Isn't it amazing how many different markings and colors Pomeranian comes in? Some appear more often than others, while others are quite rare and unusual.
Pomeranians are dignified small dogs that will keep you young at heart with a little attitude. The diverse markings and colors of the Pomeranians are just one reason why these little guys are so popular among households.
Read on to discover more about these rarest colorings available with this breed.
What are Standard Pomeranian Colors?
Pomeranians can come in 18 different coat colors and several patterns and markings. According to AKC Breed Standard, Pomeranian colors are
- Black Pomeranian
- Black and tan
- Blue
- Blue and tan
- Blue merle
- Chocolate or dark Brown
- Chocolate and tan
- Cream
- Orange Pomeranian: often referred to as tan Pomeranians by pet owners.
- Orange sable
- Red
- Red sable
- White Pomeranian
- Wolf sable
- Cream sable
- Beaver Pomeranian
- Tri colored
- Blue sable
Pomeranians have many patterns, markings, and coat color variations. The accepted Pomeranian markings are:
- White Markings
- Merle Markings
- Tan Markings e.g. Black and Tan Pomeranians, Blue and Tan Rust or Tan markings
- Tri-Color Markings
- Brindle
- Sable
- Irish Marked
- Parti-Color
Rare Pomeranian colors
Pomeranians come in a variety of rare and unusual colors. The rarest colors of Pomeranians are lavender, brindle, and blue. Rare colors in Pomeranians can be exceptionally expensive. The genes of both parents determine the Pomeranian puppy’s color.
Let's have a look at some rare Pomeranian colors:
Lavender
Lavender Poms are considered to be the rarest variation of the Pomeranian breed. Their coats look amazing and unreal, and they are known for their pinkish-grey coats. Lavender Poms have hints of purple among their gray fur. With their silvery pink coat that can range from a rich mauve to pale lilac, Lavender Poms are certainly a magical sight.
They’re known by other names, too, such as the Lilac Pomeranian, the Isabella Pomeranian, the Lilac Merle Pomeranian, and the Diluted Chocolate Pomeranian.
A lavender coat is made possible by the presence of two rare dilution genes. When this gene combines with the chocolate coat, it results in Lavender. Lavender Poms are produced when two purebred Pomeranians carrying the dilute genes breed.
Lavender Pomeranian pups are more expensive than standard Pom puppies. They are usually expensive because of the carried recessive gene. AKC doesn’t recognize Lavender as a standard base coat color for Pomeranians.
Wolf Sable
A true wolf sable Pomeranian is a rarity. Sable is a color pattern where Pomeranians have black tips on their fur. With lots of sabling, the wolf-sable Pom can appear gray. With less, a wolf-sable Pom can appear cream-sable.
In most cases, the wolf sable Pomeranians will have a cream coat. With light sabling, you'll clearly see that color. However, if the sabling is heavy and covers just about the entire Pom coat, a wolf sable Pomeranian can appear to be a grey Pom.
In wolf sable Poms, the term 'wolf' doesn't refer to the Pom's base coat. Wolf actually refers to a very rare gene in Pomeranians.
Wolf sable Poms have black eye rims, noses, lips, and paw pads.
It's impossible to know, just by looking, that a Pomeranian is a wolf sable. Many Pomeranians are mislabeled as wolf Sable Pomegranate. You can't identify a true wolf Sable just by visual confirmation. Only DNA testing can confirm this. In many cases, sabling fades off, completely or to some degree, as a Pomeranian matures.
AKC recognizes wolf sable as a standard base color for Pomeranian.
Blue
Blue Pomeranians are rare, unique, and yet incredibly beautiful. They have a solid coat color without any markings. Although they're called the Blue Pomeranians, the color is more grey. These dogs can appear dark grey, silver, or a shade of greyish-blue. Blue Pomeranians have dark blue guard hair or dark gray guard hairs and a grey undercoat.
Blue Poms have a diluted black coat but with blue points. Some Blue Poms can appear so dark that they can be mistaken as black Poms. However, the nose, eye rims, and paw pads of a blue Pom will always be blue and not black. The easiest way to spot a blue Pomeranian is by looking at the nose.
The dilute (d) recessive gene in Pomeranians will dilute black pigment to blue. Its effects are most dramatic on a solid black, which turns to blue.
Blue Pomeranians usually appear silver when they're born. Later, as they mature, they develop a silver or grey undercoat and a darker outer coat. A Blue Pom can be produced by breeding two Black Pomeranians. AKC recognizes Blue as a standard base color for Pomeranian.
Brindle
Brindle Pomeranians have black stripes in their coat, giving them a subtle tiger-like aesthetic. That's why they're also known as Tiger Stripes.
The stripes are black in color and appear over tan or brown fur. Due to the Pomeranian’s longer guard hairs, their markings can be difficult to distinguish and are often broken up.
However, the markings can sometimes be very clearly seen, especially on Pomeranian's back, paws, and forehead. Brindle Poms can often demonstrate black face mask markings, but not all brindle Poms have this trait.
Brindle is a dominant trait that can only be suppressed by solid black. You can have brindle patterns over any Pom color, but the most notable ones are Blue Brindle Pomeranians and Black Brindle Pomeranians.
How Does Pomeranian Color Genetics Work?
Despite the huge variety in Pomeranians' coat color, only two basic pigments determine the color of Pomeranians. These pigments are eumelanin (black) and phaeomelanin (red), both forms of melanin.
All different color variations are created by these two pigments. If one gene is dominant and the other is recessive, the dominant one will appear, and the recessive one will be hidden. A recessive gene in Poms can only appear when two of them exist.
Melanocytes surround each hair follicle of Pomeranians. Depending on your dog's underlying genetic makeup, a melanocyte produces either type of melanin, eumelanin, and phaeomelanin.
Do Pomeranians Change Color as They Get Older?
In short, yes!
The Pomeranian puppies will undergo many coat color changes from when they're born to when they are seniors. Just like humans get grey hair, so can dogs.
It's pretty common among the breed to change color within the first year of life. This is when you'll see the most significant change in their coats.
However, Pomeranians can gradually change their coat coloring over the years, or it can also begin to change once they hit their senior years. Oftentimes, if the parent has a coat that has changed color, their offspring will too.
Do Pomeranian Colors Affect their Temperament?
A dog's color should never affect its temperament. If it does, it would mean that the dog has been irresponsibly inbred by an unethical breeder who favors money over the betterment of the breed.
Reputable breeders will always ensure that all their breeding dogs exhibit the perfect Pomeranian temperament before allowing them to breed.
Do Pomeranian Colors Affect their Health?
Pomeranians are generally healthy dogs with few fatal hereditary issues. The only concern is double Merle Poms. If a Pomeranian puppy inherits two copies of the Merle gene, they are often deaf and blind. They might also suffer from health issues that Pomeranians with only one Merle gene don’t have to deal with.
Merle to Merle Pomeranian breedings will produce half-defective puppies that are largely white. So, breeding Merle Poms to a full Black or Chocolate Pomeranian is recommended, as light dogs might carry a hidden merle gene.
It’s not recommended to breed Sables to Merles, too. Sable Merle Pomeranians are often mistaken for normal sable Poms and bred together, resulting in problematic Pom puppies.
Price of Rare Pomeranian Dogs
Compared to the Pomeranian’s solid coats, the rarest colors, such as blue, lavender, wolf sable, and brindle, are the most expensive. There is not much difference between a rare-colored Pomeranian to a standard Pom. The main difference is the color of their coat.
The average cost for a Pomeranian ranges between $800 to $2,000 but can get even more expensive. Some rare-colored Pomeranians can cost as much as $4000 or $5000.
Final Thoughts on Rare Pomeranian Colors
Rare-colored Pomeranians are one the most exciting developments in this delightful breed. When considering a rare color Pom, it's important to find a reputable breeder with good breeding practices.
Some rare Pomeranian colors are disqualified by the Pomeranian Breed Standard of the American Kennel Club. If you are not planning to show your Pomeranian in competitions, this shouldn’t affect your decision to own a rare color.
No matter whether Pomeranians are lavender, sable, blue, or white, they'll all inherit the Pom’s signature temperament. The rarest colored Pomeranians are sweet and charming like other Poms.
Coat color will not affect your dog’s personality. Even if your Pom is a disqualifying color, he’ll still have that playful Pomeranian temperament.
Please do your research before buying a Pomeranian. Sacrificing your dog’s future health is not worth the bragging rights of having a rare dog. Be a responsible dog owner, and enjoy your dog’s long healthy years as a result.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article! If you have any comments, please do let me know. I am always happy to hear from my readers.
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References and Further Reading:
[1] Official Standard of the Pomeranian (AKC). American Kennel Club, 2011.
[2] English Kennel Club Pomeranian Breed Standard, 2017.
[3] Denise Leo, The Pomeranian Handbook.
[4] Milo G. Denlinger "The Complete Pomeranian".
[5] Kimbering Pomeranians "1891-1991".
[6] William Taplin "The Sportsman’s Cabinet".
[7] E. Parker "The Popular Pomeranian".
[8] Lilla Ives "Show Pomeranians".