Pom Kee Dog Breed

The Pomeranian and Keeshond mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group. Neither does any info exist about these hybrids' specific origin; while a Keeshond and Pomeranian mix has surely existed naturally for a very long time, no breeder or breed club has claimed its origin. Regardless, these affectionate, lively, intelligent dogs make great companion pets for families of any size, and they do very well in apartments (provided they get daily outdoor exercise).

A few facts about PomKees: they're small- to medium-sized, averaging 13 inches at the shoulders in height and 25 pounds in weight; they have medium-length, thick and fluffy, double-layered coats that shed seasonally; and they're very sensitive, and will quickly suffer separation anxiety if left alone.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a Pom-Kee:

The Pom-Kee is the offspring of two closely related (yet differently sized) breeds. Both members of the Spitz family of breeds (with the telltale full coats, neck fringes, and plumed tails), the Pomeranian and the Keeshond are also lively, friendly companion pets. Yet their size difference (the Keeshond is on average 30 pounds or so heavier than the Pom) means breeding them can be complicated; for obvious reasons, the birthing female needs to be the Keeshond. This in turn means breeders often charge a lot to purchase Pom-Kee puppies.

Size-wise, the Pom-Kee can vary a good bit: height at the shoulders is typically 10-16 inches, and weight ranges from 15 to 35 pounds. Pom-Kees' coats are fluffy and thick, and normally have thicker ruffs on the neck and plumes on the tails. The coats come in a variety of colors including black, gray, blue, chocolate, cream, and white, in both solid and multi-colored patterns.

These hybrids are well-known for their traits as companion animals, and they do especially well in colder climates. They're quite energetic and lively, and will need outdoor exercise (a walk or two, plus a dedicated period of play) on a daily basis.

As two Spitz breeds with very similar DNA, the Pomeranian and the Keeshond don't have a lot of physical differences--which means the Pom-Kee hybrid doesn't see much variation within breed members. Breeders use symbols like P, F1, F2 and so on to denote a crossbred dog's genetic material. For the Keeshond-Pomeranian mix, the following applies:

• P: Purebred; 100% Pomeranian or Keeshond
• F1: P x P; 50% Pomeranian, 50% Keeshond
• F1b: F1 x P; 75% of purebred parent's DNA
• F2: F1 x F1; 50% Pomeranian, 50% Keeshond

(The sequence continues up to F5 or higher.)

Breeders often use the F1b cross to emphasize one parent breed's characteristics. For the Pom-Kee, size is the most frequently manipulated trait. Some breeders, in fact, selectively breed F1b Pom-Kee crosses with the Pom as the purebred parent to make them very small (10 pounds or less), then sell them as Miniature Keeshonds. In reality, a "Mini Keeshond Pomeranian" is often just a purebred Pomeranian.

Friendly, sensitive, lively, intelligent, willing to please, and at times stubborn and strong-willed, the Pomeranian-Keeshond mix temperament is one of both activity and love. These hybrids will be very affectionate with family members, and are usually protective of them--but they can also be suspicious of strange people and animals, so they'll need socialization starting at an early age. That said, Pom-Kees get along well with kids and other pets, though they can sometimes try to be dominant around other dogs (particularly those of the same sex). Owners say it's best if your Pom-Kee grows up alongside any children or other pets, so they learn to be accustomed to one another.

In regards to training: these hybrids are smart and willing to please, so they normally respond well to it--though their potential for stubbornness means Pom-Kees may need a few repetitions when learning commands or tasks. As with any dog, firm, consistent, reward-based training methods are best.

And Pom-Kees make good watchdogs. They're alert, protective, and extremely vocal, so they're sure to bark at (and likely investigate) unknown sights or sounds. And while they probably aren't large or strong enough to neutralize potential threats like intruders, they'll definitely sound a vocal alarm.

The Pom-Kee, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is very healthy. Even so, these hybrids can suffer ailments common to the parent breeds including hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, epilepsy, and various allergies. Potential Pom-Kee owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for the Pom-Kee is 12-15 years.