Which breed is the smallest of the Spitz family?

The Pomeranian is the smallest of the Spitz family’s commonly recognized breeds.

The Pomeranian is a toy-sized Spitz dog descended from larger German Spitz types. It takes its name from Pomerania, a historic region along the southern Baltic coast in parts of present-day Poland and Germany. Unlike its larger ancestors, the modern Pomeranian was selectively bred for companionship and compact size.

Queen Victoria helped popularize the smaller form in the late 19th century. During her lifetime, the breed’s size was reduced substantially, and the tiny version became fashionable across Britain and beyond. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale classifies it as the Zwergspitz, or “Dwarf Spitz,” within the German Spitz standard.

Pomeranians are usually about 7–12 inches tall and weigh roughly 3–7 pounds, depending on the standard used. They are sometimes confused with the German Miniature Spitz, Japanese Spitz, or Indian Spitz, but those dogs are generally larger. “Smallest” refers to the recognized Spitz-type breeds and varieties, not to every individual dog with Spitz ancestry.