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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.
Contents & Quick Navigation
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.
What do you think? Would you spend all that money to buy cuteness, with an unknown temperament, or would you rather take a safer path? Or maybe you already own a Pomsky?
Leave a comment below and share your opinion with us.
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:
95 replies on “7 Things You Need to Know Before Buying a Pomsky”
I’ll stick with my dogs. Sounds like a lot of work and responsibility and I try to focus on dogs that I can make happy and take proper care of. Thanks for this entertaining and detailed list – I have only heard of this breed once or twice, but didn’t know anything about it.
I have one and shes great no problems at all
Is she small?
Yes, and they stay pretty small when Pomskies full grown
From where did you buy it if you don’t mind me asking?
Hello David,
Was wondering on your pomsky’s endurance. Would he/she be a good dog to run or bike with? And about how tall is yours and weight? Thank you for any info!
I HAVE A POMSKY and they can run , they can run with bikes
How big is your pomsky
ALL dogs shed. ALL mammals shed.
I sincerely dislike this article. If you are considering a pomsky or any breed for that matter, ignore this article. It merely states that DOGS-Cost money, need excersise, shed, bark, and need attention.
True for any dog, and no real information here, other than the posts of people who ACTUALLY HAVE POMSKYS. This article will DEFINATELY NOT influence my dream of having a pomsky. I suggest taking it down and leaving the comment section for reference.
I like the fact that since I was critical of this site, they refused to publish my comments. All this page does is discourage people from buying pomskys. ALL DOGS share these drawbacks, don’t let this person’s inexperienced opinion fool you into not buying a dog.
Hey there, we receive a lot of comments daily and it takes a time to moderate all spam and approve appropriate comments. You can share your own opinion of course, and we respectfully approved your other comments as well. (they all combined into one, though)
Regarding this article: the main goal is to give a potential buyer a full picture and information to look from all sides. Currently, there is some kind of hype on the internet on Pomskies. A lot of blogs and breeders exaggerate their cuteness and don’t tell ANY weak sides of this dog. So we tried to slow down people a little bit and encourage them to think before they make a decision on buying this dog.
And the main reason people buy these dogs, imo, is their cuteness and size WHICH could be not what they were expecting. This is terrible when the dog ends up in a shelter because the owner didn’t make appropriate research and decision before buying it.
Again, we are not telling this breed is good is bad. We tell, that you should have a deeper look into its characteristics. And we spent like 4 days on researching before put this information together. It didn’t stop you from buying a pomsky? Good, you passed! Probably your passion is strong enough and you are ready to own one. For others – THINK BEFORE YOU GET ANY DOG!
Respectfully
I am a Pomsky owner . She will be turning 2 years old tomorrow! She is now about 18 lbs and about 15″ ht . A lite but healthy eater. Very active, playful, smart, funny , sweet and I love her to pieces! They love other breeds and get along with all types of breeds. Large and small!
My girl loves children and is quite the licker, loves to play fetch as well. They’re sponges just like children. She recently learned to jump through a hula. Lol , loves to splash and play and play in water.
They definitely need a lot of interaction, but will be content with down time as well.
I think your article is very good. All dogs are different, although I would say that in my experience Pomskys are greart with children.
I’m on a facebook page which has many many members who purchased their pup from the same breeder as me. I have never heard anyone say that they aren’t anything but fantastic with kids.
I know mine is! They do shed (a lot) and are way bigger than a lot of people are led to believe. My dog is 20lbs at 16 months.
She’s still a small dog (nothing like a Husky size but nowhere near as small as a pom)! I’m 5ft5 and she comes up to just below my knees. Our Luna is very independent, she’s loving but only come for cuddles when she wants them – she’s definitely not a lap dog or like a labrador!
Thanks a lot for the valuable feedback, Emma!
I have two Siberian Huskies. I do understand why this article was written. When people ask me about Husky, because they are adorable, I tell them the good and the challenges.
Because too many dogs end up in shelters because owners don’t know what they’re getting them self into fully and can’t keep up with the demands. Then the dog ended up in shelter, abused or neglected. Not everyone who thinks dogs are cute are capable to take responsibility.
Exactly! Thanks, Jeremiah!
Nice article, Alexandra. Well said.
I am a dog man..my friends call me trainer ..treats are for rookies love and discipline is what they thrive on ..I found your article very informative ..I learned much so thank you
I would disagree with the ALL DOGS SHED comment. There is a reason why so many people like terriers and poodles and it’s because they don’t shed. They lose hair, just as you and I lose hair, but I’m not sure about you, but I do not shed my headful of hair in mass amounts during a season or lose it by the brush-ful each time I brush. You cannot compare a terrier with a double coated dog. It’s why those dogs are considered dogs with hair vs. fur.
I personally appreciated that they mentioned about the size and the possibility of a larger size. I was specifically looking for information on sizes and rarely can you find anything or even pictures of grown dogs.
While there will always be exception and people always post how smart their dog is despite the breed in general being more stubborn than others, specific breeds as a whole are more stubborn than others. Generally speaking, a hound dog is not as eager to please as a golden retriever or German shepherd.
Go ahead and argue that your pomsky is so smart and blah, blah, blah, or course he is, of course he’s the perfect size, and of course he has no health problems. Good for you for knowing every possible outcome that can occur when you mix 2 different breeds and congratulations for getting the perfect dog.
I am looking for someone other than a breeder or owner who can give me some unbiased information about dogs that will be appropriate for my household.
Not all dogs shed. Most dogs that need grooming do not shed…poodles, bichons, shih tzu, etc
I have a pomeranian. I’m very happy with her. She is so devoted to me but a very OCD dog. My second pom. She was hard to train but a wonderful companion. Requires alot of grooming also.
My brother and his wife got a pomsky, which was a poor decision on their part for a lot of reasons. They live in an apartment and they spent $1000 on her and drove all the way to Kentucky and back to bring her home (we live in Nebraska).
She is adorable and about a year old now and still about the size of a Pomeranian. She looks more like a little Fox and acts like a cat. When we all go over to my parents’ house for dinner on Sundays she spends the entire time hiding inside/under the couch and has to be dug out when they leave.
She doesn’t listen to them at all, has trouble with potty training and is very skittish around everyone, sometimes even them. However, if they can get her to the backyard she does great running around with my three-year-old son.
I think she just needs room to run and get away from people when she wants to. She’s cute but small dogs are not for me personally and I dislike that my brother felt the need to buy a house he couldn’t afford just so his dog could have a yard!
My Pomsky is the sweetest, best behaved and plenty of energy! I love her soooo much! 17 pounds with husky markings, closer to husky fluff than Pom fluff, more Pom face than husky face; built like a small fluffy husky.
Wow they are so cute
I don’t have a dog yet but all of those comments are really good thing about dogs
I absolutely love the Forrest Gump reference–you never know what you’re gonna get! I feel like that goes not only for Pomskies, but for dogs in general! Dogs all have different personality traits and temperaments just like people do. It’s important to remember that just because you meet one sweet dog or one temperamental dog, it doesn’t mean that if you get the same breed it will behave the same way.
i have one and LOVE her! all the items mentioned above can be true – she is active and can be stubborn, but with attention, love and training she is amazing. We are training her to be a therapy dog – she is great with kids and very social. Size – she is larger – almost 40 pounds. The thoughts – be prepared to get outside and exercise them ( and yourself), have lots of toys and get them trained! pretty much the same for any dog really.
Who spends $400 on toys?
I have a 90 lb German Shepard Husky.
Total per year does not exceed ~$600.
Handful of toys, grooming, and quality food.
(Excluding bi annual vet trips)
I can attest to Husky temperment. Especially unneutered early on, the dog is wild, insolently disobediant, a barking nightmare, territorial, occasionally violent. I almost gave up several times. It was like literally breaking a wild horse.
Once he got neutered, after the first year, he learned his place. And 6 years later he is my best friend and all my friends tell me how well behaved he is.
Lastly, this dog is smart. He thinks he is smarter than you. He will hide poops inside, willfully disobey and flip you the bird. If you are prepared to go to battle in emotional, physical and mental warfare, than a Husky leaning mix is for you.
If your tough enough you have a fuzzy buddy who will love you unconditionally, they are a 1 master animal, he can charm the ladies and do circus tricks. Of course, I also chose the Alpha of the litter on purpose.
Good luck
Thanks for sharing Chano 🙂
You might also want to check out our German Shepherd Husky mix review
We were given a Pomsky and she had the best temperament ! My 4 year old is in her face constantly and she loves every min of his pulling kissing and in her face ! She gets out of the yard quite often and we have had to constantly try and fix new spaces but other then that we love our Luna
What a nice name for Pomsky – Luna 🙂 Thanks for sharing Coral 🙂
We named our pomsky Luna too!! AKC name “Princess Luna P”, but yeah!!
I think I’ve heard of Pomeranians climbing chain linked fences. Maybe that’s where she gets that from!
We have a pomsky named Luna too. She’s amazing. She gets along with our 1-year-old Pom-Aussie named Tiberius. They play, eat and sleep together. We don’t even need to buy her toys as they share all his toys. It’s too cold in the winter that we can’t take them out so long but they manage to play enough to make them tired. Luna is a second generation pomsky so she’s small.
Shell only grow up to 10-15 lbs about the same size as Tiberius. She’s so cute when she howls. She loves her kennel and only make noise when she needs to go to the bathroom. She’s only 11 weeks old but she learned a lot from Tiberius. They’re both lap dogs and we love them both.
thanks for the info. my nana wants a pomsky because its cute. although she knows nothing about the breed
I have a pomsky. He’s around five months old and he’s 52 pounds and growing. He is very stubborn and bites and barks a lot. I recommend you check the seller before buying because we think we have a German Sheppard, Husky and Pomeranian mix instead. But he’s adorable.
My Pompsky is 8 months old and about 9 pounds. She is awesome! Trained well and a ball of fun. No shedding issues other than losing baby coat. Didn’t lose two baby teeth, but one did fall out and vet removed other when she was fixed. She does dig sometimes in the back yard and is always bringing in small twigs.
Loves shoes, just have to keep them out of reach. She knows the word “no” and trained easily. Full of energy too. She will just take off and run for several minutes, fun to watch. She will go outside and howl sometimes, but you just call her in and she stops. (Howl is very cute though) Kennels without problems and will bark in the morning when she needs to be let out to go potty.
Not a barker otherwise. Gets along with all ages of people.
She loves kids and they love her. She is the 2nd dog I have had. Rescued an abused Corgi about 6 months before. He is very timid and shy. They get along for the most part, but they are dogs. One minute the corgi will be nipping at her and the next the are cuddled up sleeping together.
They don’t get very far from me and sometimes that causes nipping and growling from the Corgi. I won’t trade either of them for anything. Best of luck.
Thanks for sharing Josh 🙂
I would never be able to own a pomsky after reading this arrival. I’ve owned Pomeranian and loved them dearly. I now own a German Shepherd Dog, a Great Dane and a chihuahua. The chihuahua is a rescue and refuses to pee outside. He is also ill-tempered and snappy. I will never have another chihuahua!
I adored my Chihuahuas. Sadly they have both passed on after long happy lives. I would have another in a heartbeart. One was a grump and the other a teeny tiny sweetie. They got along perfectly with each other and me.
Yea we had a chihuahua mix and never again. A nightmare
I love my pomsky very much. I wouldn’t trade her for anything else.I got her at the shelter eleven months ago and she was six months old when I got her.
I didn’t know nothing about pomskys but I can tell you they are a handful. She is about medium sized and about 40pounds she loves to dig out in the yard and so I have to teach her not to do that and I have to work with her on taking things off the kitchen counter and rears things up.
So I took her to obedient class and she learned a few things but still needs work. So I’m thinking of taking her to litgilety classes and maybe that will calm her down. This will give her something thing to do.But I love her with all my heart.
I own a female Pomsky . I was led to believe she would be about 22 pounds when fully grown. She is 9 months and 42 pounds. Not what we were expecting but we love her. Highly intelligent. Playful and very good with people. Loves the neighborhood small children. But you must entertain and play and exercise. Otherwise is moody.
Love my Pomsky he is the best yes he sheds what dog doesn’t. He loves to play and run , catch fizzbees. Sleeps with us loves everyone he sees and love attention he gets when we are out. Don’t know what I would do with out him so much affection from him. He 29 lbs and a lap dog he loves to sit in our lap and sleep. It’s so cute I just love it.
“…what dog doesn’t (shed)…”
A POODLE
ALL dogs shed. ALL mammals shed.
Sure, but some shed less and some shed so much, that all you need to do is to buy a professional vacuum cleaner and clean their hair all day long
A Shih Tzu does not shed
Have a 7-month old female pomsky. I’m not exactly a dog person, but my wife & daughter (mostly my daughter) wore me down. Our pomsky is very intelligent, well behaved, and affectionate. She is easy to train and loves to play and run. We both work, so for now she is in a crate during the day, and when it is time to go in her crate, she walks right in and settles down immediately.
We live in the country and she has learned the boundaries of our property, and when we let her off the leash, she stays nearby unless we give her permission to take off. Haven’t had any behaviour issues. Hasn’t shed at all yet (that may be coming though). She’s a really good dog, and really adorable. She gets a lot of attention when we’re out with her. Looking forward to taking her hiking and camping now that spring is here.
I have a samoyed. A beauty of a dog and at 7 months he was really trained. Untill puberty. Oh what a hell! Now he is 2 years old and finaly becoming easier again. Just endure. It will get better! 🙂
We have a 7 month old female Pomsky. Now 17 pounds. Frances barely sheds , intelligent , independent. Plays nonstop with her dog brothers. She is a blast. Almost never barks , which is funny. She loves the car. If I could afford another one I would do it again.
She attracts crazy attention:) she is absolutely gorgeous. We did purchase her at pet store and she had bilateral pneumonia, bilateral ear infections, and eye infection:( I think she would have passed away Irgun the week. She is very healthy now though!
I have a pomsky , he is 2 and a half , his mum was a beautiful Siberian husky and dad a teacup Pom – both parents weren’t particularly friendly but my boy is the best – his personality is so much bigger than him – he is a small dog without all the small dog issues !
He loves running but always charges back as soon as we’re out of sight – he’s super sociable – very tolerant , he has one blue eye and one brown eye , he really is so loyal follows me round the house – very clean boy only has accidents if he’s poorly ! Loves kids , wouldn’t swap him for the world, we recently rescued another dog and he’s so patient with her , even though she can be a bit bossy , he is so tolerant – pomskys make wonderful family members –
Wow, where did you find his breeder?
Pomeranians are not good with kids? I’ve got 2 kids and a Pomeranian. She has been the best dog I’ve ever had! She has been nothing but sweet and loving with my kids. She never growls at anyone and never bites. I think you shouldn’t take the personalities of a few dogs and blame an entire breed. Just like people, some are jerks, some are awesome.
I have a one year old Pomsky Heidi and she weighs about 30lbs. She is extremely intelegent and loves attention. We take her out on walks and to the park almost daily. She learns commands quickly, but is sometimes stubborn when you want her to do them on the spot.
She is full of personality and is constantly happy. I live in the city and she always likes to stop and greet anyone and everyone who passes us on walks. I would highly recommend a pomsky if you have the time.
I have a 2 and a half year old 27 lb. male Pomsky. He was crate trained (he still chooses to sleep in it). He was housebroken in less than 3 months. He is well-behaved, and well-socialized but that took consistent training. He is also very independent and loves to play!
He is not at all jealous or territorial. He will always share his food, water, and toys. He is also good watch dog. The shedding is controllable. So far he is very healthy. The only issue has been an occasional upset stomach. I would recommend this breed only if you are patient and willing to put in the time training and exercising.
Our Pomsky is 6 months old. He is the best dog! So smart! Has learned all of his commands! Needs a lot of play and exercise though! If he gets bored, he gets extremely mischievous! He is very gentle with our kitten. He is also very entertaining!
hi all
we are a danish couple living in the UAE, Dubai, and it’s my dream to get a Pomsky ! my wife wants to have a labrador..
we will move in a townhouse in a few month
so:
can a pomsky cope with heat ?
goes well with a labrador ?
any links where or how we could adopt one ? puppy preferred but not a must
our coming neibourghs also have a friendly dog abt 7-8 month old
look forward to hear response
/kim
Hi Kim.. we’re living no in the UAE and looking to get a pomsky but have seen that there aren’t many breeders.. did you get one in the end and if so where from?
And have you any answers to your questions as we have the same questions!
Thanks, Rhian
After my study end i got enough time for a dog. But the problem is is switzerland is no one offering one.
What can i do to meet him before i buy a puppy…
I hope somebody can give me an advice
We have a 4mth old pomsky & we’re absolutely in love with her. She is doing really well with her training (we do it ourselves) & is just a little ball of love. Quite a few of the characteristics listed above are true though. She is looking to be around 25-30 lbs. They have a ton of energy & need lots of play time. But our little girl Macey loves everyone even kids!! I def recommend a pomsky 🙂
I have a Shiba Inu who will be turning 10 in February. As much as I wish that he would live forever, I know that this is unrealistic. I have started researching dog breeds, for that dreadful day when I will have to say goodbye to Zeppelin. The Pomsky seems like a similar breed.
Zeppy does not like other dogs, but he lives with a cat and 19 free range chickens. He is a fantastic dog, but I had to work hard to get him to the point he is at today. He started out as an escape artist and a runner. He is vary stubborn. Would a Pomsky be a good breed to consider? I have had dogs all my life mostly large breeds, but my wife is partial to medium and smaller breeds.
Hi, you should look at the Icelandic Sheepdog breed. Very loving, friendly, and smart. As well as in Europe and Iceland, there are a few breeders in the United States and Canada.
We are in the same boat. Paco, my shiba inu, will be 15 this month. He is a well-disciplined
and loving dog. I am getting a pomsky,
hoping that Paco will help me teach him good habits. : )
Boy, somebody really “got their crabby on” in the comments. I don’t see why disagreement needs to be disagreeable!
The OP in their long and very helpful article has pointed out both sides of the coin. It’s always wise to be informed when bringing a dog into your life. Yes, all mammals shed, however some stupendously more than others. I had two TFT terriers, Pip the single-coated shed reasonably, Billy the double-coated terrier shed clouds of fur.
Pip seldom liked anybody, I still have a scar on the back of my hand as he bit me the day we met. He hated shows with shoestrings. He hated other dogs – except Billy. He liked to see himself on video, he loved to play ball. Billy couldn’t seem to register images on TV, even if dogs were barking and running, he was puzzled at balls and toys, no “fetch” or “chew” concept at all. They were different in so many ways, as the OP disclosed dog can and will be.
I apologize to go on and on as they are not the breed under discussion but it really annoys me when someone is under personal attack. I appreciate all of the info and how clearly it was written. Thank you.
Thanks a lot for this comment and great points, Donna! And thanks for the compliment! Appreciate that!
I find this article very informative and on point. Anyone thinking about owning a pet should do their research and make sure they are prepared to take care of and offer the pet a forever home. Too many pets, especially the more challenging breeds end up in shelters because the owner was not prepared for their temperament or breed specific challenges. Although I do not own a Pomsky, I am the proud mom of both a Pomeranian and a Siberian Husky.
They both have their unique and quirky temperaments. My Pomeranian does not constantly yap like most; however, she is not fond of small children. She will tolerate most other dogs as long as they stay out of her space. My Siberian Husky who was a rescue is a handful. Most days I can make another husky from the hair she sheds DAILY!. All dogs may shed; huskies shed on a different level. She requires a lot of activity, attention, and training.
She loves to dig and can move very large rocks and other objects that I’ve placed in her escape holes. They are both sweet and lovable girls. At the end of the day, these are my babies and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Great comment, Veronica! Thank you!
I’ve had a pomsky dog, Copper, since he was 9 weeks old. (He’s 10 months now) He’s quite the opposite of a lot of things listed here. He’s extremely smart and trained very quickly and was easy to work with. He loves children and he’s very submissive to people and other dogs and plays well & listens.
He’s not aggressive at all and rarely barks. He is very gentle. He also got twice as big as we were told he’s now 40-45 lbs, he’s also blonde & has brown eyes but built like the husky. We love him very much. So they can’t really pin too much on this breed except the tendencies of each breed but that doesn’t always determine how the cross breed will be.
I have a year-old male pomsky 40-45lbs w/ a triple coat (I was told double coats actually shed more; pomskies can have either; the coat helps keep them keep cool in summer so don’t clip).
It’s August & right now he’s shedding like mad but he’s been a light shedder all year; in fact, my housekeeper cleans many houses w/ dogs in the neighborhood & she says he’s the lightest;
I think this is b/c his hair tends to stay on him unless you brush & I do this outside. He’s the perfect dog for me: medium sized, super-friendly & relaxed/calm inside, loyal, low-barker inside but outside he barks when people approach the property (this is what I wanted but could be a problem for some), super-smart, easy to train in everything except potty-training but we got there;
he needs exercise & doesn’t like being left alone for long but a couple of hours is ok (he does daycare when I need a full day), he is Houdini so I’m installing an electric fence system (he won’t run off property if I’m outside but he’ll find a way out if I’m inside).
My son is a little afraid of him, but there’s no real reason he should be (the breed has a tendency to mouthiness but I smack him on the nose if he ‘mouths’ my hand so he no longer does it to me, only licks!).
Preteen girls LOVE this dog, he is so handsome :-). He’s NOT a lap dog; I have an acre of land in a suburb & he goes after squirrels, rabbits, rats, & deer, which is what I wanted.
In a year’s time, I plan on getting a smaller, spayed dog as a companion, this way my son can have more of a lap-dog & the pomsky has a friend so I can save on daycare once the property perimeter is secure (it’s fenced already but he’s an escape artist, although he always comes back).
In a nutshell: an exceptional dog but only if you have a yard, plan on professional obedience training, daycare, & my husband runs & rides a bike w/ the dog. But, yes, very smart, easy to train, loving, loyal, interesting, mildly stubborn, gorgeous, &, actually, light shedding except for the past couple of weeks in August – just don’t mistake him for a lap dog 🙂
I have a two year old Female Golden Retriever. She is 90 pounds and very active. My wife wants to get a pomsky. Will these two dogs get along?
I’m thinking of getting a pomsky for my daughters but I have 2 cats and am wondering if anyone knows how well they get along with other animals?
I have two Pomsky sisters, Luna and Sole. They do not look alike at all. Sole looks more husky and weighs around 25 pounds. Luna is short, 12 lbs and has the body shape of a corgi. Both have fur like a husky. They have totally different personalities but both are loving and definitely not aggressive. They are both very active and I agree with the comments that they need lots of running time and attention but shouldn’t you give any dog a lot of attention. They are very smart and will find escape points if you are not careful. Luna escapes but then tries to get back in, I think it is just the challenge of escaping. I think they are a great breed.
This part of the article caught my eye, unfortunately: “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.”
I suggest that all readers check out the euthanasia rate at their local/city animal control facility before getting in line for a purebred animal. I don’t think that mentioning this is being “too emphatic” on my part. Go to any shelter and you can sense the fear in the animals. They know that they’ll probably never leave alive.
Also, more than a few purebreds end up in shelters, usually because the owners had no idea of how to train them. The percentage of euthanized purebreds is higher than you would think, depending on your location.
I adopted a German Shorthaired pointer from a shelter 10 years ago and recently lost her to old age. She was the best dog I ever had and I paid a $40 adoption fee.
I have a pomsky. Yesterday was his first birthday and he is 25 lb now, so adorable, playful, smart and friendly.
He is shedding a lot and my wife is so sad about it.
Taking bath once a month. Brushing his hair every other day.
It’s a part time job
But he is unique and so beautiful
I have a F1 (50/50) female pomsky (15 mos.) and a F2/F3 (62.5 husky/37.5 Pom) male pomsky (9 mos). Wouldn’t have any other breed.
They are definitely show-stopping beautiful creatures sure to attract attention everywhere you take them. Mine are very friendly with people and other dogs. Even good with the cat, but helped cat came first and they were around since puppies. They are very intelligent and easy to train. I would agree really important to start training them early. Mine are very committed to me but have to greet everyone at the dog park.
Shedding is not bad. Except twice a year when for a few weeks they blow their undercoat to get their summer and winter coats. Yes, they shed some but MUCH less than most other dogs.
Because they are still anew mixed breed I would concur that you do not know exactly what you will get. That makes it important to try to spend time with the puppies before selecting and/or discuss temperament and personality with the breeder before selection. I have found that F1 pomskies (first generation with a Pom and husky parent) are the most unpredictable in terms of appearance, size, temperament and personality. Some take more traits (good or bad) from one breed or the other. Some look like miniature huskies and others not at all.
Their size can vary greatly and somewhat unpredictable. On the other hand, now that there are multiple generations there is more predictability. However, be sure to know what generation and mix. There are 25/75, 75/25, 50/50 and now as those percentages mix with other Pomskies you get other mixes as breeders search to produce “the perfect pomsky” and to meet different tastes. While some want a purse size miniature others, like me, really like a small/medium sized dog.
My 50/50 is a small breed not quite large enough to be considered medium. She is about 12″ high and 20 pounds. My 62.5/37.5 is definitely medium size (which I expected given he is much more husky than Pom) and 26 pounds and about 15″ high. She is a “smooth coat” with shorter but dense silky fur. He is a plush/Woolley coat which is long haired. One has blue eyes and the other brown. Both with husky masks (which not all Pomskies inherit) but different builds with the smaller one more dainty.
They are extremely loyal dogs that require lots of attention and exercise. They love walks, runs, hiking, camping. They’ll want to go everywhere with you. I live in a condo on a golf course near Palm Springs. I wish they had a yard, but they do well in my condo. I just have to take the time to get them out and about. Their small size makes small condo/apt. Living doable. That is challenging when it’s 120+ in the desert, but they manage. A kiddie pool or swimming pool are good as both will get in to cool off and even swim a bit. Exercise is conducted early morn and evening. Indoor playtime is always good. They are very playful.
They are the perfect breed for the right owner. Definitely, do your research before making such a large investment (my female $4,000 and male $3,000). In some areas, they are easier to locate than others. Was on a waiting list for almost a year for the first and the second found a breeder with available puppies, but I had to drive over 6 hours to pick him up. Pomsky Owners Association always tracks available puppies.
I have a 16-month-old Pomsky (Luna), she’s absolutely beautiful. She’s amazing with our three children, she’s super smart (we live in an apartment and have taught her to ring a bell to go outside for a toilet break). She was diagnosed with hip dysplasia when she was about ten months old and had her second hip replaced earlier this week so is still recovering.
I know of a couple of other Pomskys with this problem so I wonder if it will be a “thing” with them in years to come as the breed becomes more established. I would love another one though!
Forgot to say, she is 12kg (26lbs), is brilliant off lead in the park, loves other dogs (a bit too much) and adores every one. She is a rubbish guard dog – the only time she ever barks is when she hears my heels coming up the stairs to our apartment (I’m her favourite human). I actually believe she would let a robber in she is so friendly. We’ve only had her for one summer and she shed ALOT. Saying that, it wasn’t impossible, I just kept up with the brushing every few days. We got our dog from a breeder in Ireland and when we move to a house I’d love to get her a brother or sister!
I have a one year old beautiful male pomsky. He is 32 lbs, multi colored and blue eyes. The Pomskys are normally bigger when bred from purebred husky and purebred pomeranian. They are smaller when breeding a pomsky and a pomsky. If you want the smaller version pomsky that’s what to look for. He is VERY energetic & an extremely smart dog. I just love him to pieces.
All dogs require training. Treat them as you want them to act as an adult. Even small dogs jumping up is not cute. We adopted two ten month wolfdogs untrained out of a back yard with parents and brother. It took us every bit of 3 months to stop threatening wolf rescue. Today they are balance and MOBILITY trained.
Do many tricks and all basic commands. She’d like crazy and love like no other. Live with 5 cats and 2 Schipperkes . All animals are only as good as they are taught with love and discipline. We also have a hiking and canoeing goat as well as a hiking cat.
That’s impressive, Andrea 🙂 Please send us pictures of your pet family to [email protected] and I’ll share it here 🙂
I SOOO love your post!
This post made me want to buy a pomsky, haha.
The thing is, it’s hot in my country. Do pomskies cope with heat?
Thanks, please reply :))
– Mary
Pomski dogs r not a suitable match for 50+ dog owners! My neighbor who is in her 50s bought a pomski from a private breeder because of course they r soooo cute! When babies! Which unfortunately does not last n can then turn into an almost same exact size as a Siberian husky! Her puppy is no longer small n I’m guessing 40plus pounds n he’s only 1/2 yr old or so!
No Pomeranian traits on the appearance of this dog! WAy to energetic of a breed for an older person to handle unless their committed in round the clock care! My neighbor can hardly walk him n has such strong pulling power she can hardly handle him!!
Again, she bought him cause he was cute! well even tho still very cute! His real personality has emerged n looks like a pure Siberian husky n work!
All dogs have ups and downs. The article gave me ideas but to criticize it, just keep researching. I thank u and will continue to research as this did give me ideas n thoughts. Thx
I have a sweet Pomsky; she will be 2 years old this month & is the best dog I have ever had! She’s just shy of 17 pounds, plenty of energy but well-behaved.
She is content with shorter walks, but I try to either do a 3-mile walk at one time or break it up into shorter walks that add up to 3. I got her for her energy and endurance; she has gone up to 16.2 miles with me so far. She was easily house trained & is really good with kids and other animals. When I was sick, though she has so much energy, she hung out in bed with me all day!
She seems to know when to be gentle (older people & dogs). She is the best!
Hey everyone! I have a very well bred pomsky and i am about to get a second! One thing I’ll say is if you are getting a first generation pomsky prepare for a larger dog, mine is 40 pounds! I know a few that are even bigger! Most are around 25 pounds. Mine has an excellent temperament as a result of excellent breeding.
Extremely smart and easy to train but you need a lot of time and patience with these dogs. They constantly need something to do so they not for a lazy person. Also when you find a breeder go on their social media or try to find MULTIPLE dogs from previous litters and talk to the owners. Ive seen a few breeders where a lot of their dogs end up aggressive due to poor breeding. Stay away from TC pomskies in Northern Cali.
If you find a pomsky that is under 2500 stay away as a general rule of thumb. 3000-4500 you are probably getting a well bred dog.
When we bought our pomsky I hoped she would be no larger than 30 lbs. Although I did my research and I knew she could be as large as her mother we went ahead and got one. She’s 6 months old now and weights 30 lbs. I know she can continue to grow and we were prepared for both kinds of temperament.
I believe this article addresses all the outcomes. When you describe the factors of what children do, and all the heartache they can cause, you would wonder why we continue to have them. The same reason we wanted a dog. Someone to love. Some dogs are easier to care for than others. This breed we have has had it’s challenges.
She’s chewed through a lot of money, but she’s definitely worth it. She is intelligent, has a lot of energy and we are able to give her a lot of attention as I home school 2 of our 3 teens. We believe we got lucky because she’s nothing like our chihuahua.
We wanted a different kind of dog and happy she’s smaller than a husky but were prepared for a larger one. I know she still has growing to do but our vet doesn’t think she will get much bigger.
Thank you for this article. It is surprisingly difficult to find detailed information on the Pomsky. It is even more difficult to find pictures of the adult Pomsky. I don’t feel that you disparage them in the least. Knowing the overall traits, temperament, and characteristics of each of the parent breed can help a person be aware of the possibility of any of these being present in the offspring. If both breeds are known for the same undesirable trait then there is always the POSSIBILITY of their offspring having that trait at an exaggerated level. That does not mean that it is a certainty, but even if there is a small chance of it, it shows be mentioned.
I have a pompsky now 3 years old named winter. He’s mostly white with one blue eye and more like a medium size husky but does have a few pom features. He can be stubborn but he’s very very smart and listens. You have to reward them but again I’m sure not all are the same. My little guy is hilarious and does the strangest things. He loves playing with my rescue mixed shepherd and even plays with cat when the cat isn’t smacking him. When he was a puppy he was tougher to train but after a year he was a good dog. He loves my kids and is also protective. I’m glad we got him and wouldn’t trade him for nothing.
I’m so glad I didn’t read this article before I got my Pomskie. Found him on on-line pet rescue. Fully vaccinated, nuetered 1 yr. old, house broken all for $125. Prior owner got him at a pet store. Incredibly smart fast learner. With training now walks well on leash, heals, sits and stays. Likes to chase bunnies and squirrels. Loves to play with all dogs. Now 2 yrs. old at 27 lbs. Loves to cuddle on lap on couch every night. Loves kids. Not a picky eater. Take a 1.5 mile walk each day. No expensive toys just home made toys that wear him out quickly. Never chews things up. Definitely sheds a lot. He’s gold and cream colored. No expensive vet bills, just normal check ups. Named Kiyo because he resembles a Coyote. I would never part with this love bug. Everyone that meets him on walks loves him.
I’m a bit late here, but still wanted to chime in. I have a Pomsky who is only 8 months old. Even being that young, he is already 33 lbs and very lanky. He’s such a lover though and wants to play with everyone.. The issue with him being that big is that he doesn’t seem to realize it and seems to think he’s small. He tends to play a bit rough with his smaller siblings, but will most likely get better when he matures. Definitely full of energy, stubborn, and hard to train. I’m surprised I haven’t seen more people say about being overly dramatic like huskies tend to be. If I leave the room he will do the typical husky howl.. He’s not a barker though. Not mean at all. Wants to be friends with everyone, animals and people. He’s very much a handful, but oh so lovable. As with any living creature, they are individuals who can have any type of personality.
I have 2 female pomskies. Kora is 5 and just the sweetest. She just wants pets all the time. She is a bit needy and would take being petted over anything. She is about 14 tall and 20 lbs. We breed her with a reputable breeder and kept one of her puppies. Kensi is almost a year old. Probably 12 tall and 12 lb. Super ball of energy and licks everyone. She didn’t take to house training well but eventually learned. She is a chewer and we keep anything important put up. She has chewed up so many shoes.
As for children – Kora keeps her distance while Kensi loves them. Kensi loves my 7 month old granddaughter.
As for strangers – They both bark like lunatics when someone comes in the house but neither are aggressive. We are home bodies so they don’t get out around others alot but they are both very well behaved when we take them out leashed.
They run around in the get a morning walk and in the afternoon run around the yard. They are both lap/couch dogs.
They both resemble small huskies Kora has dark eyes and Kensi has one dark eye and one that is have dark and half white.
I have had no medical issues with either.
I have always had dogs (poodle, German Shepards, Siberian Husky and mutts) these are by far the most gentle and loving out of them all.
Hope this helps
I love mine although he was extremely aggressive and not friendly with other dogs despite us already having two. After a lot of work he’s doing well for the most part but needs constant supervision, despite all of that I’d adopt him all over again without hesitation! (Not sure it helps but we did get him as a puppy)
I have a 12 week old pomsky that I’ve had for about a month,she’s a second generation, she’s stubborn, likes to bite and chew and is almost house broke and she loves to ride in my truck. She has close to 2000 miles on her and has never gotten sick. I would definitely get another one, she’s around 6 lbs rate now and still growing. I love her to peaces and she loves other people, kids and other dogs. As soon as I get her fully house broke and the biting and chewing under control she’s gonna be a great dog. My first pomsky but have owned 2 poms and they were great dogs very loyal and smart.
I have a pomsky named Yukon.
Hes the best dog I’ve ever had. Hes 11 months old and 13 lbs, I paid $3,000 for him. While his face has matured, he’s even more beautiful than he was the day i got him. He looks like a traditional blue eyed black and white siberian, but with a pomeranian mane and long hair. Hes gorgeous, he goes everywhere with me and turns heads. I think its misleading to say pomskies outgrow their charm as this implies.
Hes incredibly trainable and intelligent. He learned sit the first day I got him. He now knows every trick I could think to teach him and hasn’t had an accident in the house in months. He listens to me and always comes when I call him. He’s socialized and loves kids as well as other animals. He hasn’t started shedding at all yet other than losing his baby fur.
He is full of energy and loves to play, he gets bored easily and is very vocal. When he was a puppy he used to tear things up, but with kennel training he was broken of that pretty easily.
All dogs shed, are expensive, hard to train if you dont know how, literally everything listed.
I dont know why this article felt the need to crap on pomskies and suggest the readers buy ” pure bred” dogs instead. Pomskies are a designer breed and I wouldn’t trade mine for any other dog nor have I ever regretted having him. If you have the mental capacity and time to raise a dog, then this breed is amazing for you. Same with any other living creature.
You hit the nail on the head.
As with all of the purebred breeds….before we know it, there will be Pomsky rescues.
Granted, they are adorable—but after reading about their needs and possible temperaments–not the dog for me. No offense to those who have them! Just wouldn’t suit nor mesh with my personality.