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History of the Pomsky
A Pomsky is not a pure breed but rather it is a cross breed between a Pomeranian and a Siberian husky.
Their existence was as a result of an internet meme. A buzzfeed blog post went viral in 2011 and it
featured images of Finnish Lapphund puppies which claimed that they were Siberian husky and
Pomeranian mixes.
This blog post was what made the internet so curious and it increased the demand
for pomsky puppies and with this clout in place, breeders saw it as an opportunity to make it happen
and also make some money out of it. This breed of dogs are considered to be designer dogs and they are
gaining popularity across North America and some parts of Europe.
Due to the fact that there is an
obvious size difference between the Pomeranian and a Siberian husky, to breed these dogs naturally is
very unsafe and because of that pomskies have to be brought into the world through a process called
artificial insemination. Due to the fact that they are brought to life through artificial insemination they
are very rare and also they come with a high price.
Due to the high demand of these puppies, some
breeders turn to unsafe practices to produce more puppies and ones that are also affordable and in the
process of such practices they make use of parents that are more likely to pass on genetic
predispositions and even health issues which would affect the puppy in its lifetime so before you pick a
breeder to get a puppy from you should be wary of the inexpensive ones or those who offer them for
free and make proper research on the breeder you eventually pick to purchase your puppy from.
Also,
because this dog is a cross breed, the American Kennel Club does not recognize this dog as a pure breed.
In most cases, pomskies are often given out to shelters and pet rescues because most people do not
seem to deal with their excessive barking and their willful personalities.
Appearance and size
At first glance, the pomsky looks like a fluffy mini wolf and because of its unique appearance it seems to
catch the eye of many dog owners all around the world. Everyone wants to have their hands on a wolf
but this isn’t a safe idea so alternatively, you can have a pomsky as a substitute for such cravings. Their
physical appearance are actually unpredictable and although the puppies always come out cute, it is still
hard to tell what would come out of the mother.
Since this is a new mix, breeders are still trying to twist
its look to look for the perfect look for it to be set as the breeds standard but in most cases they tend to
take the looks of a Siberian husky. This dog as mentioned before looks more like a Siberian husky but
with a smaller stature and with this type of breeding you just can’t know what will come out, you have
two puppies with one looking like a Siberian husky and the other looking like a Pomeranian in the same
litter. They usually have coats ranging from short to long and they are double coated. They come in
various colors and some of them include: Gray and white, Black and white, Red and white, Blue and
white, Pure white and also brown.
They mostly have the coloring and also markings of a Siberian husky
and the coat of a Pomeranian. Their height ranges between 10 and 15 inches and can weigh as small as
20 all the way to 30 pounds.
Grooming
As mentioned earlier, the pomsky takes the coat of a Pomeranian and they also have a wonderful coat
and the colors of their coat are always similar to their mothers. They also need constant brushing
starting at an early age, they need to be brushed between 3 to 6 times a week. Also, having such a cute
dog would also require to take it to a professional groomer once in a while to have that professional
touch on them and to have them looking dazzling always. This mix is a heavy shedder and they can shed
almost all year round and they even shed more during warm seasons. This also means that in a year you
will have to brush them up about twice a day for about 6 months and failure to do so would leave you
with dog hair around your house. The more efforts you put into it, the more the amount of hair would
reduce but no matter what you do, it would not disappear completely and even after all the brushing
has been done you also need to provide time for cleaning.
A vacuum cleaner is the best tool for this job
as it would save you lots of stress and energy so if you are thinking of getting a pomsky or already have
one you should consider getting one if you do not already have. Asides brushing, you also need to
provide time to take care of other needs like cleaning their ears about twice a month to prevent
infections, bathing them once a month or whenever they get dirty and also clean their teeth about once
or twice weekly to keep it clean and also prevent bacteria growth in them.
Temperament
Just like how their physical characteristics are very hard to predict, their temperament also falls in the
category of it being very unpredictable and they would depend on each puppy’s individual genetic
makeup. In most cases, the pomsky would inherit the traits of both a Siberian husky and the Pomeranian
and with the traits of both parents they are very intelligent, loving and can be very playful which are the
major traits of a Pomeranian and Siberian husky.
Apart from their good traits, they also have some
which people aren’t very comfortable with, just like their parents they tend to be talkative dogs who
would very often whine and howl and also bark unnecessarily and they also tend to be yappy. If you are
someone who is very sensitive to noise you should put this into consideration before heading to own
one of them. Like Pomeranians, the pomsky can be very protective and they can grow to be very good
guard dogs.
Despite their small size, if they see something as a threat they would want to charge and
eliminate it, most times it is cute but in some other cases it can be annoying especially when it is
unnecessary. Some pomskies can be very nervous around children so that should also be considered
when bringing this dog into a large family. In summary, there is no written book or guide on how this
breed behaves as they are a new breed and it is still evolving and there isn’t enough information but for
better understanding, it is important to know in most cases they would pick rains from both parents.
Training and exercise
Pomskies are highly intelligent and it is all thanks mainly to their Pomeranian parent. This dog reponds
very well to positive and reward based trainings. However, just like their Pomeranian parent they can
also want to be stubborn and be willful just like their Siberian husky parent and for training a dog, that a
very hard combination so in order to train this mix properly it would require some patience as well as
positive leadership and failure to give them proper training would result in various behavioral
problems.For instance, just like the Pomeranians behave, pomskies tend to guard resources and if this
behavior isn’t corrected early enough it can become very serious.
If you are new to owning a dog, it is
better you start with the basics like teaching them how to use the potty and also teaching them how to
walk on a leash. Training a puppy isn’t an easy task but it is required you train your dog on some
manners while they are at a young age because if they get to realize that you can’t really control them
they will exploit it and use it to their advantage as any smart puppy is very much capable of this. So to
prevent this you have to show the dog youre in control but that does not mean you should be harsh on
them.
Health
Due to the fact that they are a completely new breed, it is very hard to tell if they have any hereditary
health issues. There isn’t much information of the health of a pomskyit is assumed that some of the
issues the parents face could also manifest in the puppies based on how genetics work. Pomeranians
suffer from dental issues so if you have a pomsky it is very important you take them for regular dental
checkups to prevent buildup of plaque. As for their other parent which is the husky, they can also suffer
from various eye problems and hip dysplasia.
It is also important to get the lineage ratio of a pomsky
from your breeder before making a purchase because different ratios would come with their own
problems. For example, a 25/75 pomsky is more likely to suffer from a Pomeranian-specific illness but
regardless the health issues they inherit, it is very important to take your dog on regular vet checkups
and ensure they get enough exercise daily. A good diet is also required for them and also their dental
health is also one of the top priorities so it’s important to know the type of dog food you feed them.
All dogs have health problems so it is very impossible to get a dog
without an inherited health issue but what is important is to raise them well and also take care of them
and you would have less problems.
Why you should get a Pomsky
Pomskies are dogs with lots of energy so they would always be there to keep you engaged whenever
you are bored. Due to the fact that they are very intelligent thanks to their Pomeranian parent, they are
easier to train compared to other dogs and they give positive feedbacks as long as they are being
rewarded. They are very small dogs so they fit perfectly for an apartment dog.
They are very alert dogs
and protective as well so they can also be used as guard dogs in the house. These cute designer dogs can
also be a source of admiration for visitors because it is very hard to resist their looks.
Where to get them and Price
The price of an average standard Pomsky would be hovering around $1,000 per pup but in some cases
you can also see them as high as $5,000 depending on their ancestry and this is just the beginning of the
expenses when it comes to owning this dog. The average cost the first year for having a medium sized
dog is around $2,900 according to the American Kennel Club but the good news is that from the second
year it would not be above $2,000 again. Below are the list of expenses you would have to cover if you
own this dog:
• $400 on toys and some other accessories
• $400 on feeding
• $400 for their medication
• $650 on vet bills
Even though this new breed has not registered too many health problems it would be a safe option to
get a health insurance for them which would cost about $200 to $700 per year. You can get this dog
from a registered breeder or from a pet rescue or shelter.