Pomeranian Breeders

[Hulksmashed]

Can anyone recommend a reputable breeder for Pomeranians? I was planning to get a puppy this summer (probably be put on hold now) however, I’m struggling on where to start. I have looked on the kennel club website and breed club and sent a few emails but had no response. Any recommendations would be helpful, it would be a pet not to show or breed, but I was planning on KC registered in the hope the breeder is more likely to be legitimate.

[Defenbaker]

I don't know of any Pomeranian breeders OP, but are you absolutely sure you want a dog of this breed? I ask because a friend of mine has one, and it is a nightmare - very wilful, untrainable and barks constantly for attention with the sort of loud high pitched bark that goes right through you. It was a rescue dog that had previously been rehomed twice, and if you met it you'd understand why. The dog is well cared for and regularly exercised, but can never get enough attention or food. My friend would not rehome it now as it would be a death sentence, but she would never get another Pomeranian.

[endofacentury]

I have a pom. He's 10 now, and he's lovely! He's very friendly and calm, only barks at the postman, neighbours dog, usual things. He is a greedy boy and will eat anything that drops or is left in reach, but he is adorable! Only think I would make you aware of is the ongoing grooming costs which adds up, but he costs very little in dog food. Don't know any breeder though sorry

[Hulksmashed]

Thanks for the replies, I have done quite a lot of research to decide which breed to get as previously I’ve owned working dogs, but circumstances have now changed. I think the Pomeranian seems to fit our lifestyle well, my one concern from what I’ve read is the barking that you mention so I get where you’re coming from with that. It’s also why I’m keen to get a puppy rather than a rescue, as much as I’d like to give a rescue dog a home I’m hoping if trained well from day 1 we’d avoid this. Any training tips specific to Poms would be helpful though....i have read around it but there’s nothing like experience to help on that front!

[zenasfuck]

Pomeranian owners Uk on Facebook. Really knowledgeable group and very friendly. I'd start there and ask for breeders.

I've had several poms and do not recognise what the above poster said. That dog has obviously not been trained and looked after correctly.

All of my poms are trained in the Same way I'd train a lab or German shepherd for example. They are taught basic obedience commands and manners. They are educated and their lives are enriched with activity and love. In turn, they've been the best little dogs ever, well behaved, playful, loving and clever

[Defenbaker]

@zenasfuck You're probably right, the dog's previous owners are to blame for the dog's issues now, maybe it could have turned out very differently with the right training, early on. The dog isn't aggressive, just naughty and wilful, but the bark... it really hurts the ears.

[Hulksmashed]

Thank you, I’ll check out the Facebook group, it’s good to hear about real life Poms and temperaments, as with every breed opinions differ based on your own experiences i guess, but I only know a few people round near me with them so the more I can find out in advance the better.

[Whitney168]

it would be a pet not to show or breed

Accepting this, you will still need to make a decision whether you want a dog that is typical for size. A lot of pet bred Poms will be much bigger, and that may indeed suit you fine (although hopefully you will still take care to avoid puppy farmed litters).

If you want a typical one, then I would start with the breed clubs and speak to show breeders. You will probably need to be prepared to wait some time, litters are not large - even more so if you wanted a bitch pup.

[Hulksmashed]

Agreed, I have heard some horrible stories where people have brought puppies who are really sick, and that would be heartbreaking. As an animal lover of hate to unwittingly contribute to the puppy farm trade, its disgusting. I would prefer to wait for the right dog, I just want a healthy, well bred one. I don’t mind if it’s a bit bigger or the colour, Id prefer a dog to a bitch, I was hoping to get some breeder recommendations now so I could contact and they could let me know when they have litters due. Would being KC registered offer some protection against puppy farms and genetic health conditions do you think?

[Whitney168]

Would being KC registered offer some protection against puppy farms and genetic health conditions do you think?

Some minor protection, I guess, but in no way a guarantee.

My advice for anyone looking to buy a puppy would always be to identify a breeder you are happy with first - for me, this would mean:

STAGE 1:

• someone who shows with a degree of success, so is more likely to breed something that at least sensibly resembles the breed you decided you wanted in the first place (fully accepting that Mother Nature always offers some deviation LOL, but if I wanted a Pom I wouldn't want it to be twice the size and not really with the same overall appearance)

• someone who can demonstrate good breed knowledge and talk about health testing appropriate to the breed (breed clubs should include info on this on their websites).

Once you have that, STAGE 2:

• Someone that you 'gel' with when you speak to on the phone - expect them to ask you at least as many questions as you ask them - good breeders care who has their puppies!

• (When you are able to visit) Someone who runs a clean home, whose dogs seem happy, who has several generations around the home all equally cared for.

Find this gem, then book a puppy and wait for it ... !!

[Hulksmashed]

Thanks for the advice. With our working dogs we never had a problem as they were bred by a friend, we knew they were well kept, we knew the bloodlines and it’s been straightforward, starting from scratch is daunting! I’d actually planned to go to crufts this year to try and chat to some breeders/people showing their Poms, but due to Covid decided not to attend (glad we didn’t go in retrospect), I’ll check out the Facebook page recommended above and maybe contact the breed clubs as well as a starting point.

[zenasfuck]

Just do tons and tons of research.
A breeder, accredited with the kennel club and also a breed judge was recently subject to a large investigation for cruelty and neglect. Around 40 dogs were seized from her house in the most horrendous conditions

[Whitney168]

It is a minefield these days, for sure.

I think one of the very best bits of puppy buying advice (which I neglected to be specific about in my post, although I referred to choosing a breeder first) is to visit when there are no puppies available.

Far easier to walk away and find someone else when you are not faced with cute puppies. Also gives a good pointer that a breeder is happy to meet someone to talk about the breed and whether it's right for them, rather than just wanting to sell.

[Ylvamoon]

I agree with caution on the KC. Look it as a database for inbreeding and health testing only. Otherwise go with your gut instinct. Be prepared to walk away from a sweet puppy if things don't feel right.

[Whitney168]

Think it's worth clarifying that although KC registration is not a magic tick in the box ... for me it would be an absolute minimum, and then I would be looking above that for the other bits I mentioned.

Perhaps someone will come along and say that there is a valid reason they don't register their puppies (in a breed that is eligible), but to my mind there is no good reason not to register a pedigree puppy, but plenty of bad reasons including:

• Mother too young or too old for KC limits (which are extensive already)
• Mother had too many litters
• Mother or father not registered themselves
• Mother or father endorsed (which could be for health reasons)
• Mother or father stolen so papers not held.

All of that adds on to 'possibly not entirely of the breed you wanted anyway'.

If you want a random pup of indeterminate breeding, there are loads in rescue. If you want a pup that looks like a Pom, start with a show breeder and then use the advice given above to make sure it's the RIGHT breeder.

[Whitney168]

(Note that I have no intimate knowledge of Poms - bar knowing that an awful lot of them bear little resemblance to the dogs people fell in love with and set out to buy - hence not weighing in on health test requirements etc. The above holds true for any pure-bred pup.)