The Pomeranian is the smallest dog of the spitz family of dogs. They are able to be traced back as a descendant of actual sled dogs from Lapland and Iceland. They get their name from areas in Poland and Germany, which is where they were originally bred. In the 1800s, after Queen Victoria of England praised these dogs, their popularity took off and never slowed down since. In 1888 they were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. They remain a top dog today in the United States.