In this post:
- Pomsky Characteristics In a Nutshell
- 1. Pomsky owners can call themselves pioneers
- 2. A Pomsky is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you’re gonna get
- 3. No one can guarantee how big a full-grown Pomsky will be
- 4. There’ll be no more relaxing on the couch right after work
- 5. With Pomeranian Husky, you might have to cut down expenses
- 6. Grooming a Pomsky is like taking on a part-time job
- 7. You should do some detective work to find a reputable breeder
- So are you ready to get a Pomsky?
- 4 Great Pomsky Alternatives
- Conclusion
- More information on Pomskies:
The Pomsky is a cross of the Siberian husky and the Pomeranian, also known as the Pomeranian Husky Mix. It’s a small to medium dog breed at about 10 to 15 inches tall, weighing between 20 to 30 pounds. The lifespan of the Pomsky is around 13 to 15 years.
The Pomsky, a.k.a. the Pomeranian Husky, looks like the dog of your dreams, especially when she’s very young.
But is this enough to make you run into the first dog shelter you see and find one to bring home?
Is a Pomsky really the right pet for you, and can you handle such a dog for the long term?
To help you get some clear answers to these questions, I’ve put together a list of seven essential things you need to know before buying a Pomsky.
Pomsky Characteristics In a Nutshell
Life Span
As mentioned in the first paragraph Pomskies usually live between 13 and 15 years.
Intelligence and trainability
These dogs are very intelligent, but they inherit their parents’ temperaments and can be significantly harder to train than other dogs.
Temperament
It can be unpredictable, as it really depends on each dog’s parents, but on the whole, they’re described as gentle, playful, and confident.
Caring
- Grooming: they have double coats with long, silky hair, and need daily brushing during the shedding seasons, which all up is about six months a year. For the rest of the time, their coats need brushing 3-5 times a week.
- Exercise: these dogs need at least a 20-minute walk in the morning, and a longer one in the afternoon, plus one or two play sessions during the day.
- Feeding: they need regular, healthy food in moderate quantities, however, they’re not fussy and have no special requirements.
Children and other pets
Some breeders say these dogs are the perfect family dog, while others suggest you should pay attention to small children, and recommend Pomskies only for single people and families with teenagers. A Pomsky can get on well with other pets if you introduce them to each other when the dog is still very young.
Activity level
They’re very active dogs that love to play with their owners but be warned that these little guys need to stay busy, otherwise they get bored and can develop destructive behavior.
Size
As mentioned above they’re generally 10-15 inches high (25-38 cm) and can reach up to 20-30 lbs. (9-14 kg). In some rare cases, they’ve been known to grow as big as a Husky.
Here are some photos of Pomsky found on the internet:
Let’s jump to the list now
1. Pomsky owners can call themselves pioneers
Maybe it’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s not that far from the truth.
The Pomeranian Husky is a new mixed breed obtained by crossing a Pomeranian with a Siberian Husky, and puppies are hard to find and expensive, so you’ll be entering into the exclusive club of Pomsky owners, discovering the pros and cons of this new mixed breed.
Almost all crossbreeds come with several disadvantages, but the Pomsky, in particular, seems to have created a lot of controversies. If you’re ready to take on all the risks of the unknown, then this will be a new and enjoyable experience for you.
Some dog lovers believe that no mixed breed should be created in the absence of a useful purpose and express serious concerns (sometimes a little too emphatically, if you ask me) regarding the ethics behind creating Pomskies.
Furthermore, they’re afraid that the growing popularity of these dogs will generate too many puppies before we know enough about the risks of breeding such unique dogs.
Pomskies are obtained through artificial insemination, always using a Husky mother and a Pomeranian father, to avoid health complications caused by a small mother giving birth to puppies that are too large.
The results are beautiful puppies that in most cases qualify as great companions and excellent family dogs.
It’s important to note, though, that there’s not enough data yet to get a clear image of all their health issues and behavioral problems, so I personally find it hard to tell whether it’s ethical or not to breed these dogs in large numbers.
Despite all the arguments against Pomskies, they’re recognized by the Dog Registry of America (DRA), and there are also two official organizations that promote this new mixed breed, the International Pomsky Association (IPA) and the Pomsky Club of America (PCA).
This gives you an opportunity to buy a healthy puppy with verified origins, which are certified by registered Pomsky breeders so that you can have a complete family history of your dog’s parents.
2. A Pomsky is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get
Pomskies can inherit any aspect of their parent breeds’ temperaments, and in potentially unpredictable combinations.
So there’s a chance they could develop behavioral issues, similar to the Small Dog Syndrome, which is very often found in Pomeranian dogs that are not properly trained.
Be ready to deal with a stubborn and pushy dog that will probably refuse to follow your commands.
She may also become overprotective when it comes to you and your family, as the Pomsky has good watchdog abilities, but this can lead to her barking every time someone approaches.
With most dog breeds, owners avoid these unpleasant situations with consistent training. In this particular case we’re talking about a mix of two hard-to-train dogs, so your puppy should start training at an early age if you wish to teach her to behave.
It’s a hard job, especially if you have little experience. On top of this, if your dog takes more from the Husky’s temperament and independence, you might need professional help to make her follow the rules.
As Pomskies are full of surprises, it’s entirely possible you could become the lucky owner of the opposite: a trainable dog with zero tendencies towards aggression and territoriality. Unfortunately, that’s something you can’t know for sure when you buy a cute little Pomsky puppy.
Their unpredictable temperament is the main reason why some breeders don’t recommend Pomskies for families with small children. Pomeranians (Pomsky’s father) are usually not good with kids as many of them tend to be jealous animals – he’s number one, not the kids.
They can become stressed, shy, or aggressive when handled roughly, as children tend to do, so, unfortunately, there’s a chance a Pomsky and your small kids won’t get on either.
Most Pomeranian Husky breeders say they only breed Pomeranians with no such behavioral problems, but I’m still not sure if it’s a good idea to take this risk.
>>Read more about Pomsky temperament here
3. No one can guarantee how big a full-grown Pomsky will be
The Pomeranian Husky’s size is one of the key things that makes them so popular; or better said, what most people know about them is their size.
Fans can’t be blamed for that; most images online show cute, fluffy puppies, and you rarely get to see an adult Pomsky in a relevant picture that shows how big she can actually get.
Pomsky’s full grown size can be as much as 15 inches high and reach up to 30 lbs.
These dogs grow up like all other pets and tend to lose much of their “baby Husky” looks, so if the only reason you’re planning to buy this dog is because she’s small and cute you should start thinking seriously about long-term responsibilities.
Breeders are confident about the fact that they’ll obtain Pomskies smaller than 10 lbs. (4,5 kg), but the fact is that no one can guarantee their weight and size and your fluffy puppy might reach dimensions closer to a medium-sized dog, rather than that of a lap dog.
Here’s a hint: if you really want to have a Pomsky, but you can’t take the risk of getting a 30 lbs dog when fully grown, you should start looking into the possibility of adopting an adult instead of buying a puppy.
This way you’ll know exactly how large your Pomsky is, and you won’t find yourself in the sad position of needing to abandon your pet simply because you don’t have enough space for her.
>>Read more about Pomsky’s size here
4. There’ll be no more relaxing on the couch right after work
Pomskies are active dogs and love to play, so you’ll have to make sure she is getting plenty of exercises.
Daily walks, maybe a short trip to the park and a lot of playing is what your Pomsky will be expecting from you every day, including weekends.
Besides the physical activities she also needs mental stimulation, as she’s very intelligent, so you’ll have to come up with games and special dog toys to keep her entertained.
If she gets bored (which is likely), you’ll have to deal with a sad dog and her behavioral problems such as chewing and, in some cases, excessive barking.
Leaving her alone for too long in the yard is not a great idea either, as she loves to dig and, thanks to her Husky blood, she’ll most probably find herself a way to escape once she’s bored.
So if you’re working too much, you should be prepared to hire a pet walker or have a friend over regularly to play with your Pomsky.
5. With Pomeranian Husky, you might have to cut down expenses
The price of a Pomsky will generally start at around $1,000, but it can reach as much as $5,000 depending on her parents’ pedigree. And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the costs of having this dog.
According to the American Kennel Club, the average cost of the first year of having a medium-sized dog is around $2,889. The good news is in the following years you’re going to pay a little less than $2,000 per year:
- $432 for toys and other accessories;
- $435 for food;
- $389 for preventative medication;
- $650 in veterinary bills.
For now, Pomskies haven’t registered too many hereditary health problems, being prone only to eye disorders (common with both parent breeds), allergies and skin problems.
However, as this mixed breed is relatively new, there’s no way to tell for sure if your dog is going to develop more serious medical conditions when she gets older.
You might want to consider investing in medical insurance to cover potential expensive interventions, so add between $200 and $700 a year to your budget, depending on the coverage and the age of your dog.
>>Read more about costs of owning a Pomsky here
6. Grooming a Pomsky is like taking on a part-time job
A Pomsky has a wonderful coat, generally, in similar colors to her mother’s, that needs consistent brushing (3-5 times a week) starting at an early age.
As you’re having such a beautiful dog, you should also consider taking her to a professional groomer every now and then for that “professional touch.”
These dogs shed almost all year round, with higher intensity during warm seasons. This means that for about six months a year you’ll have to brush her up to twice a day if you don’t want to have hair all over your house.
Your efforts will reduce the amount of hair considerably, but they won’t make it disappear entirely, and even with all this brushing you still have to find time for cleaning.
If you don’t have a powerful vacuum cleaner yet, I suggest you start looking around for one.
Besides brushing, you’ll have to find time to take care of your dog’s other needs:
- clean her ears at least twice a month, to prevent infections;
- bath her once a month, or when she’s dirty;
- clean her teeth once a week.
7. You should do some detective work to find a reputable breeder
All dogs should come from responsible breeders only, but with Pomskies this is an absolute must. This being said, as this mixed breed is relatively new, they don’t have official standards, and breeders have little experience compared to other dogs.
So if you want to have a healthy Pomsky puppy with certified origins, you should buy it from a person who puts their dogs’ health before personal profits.
Never buy a Pomsky from a pet store, even if it’s bargain – everything you save on your initial purchase will go in medical expenses and extra training sessions.
Instead, call an official organization such a IPA, and ask for references for registered breeders in your area.
You might have to wait up to a year for your very own Pomsky puppy. But this is the only way you’ll get reliable information about your future dog’s parents, and you’ll have an idea about how your Pomsky will develop.
>>The complete guide on how to find a best Pomsky breeder (along with breeders list) is here
So are you ready to get a Pomsky?
By now you most probably have an idea of what getting a Pomsky means, so it’s time to ask yourself if such a dog is the right match for you.
You should consider all possibilities, and there’s more than a few when we’re talking about Pomskies:
- she can have an unpredictable temperament;
- she could grow into a medium-sized dog;
- you might need a trainer for housebreaking;
- she’ll shed a lot, especially during warm seasons;
- you can’t know for sure how your dog’s health will evolve;
- you’ll have to put yourself on a long waiting list to get a puppy that will cost you at least $1,000.
As well as all the cases mentioned above, you should think twice about getting a Pomsky if:
- you work too much, and you can’t afford a pet walker or dog daycare;
- you live in a small apartment, with no yard and little space for your dog to burn her energy;
- you have small children.
If you’ve decided that you’re not ready to deal with a Pomsky yet, here are…
4 Great Pomsky Alternatives
These are similar breeds when it comes to your dog’s appearance, but they have a longer history and better reviews:
- Alaskan Klee Kai. This is a purebred dog, with a similar coat to the Siberian Husky, but they shed less. They’re even more active that Pomskies, however, and sometimes they require a lot of patience with training, but they’re better with kids and adapt easier to a new environment.
- Finnish Lapphund. They’re cute purebred dogs. In fact, some people fall in love with Pomskies because they’ve mistaken them for Lapphunds. They have mild temperaments and respond well to training, but they have high activity levels, shed more, require more space and don’t cope well with the hot weather, so they’re not suitable for living in the city during summer.
- Keeshond. This purebred dog has similar characteristics to a Pomsky when it comes to maintenance and exercise needs. However, she sheds more and grows a lot bigger. On the other hand, she’s better with kids and adapts better in a smaller house.
- German Spitz. This purebred dog is smaller and easier to maintain, as she sheds less. She’s more suited to living in an apartment with no yard but still requires regular exercising. She might also be better with kids.
Conclusion
I find it hard to make a decision. Pomskies are cute dogs, with no problems if you can get the best puppy from the most responsible breeder.
However, there’s a lot of “maybes” in such a choice, and this makes a Pomsky unsuitable for families with small children, or for people who can’t adapt quickly to the unpredictability.
Most Pomeranian Husky owners love their fluffy dogs, but I’ve also heard complaints about difficulties with potty training and their extra energy, so I’m looking forward to hearing more stories about them.
More information on Pomskies:
This was a part 1 in a 5-part series that details everything you need to know about the Pomsky.
Check out our entire series here:
