This is a question that many pet owners have been pondering: when do Pomeranians stop growing? It can be challenging to know for sure, but there are some factors that you can look at to determine if your Pomeranian is done growing.
Pomeranian growth usually will slow or cease by the time they are 12 months old. Most Pomeranian growth is mainly between 2 months and 12 months. Some Poms keep growing until they’re 18 months.
There are many elements that affect Pomeranian growth in the manner in which they do, particularly with regard to food, environment, and genetics.
How Can You Tell When is a Pomeranian Fully Grown?
Poms are one of the cutest canines in the world for numerous reasons, and size plays a vital role in cuteness. They’re small puffed balls of energy. At 12 months you usually have a Pomeranian fully grown.
If you are concerned about your Pomeranian puppy's weight gain please check out our Pomeranian growth chart.
Newborn Pomeranian Size
The majority of newborn Pomeranians are so small when born; you could easily hold one in your hand. At birth, they’ll weigh a few ounces. It’s extremely tiny, but that size won’t last very long.
During this time, Poms double in their size in just a few days and this rapid growth continues until they’re 8 weeks of age. That’s the time when they begin a new growth stage as they’re officially now a Pom puppy.
Pomeranian Puppy Stages
Once Pomeranians are 8 weeks of age and begin this puppy growth stage, they’ll grow at a slower rate compared to when they were only babies but this is the period in which they do the most growing.
1 Year Old Pomeranian
This period continues until they’re 12 months of age and are officially Pomeranian adults. You will notice your Pom’s growth in height and width, as well as the way their body becomes leaner. During the puppy period, there will be growth spurts occasionally, as well as a couple of pauses in growth. It’s all normal so don’t worry about it.
There are Pomeranians that will keep growing past the 12-month point, but it’s not a typical event. Some Pomeranians continue to grow past the 1-year mark, but this isn’t at all common. When it happens, it’s usually a tiny Pomeranian who has a slow growth rate. Larger puppies often mature early and have finished growing at an early age. On the other hand, smaller Pomeranian puppies often grow for a longer period of time and may not reach maturity until 14 to 16 months of age.
Senior Pomeranian
At approx. 8 years of age, Pomeranians enter their golden, or senior years, it’s possible for them to be a little smaller than they were as an adult. However, there’s no cause for concern; they won’t end up shrinking back to the size they were when born.
There are things happening to older Poms during this phase. They’re not as active as they were, meaning they have a reduction in the density of their muscles. A Pom’s normally puffy coat becomes a lot less puffy. Overall, it means they’re slowing down, not shrinking.
Factors That Affect Pomeranian Growth
There are numerous elements that help assess how big your Pomeranian will grow by the time he’s an adult. Aspects that aren’t in our control include the dimensions, weight, and speed of growth. However, there are certain effects that can be influenced.
Genes
The most critical element that influences a Pomeranian’s growth is genetics. The ancestors of Pomeranians are Arctic working dogs, and this plays a major role in their size, temperament, and health. To see how big your Pom may become as an adult, look at the size of his parents and grandparents.
I say grandparents because it’s possible for inherited genes to skip a generation. The bottom line is that you can go back as far as 5 generations to find attributes that can affect your Pomeranian’s growth.
Nutrition
Another vital element is nutrition. To achieve the final size and weight of your Pomeranian, you must feed him the right quality and quantity of food.
Be careful with the food he eats, and ensure he doesn’t get off-limits foods or certain human foods. I strongly recommend high-quality, natural choices for Pomeranian puppies or small breeds.
Exercise
In addition, he should get sufficient exercise. Taking him for walks every day is a terrific way to do it but you may have other ideas as well. Exercise can help boost his immune system as it exercises his muscles, respiratory system, and overall health. It reduces his chances of becoming sick.
How Much do Pomeranians Weigh Full Grown?
A Pomeranian fully grown weight mainly relies on genes, the quality and quantity of the food he’s consumed, how much he has exercised, and more. Generally speaking, Pomeranian weight is between 3 and 7 pounds.
Many Poms will weigh 6-7 pounds, and others will weigh less. Bigger Pomeranians may weigh 12-14 pounds. Although I mentioned numerous elements affecting growth, genetics is the primary one.
The weight of a Pomeranian is also independent of their size at birth. The final adult Pomeranian size of any puppy is one of the hardest factors to assess. Birth weight has very little to do with the adult size of your puppy. Big Pomeranian puppies often end up being small adult Pomeranians and the reverse often happens.
Pomeranian puppies born from outcrosses are even harder to predict. Make sure you assess the Pomeranian size over a lengthy period of time. Growth spurts and plateaus could mislead you enormously if you’re not careful.
Some Pomeranians End Up Bigger Than Others
Pomeranian full-grown size and weight will usually be the same as the majority. There are a small number of Pomeranians that will be larger or smaller than a typical dog.
It’s not normal but occasionally you’ll find a puppy weighing as little as 3 pounds (he is tiny even for a Pomeranian.
The majority of people will call this a teacup, toy, or miniature Pomeranian. However, these aren’t official breeds. These tiny animals face a much higher risk of problems affecting their health.
This is a good reason for following the instructions previously mentioned. They’re definitely described as cute in the smaller sizes, but they’re not the healthiest of dogs to own. In fact, good Pom breeders specifically won’t breed these tiny Poms.
The bigger Pomeranians are described as interesting. Most Pomeranians that are bigger than the breed standard are often the result of poor breeding practices.
It is advisable to have a look at both parents before purchasing a Pomeranian puppy. The final size of a Pomeranian puppy is usually around the size of his parents.
What is The Height of Pomeranian Dogs?
The height of Pomeranian dogs is about 8 to 12 inches tall.
Pomeranian's Life Expectancy?
The Pomeranian life span is strongly dependent on elements including genetics, exercise, quality/quantity of food he consumes, health problems, and the environment they live in. The average Pomeranian life span is 12-16 years.
Conclusion
As you can see, it’s not always simple to determine when a Pomeranian's growth is complete. But there are some key things that owners should be aware of to make the best decision for their dog.
Hopefully, this article has answered any questions about canine growth rates and where to find additional information on how big your pup will get.
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References and Further Reading:
Official Standard of the Pomeranian (AKC). American Kennel Club, 2011.
English Kennel Club Pomeranian Breed Standard, 2017.
Denise Leo, The Pomeranian Handbook.