personality Pom owners know well.

Coat density. While all Spitz breeds have double coats, the Pomeranian's coat is exceptionally thick relative to their body size. The characteristic puff and mane are distinctive even among Spitz breeds.

Role. Most of the Spitz family was bred as working dogs — sledding, hunting, herding. The Pomeranian's working roots were bred out of them more thoroughly than most. Modern Poms are companion dogs first, and unlike a Siberian Husky or Finnish Spitz, they don't have strong working instincts pushing them toward activity. They adapted to court life and lap-dog status, which shaped their personality over centuries.

German Spitz vs. Pomeranian: The Closest Relatives

This is where most of the confusion happens. The German Spitz and the Pomeranian are closely related — so closely that the two were essentially considered the same breed until selective breeding pulled them apart.

The German Spitz comes in several size varieties: Wolfsspitz (Keeshond), Großspitz (Giant), Mittelspitz (Medium), Kleinspitz (Small), and Zwergspitz (Dwarf/Toy). It's the Mittelspitz and Kleinspitz that are most often confused with Pomeranians.

Here's how they compare side by side:

| Trait | Pomeranian | German Spitz Mittel/Klein |

|---|---|---|

| Weight | 3–7 lbs | Mittel: 18–22 lbs / Klein: 8–18 lbs |

| Face shape | More rounded, "baby face" | More fox-like, less rounded |

| Coat | Extremely thick, plumed | Thick, but less exaggerated |

| Temperament | Bold, assertive, expressive | Alert, friendly, slightly calmer |

| AKC recognition | Yes (Toy Group) | Not separately recognized in US |

| FCI recognition | As Zwergspitz (Dwarf Spitz) | Yes (German Spitz group) |

In Europe, the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) classifies Pomeranians as Zwergspitz (Dwarf Spitz) — essentially the smallest variety of German Spitz. In the United States and UK, they're recognized as a separate breed. This dual classification is another reason the "Pomeranian vs. Spitz" question comes up so often.

What This Means for Pom Owners

Understanding your Pom's Spitz heritage explains a lot of the behaviors that puzzle or frustrate new owners.

The barking. Spitz breeds are vocal. They were developed to work with humans in situations where alerting was part of the job — and that instinct runs deep. Your Pom isn't barking to annoy you. They're doing what thousands of years of breeding prepared them to do.

The independence. Poms are smart but not blindly obedient. Spitz breeds developed to make independent decisions in harsh conditions — waiting for a human's approval wasn't always an option when a team was navigating a frozen tundra. That streak of "I'll decide if this is worth doing" is a feature, not a bug. It means training requires more positive motivation and less assumption of automatic compliance.

The alertness. Spitz dogs notice everything. Your Pom is not being dramatic when they alarm bark at a sound three rooms away — their sensory awareness and threat-detection instincts are calibrated for environments far more demanding than your apartment. Channel that alertness into a consistent routine, and it becomes part of their charm rather than a source of chaos.

The need for mental stimulation. Working dogs need work. The Pomeranian's drive has been softened by centuries of companion-dog breeding, but the underlying intelligence and alertness still needs an outlet. A bored Pom invents its own problems. Puzzle toys, training sessions, and varied environments keep that Spitz brain engaged.

Quick Comparison: Pomeranian vs. Related Spitz Breeds

| Breed | Size | Coat | Trainability | Energy | Barking Tendency |

|---|---|---|---|---|---|

| Pomeranian | 3–7 lbs | Very thick double coat | High (with motivation) | Moderate | High |

| German Spitz (Klein) | 8–18 lbs | Thick double coat | High | Moderate | Moderate–High |

| Keeshond | 35–45 lbs | Dense, profuse double coat | High | Moderate | Moderate |

| American Eskimo Dog | 6–35 lbs (3 sizes) | Dense white double coat | Very High | Moderate–High | Moderate–High |

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The Pomeranian is many things — companion, watchdog, show dog, internet star — but at its core, it's a Spitz. A tiny, impeccably groomed, slightly dramatic Spitz who will alert you to every car that parks within a block radius. Understanding that history makes the whole package make a lot more sense.