THE POMERANIAN 551 



but called Iceland Dogs. All this goes to show that the variety 

 originally came from the extreme North, and that the present 

 variations have been produced by mating and selection from 

 imported specimens. 



Although many and great changes have taken place in nearly 

 every variety of dog since "British Dogs" first appeared in 1880, 

 there is no variety in which the changes have been so great as in 

 the Pomeranian, or Spitz Dog. On many occasions, in the seventies 

 and early eighties, the writer can remember them represented at some 

 of our largest shows by one or two specimens, often by only one, 

 and the first time that he judged this variety, for the Kennel Club 

 at one of their early shows, the entries did not exceed six, whereas 

 on the last occasion that he officiated for the same club, at the 

 Crystal Palace, there were something like two hundred entries. This 

 shows what can be done with one variety in less than twenty-five 

 years. The value, too, of really good specimens has increased in 

 even greater proportion. When the First Edition of " British Dogs " 

 was published, ten pounds would have been thought a very big 

 price to pay for a Pomeranian of even the highest quality. At the 

 present time more than a dozen specimens could be named for 

 which one hundred pounds would be refused by their owners. 

 Even larger sums have been readily paid for high-class specimens 

 within the last few years. There are probably fifty owners of 

 Pomeranians now for every one that existed twenty years ago. 



The greatest changes that have taken place in the breed have 

 been in their size and colour ; for whereas they were formerly 

 produced in weight ranging from about i5lb. to 25lb. and more, 

 and all sizes shown together, seldom even divided by sex, now 

 they have classes for weight, colour, sex, etc., with endless sub- 

 divisions, into winners, open, limit, novice, maiden, and puppies, 

 of each sex. And whereas at first the prevailing colour was white, 

 with a few blacks occasionally seen; now there are black, brown, 

 fawn, blue, sable, red, orange, and parti-coloured specimens to 

 be found at most of the shows, and of almost every size, down 

 to 3lb. in weight. Toys of the variety, if of high quality, seem 

 to be in constantly increasing demand, and are readily sold at high 

 figures, so that for some time past they must have been very 

 remunerative to breeders. In yet another direction is there a 

 noticeable improvement namely, in temperament. The old-time 

 Pomeranian had a rather bad character and was undoubtedly 

 snappish : shows and a closer association with man have not been 

 without their good effect upon the Pomeranian in this respect. 



Her late Majesty Queen Victoria was a warm supporter of 

 Pomeranians, and kept a large number of them, as the writer has 

 reason to know, having had the honour of a special invitation to 

 visit the Royal kennels at Windsor Castle, and being one of the 



