Adopting a Pomeranian in Liverpool: rescues, costs and health

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every Pomeranian and Pomeranian cross listed with us in Liverpool and within about 25 miles, and our Liverpool Pomeranian page links each one to its rescue. If it shows none, that is the honest picture rather than a fault. Our Liverpool small dogs page shows the other small dogs listed near the city today.

The Royal Kennel Club calls the Pomeranian "the smallest spitz and a favourite of Queen Victoria", and its breed standard describes the temperament as "extrovert, lively and intelligent", with an ideal weight of 1.8 to 2 kg for dogs and 2 to 2.5 kg for bitches. PDSA calls Pomeranians "lively, curious and very playful". Dogs Trust describes them as typically less active dogs, each with its own personality, so ask the rescue how this dog behaves at home and with visitors.

A rescue fee pays towards vet work that is already done. Freshfields Animal Rescue microchips, vaccinates, neuters and treats every animal for fleas and worms before it leaves, and its £220 dog fee covers that. At North Clwyd Animal Rescue, a pedigree dog with full paperwork is £350 and any other dog of six months or over £200, so ask which applies.

A bought puppy should already be microchipped by its breeder, as the law requires by 8 weeks, but neutering and usually further vaccinations come on top of the £400 to £3,000 Blue Cross gives for a puppy. Budget for grooming either way: Dogs Trust says the thick, dense coat needs brushing 2 to 3 times a week and is likely to need regular professional grooming.

A rescue Pomeranian's parents may never have been health tested, so ask what the rescue's own vet has checked. UK sources raise these points:

• Knees, eyes and airway. PDSA lists problems the breed can be prone to, including luxating patellas (kneecaps that slip out of place), progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, Chiari malformation and syringomyelia (CM/SM, a painful neurological condition), hydrocephalus and tracheal collapse, which can make breathing difficult.
• Body shape. Dogs Trust describes Pomeranians as brachycephalic, meaning a short nose, a flat face or both. The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders to have eyes tested, and its Breed Watch asks show judges to check that the fontanelle (the soft spot on the skull) is fully closed in dogs over 12 months.
• Heat. Dogs Trust says Pomeranians are at higher risk of heat stroke, and PDSA's heatstroke advice names the Pomeranian among the dogs most affected. It suggests a harness rather than a collar, and walks in the early morning or evening on hot days.

The Royal Kennel Club lists a flat as big enough for a Pomeranian, with up to 30 minutes of exercise a day, and Dogs Trust says they might not manage long or strenuous walks but still need daily walks, play and enrichment. The rescues check your home for themselves: Freshfields Animal Rescue asks you to fix any problem its home check finds, such as an insecure fence, and wants your landlord's permission if you rent.

Children matter with a dog this small. Freshfields doesn't rehome dogs to families with children aged 5 or under, and North Clwyd Animal Rescue doesn't rehome dogs to homes with children under 5, as many arrive as strays with no known history, and no dog at all to a family with a child under 2.

No rescue sells a Pomeranian. You apply, the rescue decides which of its dogs would suit your home, and the adoption fee goes towards the vet work. Every Pomeranian on our Liverpool Pomeranian page is adopted that way. Be open to an adult whose size, coat and habits are already known.

If you decide to buy, Dogs Trust suggests asking your vet about a pre-purchase consultation on likely health conditions and rough costs, and The Royal Kennel Club runs a "Find a puppy" service. Report a suspected scam advert to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud).