Which is Better between the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog? A Very Detailed Review.

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Pomeranian Versus Shetland Sheepdog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Pomeranian and for the Shetland Sheepdog. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Pomeranian or the Shetland Sheepdog.

Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog

Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog: Overview

A very important difference between the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Pomeranian is a tiny-sized dog while the Shetland Sheepdog is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Pomeranian belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Shetland Sheepdog belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pomeranian to the Shetland Sheepdog based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog

Factor Pomeranian Shetland Sheepdog
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 16 years 12 to 15 years
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Weight 3 to 7 pounds Starts at 20 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 2/5
Height 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 14.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2150 $1590
Price Range $1500 – $2500 $1000 – $2000
Temperament Score 77.8 percent 68.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dentition
  • Eye Examination- Recommend evaluation every year until age 5, every 2 years thereafter until age 9.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 21 23
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 23 6

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pomeranian in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Shetland Sheepdog. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Pomeranian is 79 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Shetland Sheepdog is 85 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Shetland Sheepdog is a better pet than the Pomeranian. So, you should get the Shetland Sheepdog!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog

    Below is a list of where the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are most different:

  • Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Shetland Sheepdogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • The Similarities Between the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog

    The Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are most similar:

  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are very easy to train.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog.

    Pomeranians weigh 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. Pomeranians are 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Shetland Sheepdogs weigh Starts at 20 pounds when fully grown. Shetland Sheepdogs are 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog

    The lifespan of Pomeranians is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Pomeranians is 14.0 years.

    The lifespan of Shetland Sheepdogs is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Shetland Sheepdogs is 13.5 years.

    Pomeranians live longer than Shetland Sheepdogs.

    Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Temperament of the Pomeranian Versus the Shetland Sheepdog

    The Pomeranian has a better temperament than the Shetland Sheepdog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pomeranian is 77.8 percent while the temperament score for the Shetland Sheepdog is 68.9 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 77.8 percent, the Pomeranian has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 68.9 percent, the Shetland Sheepdog has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog by measuring the temperaments of 36 Pomeranians and 515 Shetland Sheepdogs.

    Price of Pomeranian versus Price of Shetland Sheepdog

    The average price of the Pomeranian puppy is $2150. The price of the Pomeranian typically ranges from $1500 – $2500. However, the price of a Pomeranian can be as low as $150 and as high as $10000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1412 Pomeranian puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Shetland Sheepdog puppy is $1590. The price of the Shetland Sheepdog typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of the Shetland Sheepdog can be as low as $500 and as high as $3145. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 153 Shetland Sheepdog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Pomeranian is more expensive than the Shetland Sheepdog.

    Pomeranian Shetland Sheepdog
    Average Price $2150 $1590
    Price Range $1500 to $2500 $1000 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Pomeranian and Shetland Sheepdog. For different price points, the charts show how many Pomeranian puppies or how many Shetland Sheepdog puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Pomeranians. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Pomeranians. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Shetland Sheepdogs

    A breakdown of the prices of Shetland Sheepdogs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Pomeranian puppy or the Shetland Sheepdog puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Adopting the Pomeranian versus Adopting the Shetland Sheepdog

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Pomeranians and many Shetland Sheepdogs are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Pomeranian named Nova that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Pomeranians like Nova on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Pomeranians, Shetland Sheepdogs are also available for adoption. For example, Cj & Brodie is a Male Shetland Sheepdog that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Shetland Sheepdogs like Cj & Brodie that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Ethereum 9393 is the name of another Pomeranian (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, ~Courtesy~Simon And Shu Shu is an adorable Male Shetland Sheepdog on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Pomeranians and Shetland Sheepdogs are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Pomeranians and Shetland Sheepdogs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Pomeranian versus the Intelligence of the Shetland Sheepdog

    Pomeranian Shetland Sheepdog
    Intelligence Rank 23 out of 130 dog breeds 6 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Pomeranian has an obedience intelligence rank of 23 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pomeranian belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Pomeranians tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Shetland Sheepdog has an obedience intelligence rank of 6 out of 130 dog breeds. The Shetland Sheepdog belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Shetland Sheepdogs tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Shetland Sheepdog is more intelligent than the Pomeranian.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Pomeranian versus Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pomeranian is more popular with dog owners than the Shetland Sheepdog. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pomeranian is 21 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Shetland Sheepdog is 23 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    Year Pomeranian Popularity Rank Shetland Sheepdog Popularity Rank
    2013 19 21
    2014 20 21
    2015 21 23
    2016 22 24
    2017 22 24
    2018 23 25
    2019 24 25
    2020 23 27

    Health Problems of Pomeranian versus Health Problems of Shetland Sheepdog

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Pomeranian is prone to more genetic health problems than the Shetland Sheepdog.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Pomeranian than for the Shetland Sheepdog.

    6 health tests are recommended for Pomeranian while 4 tests are recommended for the Shetland Sheepdog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Pomeranians and in Shetland Sheepdogs.

    Pomeranian Health Problems

    Pomeranians are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Pomeranian puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Pomeranian puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Pomeranian breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Pomeranians for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pomeranians here.

    Shetland Sheepdog Health Problems

    Shetland Sheepdogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Shetland Sheepdog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Shetland Sheepdog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Shetland Sheepdog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Shetland Sheepdogs for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dentition
  • Eye Examination- Recommend evaluation every year until age 5, every 2 years thereafter until age 9.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Shetland Sheepdogs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Pomeranians and Shetland Sheepdogs

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Pomeranian Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Pomeranian ranks 1 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1542 Pomeranians, 456 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Pomeranians, and how common these diseases are in Pomeranians relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 1 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 49 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 75 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 89 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 171 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Shetland Sheepdog Breed is Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    This is because the Shetland Sheepdog ranks 3 out of 7 dog breeds for Collie Eye Anomaly problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 633 Shetland Sheepdogs, 5 of them had Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Shetland Sheepdogs, and how common these diseases are in Shetland Sheepdogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Collie Eye Anomaly problems: Rank 3 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems: Rank 4 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 5 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 6 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Von Willebrands problems: Rank 6 out of 15 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 46 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 89 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 101 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 122 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 166 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Pomeranian and in Shetland Sheepdog and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog:

    Disease Pomeranian Rank Shetland Sheepdog Rank
    Patella problems 1 out of 145 dog breeds 89 out of 145 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 49 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 75 out of 198 dog breeds 166 out of 198 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 89 out of 115 dog breeds 5 out of 115 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 171 out of 182 dog breeds 122 out of 182 dog breeds
    Collie Eye Anomaly problems Not Common 3 out of 7 dog breeds
    Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems Not Common 4 out of 7 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 6 out of 49 dog breeds
    Von Willebrands problems Not Common 6 out of 15 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 46 out of 70 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 101 out of 144 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Pomeranians do not like to be left alone.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pomeranians shed more than Shetland Sheepdogs?

    Pomeranians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Shetland Sheepdogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Pomeranian or the Shetland Sheepdog

    Pomeranians do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Pomeranian or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Pomeranians require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Shetland Sheepdogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Pomeranian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Pomeranians have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Shetland Sheepdogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Pomeranians Bark and Howl? What about Shetland Sheepdogs?

    Pomeranians are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Pomeranians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shetland Sheepdogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Pomeranians can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Shetland Sheepdogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Pomeranian vs. Shetland Sheepdog

    Pomeranians do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shetland Sheepdogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Pomeranians cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Shetland Sheepdogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pomeranian or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.

    Shetland Sheepdogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Pomeranians good family dogs? What about Shetland Sheepdogs?

    Pomeranians are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Pomeranians and Shetland Sheepdogs?

    Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Shetland Sheepdogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Pomeranian Easier to Train than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Pomeranians are very easy to train.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are very easy to train.

    Is the Pomeranian Better for Apartment Owners than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Pomeranians adapt very well to apartment living.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Pomeranian or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Pomeranians are very good for new dog owners.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are OK for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pomeranian

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Pomeranian that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Pomeranian:

  • Pomapoo (81 percent match with Pomeranian). Here is our comparison of the Shetland Sheepdog vs Pomapoo.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Shetland Sheepdog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Shetland Sheepdog that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Shetland Sheepdog:

  • Collie (81 percent match with Shetland Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the Pomeranian vs Collie.
  • Pembroke Welsh Corgi (79 percent match with Shetland Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the Pomeranian vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Pomeranian and how the Shetland Sheepdog compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Pomeranian and of the Shetland Sheepdog to other breeds:

    Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pomeranian versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Pomeranian versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Pomeranian versus Leonberger     Pomeranian versus Canaan Dog     Pomeranian versus Cockalier     Pomeranian versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Pomeranian versus Toy Fox Terrier     Pomeranian versus Pekingese     Pomeranian versus Shiba Inu     Pomeranian versus Bluetick Coonhound     Pomeranian versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Pomeranian versus American Water Spaniel     Pomeranian versus Azawakh     Pomeranian versus Sheepadoodle     Pomeranian versus Boxer     Pomeranian versus Borzoi     Pomeranian versus Manchester Terrier     Pomeranian versus Komondor     Pomeranian versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Pomeranian versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Pomeranian versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Pomeranian versus Borzoi     Pomeranian versus Cane Corso     Pomeranian versus Affenpinscher     Pomeranian versus Flat-Coated Retriever     

    Shetland Sheepdog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Shetland Sheepdog versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Shetland Sheepdog versus Dalmatian     Shetland Sheepdog versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Shetland Sheepdog versus Bluetick Coonhound     Shetland Sheepdog versus Cockalier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Chinook     Shetland Sheepdog versus Yorkshire Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Cesky Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Skye Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Sussex Spaniel     Shetland Sheepdog versus French Spaniel     Shetland Sheepdog versus Bluetick Coonhound     Shetland Sheepdog versus Bluetick Coonhound     Shetland Sheepdog versus Collie     Shetland Sheepdog versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Shetland Sheepdog versus Redbone Coonhound     Shetland Sheepdog versus Chinese Crested     Shetland Sheepdog versus Redbone Coonhound     Shetland Sheepdog versus Gordon Setter     Shetland Sheepdog versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Shetland Sheepdog versus Karelian Bear Dog     Shetland Sheepdog versus Portuguese Pointer     Shetland Sheepdog versus Chinese Crested     Shetland Sheepdog versus American Hairless Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Barbet     

    Conclusion: Pomeranian versus Shetland Sheepdog. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Pomeranian and the Shetland Sheepdog better suits you and your family.