Pomsky vs Miniature Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison

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.

Miniature Siberian Huskies – also known as mini huskies – are your regular Siberian husky bred to be that much smaller than what the breed standard dictates.

They’re sought after by those who love the regular sized Siberian Husky but who find the larger dog too large and boisterous. They come complete with the looks and the temperament of the Siberian Husky but they are smaller.

The origins of these gorgeous Mini huskies is conflicting though as some believe they originated in the USA. The name of Bree Normandin is bandied about when talking of the breed’s origin while other refer to Linda S. Spurlin from Alaska. She became interested in them when her full-sized husky became pregnant by a small dog.

Spurlin used Siberian and Alaskan Huskies as well as small Schipperkes and American Eskimo Dogs to bring about the mini version. They’ve got the same pedigree as the Siberian Husky, but it has been selectively bred for its smaller size, also coming from the Spitz family of dogs.

The Miniature Husky is genetically the same as the larger Siberian Husky and the AKC doesn’t recognize it as a separate breed, but sees it as a different size variation of the working-group Siberian Husky.

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.

Known also as the Alaskan Klee Klai,the Miniature Siberian Husky stands at 33-39cm in height and weighs between 8 - 11kg.

These mini huskies are like the larger huskies and can also come in a range of color variations such as grey and white, black and white or red and white for instance. In typical Spitz dog fashion they have the erect ears and long bushy tail. A striking feature of these dogs is the beautiful eyes – they can be brown but also a mesmerising blue.

Temperament:

This Miniature Siberian Husky is an intelligent dog and you’re not going to have any trouble with him teaching him some basic commands such as sit, lie-down and stay.

You need to know that these dogs aren’t going to be content lying around all day and that they want to be kept busy almost around the clock. They have always been working dogs so he will need plenty of mental – and physical exercise to keep him content. A bored, frustrated Mini Husky will just develop problem behavior through no fault of his own. People who buy high energy dogs have a responsibility towards them to keep them busy and well exercised.

These dogs are similar to their genetic ancestor, the wolf, and instead of barking, you may find him trying to communicate with a howl. One thing is sure, they make great family pets, and their gentle nature allows them to get on well with children and also not to show aggression with other dogs. They’re loyal, outgoing and charming.

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 cuddly Mini Siberian Husky is such an intelligent dog, active and social and guaranteed to make you a splendid pet.

Being somewhat wary and aloof with strangers, they also make good watchdogs. They do well with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

With good care your dog can reach up to 15 years of age, providing you with many years of superb friendship.

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.

Your Miniature Siberian Husky is a healthy dog and you won’t have to spend too much money on him at the vet. However, just like with any other dog, he can battle with some of the common dog diseases -

Cataracts:

This eye problem affects about 10% of all Siberian Huskies and its not limited to old dogs. Juvenile cataracts can affect young dogs too. Luckily the problem isn’t painful for the dog.

Skin problems:

Skin problems can be a concern for the Mini Siberian Husky, especially as one is used to seeing these dogs with thick coats. Follicular dysplasia is a genetic condition that causes patchy hair loss as well as a scaly, infected skin.

Check out that your dog is receiving nutritious food with vitamins and minerals as a zinc deficiency for instance can cause hair loss as well as skin problems.

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:

The Miniature Husky is an active and energetic breed that is going to require a lot of exercise. He is able to adapt to life in the city or the countryside but wherever you keep him as a pet, he will require regular daily exercise.

Don't Allow him to Overheat:

These dogs are used to cold climates so make sure your Mini Siberian Husky doesn’t overheat. Make sure that when he’s outdoors, there is shade for him and a water bowl. You’ll be doing him a real favor if you provide him with a small paddling pool to dip into on a hot day.

Grooming:

These are clean, odorless dogs that actually require little human help to be groomed. You can give your dog a good brush twice a week.

Diet:

Mini Siberian Huskies, like the larger breed, have a high metabolism, so small amounts of highly nutritious food will do well with them. If you intend feeding your one commercially manufactured food, make sure its the high quality food that comes with plenty of minerals and vitamins. Try and avoid the low quality brands that come packed with unhealthy preservatives and colorants.

Dogs do well on simple, nutritious diets, so some boiled chicken, brown rice and raw and cooked vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and spinach added into the dry kibble from time to time will do him wonders.

Also try and include some raw meat into the kibble from time to time. That's it, as simple as that- no exotic, spicy foods and foods which we humans eat such as nuts, chips and chocolate – all can be toxic for your pet and just give him an upset stomach.

Make sure fresh, cool water is constantly available.