Pomsky Dog Breed – Nature, Food, and Pictures
The Pomsky is an incredible mixed breed dog that has been growing in popularity among pet owners everywhere over the past few years. They’re an adorable cross between the pomeranian, a small dog breed with a big personality, and the Siberian husky, one of the most beautiful and affectionate breeds around.
They may have only been around for a little over a decade, but these amazing pups are popular enough to have their own national club (Pomsky Club of America) and worldwide association (International Pomsky Association)!
Just like pretty much any dog breed out there, pomskies can make wonderful family members, but there’s plenty you need to know about them before you bring one home. It’s always best to do your homework when it comes to choosing a breed, which is the very reason that we’ve created this comprehensive guide to all things Pomsky.
From their appearance to their needs and personality to all of the ins and outs of caring for your new pup, we’ve got all you need to know about this awesome breed right here in one place. Ready to jump in and get started?
Breed Background and History
The Pomsky is a rather new breed of dog that is a mix between the Pomeranian and the Siberian husky. The first generation of Pomsky puppies is believed to have been born in 2009, and just a little while later in 2012, the first-ever Pomsky breeders in the U.S. popped up.
In the years since , the breed has become incredibly popular, which makes a whole lot of sense considering that their purebred parent breeds are popular, too.
Like all other designer dogs, the pomsky is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), but there are both national and international clubs dedicated specifically to the breed.
Always bear in mind that any reputable breeder of pomskies should be using artificial insemination to breed them, as the big disparity in the sizes of the parent breeds can lead to complications.
Speaking of the parent breeds, let’s take a closer look at both of them in order to get a better idea of what kind of pups they create together.
Pomeranian
The pomeranian is a small-sized dog breed that is friendly and full of energy. These playful pups are notable for being curious and brave in spite of their small stature and for their trademark thick and fluffy double coat.
Pomeranians are an intelligent breed that often gets along well with other pets but they require some socialization so that they’re not easily alarmed by strangers.
They can also be quite yappy, which is a turn off to some dog owners. When it comes to keeping an eye on your home and helping to protect your family, the barking can also be seen as a positive, provided you train them well enough to keep it under control.
Siberian Husky
Siberian huskies are a medium to large-sized dog breed that is known for their playfulness and good nature.
Huskies were bred for pulling sleds and carts, so they like to have a job and are often quite energetic. These pups generally love to socialize with just about anybody and any dog, but they have a strong instinct to give chase to anything on the move, including cats and sometimes even cars.
They have some significant exercise requirements and need plenty of attention — which is great for some dog owners, but not so great for others.
What Does a Pomsky Look Like?
You’re probably wondering what sort of physical traits you can expect from your pomsky puppy. Well, because designer dog breeds are not recognized by the AKC, you can’t go to there for the breed standard information. Instead, you need to look to groups such as the International Pomsky Association (IPA).
Size and Weight
According to the IPA, a standard adult pomsky should stand about 15 to 18 inches tall and weigh somewhere between 18 and 25 pounds. This makes them a small dog breed, although they are actually pretty heavy in spite of that small size due to their Siberian husky parent breed’s notable sturdiness.
Coat and Markings
Considering that pomskies are a pomeranian husky mix, you can expect them to share the physical characteristics of both their parent breeds.
Prospective pomsky owners should anticipate a pup with a thick coat that has some of the regal beauty of the pomeranian, only decorated with husky-like markings. The coloring and patterns on the coat will vary widely, but you can expect the symmetrical mask of the husky breed to be a prominent feature of most pomskies.
Other common coat features are parti-color patterns, Irish markings, and pinto markings.
Unfortunately, due to their thick coats that are known to shed quite a bit, pomskies are not considered to be hypoallergenic. If you are an allergy sufferer, this dog breed is most likely not one you’d want to bring home to your family.
Eye Color
Siberian huskies often have striking bright blue eyes. This is the case with many pomskies as well. However, they can also have brown eyes,. Sometimes, they even have heterochromia, which means they can have one brown and one blue eye or an eye that has both brown and blue in it!
Teacup Pomsky
As if the standard Pomeranian husky mix wasn’t already adorable enough, there are also teacup-sized pomskies that are almost too cute for words.
These teeny tiny little pups only grow to about 10 inches tall and weigh between 3 and 8 pounds. That’s a size difference of about 5 to 8 inches and about 17 to 22 pounds compared to the standard pomsky.
These adorable little pups are so small that you can carry one around in the palm of your hand — which you will most likely do all the time if you decide to bring one into your home.
The standard pomsky isn’t all that big, either, but they do require plenty of exercise, which can make them a bit overwhelming if you’re a very busy person or if you have small children.
Teacup pomskies need plenty of attention and exercise, as well, but they are perhaps a wiser option if you’re worried about how they’ll interact with your kids. Older children should have no problem playing with pomskies of any size and even helping them burn some of that excess energy!
Pomsky Needs and Personality
Now let’s take a look at what it takes to properly raise a wonderful pomsky. Before you bring any dog home, it’s important to know what kind of care, nutrition, and grooming they’re going to need. You should also be aware of the specific character traits that you can expect them to have.
Keep in mind that the pomsky breed is just like any other: they have significant exercise needs, they love playtime at the dog park, they require proper socialization, and they are susceptible to certain health problems.
But it’s not enough to just know what makes all dogs tick, you also need to know the specifics of what makes your particular breed of dog tick! This will help you to raise an incredible family pet who gets to live a long and happy life.
What to Expect: Personality
The pomsky breed is known for being outgoing, affectionate, and playful. They are also loyal and quite protective of their families, personality traits that can be quite valuable, but also quite a pain if you don’t give your dog the proper training.
Your fiercely loyal pomsky may be quite noisy when they sense a threat, which is definitely not every pet lover’s cup of tea.
The tendency to bark is inherited from both of their parent breeds, and therefore, it’s not so easy to breed out. However, these dogs are trainable, so with some hard work (pomskies are also pretty stubborn!), you can likely get your pup to pipe down.
Pomskies are highly active and very friendly dogs. They love people and they love to play, which can be a whole lot of fun, provided you’re able to meet your pup’s exercise needs to maintain normal energy levels. If you’re able to do that, you’ll find your pomsky’s personality to be quite charming.
Puppy Care
In order to properly care for your pomsky puppy, you should first puppy-proof your home. This means removing any potential hazards, chewable objects, electrical wires, and anything else that a tiny dog can potentially destroy.
It’s important to get down to a puppy’s eye level in order to really catch all of the ways that your pomsky may be able to get in trouble. Also, make sure that you have a lead, a collar, and a harness for your pup.
Get them food and water bowls, toys to play with, and a bed to sleep in.
It’s important to bring your pup to the vet early and for you to develop a good relationship with their vet yourself. Having a trusted professional that you can reach out to in times of emergency can be a tremendous help for you when you’re raising a pomsky pup.
Nutrition
Making sure that your pomsky puppy is well-fed is crucial to helping them to grow up to be a happy and healthy adult dog. In order to do that, you’re going to need to give them the proper food and to know how much and how often to feed them. Appropriate feeding will be based on a few different factors, including your dog’s age, size, weight, and activity level, among other things.
From two to six months old, you should be feeding your pomsky puppy three times a day. Once they’ve reached six months, you can switch to two meals a day. The amount of food you should be feeding them during each meal is going to depend on how much your pup weighs.
Make sure that the food you are giving your pomsky pup is designed specifically for puppies, as the adult dog foods do not contain enough of the nutrients your dog needs to grow up big and strong. Always aim for all-natural foods that are grain-free, ones that don’t contain preservatives or fillers.
Grooming
Grooming is an important aspect of owning a pomsky. These pups have thick double coats that shed quite a lot, so if you don’t keep up with it, you’re going to be finding quite a bit of pomsky fur all around your home.
Remember, too, that grooming isn’t just about maintaining a beautiful coat. It’s also an opportunity for bonding and trust-building with your pomsky. It’s even a great time to check in on their health in general.
If you’re looking to keep your pup’s shedding under control, you should brush them as often as possible. This means at least once a week, if not once a day. Investing in a nice set of grooming tools isn’t a bad idea, as it can make the experience easier for you and more comfortable for your pet.
You only really need to bathe your pomsky puppy about once every month. When the weather is hot, you may bathe them more often. When it’s cooler out, lean more towards once every few months. Remember that the more you bathe your pup, the less shedding they’ll do around your home.
Exercise
Pomskies are not exactly known for being lap dogs. You will need to get these high-energy pups as much exercise and mental stimulation as possible if you want them to remain calm and avoid becoming destructive and disobedient. This means at least an hour of exercise each day.
You can walk them, run them, have some playtime in an outdoor open space, or let them run around with some other friendly dogs. Whatever you do, just make sure that you’re able to help your pup meet their exercise needs every single day.
Exercise time can also be a great opportunity for socialization. Bring your pomsky pup to the dog park once they’re old enough so that you can have them meet strangers and other dogs. A well-socialized pomsky will be incredibly friendly with just about anyone they meet. A poorly socialized one will think it needs to play watchdog every time someone unfamiliar shows up!
Training
The pomsky breed consists of intelligent, highly trainable dogs, but their stubbornness can get in the way at times. This means you need to be even more stubborn than them about getting them to behave the way you want them to or you may end up with a pup who doesn’t listen. This is especially important because pomskies are known for their high prey drive.
Potty training your pup can begin after they are 12 weeks old. Make sure to let them out often and on a set schedule (i.e. first thing in the morning and whenever they eat).
Basic commands can be taught to your pup as young as 7 or 8 weeks old, while formal obedience training can begin after 6 months of age. When you’re training your dog, always remain consistent, use positive reinforcement, and never trick or confuse them.
Health Issues
All dogs have certain health problems that they are genetically predisposed to. When it comes to pomskies, some of the most common health issues that they may experience are skin problems, collapsing trachea, eye problems, patellar luxation, epilepsy, allergies, and heart disease. They are also susceptible to hip dysplasia, an issue they inherited from their husky parents.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the possibility of your pomsky puppy dealing with all of these health issues, don’t worry. It’s not a guarantee that they’ll experience any of these issues at all. It’s just important to know exactly what you might be up against before you bring your new dog home.
Ultimately, if you take great care of your pomsky, feed them well, and take them for regular vet visits, you can go a long way toward catching and treating any of these issues early on, ultimately extending their lifespan.
Summary
These are the basics when it comes to raising pomsky puppies. We hope you found it informative and that you’re inspired to continue your research so that you can be the best possible dog owner. Your pomsky pup deserves a healthy, long, happy life, and it’s up to you to give it to them. Good luck!
