Pomeranian Puppies: Adopt or Buy in Australia?

Should you adopt or buy a Pomeranian?

It depends on whether you need a puppy. If you want a purebred Pomeranian puppy, a registered breeder is the realistic route, because purebred Pom puppies rarely appear in rescue. If an adult dog or a cross with plenty of Pom in it suits you, adopting is cheaper, usually quicker to arrange, and the desexing and vaccinations are already done.

Either way, the Pom is a breed where a few health questions matter more than the colour or the price. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) names Pomeranians among the small breeds commonly affected by slipping kneecaps and by tracheal collapse, and small dogs as a group carry more dental disease. A breeder's job is to breed from parents checked for what it can check. A rescue's job is to tell you what it knows about a dog. Your job is to ask both.

Reference figures read on 9 November 2026 on the rescue fee pages linked below. Not quotes: breeders and rescues set their own prices and change them.

What does a Pomeranian puppy cost from a registered breeder?

There is no published figure to point you to. We looked for a Pomeranian price on Dogs Australia's pages and on Australian Pomeranian club pages on 9 November 2026 and found none, so we do not quote a range here. Prices you see in ads are whatever that seller has chosen, and breeder directories mix registered breeders with everyone else.

What you can compare is what the price includes. A puppy from a breeder registered with Dogs Australia through its state body comes with pedigree papers, and most companion puppies are sold on the limited register, with an agreement that the dog will not be bred from. Ask each breeder what health checks the parents have had, whether the puppy will be vet checked, vaccinated and microchipped before it leaves, and whether the breeder will take the dog back if your circumstances change. If two breeders charge similar prices and only one can show you the parents' knee results, the choice is easy.

Why “teacup” is a red flag, not a feature

The Dogs Australia breed standard gives one ideal weight for the Pomeranian: 1.8 to 2 kg for dogs and 2 to 2.5 kg for bitches. It describes a compact, sound dog with fine-boned legs. There is no teacup, micro or toy Pomeranian in it. When an ad charges more for a teacup Pom, it is charging for a word. Ask how big the parents are, and be wary of any seller whose main selling point is that the puppy will stay unusually small.

Which health checks should a Pomeranian breeder talk about?

Ask about each item below for both parents, and ask to see written results rather than taking a verbal answer. We could not find an Australian Pomeranian club that publishes a required test list, and Dogs Australia notes there is no mandatory health testing imposed nationwide for all breeders, which is why the questions fall to you. Dogs Australia says a good breeder will answer questions about hereditary conditions, show you test results and let your own vet check the puppy.

Conditions from the ACVS and the Royal Veterinary College, read 9 November 2026. This is a buying checklist, not veterinary advice.

The knees: patellar luxation

Patellar luxation is a condition where the kneecap rides outside its groove when the knee bends. The ACVS says it mainly affects small dogs and names Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers and Miniature Poodles as examples. The typical sign is a skip: the dog suddenly carries a back leg for a few steps, then uses it normally again. The ACVS says lameness can become more frequent as the condition progresses. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals only certifies knees in dogs 12 months and over, which is why the useful answer is about the parents, not the puppy.

The windpipe: tracheal collapse

The ACVS describes tracheal collapse as a chronic, progressive and irreversible disease of the windpipe, most common in small breeds, particularly Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, Poodles and Chihuahuas. The classic sign is a harsh, dry cough that sounds like a goose honking, often when the dog is excited, picked up or pulling on its collar. Affected dogs are often middle-aged or older. If you hear that cough, see your vet.

The teeth: why small dogs need dental care early

A large Royal Veterinary College study of more than 22,000 UK dogs found that smaller breeds had higher risks of dental disease than heavier breeds, with dogs under 10 kg at about three times the risk of dogs weighing 30 to 40 kg. The RVC recommends daily tooth brushing with a dog toothpaste and asking your vet about your dog's teeth at every visit. For a 2 kg Pom, budget for dental care from the start. Our Pomeranian health guide covers these conditions in more depth.

What do Pomeranians in rescue look like?

Mostly adults and crosses, and not many of them. Across the rescues we aggregate, Pomeranian listings are few at any one time, and they are a mix of adult purebreds surrendered by their owners and crosses with Chihuahuas, Jack Russells and other small dogs. A purebred Pom puppy in rescue is rare. If a puppy is essential, a breeder is the honest answer. If it is not, an adult Pom has real advantages: its size and temperament are known, and the rescue can tell you what its vet check found, including its knees and teeth.

We did not find a Pomeranian-specific rescue in Australia that we could verify, so watch the general rescues and RSPCA shelters we list, and set an alert on the breed page. Pom crosses also turn up on the small dogs pages for each city linked at the end of this guide.

What does a rescue Pomeranian cost?

Fees as published by each rescue on the date shown. A reference, not a quote: fees change, and some dogs are priced individually. Adoption fees normally include desexing, microchipping and vaccinations.

Book your own vet visit in the first week after adopting, ask the vet to check the knees and teeth, and look at pet insurance before anything is recorded as a pre-existing condition.

How do Pomeranian puppy scams work?

Small, fluffy and photogenic is exactly what scammers advertise. Scamwatch says scammers set up fake websites, social media profiles and marketplace listings for popular breeds that do not exist, and that a very cheap pet is likely a scam. Its advice is to view the puppy in person, ask for a video call if you cannot visit, check that the breeder is legitimate, and compare prices.

With Poms there is a second pattern to watch for: the premium price for a “teacup” or rare colour. A real litter can still be the wrong purchase if the seller cannot tell you anything about the parents' knees or breathing.

• Check the registration yourself. Enter the breeder's prefix or membership number in the Dogs Australia registered breeder check, not a certificate the seller emails you.
• Check the state number. NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT each require sellers to show an identifying number. Our puppies for sale guide lists each state's scheme and where to look it up.
• Meet the mother. Her size, coat and temperament are the best preview you will get.
• Expect questions. Dogs Australia says a good breeder will show you the dogs on the premises, answer questions about hereditary conditions and let your vet check the puppy.

Is a Pomeranian the right dog for you?

The Dogs Australia breed standard describes the Pomeranian as sound, vivacious and dainty, with an extrovert, lively and intelligent temperament. It is a tiny dog of about 2 kg with a thick double coat: a soft, fluffy undercoat under a long, straight, harsh outer coat. That makes it portable and apartment-sized, but not low-shedding, and the coat needs regular brushing.

The trade-offs are fragility and noise. Fine bones and a small body mean falls and rough handling matter, so a Pom usually fits adults and older children better than toddlers. An alert little dog left alone all day can bark. Run the first year's costs with the dog cost calculator, and if you are still choosing, try the what dog breed am I quiz and the adoption readiness check. Our best apartment dogs guide compares the Pom with other small breeds.

Find a Pomeranian near you

Each page below shows Pomeranians and Pom crosses listed right now by rescues in that city, and each listing links to the rescue where you apply directly.

• Pomeranians for adoption in Sydney
• Pomeranians for adoption in Melbourne
• Pomeranians for adoption in Brisbane
• Pomeranians for adoption in Perth
• Pomeranians for adoption in Adelaide

Open to any small dog? Browse small dogs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide.

For local rescues, fees and what to expect in your city, read the Pomeranian adoption guide for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast or Newcastle.

Related guides: Chihuahua puppies: adopt or buy?, Maltese puppies: adopt or buy? and adopting a senior dog, a good fit for a small breed that often reaches rescue as an adult.