Pomsky Dog Breed

The Pomsky, as a mixed breed, is not an official member of any breed group. Neither does any info exist about these hybrids' true origin--but according to the Pomsky Club of America, this mixed breed was first developed through artificial insemination during the early 21st century. Since then, these hybrids' popularity has exploded, and the Pomsky is one of the most popular designer dogs in the world. These fluffy, playful pups are great companions for active families, especially those living in colder climates.

A few Pomsky facts: they vary a good bit in size, from 10 to 15 inches at the shoulders in height and 10-30 pounds in weight; they have fluffy, double-layered coats that shed seasonally; and they tend to bark a lot, and will need to be trained to curb that tendency.

In order to mitigate any Pomsky problems, here's a list of Pomsky pros and cons:

Pomsky dogs 101 is that these hybrids are a new mixed breed, they can vary a lot in size--and they've become incredibly popular in the past decade. Interestingly, a Pomsky Wikipedia page doesn't exist, but there are plenty of other Pomsky wiki pages scattered across the Web. From all that Pomsky breed info, one thing is certain: demand for these dogs is much greater than supply!

Based on various Pomsky information sources, these dogs are bred through artificial insemination (and because of the difference in size of the parent breed, the female is always a Husky). Due to these required breeding methods, professional breeders are necessary--and unfortunately, some dishonest breeders use immoral breeding techniques to produce litters of Pomsky puppies, or they try to sell dogs that aren't true Pomeranian-Husky mixes. This means potential owners will need to be sure breeders are legitimate before bringing a Pomsky pup home.

But those who already have their dogs will gush over the great things about the Pomsky breed: intelligence, playfulness, and devotion are just a few of these pups' outstanding qualities. They also have moderate energy levels, and will be fine with one long walk or jog per day.

Pomskys are the offspring of two differently sized Spitz breeds, which gives this hybrid quite an appealing appearance: at first glance, these dogs look like adorable miniature wolves.

Specifically what does a Pomsky dog look like, though? The head can be either oval or triangular in shape, and Pomsky ears are medium-sized, triangular, and erect. The muzzle is short to medium. Eye color can also vary in a Pomsky; blue eyes (inherited from the Husky) are common, but brown eyes are possible as well. The chest is wide, the legs medium-length, and the tail moderately long, thick, and curved upward.

The Pomsky coat is thick and medium in length, and moderately fluffy.

Since this is a relatively new hybrid, true Pomsky breeds are still being developed. Breeders use symbols (P, F1, F1b, F2, etc.) to denote a crossbred dog's genetic makeup. For this hybrid in particular:

• P = Purebred (Pomeranian or Siberian Husky)
• F1 Pomsky = P x P (purebred Pomeranian x purebred Husky)
• F1b Pomsky = F1 Pomsky x P (giving the dog a 75/25 ratio of the purebred's genes)
• F2 Pomsky = F1 Pomsky x F1 Pomsky

Demand is highest for an F1b Pomsky using a purebred Pomeranian in the breeding, as this results in a smaller dog.

Some breeders also use selective breeding to produce Pomsky dogs of different sizes--so many divide the Pomsky into three size sub-types:

• Toy Pomsky: 10 pounds or less; also called a Teacup Pomsky, a Micro Pomsky, or a Teacup Husky-Pomeranian
• Miniature Pomsky: 11-20 pounds; aka Mini Pomsky or Miniature Husky-Pomeranian
• Standard Pomsky: 21 pounds or more; aka Big Pomsky

Pomsky coats are pretty consistent: medium in length and double-layered. The more "Pomeranian-esque" dogs result in a more fluffy Pomsky.

Intelligent, playful, independent, protective, and sometimes stubborn, the Pomsky temperament is one of confidence and fun. As the parent breeds typically act differently in numerous ways, the Pomeranian-Husky temperament can be hard to predict--so the Pomsky personality can include traits from one parent (the high prey drive of the Husky, for example) along with some characteristics of the other parent (Pomeranians' natural suspicion of strangers). Most likely, though, a Pomsky will be a "middle-of-the-road," well-balanced dog. In any case, obedience training and socialization--starting when the dog is a puppy, if possible--will go a long way in teaching the dog proper Pomsky behavior.

In regards to training, Pomsky characteristics can also be a mixed bag. The dog may be willing to please its owners, but it may also inherit the Husky's stubbornness, so a Pomsky many require a few repetitions when learning tasks, tricks, and commands. As with any dog, firm, consistent, reward-based training methods are best.

And one of the better Pomsky traits is that these dogs have good watchdog abilities. Though they're probably too small to neutralize any potential threats, Pomsky dogs are alert and curious, and should quickly sound a vocal alarm if they perceive an unknown sight or sound.

The Husky-Pomeranian cross, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of both its parent breeds), is very healthy. Still, a Pomsky may suffer ailments common to both parent breeds including allergies, epilepsy, structural problems like hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, and various eye issues. Potential 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 Pomsky is 12-15 years.