Long Haired Chihuahua vs Pomeranian: 5 Key Differences

A fluffy long haired Chihuahua and a Pomeranian can look almost identical in a thumbnail photo — small, big-eyed, covered in fur. But they’re two different breeds, and once you know what to look for, you’ll never mix them up again. Here are the 5 differences that actually matter.

Aren’t they basically the same dog?

No. They belong to different groups and come from opposite ends of the world. The Pomeranian descends from large Arctic spitz sled dogs, bred down to a tiny companion. The Chihuahua descends from the ancient Techichi of Mexico (more on that in Chihuahua history). The resemblance is a coincidence of size and fluff, not relation.

1. The coat

This is the clearest tell.

• Pomeranian: a dense double coat that stands off the body, giving that round “pom-pom” look. Sheds heavily, needs frequent grooming.
• Long haired Chihuahua: softer, flatter fur that lies closer to the body, with feathering on the ears, legs and tail. Much less voluminous, lighter shedding.

If the dog looks like a fluffy ball, it leans Pomeranian. If the fur drapes and you can still see the body shape, it’s a Chihuahua.

2. The face

• Pomeranian: a fox-like face, smaller eyes, a fuller cheek (“teddy bear” trims exaggerate this).
• Chihuahua: larger, rounder, more prominent eyes and — in the apple head — a domed skull with a sharp stop. The Chihuahua’s eyes look bigger relative to the face.

3. Size and weight

	Long Haired Chihuahua	Pomeranian
Weight	1.5–6 lb	3–7 lb
Height	6–9 in	7–12 in
Build	Slight, fine-boned	Compact, rounder
Coat volume	Moderate	High (stands out)

Pomeranians tend to be a touch heavier and rounder; Chihuahuas finer-boned.

4. Temperament

Both are alert and devoted, but:

• Pomeranian: outgoing, busy, often friendlier with strangers, very vocal.
• Chihuahua: intensely bonded to one person, more reserved with strangers, equally vocal but more of a one-human dog. We go deep on this in Chihuahua temperament.

5. Shedding and grooming

• Pomeranian: heavy seasonal “blowouts,” needs regular professional grooming.
• Chihuahua (long coat): daily brushing is enough; sheds far less. (And yes, Chihuahuas do shed, just less dramatically.)

Quick way to tell them apart

Look at the silhouette and the eyes. Pom = round fluff-ball, fox face, smaller eyes. Long-haired Chihuahua = visible body shape under the fur, big round eyes, domed head. That combination is almost foolproof.

---

People often ask me if Lorenzo is “part Pomeranian” because of his expressive face — he’s a 100% short-coat Chihuahua. The confusion is everywhere, which is exactly why this comparison exists. Two adorable small breeds, two completely different stories.