In Pomsky Dogs, we are going to be looking at the huge interest in a fairly new type of mixed breed dog – the Pomsky.
And we’ll be looking at the controversy that surrounds the Pomsky.
Because just like Labradoodles – perhaps the first ever cross-breed to be dubbed a ‘designer’ dog – Pomskies are very controversial.
We’ll discover why in a moment.
But first let’s find out more about this curious dog
What is a Pomsky
A Pomsky is a first generation cross-breed between a purebred Siberian Husky and a purebred Pomeranian
A pomsky has a pomeranian stud dog for a father
These are two very different dogs with very different origins and characteristics. Check out the links above to find out more about the parent breeds.
The Siberian Husky was originally a sled dog, born to haul heavy sleds over icy terrain for hours on end, and to survive on frozen meat and sleep out in the snow.
The pomsky has a Siberian Husky for a mother
This is a moderately large and powerful breed with a friendly but independent nature.
The modern Pomeranian, on the other hand, despite having sled dog origins way back, is a tiny Toy breed with a big coat, only ever intended for life as a companion in the warmth and comfort of a family home.
Deliberate mixed breeding of this kind is often viewed with scorn by purebred dog breeders and there are a lot of misconceptions about mixed breeding that we’ll examine as we go.
The Pomsky popularity explosion
Pomskies regularly feature in the news. According to the Daily Mail, Norman the Pomsky puppy had over 11,000 Instagram fans and rising at the last count. And he collected those in just six weeks.
Then there’s Mya from Philadelphia (photo by Instagram) with 25,000 Instagram fans. Mya and her friend Dave are well travelled and spend a lot of time hiking
The appearance of these dogs has a lot in common with the Shiba Inu that took off with the Doge meme of 2013. Like all cross bred puppies though, appearance varies. Mya is quite fox like, but Norman look more Husky than anything else.
It’s always difficult to say what makes a particular dog ‘take off’ in terms of fashion and popularity, but there is no doubt that these are pretty dogs, and with the Pomsky, the word cute has to be in there somewhere!
How do you get Pomsky puppies
Pomsky puppies are created by mating a male Pomeranian with a female Siberian Husky.
An event that is so physically challenging due to the size differences between the two breeds, that it is usually achieved through artificial insemination
Some breeders are mating female Pomskies with a male Pomeranian to create a Pomsky that is 75% Pomeranian and 25% husky. This helps to ensure a smaller dog.
Pomsky dog characteristics
As you can see by the Pomsky pictures in this article, Pomskies vary in appearance.
First generation (F1)crosses produce a varied outcome with some puppies resembling one parent more than another.
You might get a dog that is mid-way in size between a husky and a pomeranian with the best aspects of the temperament of both dogs.
This Pomsky is quite Pomeranian like in appearance
Or you could get a pretty large dog with the independence of the husky. In other words, a dog that’s more husky than anything else
If two of the same F1 crossbreeds are bred to one another, the outcome can be even more varied, which is why so-called designer dog breeders usually stick to creating an F1 cross afresh with each mating.
How big do Pomskies get
That’s a tricky question to answer, because as we have seen, the Pomsky may vary quite widely in size and weight
The Pomsky Club of America predicts a weight of 15 to 25lbs for Pomskies that are half husky, half Pomeranian.
And a weight of 10 to 15lbs for a dog that is one quarter Husky and three quarters Pomeranian.
How do you find Pomsky puppies
There are quite a few breeders producing Pomsky puppies. What is important when you buy any puppy is that you find a breeder who has only used healthy parents for your puppy.
And who has raised your puppy in such a way as to provide optimum health and temperament.
Like any puppy purchase you should buy a puppy that has been raised with love and care and has access to family life.
This is the only way to ensure that you puppy has been properly nourished and socialised.
We have an extensive guide on finding the puppy of your dreams so do read through it carefully before visiting any puppies.
Never, ever, purchase a puppy from a pet store or puppy farm (the guide explains this in more detail)
Pomsky breeders and breeding standards
One of the advantages of buying a purebred dog is that you will have access to a pool of knowledgeable breeders who have developed a reputation among their peers that they will work hard to maintain.
When you buy a mix or cross-breed like a Pomsky, especially a relatively new mix, you don’t have that network of reputable breeders to tap into.
So your purchase may be a riskier business.
There are however, a couple of clubs now in existence that claim to offer some reassurance to Pomsky puppy buyers
One is the Pomsky Club of America The other is the International Pomsky Association
Pomsky Price – How much is a Pomsky puppy
Pomsky price can vary. Some types of Pomsky appearance are more in demand than others. People often prefer a blue-eyed dog for example.
So how much you pay may depend on what the litter turns out like.
You are unlikely to find a well cared for Pomsky for under $1000 and may well have to pay several thousands of dollars for the puppy you want.
Objections to Pomsky Dogs
A lot of people will take issue with me even referring to the Pomsky as a breed of course.
Because it is actually a first generation mix between two purebred dog breeds. Not a breed in its own right
This Pomsky more closely resembles his mother
And like all first generation mixes, there is opposition to existence of the Pomsky
Here are some of the claims made about Pomsky breeders
Claims made about Pomsky breeders
- People only breed Pomskies to make money
- Pomsky breeders rip off unsuspecting puppy buyers
- There are no reputable breeders of Pomskies
- It is dangerous to cross two purebred dogs together
- There are too many dogs already, we should not be adding to them with mix breed mongrels
- Pomskies have no health tests
- Pomskies are a travesty because there are no good reasons to ever breed two purebred dogs from different breeds
Now let’s take a look at the facts
The facts about mixed breeding
How much you pay for a puppy is between you and your breeder, and between your breeder and the tax authorities.
Arguably it has nothing to do with anyone else.
Cheaper does not always mean better when it comes to puppies. Raising a healthy litter requires time, effort and money.
Sadly dogs, including purebred dogs, are not priced by breeders according to their potential value as companions (how do we even estimate that?) and often are not priced according to their health.
You can, for example, pay a small fortune for a Bulldog puppy in terrible health, and destined for a lifetime of breathing difficulties and veterinary care.
As you will discover when you attempt to insure it.
The truth is that dogs, purebred and otherwise, are priced according to what the breeder thinks they can get for their puppies. And that depends very much on competition and demand.
As long as you are aware that you can buy a purebred puppy for much less than you are paying for your Pomeranian Husky mix, and are not being misled in any way by the breeder, it really is up to you if you wish to pay over the odds for a Pomsky puppy.
Are purebred dogs healthier?
The answer to this question is – usually, no. Being pure-bred is not a guarantee of health. And shockingly, in some cases is a risk factor for health problems.
As you can see in our bulldog example above.
There are a number of other purebred dog breeds that have serious health problems bred right into their body structure. Dogs with flat faces, and dogs with overly long backs relative to their leg length being prime examples.
In addition to which, many pedigree dog breeds, due to being isolated from other dogs for many generations, have have too small a population size for good genetic health.
Small populations are a known factor for increased risk of health issues.
Health testing issues
However, there is a strong ethos of health testing among purebred dog breeders.
And while not all purebred puppies are health tested, it is probably true to say that thorough health testing is less common among breeders of ‘designer-dog cross-breeds’.
When you buy a first generation cross-breed each of the parents of your puppy should have had any health tests relevant to their own breed.
Puppy mill issues
Purebred breeders often claim that designer dogs are usually bred in puppy mills. And we all agree that puppy mills are a bad thing.
In fact, puppy mills often churn out purebred dogs too. The important thing here is to avoid buying a puppy mill dog of any kind. You can find information to help you in our guide to buying a puppy.
What is the point in a Pomsky?
Those opposed to the Pomeranian Husky mix would argue that it does nothing to enhance either breed.
The point of breeding Pomskies is to produce a pretty fluffy dog that looks like a husky but is smaller and more manageable.
The husky is a wonderfully friendly dog, but his size and exuberance can be an issue in some homes.
However, there are many other small breeds (and mix breeds) that have similar qualities as Pomskies, without the price tag.
Remember that first generation crosses can be unpredictable. They don’t usually turn out to be mid-way between the two breeds in every (or even any) respect
The point of Pomskies is often also of course, for Pomsky breeders to make money. But then the same applies to many purebred dog breeders too.
Pomsky dog summary
The Pomsky is a small dog with a husky like appearance created by mixing Pomeranians with Siberian Huskies.
Some Pomskies grow larger than intended and need more exercise and training than expected.
Like many purebred dog breeders, some of those breeding Pomskies are doing it purely for profit.
Others are excited at the idea of being part of a movement to create a brand new breed of dog, and hope that the Pomsky will one day be a recognised breed in its own right.
Those behind the Pomsky Club of America seem to have this aim in sight.
If you are prepared to take a gamble on how your puppy turns out, and as with any puppy purchase don’t have an ethical objection to dogs being bred for sale, then a Pomsky puppy might be a great match for you.
Otherwise, finding a full grown Pomsky or looking for an alternative breed might suit you better.
Tonya Ryan says
I have a Siberian female husky and would love to have a Pomsky mated with her, I do not want to be a breeder, I just want a family……