Pomeranian Color Genetics: All Colors and Patterns Explained

Pomeranians are one of the most colour-diverse breeds in the world, with over 20 accepted AKC colours and patterns. This diversity comes from the fact that Pomeranians express almost every known canine colour locus. Understanding Pomeranian colour genetics helps breeders plan litters with predictable outcomes and avoid common pitfalls like accidental double merle breeding.

The Foundation: E Locus in Pomeranians

Many Pomeranians — especially orange, cream, and red dogs — are what geneticists call "e/e" dogs. The E locus controls whether black/brown pigment can be deposited in the coat at all. Dogs that are e/e (homozygous recessive at E) produce only phaeomelanin (yellow/red pigment), regardless of what A locus alleles they carry. This is why:

• Orange Poms are typically e/e with additional modifiers intensifying the red
• Cream Poms are e/e with dilution modifiers reducing the intensity
• White Poms are often e/e with extreme dilution, though some whites involve the S locus

Sable Pomeranians

Sable requires the dog to be Ay/- at the A locus and capable of producing eumelanin (so not e/e). Classic sable Poms have a gold or orange base with black-tipped hairs, especially prominent on the shoulders and back. Wolf sable has grey tipping rather than black.

Black and Tan / Parti Pomeranians

Parti Pomeranians — white dogs with coloured patches — involve the S locus (SP/SP). The coloured patches can be any colour the dog's other genetics produce: black, brown, orange, sable, merle, etc.

Chocolate Pomeranians

Chocolate (liver) Poms are bb at the B locus. All of their black pigment becomes brown. A chocolate Pom may range from a warm brown to a lighter cafe-au-lait tone depending on modifiers.

Beaver: The term "beaver" is used in Pomeranians for a diluted chocolate — effectively bd at the B locus combined with additional modifiers, or dd combined with chocolate.

Blue Pomeranians

Blue Poms are dd at the D locus — the dilute gene converts black pigment to grey/blue. Blue Poms often develop a condition called Colour Dilution Alopecia (CDA), where the diluted coat becomes thin, brittle, and prone to hair loss. This is a health consideration buyers should understand before purchasing a blue dog.

Merle Pomeranians

Merle Poms carry the M allele. Merle is popular in the breed but comes with responsibility:

• Only ever breed merle to a confirmed non-merle (m/m) dog
• Test ALL potential breeding dogs for merle using a lab that reports SINE insertion length — visual merle can be cryptic
• Double merle Poms are at high risk for hearing and vision defects

Lavender and Other "Designer" Colours

Lavender (also called lilac) in Poms is produced by combining bb (chocolate) with dd (dilute). The result is a warm, pale grey-lavender coat. These are sometimes called "Isabella" in other breeds.