Do you want to know when Pomeranians mature into adulthood? A 2-year-old Pomeranian can be as playful and goofy as a young puppy, but does it mean that they haven’t grown up?
So, when do Pomeranians mature into adulthood? For a Pomeranian to be considered an adult, they have to reach sexual, physical, and emotional maturity. On average, that happens around the time Pomeranians are one-year-old, but some might mature early.
So, what important milestones should your Pom cover before you can call them adults? Read on to find out.
When Do Pomeranians Stop Growing?
When they’re born, Pomeranians weigh a few ounces, and they can easily fit in the palm of your hand. However, their tiny bodies make quick work of all the nutrients they receive from their mother.
As such, the newborn puppies double their weight during the first week of their lives. That’s one of the most impressive growth spurts you’ll ever see.
Your Pomeranian will continue to grow in leaps and bounds during the first month of their lives. While puppies can walk around the third week, they prefer to spend most of their time sleeping and growing.
But after your Pom is 8-weeks-old, their growth slows down, and it’s not as noticeable as during the first few weeks.
That’s the beginning of the puppy stage when one of the most important jobs of your Pom is to explore the world. Everything is new and exciting, but your little Pom tires out quickly and needs plenty of rest to grow strong and healthy.
As the weeks turn into months, your Pomeranian slowly matures into their adult size. Some Pomeranians grow steadily in weight and height and are full-grown before you know it. Other Pomeranians have rapid growth spurts and might stop growing for a time before the process restarts.
By the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) breed standards, a Pomeranian should be 6-7 inches in height and 3-7 lbs in weight. Most Poms reach these milestones by the time they’re one-year-old, and you can consider them physically matured.
However, the one-year-mark is an average estimation. Some small Poms might take longer to reach their full-grown size and could continue to grow until they’re 14 months old.
In addition to this, large Pomeranian puppies tend to be fully-grown by the time they’re six months old, but they might continue to fill out in the following months.
It’s rare, but it happens. However, talk with your vet if your Pomeranian is older than one year and still far from the breed’s standard.
Besides the change in size, you’re also going to watch as your Pom grows into their adult coats. That starts around 4-6 months of age with what’s called “puppies uglies.”
The thick, double coat of your Pomeranian sheds and looks as if somebody has given your pooch a bad haircut. However, that’s completely normal and shows you that physical maturity is right around the corner.
When Do Pomeranians Reach Sexual Maturity?
Physical maturity isn’t enough to consider your Pomeranian adult because your Pom still needs to mature sexually and emotionally.
Sexual maturity means that your Pom can sire puppies or get pregnant and give birth. But sexual maturity doesn’t mean that your Pomeranian has matured into adulthood or that they’re ready to be parents.
That’s because sexual maturity happens before your Pomeranian is fully grown into their adult size or lost their puppy mentality.
Usually, female Pomeranians reach sexual maturity between the ages of six and nine months. But it’s not uncommon for some Poms to get into heat as young as four months or as old as one-year-old.
So, while a Pom can get pregnant during her first heat cycle, it’s not a wise choice. Moreover, the AKC doesn’t endorse breeding Pomeranians younger than eight months old. Keep that in mind if you plan on breeding your Pomeranian.
Male Pomeranians can father puppies as young as seven months old. Unlike females, they don’t get into heat. Instead, their hormones react to the smell of a female in heat, and they’re ready for mating all year long after they reach sexual maturity.
How to Tell If Your Pomeranian Is Emotionally Mature?
After your Pom matures sexually, their hormones surge up and they start acting out. You might think about them as teenagers who are testing the boundaries and rebelling against your rules. That’s because they still think like puppies instead of adult dogs.
So, for your Pomeranian to mature into adulthood, it’s not enough to reach sexual and physical maturity. They need to let go of their puppy behavior and start acting as adult dogs. That’s what specialists call emotional maturity.
A Pom doesn’t turn from a puppy into an adult dog overnight. The process of emotional maturity is slow and takes weeks and months.
Most owners tell that your Pom has matured emotionally when they behave as an adult Pomeranian would.
That’s a vague explanation, I know. So, look for these signs that point out that your puppy Pom is starting to think as an adult Pomeranian:
- Settles down and projects a calm demeanor.
- Listens to your commands and responds to them.
- Not easily distracted as before.
- Responds to social cues from other dogs.
In general, most Pomeranians are emotionally matured by the time they’re one-year-old. However, some might need some extra time to shed their puppy behavior. You just have to be patient and use a lot of positive reinforcement to correct your puppy’s rebellious streak.
Is Your Pomeranian a Senior?
Since we’re talking about when Pomeranians mature into adulthood, you probably also want to know when your Pom is old enough to be a senior.
In general, small dog breeds like Pomeranians not only mature faster than large breeds but also tend to live longer. On average, the life expectancy of a Pomeranian is between 12-16 years, but some might make it up to 18-20.
As such, most specialists consider Poms to be seniors by the time they’re eight years old. That’s one of the reasons why most breeders retire their female Pomeranians by the time they’re 7-years-old. But it’s still an average estimation, and it depends on your Pom’s overall condition.
One of the main changes you’re going to notice by that time is that your Pomeranian is not as energetic and fast as before. They might be slow going up the stairs or stop running around the house/yard so much as before.
Of course, loss of mobility might be due to other conditions besides aging. So, never assume that your Pom is just getting old when they seem lazier or more lethargic than before.
Your vet is the only person who can tell you when your Pom has actually reached the senior stage of their lives. In general, geriatric screenings are recommended for Pomeranians older than 8-years-old, but your vet might start them sooner based on your Pom’s overall health.
Once your Pomeranian is officially a senior, they’re going to need extra care because older dogs have different needs than young ones.
For example, you’ll have to take your Pom twice to the vet instead once, limit how much you exercise your Pom, and get high-quality food for senior dogs.
Closing Thoughts
Now you know when a Pom matures into adulthood and what you can expect during that turbulent year.
While it’s easy to describe these changes, they happen so fast in life that you can miss them if you blink. You just wake up one morning and realize that your small Pomeranian is no longer a puppy but a grown-up dog.