Pomchi (Pomeranian Chihuahua mix)
What is a Pomchi? Also known as Chimeranian, Pom-Chi, Pomahuahua, and Chi-Pom, the Pomchi is a cross-breed dog between the Chihuahua and the Pomeranian breeds. Would you like a fluffy, small dog full of spirit? Well, the Pomchi is here for you! Energetic, playful, and devoted, these small pups have inherited among the best qualities from their parent breeds.
The Pomeranian Chihuahua mix, often affectionately referred to as a "Pomchi," is a delightful and popular hybrid breed that combines the charming characteristics of both the Pomeranian and Chihuahua. Potential owners should be aware of several key traits when considering this mix. Pomchis are typically small in size, inheriting their diminutive stature from their Chihuahua lineage. They are known for their lively and spirited nature, often displaying a confident and sometimes feisty personality. Due to their size, Pomchis are well-suited for apartment living or smaller living spaces, making them an excellent choice for urban dwellers.
These dogs tend to be quite loyal and affectionate, forming strong bonds with their owners. However, their loyalty can sometimes translate into separation anxiety if they are left alone for extended periods, making them an ideal choice for those who can provide consistent companionship. Pomchis are known to be alert and make excellent watchdogs, often barking to alert their owners of any perceived threats or unfamiliar visitors.
The mix's appearance can vary, as it inherits features from both parent breeds. They typically have a foxy face, pointed ears, and a fluffy coat, which may come in various colors. Their grooming needs can range from minimal to moderate, depending on the coat type they inherit, and regular brushing is often necessary to prevent matting.
In terms of energy, Pomchis are quite active and enjoy playtime and exercise, making them a great fit for families and individuals who enjoy outdoor activities. Training can be a bit of a challenge due to their strong-willed nature, but with patience and consistency, Pomchis can be well-behaved and obedient companions. In conclusion, potential Pomchi owners should be prepared for a lively and affectionate canine companion that requires regular socialization, exercise, and attention to thrive as a cherished member of the family.
Being a little affectionate and sweet pooch, it bonds really fast and very strongly with its family. Although the Pomchi is tiny, this adorable and loyal dog tends to act like a big dog. As such, he's always on guard to protect its territory and family, but it's far much hilarious and cute than it's threatening. Although they don't make good guard dogs, they can be little watchdogs that will always alert you when there's a visitor around.
As there is no set standard behavior or appearance of most crossbreeds, there will be varying differences between individual dogs of this Promerian-Chihuahua cross. But the Pomchi tends to inherit a few traits from their parents. Just like the Promerian and Chihuahua, they are quite smart, affectionate and lively. As is common to small-breed dogs, there tend to be a few behavioral issues in Pomchis. If not properly socialized, they can be aggressive, shy and fearful towards strangers. It is absolutely vital to socialize and train these little dogs during their impressionable and early years.
What is the best home for a Pomchi dog?
The Pomchi is a versatile crossbreed dog that thrives well in various settings and families, thanks to its unique lineage. They can be fantastic companions for seniors and singles, while elderly children in families will appreciate their cuddliness and loyalty. The Pomchis can also be ideal dwellers in small condos and apartments, as they do not require a ton of exercises, but they also enjoy living in the countryside and suburbs.
Pomchi size
When it comes to size, there are very few standards since this is a fairly new breed. As such, it can be assumed that a Pomchi will be a tiny dog considering the size of its Promerian and Chihuahua parents. Full grown Pomchi dog weighs around 4 to 10 pounds and stands 6 to 9 inches in height. The small hybrid dogs has established themselves as American favorites. Some Pomchis are, therefore bound to be small, while others will be bigger. Males are usually larger than females.
Life Expectancy of a Pomchi
Although it's a relatively smaller breed compared to others, it outshines other breeds in regard to lifespan. The Pomchi can live for as long as 12 to 18 years as a loyal family companion, depending on the dog's health, and how well the Pomchi is fed. To ensure your Pomchi lives an exceptionally long life, ensure it feeds on an organic diet. Also ensure to give your dog total affection and exercise him sufficiently.
History of the Pomchi
The Pomchi is likely to have existed naturally over a long period of time. But the intentional mixing of the Promerian and Chihuahua began in North American during the late 1990s and early 2000s. As the production of designer breeds went up, breeders decided to mix the two breeds with the objective of creating an adorable, small dog for companionship. As the demand for the Pomchi pups grew, production has increased over the years. Despite their status as a designer breeds, these cross-breed dogs can be found in breed-specific rescues and shelters.
Pomchi Characteristics
Featuring fox-like characteristics, the Pomchi is easy to recognize. A majority of these cross-breeds have furry, little erect ears. The round eyes have made them very cute, with most of them resembling small Pomeranians with faces from the Chihuahua. Pomchis have strong and short legs, oval-shaped and fined-boned bodies, as well as puffed and semi-curled tails.
Pomchi Personality
Although Pomchis are tiny in stature, they have a great personality. Most enthusiasts of Pomchis have reported the tiny dogs having lots of spunk and energy. Even if Pomchis have lots of energy bursts, they are attention seekers and also like good cuddle sessions the humans they love. Due to their great personalities, ensure you train and socialize your Pooch as early as you can. If not well trained and socialized early enough, Pom Chi dogs have tendencies of being fearful and aggressive toward other animals as well as strangers.
Training patiently will prevent Pomeranian Chihuahua cross dog from being extremely yappy. Barking has an advantage though, such that the Pomchi will alert you on any incoming visitor. To help your dog not to bark at any small thing, all you need is to train him.
Are Pomchi Good Family Dogs?
While they get along well with other family members, Pomchis tend to have a favorite person at home where they can stick at all times. As such, these dogs are very much ideal for couples or single people's homes.
Pomchi Coat Colors
With brown color being the most common among these crossbreed dogs, the Pomchis are also available in a variety of colors including: fawn, white, dark brown, tan, gray, cream, sable and merle.
Pomchi Pedigree
Being a result of purebred Chihuahuas and Promerians, the Pomchi designer crossbreeds available are referred to as First Generation breeds (F1s). Their behavior and appearance can be unpredictable since F1 Pomchis can favor traits more from one parent than the other or take an equal share of traits from both parent breeds. The successive breeding of these original Pomchi puppies eventually results in more standardized temperaments and looks that can be predicted, but the sequence of these events takes time even decades. At this moment, the outcome of every pup is uncertain, and it's like a roll of the dice.
Fortunately, the Pomchi pups are very adorable regardless of which parent is favored more. When Multigenerational crossing will happen over some years, the Pomchis will be considered as purebred dogs. This is when registration in prestigious registries such as the American Kennel Association will happen.
Feeding the Pomchi
Although they are such tiny dogs, these pooches surprisingly have big appetites! One can easily think they are some kind of retriever due to the amount of food they are capable of consuming. Of course, any responsible owner needs not to indulge these voracious appetites they have to prevent them from becoming obese. For these compact, tiny dogs to thrive, they need foods that are nutritionally dense.
Even the slightest weight gain is likely to cause havoc on the health of your dog since the frames of these dogs don't do very well with extra weights. Obesity in Pomchis can cause diabetes, joint pains, and heart complications among other issues. You have to be careful about what you feed your Pomchi if you want a long and healthy life for him.
To pull all these off, ensure you feed your Pomchi with dry kibble that is of high quality. The best food is that which has been specifically formulated for active, small dogs. Due to the predisposition of Pomchis to troubles in oral health such as bad breath, tooth loss, tooth decay, and gum disease, you should avoid canned and wet foods. Always consult your vet about the diet you should feed your Pomchi dog. Manufacturers of dog foods may offer a few guidelines, but they may not understand the specific needs of your puppy more than your vet.
How to care for Pomchi?
Pomchis are fairly easy dogs to take care of. Since Pom-Chi don't require as much exercise, they enjoy relaxing in a small condo or an apartment as long as Pom Chi dogs have company. Due to their affectionate nature, Pomchis don't like being left alone for long periods of time as they can easily suffer from separation anxiety. Ensure there's always someone at home to give your Pomchi Company.
In addition to the grooming procedures, ensure your Pomchi has worm and flea treatments. Also, check to see if their nails are clicking on the floor so that you can trim them. Ensure to regularly take your Pomchi to the vet for dental issues checkups and overall health of your dog.
Pomchi Puppies
Although Pomchi puppies are adorable and cute, Pom-Chis can demand a lot in terms of work and care from the owner. From the time they get to your home, Pomeranian and Chihuahua mix dogs need to be socialized and trained early enough, and this should be done often and continue in their entire life.
To lay the foundation for your Pomchi pup to have basic manners, kindergarten classes will be ideal. This also helps your Pomchi to socialize with new pets and people. You don't have to carry the training burden by yourself, as you can use the many dependable and wonderful services available.
Here are some important facts to note about Pomchi puppies
Pom-Chi dogs could be small, but they do have loud barks that they use whenever they see a stranger or visitor approaching your home.
Apart from being a loving companion, the Pomchi is also an entertaining dog breed. Pom Chi learn tricks so quickly, and with treats, they will perform them frequently.
A Pomchi looks like a small ball of fluff in puppyhood but will grow quickly into an energetic and independent dog in about 10 months.
Pomchi Exercise Needs
Although this little dog has huge energy levels, the requirements for exercise are quite low, but a little bit more when compared to other smaller dog breeds. A walk lasting half an hour per day is enough. This relates more to the Promerian parent who was a sheepherder prior to becoming a companion dog. This can be done along the blocks but not through the fields, making them suitable for city living and apartments. The Pomchis also love spending time running with their owners or playing fetch outside with a ball. Since the dogs are somehow stubborn, and so you are highly advised not to let them off the strap.
How to groom a Pomchi
Grooming needs can vary from one Pomchi to another depending on the type of coat a dog has. Those with longer, fuller coats will definitely have more grooming needs than the short-haired Pomchis, but this doesn't mean that the latter should be neglected.
Dog crossbreeds are likely to have the coats of the two original breeds or a mixture. In pomchis, this depends on the dominant parents' genetic influence. In a healthy Pomchi, the coat will be soft and shiny. The coats can also be single or double, and long or short. To keep Pomchis looking their best, they just need haircuts especially if they have undercoats, which means they could be having a fluffy and thick coat.
Do Pomchi dogs shed?
Shedding in Pomchis depend on the coat type they inherit. To determine what you are likely to expect, you can examine the grooming and shedding requirements of the Chihuahuas and Pomeranians. In general, Pomchi dogs are known to shed once a year.
For any dog breed, matted hair is very unpleasant. If you happen to own a Pomchi ensure brushing and grooming becomes a regular weekly routine. It is important to note that Pomchis have sensitive skin. With that in mind, ensure you brush your dog with a soft-bristled brush, and conduct the brushing exercise with much care. Avoid metal brushes at all times, as they are likely to cause discomfort and irritation.
The Pomchis need to be brushed regularly, at least two times a week. For long-haired Pomchis, the frequency should be increased. This helps to remove dead skin/hair and maintains shiny and soft coats.
For people with dander allergies, Pomchis is not advised, since they are massive seasonal shedders. They shed heavily two times in a year so that new hair can grow. It happens during fall and spring. Although their low frequency of shedding increases the rate of grooming, it is ideal for vacuuming. You will need to take your Pomchi to the groomer every 2 months for trimming. This helps to keep your Pomeranian Chihuahua mix puppy's coat healthy.
Bathing should only be done when necessary using a mild shampoo recommended by your vet. Frequent bathing can be harmful to the skin of your dog since it removes the natural moistures and oils that keep the skin of the dog healthy.
Pomchi temperament
With a unique little temperament and character, Pomchis are in nature quite similar to the breeds that produce them. But it's important to note that with temperament, it's not easy to know if a Pomchi will be more of Chihuahua or Pomeranian. Science doesn't offer definite results with hybrid cross-breeds. Chihuahuas are energetic, alert and lively. To make them aggressive or nervous, it takes little effort. On the other hand, Pomeranians are bright, curious and fun. They are also perky, obedient and always approachable and friendly.
Pomchi's temperament as expected is a mixture of each breed's behavioral characteristics, which they only show when they become adults. When left alone for long, small dogs like Pomchis can become very vocal as well as suffer separation anxiety.
Potty Training a Pomchi
All you need is to successfully house-train your Pomchi With consistency and patience while house training your Pomchi, you will absolutely achieve success. Ensure to get a big enough dog crate where a Pomchi can easily lay down, stretch, and stand up comfortably. But it shouldn't be extremely spacious in such a way that your Pomchi can make one corner of the crate his toilet.
Next, set a schedule that your dog will follow when he wants to 'potty' either in the crate or outdoors. Since your Pomchi will definitely not want soil at his sleeping place, he'll go whenever taken outside the crate. generally, crating lets you pretty control your dog much where and when he eliminates.
Since you now know when your Pomchi is likely to relieve, reward your him for going to potty outside and not soiling in the crate. This, in turn, reinforces good continuous behavior, which eventually becomes a habit.
During the first nights, it could be tiresome since most Pomchi puppies are used to relieving themselves severally at night. Always be alert, and whenever you hear your Pomchi whimpering at night in his crate, get up and let him relieve. In every 2 to 3 hours, take your Pomchi to the toilet area designated. Always observe and note a potty dance by your dog. With consistent treats and praises, your dog will manage to get the house rules.
In case accidents occur, never punish your Pomchi, since this is detrimental and ineffective to the development of your dog as well as your relationship with him. If your dog happens to potty indoors, stay calm and don't punish. Gently pick him up and take him to his toilet area, then praise him.
Training a Pomchi
Just like most small dogs, these hybrid dogs respond well to reward-based training. When your Pomchi behaves as you want him to, always reward and praise the dog with toy treats and food. If food rewards perform better, you can swap off some of their daily food in order to accommodate the 'food rewards'. You could also use playing coupled with praises as rewards. Eventually, the dog will associate certain behaviors with something good happening. As such, the dog will definitely want to repeat the behavior well-referred to as Operant behavior. Pomchis can be at times hectic to train as a result of their parent's stubborn nature, particularly the Chihuahua. All you need is patience!
Some of the handy tips for managing excessive barking include the following
Avoid yelling constantly at your dog, or it could just become a contest of who can be louder in yelling.
Ensure you understand what causes your dog to bark. If the Pomchi is barking at people paassing by, make sure your dog never goes outside unsupervised. You can move your dog to a different room if he happens to be barking at a particular window or close the curtains.
You can ignore the barking and give a reward immediately he stops it. Pomchi will associate keeping quiet with a positive experience and will want to keep repeating it.
Teach a command such as "Go to bed!" You do this by throwing treats to the dog's bed as you utter the command. If he happens to bark at the mailmen or guests, utter the command "Go to bed!" to remove him from the barking situation.
Ensure the dog is stimulated most times, as a bored Pomchi is likely to keep barking.
If the Chihuahua Pomeranian mix dog gets socialized from a young age, the dog stands a better chance of not barking unreasonably. The socialization sessions should be upbeat and short, as you introduce a few experiences each time.
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