Pomsky vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Pomskies are such cute little wolf-like dogs, you just wish they’d been around much sooner.

They’re a fairly new addition to the breed of designer dogs, believed to have originated in 2009, in the United States. Today they are a well known, and sought after designer dog breed.

They are a cross between the Pomeranian and a Siberian Husky. As a designer dog breeds, the Pomeranian Husky isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club. There is a Pomsky Club of America and they are wanting to get the breed registered.

The Griffon Nivernais is a working breed dog originating in France and used as a hunting dog because of his exceptional scent skills and his alertness with hunting.

The idea was to develop a dog that looked much like the hunting dogs of the Middle Ages. French noblemen kept these dogs but the breed disappeared somewhat after the French Revolution, being restored again in 1925.

The restoration of the breed was done based on the Grand Griffon Vendeen but other breeds were also used such as the Otter- and Foxhounds. The breed has yet to receive official recognition by the AKC but it is recognized by both the FCI and the UKC.

Just like most hybrid breeds, the Pomsky can have mixed looks – taking more after one or the other dog.

They can stand between 25 to 40cm in height and weigh between 9 to 14kg. The dog looks like a small Husky, but even so, in one litter, there can be some variety between the puppies in terms of looks and temperament.

The dogs have a soft double coat that keeps the dog comfortable in icy temperatures. Coat colors vary and the coats can be grey and white, a reddish brown or even solid white.

Temperament:

You’ll find your Pomsky to be amusing and entertaining as he is quite clownish.He fits quite easily into life in the city or in the countryside.

Wherever you are, part of being a responsible dog owner includes taking him for walks and seeing that he gets enough exercise. He is a vocal dog, which might not be good in the city if you live near to your neighbors as he can howl and whine quite a bit.

Training and socialization will be important for him, particularly as he tends to be nervous around strangers. Socialization makes him obedient, well balanced an well behaved.

They are playful, loving dogs and intelligent too so you won’t have trouble getting him trained and socialized.

As a medium sized dog, the Griffon Nivernais stands at 55 to 62cm in height and weighs between about 22 and 25kg.

He is recognized easily by his distinctive rough or shaggy coat which is a grey with fawn around the muzzle and legs. Other colors can be black and fawn. Sometimes this blend of colors gives him a grizzled look in appearance.

He is also noted for the hairy eyebrows, a beard and mustache. He has dark brown eyes, black nose, long floppy ears and a tail that is held upright and with a slight curve. He is a muscular dog with a deep chest and a slight arch in the back.

Temperament:

Stubborn, courageous and independent, the Griffon Nivernais is a hunting dog with amazing scenting abilities. He is a dog used to working in a pack with other dogs so he tolerates other dogs well. He is a friendly dog, getting on well with children as well.

A Pomsky is such a great pet to have. They’re intelligent dogs and respond well to training and socialization.

They’re playful, confident and full of life and want nothing more than to be an active member of the family. He will need quite a bit of exercise and will love playing with the children in the home.

Provide him with love and care, and you can count him in as a faithful, loving pet and companion.

Your Griffon Nivernais is a sociable, stubborn, independent dog who loves to be around his human family members.

Socialization and training will do him good and round him off, making him obedient and responsive to your commands. He isn't an aggressive dog, but is even tempered and confident.

Exercise him well, feed him quality food, give him a nice warm, dry place to sleep, just like any other family member of yours, and you'll be rewarded with the companionship of a faithful, loving friend.

Your Husky and Pomeranian mix promises to be resilient in the face of illness if you feed him well and exercise him. Still, no dog is immune from the many common health issues there are that plague dogs.

As a responsible dog owner, as soon as your pet is showing signs of being sick and in distress, you need to get him to the vet. Some common dog illnesses include bloat, cancer, skin allergies and hip dysplasia.

Bloat, also known as Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus:

This can be deadly for dogs, and when you see your dog’s stomach swollen and hard and he is restless and drooling, vet attention is required immediately.

The stomach is twisted and filled with gas that can’t escape. Pressure within the stomach puts pressure on other body organs and this can result in blood flow to the heart being stopped.

There are a number of theories as to why bloat occurs, but it is better to give your pet a couple of smaller meals a day instead of one large one which he gobbles up too quickly.

Chocolate Poisoning:

Its tempting to give your dog a piece of chocolate when he looks so pleadingly at you, but chocolate as well as other human foods can be toxic for your dog.

Chocolate has ingredients which are safe for human consumption but which can lead to a host of medical complications for your dog. Your dog may vomit, have rapid breathing, an increased heart rate and even seizures – it’s just not worth taking the chance.

The typical lifespan for your Griffon Nivernais is 10 to 14 years. Even though you're highly unlikely to spend much time with him at the vet, there are one or two common dog illnesses worth knowing about -

Ear Infections:

It is the fate of many dogs with floppy ears that they are prone to developing ear infections. You may notice him shaking his head canine, his ears may be red and there could even be a discharge.Get him to the vet as ear infections can be promptly treated with a course of medication.

Immunizations:

Remember to have your Griffon Nivernais puppy vaccinated at 6 weeks of age. Puppies are vulnerable to horrible diseases which can sap the very life from them. These diseases are distemper, canine hepatitis, parvovirus as well as rabies. The puppy’s first vaccinations should be at 6 weeks of age followed by a second vaccination 2 to 4 weeks later.

The thick coat sheds quite a bit so it will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it vibrant and shiny.

Nails will need to be trimmed regularly if they don’t wear down themselves. You will also need to check your dogs teeth when you brush him. A bad tooth can cause ill health that can damage the heart and kidney.

Exercise:

Your Pomsky is an energetic dog that requires a lot of exercise. While he will love a walk every day, they want more than that – loving to play ball- and frisbee games with all that energy.

Pomsky owners can’t be couch potatoes as this energetic dog will become bored, frustrated and destructive, and then an irresponsible owner blames the dog.

Diet:

With so much energy, your Pomsky is going to require high quality food that ensures his energy levels remain high. Commercially manufactured dog foods can be wonderfully convenient, and the best ones can be excellent for your pet, with the right balance of vitamins and minerals.

High quality dry kibble can get a bit boring so add in some home-made food to the dry kibble to make it more interesting. Dogs thrive on simplicity, so boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be 100% sufficient for him. This can be chopped up into his dry kibble occasionally as a welcome treat.

Also, your pet will thrive on a bit of raw meat added in from time to time. Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

This breed needs to be walked daily, and he needs a large space to run and play. Take him on walks, to the park, or give him a good game with ropes and balls.

Grooming:

In spite of his long, shaggy coat, the Griffon Nevernais doesn't need any special grooming and his shaggy coat will require brushing twice a week to remove loose hairs. When you brush him, you can also check for fleas and ticks.You get special flea combs for this. You can speak to your vet about recommendations too.

Because his coat is of a harsh texture it doesn't tangle or matt. Bathing will only be necessary when he becomes super dirty as too much bathing removes natural oils. He will need to have his nails trimmed if they don't wear down naturally, and he will also need to have his ears cleaned to keep them free of wax and dirt and to prevent ear infections.

Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week will also help towards preventing dental disease.

Diet:

He is a high energy dog so he will need to get top quality food. You can feed him the best commercially manufactured food but its to his advantage to include some home-made food too such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables. He'll also need some raw meat from time to time and a constant supply of fresh, cool water.