Pomsky

The Pomsky is a mixed breed, also known as a designer breed, that is a blend of two very distinct breeds: the Siberian Husky and the Pomeranian. These dogs love to be the center of attention and with their adorable demeanor and beautiful coats, they frequently are the center of attention at any gathering. The experience of owning a hybrid dog such as a Pomsky feels a little like receiving a beautifully wrapped gift; on the outside, you have a beautiful dog but you never really know what is on the inside. That is, you never really know exactly what temperament or personality traits you are going to get with that adorable ball of fluff. Though it might be assumed that breeders develop the best of two breeds when they crossbred, the fact is not even breeders can control the outcome of what traits become dominant.

Did you Know?

Pomskies can vary in size between being a tiny toy breed to being the size of a medium breed. That greatly depends on what genes the puppy inherits from its parents, the Siberian Husky and the Pomeranian.
The Pomsky has a thick, soft, fluffy, and silky coat. Their ears prick up and they have that distinct curled tail that swishes over their back.
Pomskies are intelligent and learn quickly. They love to learn new tricks when they are rewarded with praise and food treats. They may be a lap dog but they are still very capable of learning.
Pomskies are a fairly new crossbreed. Breeders began exploring with this mix by experimenting with artificial insemination between the Siberian Husky and Pomeranian breeds.
The color of their coats can vary just as much as the parents’ coat colors. Some can be pure white, while others can look just like miniature grey and white Siberian Huskies, and others can have the blue merle or brown and black coloration.
Pomskies are generally bred among commercial breeders. Since they are developed through artificial insemination, these puppies sell for quite a lot of money. Their pricing typically starts at $2,500. Since they are so adorable and a small lap dog breed, people have fallen in love with them.

Breed Characteristics

Adaptability: 2.5/5

Adapts Well to Apartment Living: 5/5
Good for Novice Owners: 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone: 1/5

All-Around Friendliness: 4/5

Affectionate with Family: 3.5/5
Dog-Friendly: 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers: 3/5

Health & Grooming: 3/5

Amount of Shedding: 4/5
Easy to Groom: 2/5
General Health: 3/5

Trainability: 4/5

Easy to Train: 3/5
Intelligence: 4/5
Tendency to Bark or Howl: 5/5

Exercise Needs: 3.5/5

Energy Level: 4/5
Exercise Needs: 3/5
Potential for Playfulness: 4/5

History

Many purebred dogs have been developed by mixing breeds to achieve desired traits in appearance, abilities, or temperament. This has been done for centuries. The Pomsky is no different, he was developed as a designer breed for his appearance and has taken the internet by storm and has become a hybrid breed in high demand. This hybrid was developed through artificial insemination. Since it is a relatively new hybrid and not yet seen as its own breed, there are no set standards for its appearance and temperament as of yet. It will take many more years before it is recognized as its own breed with established standards characterizing the breed. Currently, the Pomsky Club of America is making efforts to get the hybrid recognized as its own distinct breed.

Breeders are now in the process of selecting traits they want and will need to continue selective breeding over generations to establish certain personality traits and physical characteristics to define the Pomsky as its own breed and no longer a hybrid breed. That will take some time.

These crossbred dogs have become quite popular over the past decade or so and continue to be popular. Some will claim that these hybrid dogs are hypoallergenic or have fewer health problems than the traditional purebred dogs, that simply is not true. These hybrid dogs can inherit health conditions and personality traits from their parents just as any other dog can.

Size

Since Pomskies are not yet an established breed with a set size, their size can vary greatly even within the same litter. They usually fall between the size of a Pomeranian and a Siberian Husky, ranging from 10 to 35 pounds and standing at 10 to 15 inches at the shoulder. Most tend to fall somewhere in the middle.

Appearance

One set trait all Pomskies have is a thick, long, double coat that needs lots of brushing to keep it smooth and clean and to prevent matting. The color of their coat can be as varied as the parent’s, that of a Pom and Husky. These colors include the classic husky grey and white, the Sable husky colors (red and white), red, cinnamon, brown, pure white and a mix of the previously mentioned colors. Their eyes can take after the Husky with the ice blue eyes or they can end up with the Pom eyes, which are dark eyes. They have the distinct fluffy tail that curls over their back. They can be as small as a toy dog or as large as a medium dog.

Behavior

Personality

These adorable fluffy dogs aren’t just taking the internet by storm because of their looks but also because of their comedic antics. They love attention from just about anyone that will give it to them. Pomskies are people dogs, they crave to be the center of attention and are small enough to fit on your lap. Remember, they inherit their genes from their parents, some are intelligence, attention hogs, independence, agility and many more traits. They can be stubborn to train but are very capable of doing much more than what the designer breeders intended for them.

Pomskies are lovingly characterized as being “vocal.” Meaning they inherit the yappiness from the Pom and the barking, whining, and howling from the Husky. Owners can expect to have conversations with their Pomskies. Owners can do their best to train them to be less vocal but be aware that they are much more likely to be noisy than other breeds.

Children and Other Pets

Being a hybrid breed you never can be entirely sure about their temperament, but if you can meet both parents you can get a fairly good idea. Most Pomskies like children, some love them and others merely tolerate them. The important thing to remember is that children need to be taught how to properly hold and play with your dog and your Pomsky needs to be taught to not nip or bite children. It is advised that interactions between children and dogs be supervised.

Pomskies do well with other pets including cats. They do best with other dogs if they are raised together, though they do generally get along well with most dogs.

Health

Pomskies are generally a fairly healthy breed but as with all breeds, there are some health conditions they are more prone to inheriting. They do not have any major health problems but can be born with medical conditions or acquire conditions as they age. It is important to note that not all Pomskies will have any or all of these conditions but it is good to be aware of possible health conditions they may have. If you have access to your dog’s parental health records that would be a great place to do some research and see what he may be prone to having. You can obtain health clearances for both of the parents of your dog to make sure they’ve been tested and cleared from the following conditions. Health clearances can be confirmed by checking the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) website. Be sure to purchase from a responsible breeder that tests for health conditions in all the dogs they breed and provide vaccines and deworming prior to taking him home.

Hip Dysplasia: This is a genetic condition passed down from parents in which the femur does not fit snugly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint. This condition can exist without clinical signs so it is important to have X-ray screenings done. Dogs with this condition can be in pain and exhibit lameness in one or both rear legs. Ask the breeder for proof that the parents were tested and cleared for hip dysplasia.

Epilepsy: Another hereditary disorder, this one causes seizures. It cannot be cured but it can be controlled with medication. Pomskies that suffer from Epilepsy can live long, healthy lives with proper management.

Allergies: This is a common ailment in all dogs, they can have food allergies or contact allergies. Each is treated by eliminating whatever is causing the allergy from the dog’s diet or removing the contact item giving the dog the allergy. Inhalant allergies can also affect dogs, some can be alleviated by medications. Ear infections are a common side effect of inhalant allergies.

Eye Problems: Pomskies are prone to a variety of eye problems such as cataracts, dry eye, and tear duct problems. In some cases, a veterinarian can fix eye problems surgically or with medicated eye drops. There are times when they may lose their vision but they can still live normal lives with limited or impaired vision.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This is a degenerative eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye. PRA is detectable years before the dog shows any signs of blindness. Fortunately, dogs can use their other senses to compensate for blindness, and a blind dog can live a full and happy life. Just don’t make it a habit to move the furniture around. Reputable Pomsky breeders have their dogs’ eyes certified annually by a veterinary ophthalmologist and do not breed dogs with this disease.

Cataracts: This condition typically occurs in old age in which the opacity of the lens of the eye that causes difficulty in seeing. The eye(s) of the dog will have a cloudy appearance. Sometimes cataracts can be removed surgically to improve the dog’s vision.

Legg-Perthes Disease: This condition is common in toy breeds and involves the hip joint. This occurs when the blood supply to the head of the femur decreases until the head of the femur that connects to the pelvis begins to disintegrate. This can be painful and usually occurs when a puppy is 4 to 6 months old. Luckily a veterinarian can surgically remove the dead part of the femur and then the scar tissue connects to the pelvis instead. Dogs can live normal active lives free of pain after this corrective surgery.

Patellar Luxation: This is a very common problem in Pomskies. This is when the patella, the kneecap, slides in and out of place. It can cause pain ranging from minor pain to crippling pain. Most dogs with this condition live normal lives without much of a problem.

Collapsed Trachea: This occurs when the trachea that carries air to the lungs collapses. Common causes for this are pulling too hard on their collar. When they are walking if they tug and pull this can cause their trachea to collapse as well. It is advised that you either train your Pomsky to walk alongside you without pulling or walk them using a harness instead. If their trachea is collapsed they will have a persistent dry cough that sounds like a goose honk. This can be treated medically or surgically.

Dental Decay: Pomskies are more prone to having tooth and gum problems. Brush their teeth daily with a toothpaste recommended by your veterinarian. They may also lose teeth earlier than other breeds. A yearly veterinarian visit where they check his teeth is highly recommended.

Maintenance

Care

Pomskies aren’t just adorable little fluff balls, they are also quite active and love to play. If you think he will just sit happily on your lap all day long, think again. He will need daily walks for at least 40 minutes, if not an hour. They love to play games, indoors and out. They are quite active but won’t run you into the ground like a Siberian Husky would.

They do need training from a young age. Puppy kindergarten is highly recommended as they are likely to have a bit of a stubborn streak and can be difficult to train. Starting early and being consistent will make a difference in how successful training them will be. They want your love and attention but will not require it all the time, they can be fairly independent. They do very well with toys and games that challenge their mental abilities. Remember their parentage is formed by two intelligent breeds.

Feeding

As with any dog, purchase high quality, nutrient dense dog food. Ask your veterinarian what food blend would be best suited for your dog. Factors such as age, size, activity level will make a difference on what kind of food he needs and how much. Because it is not yet a standardized breed there is not a set guideline for how much to fee Pomskies. It is recommended that you ask your vet what the right amount of food would be for your dog based on his size and activity level. It is recommended that that amount is divided into two separate meals, one in the morning and one at night.

Grooming

That beautiful coat of long soft fur requires weekly brushing, at least weekly, maybe more. Pomskies shed, a lot, and they will “blow their coat” twice a year. That is when they shed very heavily and nearly replace their coats every spring and fall. Keeping them well brushed will keep their natural oils distributed throughout their coats and will prevent matting. Most Pomskies need to be bathed at least monthly some more often depending on how dirty they get outside. Use a gentle shampoo and a detangler.

His nails will need to be trimmed if he doesn’t wear them down on his own. Typically, they will need trimming once or twice a month. If you can hear them clack on the floor when he walks then they are too long. You can trim them or have a groomer trim them. Be aware that they do have blood vessels in their nails so if you trim them too short they will bleed and he won’t be so keen on getting them trimmed again.

Pomskies also need to have their teeth brushed regularly. Ask your vet for the recommended toothpaste for your dog. Brushing regularly will help prevent gum disease, which they are more prone to.

Grooming is a great time to look over your Pomsky to check his overall health and appearance. Check for any sores, odors, skin conditions etc. Check his paws and pads to make sure they are healthy and free of cuts or sores as well.

Common Questions

Are Pomskies that expensive? Since they are a relatively new hybrid breed they can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000. That is just the cost to buy them from a breeder, that does not include the first year of shots and vaccines, food or toys or the cost of puppy kindergarten.

How long do Pomskies live for? On average, a Pomsky lives for about 12 to 15 years.

Do Pomskies make good pets? Those that have Pomskies as a pet are among the pioneering group of dog owners. There hasn’t been enough data over a long enough period of time to determine a set standard for the hybrid breed. Some have reported them being very playful and loving and eager to please their owners, while others have reported them being difficult to train and bark at anyone that comes to the door.

Are Pomskies hypoallergenic? The short answer: No. Some breeders claim the mixed breed has developed a hypoallergenic coat, but it hasn’t. Most allergies people experience are due to dandruff on the fur.

Can Pomskies really get as big as a medium dog? As a result of the breeds that create a Pomsky, their size can vary greatly. They can be anywhere from a toy size as a full grown adult to a medium-sized dog weighing 35 pounds as an adult. If you are concerned about the size he will be as a full grown dog, it might be best to adopt a fully grown Pomsky, then you know exactly what you are getting.

Resources

Unfortunately, not everyone that purchases a Pomsky fully understands everything that goes into raising and training a well behaved, healthy Pomsky. There are many Pomskies in need of a loving home whether that be through adoption or fostering. Below is a list of rescue agencies that have Pomskies as well as breeders.

Rescue

Breeders

Pomsky Adults For Sale

If you’re interested in purchasing adult Pomsky click on the links below to find what you’re looking for.

Pomsky Puppies For Sale

If you’re interested in purchasing Pomsky puppies, below you will find different online marketplaces that have Pomsky puppies for sale.