Pomchi Breed Info: Size, Color Varieties, Lifespan and More…

The Pomchi is a loving, sassy and bold little dog with personality bursting at the seams.

If you are looking for a tiny dog that is larger than life, look no further. These little guys are suited to city living and will do fine in an apartment. They are fairly easy to care for and don’t need too much exercise either.

The Pomchi is a designer dog crossed from a Pomeranian and a Chihuahua.

This dog will stop people in their tracks with its cuteness. They are total lap dogs (just like their parent breeds) and will love spending time with their family.

What Is A Pomchi?

Pomchi On Sofa

A Pomchi is a cross between a Pomeranian and a Chihuahua.

These designer dogs were bred to be the perfect toy breed. By mixing characteristics from both their parents, breeders hoped to create the perfect little companion dog. They were first bred in the US although it’s not known exactly when.

The origin of the Pomchi’s parent breeds is quite unusual.

  • The Pomeranian is a breed that arrived in the USA from Germany. It was originally bred from sled dogs; hence its gorgeous double coat.
  • The Chihuahua is believed to be a descendent from the Aztec dog (the Techichi). The breed was first found in Mexico in the state of Chihuahua, which is how they got their name.

As they are a mixed breed, it’s hard to predict the exact appearance or personality traits of this puppy. You are almost definitely going to get an affectionate, sassy and stubborn, fluff ball. Other characteristics are harder to predict, but that’s all part of the fun with a cross breed!

Pomchi Appearance

A Pomchi Walking

The Pomchi is an adorable dog that is sure to grab everyone’s attention. Being a mixed breed, there are many different ways the parents’ genetics may combine to create puppies with a totally unique appearance. You never really know what you’re going to end up with.

The Pomchis coat could be long or short, single or double layered but it will always be gorgeously soft to touch. They have a large variety of colors but most commonly they are either sable or fawn.

As they are mixes, there is no breed standard for these dogs.

Most of the time, they tend to have the Pomeranian’s oval body shape and fluffiness with the Chihuahua’s face. Their ears stand up on their head and their tail curls up over their body.

Fox-like is best used to describe their appearance.

Height and Weight

Pomchis are extremely small dogs. A full grown one will stand between 6-9 inches tall and weigh 5-12 lbs.

Their size makes them a great dog for apartment living.

Coat and Colors

Their coat comes in a range of colors.

Most commonly they are fawn, cream, tan, chocolate, sable, blue, black or a mix of these colors. Mixes of black and tan or blue and tan are common.

It is particularly rare to find an all black Pomchi. Puppies with more common coat colors will cost less than those with rarer colors.

As for their coat, this depends on which parent they take after. If they take after their Pomeranian parent, their coat is likely to be a long, dense and double layered coat.

If they have a long haired Chihuahua parent, their coat is likely to be a long, thin, single layered coat. However, if the Chihuahua parent is a short haired Chihuahua, then their coat will be short, thin and single layered.

Every version of this dog’s coat is soft, shiny and straight.

Caring For A Pomchi

Pomchis

The Pomchi is a fairly easy dog to care for. They don’t require huge amounts of exercise and they are happy relaxing in an apartment as long as they have company.

Due to their separation anxiety, it’s a good idea to either have someone home with them most of the time or schedule stop ins from friends.

Grooming for these dogs is simple. They just require regular brushing and then trips to be professionally trimmed. All the usual applies to these little guys so you should clean their ears, keep their nails cut and make sure they have flea and worm treatments.

Dental care is extremely important with this breed. Be sure to clean their teeth often and check anything that looks wrong with a vet.

Exercise Needs

The Pomchi is a little dog with high energy levels. However, the exercise requirements for this breed are pretty low. They only need around a half an hour walk each day. You could split this into two walks or you could just take them out once.

They are happy to walk around the block and do not need long walks through fields. This is why they are well suited to apartment and city living.

These dogs may be stubborn at times and due to this it is not wise to let them off the leash. Their recall is not brilliant and this could put them in a dangerous situation, especially because they are particularly small and could be easily hurt or lost.

Grooming and Shedding

Regular brushing is important with a Pomchi. You should be brushing your dog a minimum of twice a week. If you have a long haired Pomchi, it should be more than this. Regular brushing helps remove dead hair/skin and keeps their coat soft and shiny.

Pomchis are not massive shedders, but they do shed seasonally. This is where they have a huge shed twice a year to make room for new hair growth. This happens around spring and fall. Due to this, these dogs are not suitable for anyone with dander allergies.

Their low shedding is great for vacuuming but does mean more grooming. They will need to be taken to the groomers at least every two months for a trim. These trips will also keep your pup free of mats and make sure their coat is super healthy.

Feeding and Diet

As they are only small, these dogs do not need that much food. They only need around 40 calories per lb of their body weight. This is usually half a cup of dry food.

We would recommend a food focused on small or toy dogs as they will have smaller sized kibble. Wet food is not ideal for this breed because they are prone to dental problems.

Pomchis can be fussy eaters so it may take a while to find food they are happy with. If you are picking up a puppy from a breeder, it’s best to keep them on the food they are already eating.

Make sure that any food you choose has a high protein content. You should also avoid foods that are high in cereals, corn syrup or contain food dyes.

Small dogs are prone to obesity because it’s easy to over-feed them. Once you have worked out your dogs daily food requirements we would recommend setting some of that aside for training purposes. You could also introduce healthy dog treats or fruit and vegetables to vary their diet.

Known Health Problems

Being a mixed breed is a good thing for your Pomchi’s health, especially as Pomeranians have a small gene pool. Crossing them makes them much healthier than a pedigree. But, if you’re like most dog parents (or parents-to-be), you care for your pet immensely. Having pet insurance could save you from the headache of going to the vets with reimbursement for every vet bill from now on!

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Breed Specific Conditions

Not all providers cover hereditary conditions linked to breed. PetPlan does.

However, they aren’t immune from some health conditions inherited from their parent breeds.

Things to look out for in these dogs are eye issues (e.g. cataracts or progressive retinal atrophy), hypothyroidism and oral health issues. Both the Pomeranian and the Chihuahua are extremely prone to oral health problems. We would encourage you to check the dental history of a breeder’s dogs before you buy a puppy.

You should expect them to live 12 to 15 years. Small dogs tend to have a longer lifespan than larger dogs. This means the Pomchi will be your best friend for many, many years.

Pomchi Personality and Temperament

Pomchi Sat Down

When you cross two dog breeds together, the only disadvantage you have over a pedigree is that their temperament may be somewhat unpredictable.

This is because you are mixing two separate breeds and each puppy will be a different mix of each of their parents. The best way to tell what your Pomchi’s temperament will be, is to look at mom and dad’s personalities.

  • The Pomeranian is a delightfully affectionate dog who loves people. They’re quite reactive and will bark at pretty much anything. This is a trait that is shared by the Chihuahua as well and is often passed on to the Pomchi. Due to this reactive temperament, the Pomchi actually makes an unusually good watch dog.
  • Chihuahuas are particularly alert dogs and are highly aware of everything going on around them. This sometimes leads to aggressive behaviors, so they need to be socialized properly when they are young. This need for early socialization is also true with the Pomchi as they may inherit this alert, nervous disposition and it can make them wary of strangers.

The Pomchi is a very intelligent dog but has a reputation for being quite difficult to train. Both parent breeds are intelligent dogs, they just have their own mind and they aren’t afraid to follow it.

They are trainable but if they decide they don’t want to do something, they won’t do it. For this reason, it’s best to keep them on a lead when out on walks. These little dogs do enjoy playtime but you have to be careful with them due to their small size.

One issue you may have with the Pomchi is separation anxiety.

These dogs can become quite distressed if left alone for long periods of time. They will most likely bark and may also chew on the furniture. They are okay for short periods of time as long as they have something to keep them entertained.

Is A Pomchi A Good Family Dog?

A Pomchi is not a good dog for families with young children.

Their small size makes them fragile and they are easily injured by the inexperienced handling of small children. They should however, be fine with older children who are able to learn how to correctly handle them.

How To Train a Pomchi

Pomchi

A notoriously stubborn little dog, the Pomchi has a reputation for being difficult to train.

This is not for lack of intelligence. When they want to learn, they are able to do so quite quickly. They respond best to positive reinforcement, so you should reward them when they show the desired behaviors.

As they can be fussy eaters, it’s important to find treats that they’re really interested in. This will be the best way to keep them focused during training time.

These dogs are not overly keen on strangers and may be quite standoffish when they first meet people. One of the best ways to change this is socialization from a young age. Introduce your pup to lots of people and make sure that these interactions are a positive experience.

If your Pomchi gets loud or aggressive with new people, do not punish them. Punishment is not a good way of training these dogs. You should instead try and reward them when they are not barking to reinforce the correct behavior.

Another way to reduce barking in these loud little dogs is to occupy them with something else. This is a good way to combat the separation anxiety as well. Toys are always a good idea to have around. Having a large variety and swapping them out each day will stop your pup from becoming disinterested in them.

Pomchis should also be socialized with other dogs often when they are young. This should help to keep them polite and friendly around other dogs.

A good idea for this is puppy parties. You should be able to find ones specifically aimed at small dogs. They should still always be kept on a lead outside and not left unaccompanied with other dogs.

How Much Does A Pomchi Cost?

A Pomchi will cost between $350 to $1,200. This is a large variation in price but you should generally expect puppies to be around the $900 mark. Some puppies may be less expensive than others in a litter, depending on their colors and markings.

Just make sure you find a reputable breeder. This is someone who has had all of their dogs health checked. They should be able to provide the relevant paperwork if the parent dogs are Kennel Club registered.

Once you are able to go and see the puppies, make sure that the environment they are in looks clean and ask the breeder a ton of questions.

Quick Breed Summary Table

Breed Characteristics
Size:6-9 inches
Weight:5-12 lbs
Lifespan:12 to 15 years
Coat:Long or short, dense or thin, single or double. It all depends on which parent they take after
Color:Fawn, cream, tan, tan and blue, tan and black, chocolate, sable, blue and black
Do They Shed:Only seasonally in spring and fall
Temperament:Affectionate, sassy and alert
Intelligence:Intelligent but stubborn
Socialization:Will need lots of socialization with people and dogs
Destructive Behavior:Extremely likely to bark and may also chew if left alone with nothing to do
People Skills:Affectionate to close family but likely to be standoffish with strangers
Good with Children:Okay with older children but should not live with young children
Activity Levels:Low to medium activity levels. Will only need 30 minutes of walking each day

Summary

The Pomchi is a larger than life character with lots to offer as a companion.

They’re smart and sassy and will always get their way in the end. This dog is best suited to an owner who will be around for them most of the time so they’re not left on their own too much.

They do not need a great deal of exercise which makes them suitable for those of us that prefer a movie marathon than an actual marathon.

This pooch will need regular brushing and trips to the groomers but other than that, their care is not too complicated. Make sure they have a variety of toys and keep an eye on their teeth and weight as well. Then this gorgeous little fluff-ball will be a wonderful addition to your life.

More Pomeranian and Chihuahua Mixes

Want a Pomeranian mix or Chihuahua mix but aren’t keen on the Pomchi? Check out these other hybrid dog breeds:

Pomeranian Mixes

Chihuahua Mixes

About Thomas Woods 224 Articles
Thomas has been a dog lover since he was 6 years old when his parents got him a rescue Labrador. Since then his love for dogs has lead him to study Animal Behavior & Welfare. He now keeps a six year old English Bullmastiff and educates pet parents through his online publication Perfect Dog Breeds.

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