CANINE CORNER WITH REBECCA HAWKINS
THE POMERANIAN
The Pomeranian dog breed originated from the Pomerania, historic region of the northeastern Europe lying along the Baltic coastal plain between the Oder and Vistula rivers. This region is now a split part of modern-day Poland and Germany. The breed is named after this region.
Pomeranians are believed to have descended from larger sled-pulling and herding dogs known as the Spitz-type dogs. These dogs were commonly found in the Arctic regions of Europe and were known for their intelligence and working abilities.
The Pomeranian breed was developed through selective breeding to create a smaller and more companionable dog. This process began in the 18th century when Pomeranians caught the attention of European nobility, particularly in the UK.
Queen Victoria played a significant role in popularising the Pomeranian breed in the UK. She became enamoured with the breed during a visit to Italy in 1888, where she encountered a particularly small Pomeranian named Marco. Queen Victoria brought Marco back to England with her and began breeding Pomeranians in her royal kennels.
Under Queen Victoria's influence, the Pomeranian breed was refined to have a more compact size and luxurious coat. The breed quickly gained popularity among the British aristocracy and became a fashionable companion dog.
Since then, Pomeranians have remained popular not only in the UK but also around the world. Their small size, distinctive appearance, and friendly nature make them beloved pets and show dogs. Pomeranians continue to be cherished for their playful and affectionate personalities, as well as their charming looks.
A fascinating fact you may not know: why do dogs poo facing north-south?
You may have noticed your dog spinning in circles before they do their business? in one of the strangest yet fascinating studies ever published, Czech and German researchers found that dogs prefer to align their bodies north-south to poo, guided by the Earth's magnetic field. Female dogs also align like this to pee, but not males (raising their leg seems to interfere with the alignment). The 2013 study published in Frontiers in Zoology followed 70 dogs over two years, making 5,582 observations, and not only did it prove that this magneto-sensitivity existed, it showed that dogs were intensely sensitive to it. The Earth's magnetic field fluctuates, moves and can even flip, and whenever it's unstable, this directional behaviour in dogs pauses.
It turns out that this behavioural quirk is well-known in grazing and resting cows and deer. Red foxes hunt using magneto-sensitivity and are more successful at catching mice when they pounce on them in a north-east direction.