The Pomchi is bred from lines of purebred Pomeranians and pedigree Chihuahuas. They are small dogs, weighing less than 12lbs on average. This temperament tends to be quite outgoing and exciteable, which makes them active and interesting companions. Although size wise they are well suited to apartments, they still need plenty of exercise and bags of attention to stay happy.
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Where Do They Come From?
Both toy breeds, the Pomeranian and the Chihuahua have been companion dogs for centuries.
Pomeranians were descended from German Spitz dogs that were originally large working sled-pulling dogs working in the Arctic Circle. Their unique looks made them popular among European aristocracy from the 16th Century onward.
Chihuahuas come from Mexico. Experts disagree slightly on just how far back the breed goes, but it’s widely believed that they are descended from a breed of dog since bred out of existence, called Techichis. They were possibly favored as pets because they were so small they made for great little hot water bottles!
Typical Appearance
Most Pomchis will look like smaller Poms in body, but with more Chihuahua-esque faces. So you can expect small rounded heads and large eyes.
There is an almost fox-like appearance to many Pomchis and their erect and furry little ears certainly help create that illusion. Their legs are short but strong, their torso long and their paws are rounded. However, you could end up with a dog that looks mainly Chihuahua or more Pomeranian in form.
Adult Pomchis will grow anywhere up to six to ten inches tall. The males tend to be a tiny bit taller. Weight-wise, again, there’s some variation. Expect your Pomchi to be anywhere from 5 pounds to around 10 pounds for a female and 6 pounds to 12 pounds for a male.
Pomchi Colors
Pomeranian Chihuahua mixes come in a wide array of different color coats. Most of these dogs will be just one color, but a mixture of more than one is not terribly unusual. The color(s) of the dog will be determined by whichever parent carries dominant genes. Light brown is the most common, but you can also find Pomchis in:
- Fawn
- Dark brown
- White
- Tan
- Cream
- Gray
- Merle
- Sable.
Black Pomchis are less common, but still very much sought after.
Coat Types
Crosses can have either of the two original breed’s coats or a mixture between the two. In Pomchis, it really can depend on the genetic influence of the dominant parent.
Coats can be long or short, single or double. But they’ll always be shiny and soft in a healthy dog. Haircuts can be necessary to keep them looking their best. Especially if they have an undercoat, meaning they’re likely to have a very thick and fluffy coat.
Shedding will depend on the type of coat they inherit, but it’s generally not too dramatic and only once a year in a large burst.
Pomchi Temperaments
Pomchis have their own unique little character and temperament. But, of course, they’re very similar in nature to the two breeds that go into making them.
Chihuahuas are lively, energetic and alert. But it doesn’t take much to make them nervous or aggressive. Pomeranians are often very curious, fun and bright. They’re also obedient, perky and almost always friendly and approachable.
Smaller dogs like Pomchis do tend become quite vocal when left alone and do often suffer from separation anxiety if those periods are more than just a few hours.
Ask someone at random their thoughts on Chihuahuas and similar dogs and chances are they’ll say they are yappy, aggressive, annoying and prone to biting. And that can be true…
Chihuahuas are amongst the dogs most likely to have serious aggression problems towards strangers as well as their owners.
Socialization
To reduce the chances of aggression in your Chihuahua mixed Pomchi you will need to make sure that the Chihuahua parent is very friendly and that your puppy sees visitors to the home every day from 8 to 14 weeks old. Visit lots of new places and meet lots of new people.
Training And Exercise
A Chihuahua Pomeranian mix full grown, like most dogs, requires exercise. But, unlike larger dogs, they don’t require huge amounts of it.
Pomchis will get plenty of stimulation and exert a fair amount of energy inside, provided you have enough toys for them to play with.
But just because they don’t need daily five mile walks, they will still need to get out and about in the fresh air. The sights, sounds and smells are vital to keeping your dog active, alert and happy.
These toy dogs might only have small brains, but they’re smart. They learn quickly and enjoy picking up tricks and training in general. Pomeranians and Chihuahuas are inquisitive by nature.
Potty training is often an issue for small dogs. Take a look at our guides to both a potty training schedule for puppies and crate training.
Pomchi Health And Care
Extremely small dogs tend to suffer from conformational problems, leading to major health issues. For this reason, it is absolutely vital that a potential owner do their research and know what they are getting into before they choose a Pomchi or a similar mix.
The parent breeds are known to potentially suffer with a plethora of medical afflictions. These include:
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
- hypoglycemia
- heart problems
- open fontanel (small holes in the skull)
- epilepsy
- collapsed trachea
- hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain)
- eye problems
- dental problems
- patellar luxation (floating kneecap)
Pomchi Lifespan
The median lifespan of a Pomeranian is around 9 years. However, they have been known to live up to 17 years. The Chihuahua lives on average anywhere from 7 to 12 years, but has been recorded as living in excess of 19 years. So there is quite a range there.
Owners who buy a pup from health tested parents can hope to see their dogs living to a ripe old age.
The Chihuahua parent must have no history of dental issues, epilepsy, hypoglycaemia or family history of tracheal collapse repair or fatalities. The Pomeranian parent must have no history of knee problems, ear problems, skin complaints or dental problems.
They should have a clear eye test of less than a year old and no family history of hydrocephalus or syringomyelia.
(paid link) Do Pomchis Make Good Pets?
The most suitable home will be child free (due to the delicate size of the dog). The owner should be around for most of the day and happy to spend time grooming.
The main problem with choosing a Pomeranian Chihuahua mix for your family pet is the potential for health problems due to conformational issues. Apart from that, Pomchis are also not fans of being left home alone for too long. They also require early, thorough socialization and training.
Because of their size, Pomchis often appeal to people who live in urban environments and live in apartments or flats.
Toy dogs are not particularly weather hardy, so their homes are most certainly ‘inside’. Walkies are good, but smaller dogs cannot be left outside for extended periods.
Rescuing A Pomchi
Adopting an adult Pomchi gives you a better idea of what health problems you may be dealing with. Rescuing a dog from a shelter is usually cheaper than buying from a breeder.
Shelters also do health check-ups on their animals, and often will chip them. And, last but not least, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve given a good home to a dog who was truly in need.
Pomchi Puppies
It’s not always easy to find a mixed breed puppy, but this is one of the more popular varieties. Look for a breeder who is open and honest with you. They should be passionate about their dogs, and have a strong bond with those that they own beyond just making money.
Dennis Pitre says
My grandmother had a Chihuahua. she keep inside and only fed him boiled liver at 11am. everyday. the dog lived for 22 years
Katie says
I recently rescued a 6 month old pomchi. She’s black in the face and white body w black patches. About 10lbs. Not sure how long coat will be. Looks chihuahua in the face end of tail slightly fluffy and coat is kinda thick and wavy but longer than a short coat chihuahua. I hope she gets fluffy. Sweetheart of a puppy. Is learning so quick and already learned how to sit and is doing well w potty training. She sleeps w me but we r crate training and teaching her to walk on a leash. Very happy girl. Doesn’t bark as much as my pomeranian miniature dachshund mix or my pomeranian. Definitely a lap dog and gentle disposition.
Elizabeth says
I have a pomeranian Chihuahua mix and lately she’s been very picky on her food what’s the best food to give them she’s only 10months old
Ana says
I have a 3 year old pomchi. I feed him Newman’s Own. He seems to be doing very well on that. Occasionally, I give him a bite of skinless cooked chicken with no spices added or a bit of salmon which he devours.
Susie Castleman says
I love the name “Happy Puppy Site” and this could not have been better named. I refer to my PomChi as my “happy-happy, joy-joy”; can’t look at her without my heart swelling and my face smiling.
I adopted a puppy from a group of ladies that rescue; her mom was found wandering street while pregnant. Reading this article I count myself even luckier…adoption fee was only $300. Dad was unknown so I ran DNA testing. There are two other breeds in her but very small percentage. She looks and acts fully PomChi. Since mom was Chihuahua, I refer to her as ChiPom.
This site was VERY interesting/useful, even though she is now six years old. I’ve learned mostly that we are doing things right. I can also see which characteristics are dominant and make me so happy: she WANTS to be good; she is very smart and understands what we expect of her.
Lily is our 4th dog; I’ve loved each one madly and deeply. But Lily? I am so in love with her and she brings me so much joy every day.
Laurel Price says
I have a male maltes and he is the love of my life he 3years old. I have friend looking for pomchis we live in central florida.
sarah el-dishnawy says
I had a similar story , i got my pico from a pet shop i am new to having a dog so when i asked the buyer he said he was a minigriffon , turns out no such thing , i searched a lot and my almost 100% sure he is a pomchi he was only 5 weeks old got worms , fleas , and a tick 😔 i got him to the vet and he is now clean and deworming process almost done , he is happy and healthy and i thank god who made me stumble upon this shop to rescue him from this lousy conditions, he was tiny less than 800grams with heavy infestation with worms couple more weeks he would have died the vet told me he got infected while in the womb
Now he is playful clean healthy and happy
And the joy of my life
Jessica John-Halcomb says
I have two Pomchis. One is a male by the Jacob or Jake Jake he answers to both names. He has recently suffered a recent set back that I am unsure he is going to make it through. He is a tan coloring. He resembles the chihuahua more. He is now 6 years old. Then we have Gucci who is black with alittle bit of white on her chest. She is about 4 years old they were both adopted by myself and my husband. And we are absolutely in love with them both. Gucci is sweet, attentive towards our other dogs especially Jacob she loves him so much. He actually fathered three litters of pups with 3 of our dogs they were adorable. Gucci is a mother of one set of puppies. Each litter had 4 puppies each were rehomed to loving families who I actually still here from. My daughter loves both of our pomchi’s so very much. She says they are her best friends.
Claire Davison says
I have just got 2 puppy Pomchis, both boys from same litter. They seem to get on ok but one of them over powers the other one. Someone said to me that they may not get on when they’re older and I really don’t want to have to get rid of one. Does anyone have any advice on this please?
Thanks Claire
Tracy Coulson says
Hi there
Whenever you have two make dogs there will always be a battle as to who is the top dog! Being brothers from the same litter just makes it difficult to train! Hope this helps!
Tracy
Sandra says
I want a Pomchi where can I find them and how much do they cost or could they be found at a rescue?
Pamela says
I live in San Diego/North County area and have been looking for a PomChi, with no luck. Can anyone tell me where they’ve found theirs if you too, live in this area? I am open to adopting a rescue, buying a young adult or a puppy. I love these little guys!
Kathy Wade says
Do Teacup PomChi puppies need to have CKC papers to be sold for $600.
Sabrina says
I have 2 pomchi’s we rescued. I can only say they taught me what animal love is… My Beenie changed my life, and my lil Cinimini is an angel and couldn’t ask for a more special pair of dogs. They are both about 7yrs old and I cherish everyday with them. We got them about 6 months apart but they are sisters now!!
Rhonda Hariluk says
We have one and we Love her, I don’t know what we would do without her! She loves to play tug of war with her squeaky toys and fetch with them but when she’s done she’s done she just looks at you like really, I’m done now you go get it!
sarah el-dishnawy says
My pico is exactly the same hahah he is two months old already fetching but just as u said when he is done he is done same look u described, really funny and intelligent adorable dog
Jennie Guillermo says
I got my Pomchi when he was 2 months old. Weighing less the one pound. We named his Puchi He was the smartest, most lovable little dog. We had him 13 years. He was not very hyper, he was actually a pretty chill dog. Who played and loved being babied. 100% a great family dog.. he was more then a pet to us. It was very easy to potty train him. He loved to be scratched and cuddled. He loved to be under covers, he had his own. He loved his own space. But he deffenitly had his mixed breeds.. He was our door bell pretty much lol. He barked once anyone approached the steps to the house.. He hated to take baths. All we had to say, “oh let me get the soap and towel I’m taking Puchi a bath today”.He will imitatly act very normal and slowly disappear until he thought it was safe for no bath. When he wanted something he get our attention by staring at us. once he had our attention, he would look at what he wanted and countinue doing so until we notice. Once he knew we knew what he wanted he would bark and wag his curled little tale. When we randomly asked him, “Puchi you want to go outside?” He knows what we meant. He was the first one at the door. He loved being outside smelling anything he could. He love rides in the car. He would get so happen every time we would being on vacation. He was a healthy dog. Other then the joint pains he would get. We never would of imagine life with out him.. On 2/22/19 at age 13, weighing about eleven pounds he passed away. We took him to the vet with a weird cough it was hard for him to breath. Guessing we thought he was just sick and would get better with medication. The Vet put the oxigen on.. Once that he was coughing blood and turned blue. He had fluid in his lugs making it hard for the doctors to listen to his heart. With in minutes we were told he didn’t make it. 🙁
Aleen Stone says
sad to hear…I adopted one from our local shelter in October ’19 looked like a Pomchi but was a Pomino Pom&Amer.Eskimo . He was a skinny stray with no medical history, exhuding mustard yellow” cow-pies “but sooooooooo cute…..I didnt care… I asked.. the shelter vet..”What makes the yellow feces”? . and was answered..”Oh he just needs a different food.”. ..
After a week of a different kind and boiled chicken and rice, it was the same….. I loved him like nobu i dint want to give him back so spent $1k with my vet . for tests etc,and found he had severe pancreatitis, developing into severe diabetes..2 shots a day.plus blood tests etc..And he was terrified of needles having to be tranquized each vet visit and then sedated after he got there. Luckily I got 5 days of shots into him then missed.And that was it.He became terrified of me..My nurse friend even tried..and he bit her… So he went on to PEACE across the Rainbow Bridge.. I had to say goodbye to my Cuddler with the Pomeraian eyes..
I see a Pom/Chi now at our shelter.looks healthy… Im not fond of Chihuahas be.but you have been an inspiration to see..we might make a team……I will focus on words. Your precious one and mine are happy little guys somewhere Over the Rainbow with other of God’s precious gems .
Rick says
Got a black one he’s about to turn 4. Very smart and loveable he is my little buddy
Sandy says
My Precious is. 8 wks. and just as cute as.can be. She is black with white on her back paws and a little on hèr undèr neck..she is a joy.
Chuck anderson says
I just lost my “romeo” the exact same way this week. He was only 9yrs old. I never thought in a million years I’d ever be a small dog owner but my little pomchi changed all that. I have a stepdaughter that brought him home one day and asked if we could watch him until she found him a new home. I agreed.. reluctantly…and within a week it was obvious he wasn’t going anywhere. He became my 4 legged soul mate. Went to work with me every day, loved the car so much that if he didn’t feel he had an appropriate ride he wouldn’t get out of the car voluntarily. He slept over my head on the same pillow. He always new which of my friends would be passing out treats when we visited and would walk into their house like he owned it and after saying his hellos would head right for the treat area until he got his. Would even go behind the counter at Lowe’s and HD and tap on the cashier’s leg or look on the shelf where he knew his treats were kept waiting for him We were inseparable for 9 years. Then one day in the blink of an eye he went into cardiac arrest and was gone. I don’t know how I’m going to live without him. I’ve never bonded with an animal more than with him. He was living proof that God exists… only God could put 20 lbs of love in a 10lb bag.
Rev Brother Francis Mary cledwyn says
…go get another one to love and adore. Blessings. x
Angie says
I recently lost my dog in a tragic accident after having her for 4 years and I’ve been having a hard time looking for a new one, I prefer having a puppy. I live in Sacramento and is willing to travel to bring one home. If any of you know please let me know.
Martin says
I’m looking for a pomchi breeder in the Southwest. We’ve recently loss our Black and Tan pomchi after 11 years. The very best dog to have. Smart, sweet, expressive and energetic. If you know of a reputable breeder please reply back.
Chip says
I rescued a one-year old pomchi from the shelter 18 months ago. She changed my life and is the sweetest, easiest most wonderful little pal I could have hoped for.
She was quite barky at first and suffered from leash aggression early on but I’ve worked really hard with her and she is now just the easiest little girl.
I joke that she’s part cat because she’s happy just sleeping in my lap most of the time, and loves to be carried. But she also loves a good walk and has lots of friends at the dog park who she plays really well with, and she’s partial to running, fetch and tug of war.
Starleen Cooley says
We say my little boy is part cat for that same reason he also purrs and sometimes when he barks it sort of sounds like a meow when he plays he likes to Pounce on the object we think he was “raised “by or with mostly cats we don’t know his history he was found after being hit by a car.
Emma King says
I’m getting two pomci in a few days there are 9 weeks old
Angie lapointe says
We have a 4 month old marble colored pomchi,he is brown and grey we adore him,but struggling to get him to listen,he is very hyper and can be very cuddley,runs around the yard like crazy and come in to pee and poop,we are working on it love every second with him,and hes great with our grandsobs who are 6 and 8
Lynn says
I rescued 3 pomchi’s pups .They were in an unacceptable living situation and that is being polite. They were 6 weeks old and weighed 8oz each. 1 pup went to my daughter. I kept thr other 2. I was in a depression before I found them. Their good natured, loving personalities change my life . Everyday I wake up to those scoring faces my joy is immeasurable. They are now 5 months old and 3 and 5 lbs. They get along with other dogs and all people. Their favorite playmate is a 14 lbs, 1 yr old cat. Their names are Miss Priss and Hamish. I would highly recommend this breed.
kelly cook says
Hello my name is kelly i live in centralia washingtion im getting a chihuahua mix pom on the 22 of this month could you please tell me how much they weigh ive never had a mix of theses two toghter thank you
Jessica John-Halcomb says
They live between 17 to 19 years. Because the chihuahua has a lifespan up to 17 years. And Pomeranians have a lifespan of 19 years.
ElvyDabrowski says
Where can I purchase a pomchi. I lost.my wonderful pomchi 3 yrs ago and have been looking for another like my beloved AceyBoo, red haired, black-Lined eyes & mouth & curled tail. Thank you.
ANNA T CARPER says
Hey, my name is Anna I lost my Wolfe December 26th I had him 13 years he got hit by a car but before he passed he mated with my pomchi??
VIVIAN V DAVIS says
hey I vivian Daviis loves animals. I have a chihuahuah mixed he is a wonderful campaion. I don’t know what I. will do without him I love him too death . I cherish not love the time that we spend together. he about seven months old.. he is a tri-color one. we play together . we run in the apartment because outside is dirty.
Helen says
Hi Vivian, May I ask where you bought your pomchi? I am looking for one or 2 of any age preferably females and red like little foxes. I had one previously and are the best little dogs in tbe world.
verna says
i just got one he is 7 weeks old and his nname is max — i have a kid and her mom look after him every sday while i work — she brings him to see me once a day –i work in a store so he has a lot of socialization — love him already
Lisa says
My Pomchi Miya literally picked me as her mom when I went to the rescue 5 yrs ago. She also picked her name! Saying different names, asking her if she liked it, when I said Miya she looked at me & wagged her tail. She’s a very smart little girl – walks by my side without any prompting when we are walking as if she’d had the training – she hadn’t (in my neighborhood we don’t need a leash). I play hide and seek with her treats when I leave for work and she finds every single one. I’ve had Chi’s before and found them hard to potty train alone – she was a piece of cake – uses puppy pads when I’m not there or if she doesn’t want to wake me. She was already a year old when I brought her home, so the socialization hadn’t been done, I’ve tried, she doesn’t bite, and will tolerate the touching if I hold her. Oh and she has the softest “bunny fur” I’ve ever felt. I’m so thankful she chose me to be her mom, best thing that happened to me that year.
Daphne says
OMG, my Juju picked her name! Her owner didnt want her so I took her, she was very aggressive but is a lazy bean now. By the way they werecalling het Miya, but it just didnt fit her. We we going through names and she would look up everytime wesaid Juju. She is everything your Miya is. However when she plays she plays hard!
Starleen Cooley says
My pampered also picked his name it was supposed to be a command to come get brushed but after a while that is the only thing he would come to so we named him pampered.
He was a Rescue and know one knew his real name because he came in after being hit by a car. They called him bg but he didn’t like that name and wouldn’t ever come by that name
verna says
i just got one he is 7 weeks old and his nname is max — i have a kid and her mom look after him every sday while i work — she brings him to see me once a day –i work in a store so he has a lot of socialization — love him already
joe petrone says
we just rescued a PomChi she is 3 yrs old and a realer lover she gets along great with our male Lhasa who is 13 yrs old——–biggest problem is when i walk her she hates other dogs and the barking and aggressiveness is incessant and hard to stop ——any advice will be appreciated
Sarah says
My pomchi is the same, but he is now 5yrs old and has mellowed out quit a bit. So she will get more calm as she gets older. I would pick him up when we would cross another dog and that seemed to help.
Joan bond says
I rescued a pomchi last year and Lordy she’s fine with me but let anyone else in the house and she goes ballistic and is extremely aggressive towards other dogs. Finally after a year she is house broke but because she was caged for 8 months with no training and or socialization when I got her. She loves her cats and little schnoodle that I got last January and gets so excited to go for short walks.
Brian says
Very helpful. I adopted my Pomchi Duke from my son who had been living with us, until he got married and moved into an apartment with his bride. So, it was no big change for Duke. He was a deer head breed with long pointy ears and a black face, sable short hair coat. Perfect temperament. Just very protective about his toys, food, owner. Not always a lap dog as liked his separate time also lying on the sofa, sunning in the yard. At mid age, about 6 years began having seizures. Strange look would come over him, accompanied by tremors and vomiting. Then it was over and he was normal. This past summer at the age of 11 he developed a cough, which we thought little of with the poor air quality from the Gorge burn here in Oregon. In August, he was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmur which accelerated to grade 3 in September. CHF was suspected so we placed him on a diuretic to help clear his lungs. We also monitored his breathing rate which was not alarming at 25-30 per minute before bed time. In October, while running back and forth in the back yard he passed out twice. We took him in for another checkup on November 4 and returned him to his Maker that day. He was grade 6 with labored breathing. This just showed me how sudden things can go wrong. To end on a cheerful note, Duke gave me 81 years of his life of joy as my faithful companion. Sure, I dearly miss giving him tummy rubs as he’d lie on the floor and smile up at me. Those car ride with him snuggled by my side. We’ll meet again, somewhere over the rainbow as I’m just a few steps behind him. Love your best friends for their life is short.
Angela Jackson says
My chihuahua died of CHF about a month ago. It was terrible. I miss her but I know we’ll one another again. I am sorry for your loss as well!
Lana says
My only issue with these articles is that the weight of these dogs are not so tiny not all of them. My Diva at one year was 12lbs when she was finished growing she was 17.5lbs. She also didn’t have stubbly short legs. She was tall. She was a Pomchi. Had the double fur coat of a Pom but had the apple head of a Chi. Sadly I had to put her down three weeks ago from a Mass Cell Cancer tumour. She would have been 11yearsnold this August. If it wasn’t for the cancer I have no doubt she would have lived much longer since she was in good health. And never suffered from any of the health issues except dental.
Kristin royce says
Me and my hubby rescued our pomchi from a not so good living environment for people let alone pets. So unfortunately she had picked up some bad habits living there for a little over a year and a half now she has no training other than we taught her how to sit n we potty trained her because that’s all we know. Fluffy is by far the smartest, sweetest, and most amazing little dog I’ve ever met. She loves to play and she comfortably walks around the house like she ownsaid the place. She has a awesome personality and she does funny little tricks that make us laugh all the time….. pomchis are great dogs. They are the sweetest most loving animal you’ll ever meet once you get to know each other. They need lots of love and attention and you can count on them to make sure you give it to them. For example when Fluffy wants something from us she’ll either paw us or sit across and stare at us. If you’re looking for a furry fun loyal friend for life then the pomchi is perfect for you
Larry Almaleh says
We have a “Granddog” Don, a 3 year old pomchi inherited for a “short time” from my son. 1-1/2 years ago. He is definitely our dog now. Lovable little guy, very friendly, loves meeting people, strangers ask what type of dog. Plays well with other dogs and definitely not intimidated by larger dogs. Loves playing fetch with tennis ball. Shreds toys, but not much else. He has adopted Dad but will accept belly rubs from anyone.