Pomeranian vs Indian Spitz: The Difference, and Which to Buy

Walk into most pet shops in Kolkata and ask for a Pomeranian, and what you will be shown is an Indian Spitz. This is not always dishonesty — the Spitz has been called a “Pom” in India for so long that many sellers genuinely do not distinguish them. But they are different breeds, with different sizes, different coats, different temperaments and different prices, and the one that suits a family is usually not the one that suits a single adult. Here is how to tell them apart, and how to choose.

The two breeds side by side

	Pomeranian	Indian Spitz
Adult weight	1.9–3.5 kg	5–12 kg
Height	18–24 cm	22–35 cm
Face	Very short muzzle, round “teddy” head	Longer, fox-like muzzle
Coat	Dense double coat that stands off the body	Lighter coat lying closer to the body
Common colours	Orange, cream, black, sable, white	Mostly white; also brown and black
Grooming	Daily brushing, regular professional grooming	Weekly brush
Kolkata summer	Needs care — fans, shade, cool floors	Handles it easily
With children	Not recommended under about ten	Good
First dog	Yes, for an adult household	Yes
Lifespan	12–16 years	12–16 years

What each costs to buy in Kolkata, from our own price list:

• Pomeranian: ₹8,000–₹15,000
• Indian Spitz: ₹6,000–₹12,000

There is also the Toy Pomeranian, a smaller line within the breed at 1.4–2.5 kg. Toy Pomeranian: ₹15,000–₹28,000, and it is the most delicate of the three — not a first dog, and not a dog for a busy household.

Where the Indian Spitz came from

The Indian Spitz was developed during the British period from German Spitz stock, bred down and lightened for the climate. It kept the pricked ears, the curled tail and the alert, barky nature of the spitz family, and gained a coat and a constitution that cope with heat far better than any European relative. The Kennel Club of India recognises it as a breed in its own right, in two sizes. If you remember Tuffy from Hum Aapke Hain Koun, you remember an Indian Spitz — which is a large part of why every white fluffy dog in the country has been called a Pomeranian since.

The Pomeranian proper is a German toy breed, named for the Pomerania region, bred down from larger spitz dogs into a lap companion. It is the one you see in show rings and in photographs from colder countries: tiny, round-headed, with a coat so dense the dog looks twice its real size.

Temperament: the difference that matters most

Both are alert, vocal, intelligent dogs that bond hard to their people. The difference is in robustness, in every sense.

The Indian Spitz is a sturdy small dog. It can be handled by a child, play roughly, run in the park and come back no worse for it. It is tolerant, forgiving of mistakes, and learns quickly. It barks — all spitz breeds do — and a bored Spitz in a flat will tell the whole building about it, so it needs company and a little daily training. As a watchdog it is superb: nothing comes to your door unannounced.

The Pomeranian is a companion dog in the strict sense. It wants to be with one or two adults, close, most of the day. It is clever and can be very well trained, but it is physically fragile — a jump off a bed can mean a fracture — and it does not take kindly to being grabbed, carried wrongly or startled, which is exactly what young children do. It is also the more demanding dog to groom: that coat mats behind the ears and under the legs within days if it is not brushed, and in a Kolkata summer the undercoat needs real attention to stop the skin underneath from going bad.

Kolkata’s climate decides a lot

This is where we steer most buyers. The Indian Spitz was made for this weather. It sheds its undercoat in March and April, carries a light coat through the monsoon, and is comfortable with the ordinary summer routine of early walks and a cool floor. We have never had a Spitz struggle in a Kolkata summer.

A Pomeranian can be perfectly happy here, but it needs management from April to September: a fan or air-conditioned room through the afternoon, no midday walks, and a strict brushing routine so the dense coat does not become a damp mat against the skin. Never shave the coat — it does not regulate properly afterwards and often grows back patchy. If you cannot promise that routine, the Spitz is the right answer.

Which one should you buy?

Choose the Indian Spitz if:

• there are children in the house, or there will be
• you want a watchdog as well as a pet
• you want the easiest grooming of any coated breed
• this is your first dog and you want a forgiving one
• budget matters — it is the least expensive purebred we sell

Choose the Pomeranian if:

• you are an adult household, or the children are older
• you want a lap dog that stays genuinely small
• you can commit to daily brushing and the summer routine
• you are prepared for a dog that needs more careful handling

If you are torn, come and see both. We breed the two and keep them in the same kennel, and twenty minutes with the puppies and their mothers settles the question better than any article can. The breed pages for the Pomeranian and the Indian Spitz carry the full care notes, the price tiers and the questions buyers ask most.

How to avoid paying Pomeranian money for a Spitz

It happens every week in this city. Three checks protect you:

1. See the mother. A Pomeranian mother is a very small dog with a short muzzle. A Spitz mother is visibly a different size. If you are not shown her, walk away — our guide to spotting a genuine seller explains why that one refusal tells you everything.
2. Ask about KCI registration. Both breeds are recognised, and papers for a true Pomeranian litter will say Pomeranian. A seller who says “papers later” and cannot name the breed on them is selling you a Spitz.
3. Compare the price to the market. A “Pomeranian” offered at the Spitz price range is a Spitz. Our dog price in Kolkata page lists what each breed actually costs so you have the number in your head before you walk in.

Neither breed is the lesser dog. The Spitz is the better choice for most Kolkata families, and we say so even though the Pomeranian is the one that earns us more. Buy the dog that fits the house, and call it what it is.