Pomsky Breeding in France: How Do You Choose Your Breeder?

Pomsky breeding in France has to meet a certain number of obligations. First of all, the Pomsky is a cross between a Husky and a Pomeranian, two breeds that have been known for decades. A Pomsky should have no breeds in its DNA other than the Husky and the Pomeranian. Some breed clubs accept the presence of another breed, Malamute or Samoyed, at up to 15%.

The aim of this cross is to obtain a small dog suited to city and family life. The Pomsky has been bred for more than 10 years in the United States and more recently in Europe, Russia and Thailand, for example.

The Pomsky is a non-LOF cross, so it has no legal standing. Only professionals holding a SIREN number are entitled to sell a Pomsky. That regulation protects private buyers from a great many scams, because there will be no recourse available if you buy a “fake Pomsky”.

Pomsky kennels: the importance of buying from a professional

As I said above, it is strictly forbidden for a private individual to sell a Pomsky, which is a non-LOF dog.

A private individual is prohibited from selling a non-LOF dog whatever the cross. Anyone selling a non-LOF dog without a SIREN number faces a penalty of 7,500 euros per dog sold. A private individual is entitled to sell one LOF litter a year and must declare the income received, which is subject to income tax as non-commercial profits.

A private individual selling one LOF litter a year is subject to the same legal obligations as a professional.

A Pomsky breeder must therefore have a SIREN number, but they must also hold the ACACED.

The ACACED is a certificate of knowledge that is compulsory for any professional or volunteer working in the animal sector. That training provides the skills needed to meet the needs of domestic animals.

Be careful, though: having professional facilities does not mean your puppy will not be socialised. On the contrary, it mainly guarantees you a dog that has grown up in a healthy environment, surrounded by trained people — none of which calls into question the love shown to them or the time spent with them. Facilities that meet the standards are, in fact, very expensive and complicated in terms of procedure (planning permission, declaration to the town hall, compliance with fire regulations, receiving the public). So it is rare to find breeders meeting the standards in France, and championing home-based breeding suits everyone.

The importance of the Embark test in Pomsky breeding

Since the Pomsky is a cross and a non-LOF dog, it legally has no value and no existence. So you are signing up for a type, and recourse will be complicated or impossible in the event of a scam.

Embark is a DNA test that every breeder should carry out on all their breeding dogs. The test costs around a hundred euros, so why not do it and play the transparency game if the dogs are genuine Pomskies?

Here is what an Embark test looks like: it gives the percentage of Husky and Pomeranian DNA. It also highlights the presence of other breeds if there are any, and therefore lets you detect whether your future puppy is a genuine Pomsky. For information, you can very easily carry out an Embark test on your dog as a private individual, in order to find out whether you have bought a “genuine” Pomsky.

The Embark test guarantees you a genuine Pomsky but also a dog free of genetic disease. Embark screens for more than 230 genetic diseases on the dog tested, so that you can be certain of having a healthy dog. The fact that it is a cross does not mean health should be neglected or forgotten. Just like LOF dogs, it should be tested.

A Pomsky kennel will therefore provide you with the tests of your puppy’s parents at the time of booking. Be careful to have the tests before paying a deposit, or to check that it is written down in black and white that you will receive them. It is easy to claim the dogs are tested and never provide those tests.

The importance of choosing the right crosses

A Pomsky, then, is a first-generation cross between a Husky and a Pomeranian. Here is the link to our article on generations and the Pomsky: Pomsky generations F1, F2, F2B — can someone explain?

Normally, in most cases within a Pomsky kennel, we aim for 50/50 crosses, that is, the perfect mix of Husky and Pomeranian.

To my mind, crossing a Pomsky back to a Husky or a Pomeranian serves no purpose. If the point is to have more than 75% Husky blood, then why not go for a handsome LOF Husky? Same question for Pomsky–Pomeranian backcrosses: if the point is to have more than 75% Pomeranian blood, then why not go for a lovely Pomeranian? The debate is open and everyone can make their own choice, but it is important to ask the question.

I understand the convenience and the lower cost of Husky * Pomsky and Pomeranian * Pomsky crosses, but to my mind they do not advance the development and creation of a new Pomsky breed. The goal is to arrive at a good mix with a stable temperament.

In the same way, to my mind first- and second-generation crosses no longer serve a purpose. The Pomsky has been bred and has existed for more than 15 years in the United States. For several years now there have been magnificent Pomskies with stable temperaments, so why go back to the original Husky–Pomeranian cross? The goal is to progress in the selection so as to reach recognition of the breed one day, and that can only happen after several generations and years of selective breeding.

Pomsky kennels and the choice of lines

Today there is everything imaginable in terms of build, size and price. Buyers are often looking for a bargain and are delighted to have found a Pomsky at 1,000 euros. Remember, as said above, that the term Pomsky can be used for any cross at all, because it carries no regulation and no legal standing. There is not even an official Pomsky standard.

So it is only normal that a cross between a Husky bought in the classifieds and a Pomsky offered at stud for 500 euros should not be offered to you at the same price as a cross between two Embark-tested Pomskies, free of genetic disease, of advanced generation (that is, Pomsky since the great-grandparents), imported from the United States, from a kennel meeting the standards and liable for VAT. In short, you have to compare like with like, and not two puppies both simply called “Pomsky” for want of regulation and oversight.

When we talk about lines, the parents’ origin also plays a part. It goes without saying that a Pomsky of American lines will have cost more than a Pomsky of Russian lines. Expect on average between 2,500 and 4,000 euros for a Pomsky from Russia, plus 650 euros of transport. Whereas importing a Pomsky from the United States costs on average 5,000 to 8,000 euros plus 2,000 euros of transport. Again, every breeder is free to make their own selection. Note also that for several months now the import of dogs from Russia has been prohibited in view of European Union sanctions; passage remains possible. It is for each person to make their own choice.

Besides, a puppy is always (or almost always) sweet. So it is only normal that you should be charmed by any Pomsky puppy. It is, however, hard to find handsome adult Pomskies with good ear carriage, a nicely squared muzzle, a balanced dog neither too long nor too short in the leg — in short, a handsome adult Pomsky. So it is important to ask for photos of the parents and, better still, to go and meet your future puppy’s parents. That will give you an idea of the build, size and character of your puppy’s parents.

It is therefore important to compare like with like, and not to declare victory too soon thinking you have found a bargain.

Selling at any cost

We see more and more breeders posting their barely two-day-old Pomsky puppies in the classifieds. Granted, the Pomsky is a fashionable dog. But it deserves, just as much as any other breed, to be selected on its character and not simply on its blue eyes and its handsome blaze marking.

The only benefit to a breeder of selling barely born puppies is making sure they will be sold. In no way is that breeder thinking about their puppies’ wellbeing and how they will thrive in your home, because at that point they have no way of knowing what the puppy’s character, needs or size will be.

To my mind, meeting your puppy and your breeder remains a priority, for you as much as for us. It is a moment of exchange that lets you be sure of your commitment and also lets you see the conditions your future puppy is growing up in.

We increasingly see families with no experience for whom the Pomsky will be a first dog. It is important to remember that the Pomsky is a Husky–Pomeranian cross with physical and mental needs. It is not a teddy bear that arrives house-trained and can be left alone for nine hours in an apartment in the hope that it will not do any damage. Besides, a dog or a puppy that causes damage is a dog that is not sufficiently stimulated and whose primary needs are not being met. The Pomsky may well be fashionable and it may well be adorable, but it remains a 15-year commitment with a great many needs.

Finally, Pomsky prices vary a great deal, and every breeder is free to set the price that seems fair to them according to the selection work, the tests carried out, the lines, the size, and so on. It is also your responsibility to know how much you want to pay for your Pomsky and what the important points are to check before buying. Today, prices in France range from roughly 1,000 to 7,000 euros.

Conclusion

As with all dogs, but even more so with a “fashionable” dog — even though I dislike the term — it is important to take your time and do your research properly. A dog is a 15-year commitment, and if there are health or temperament problems, that is for 15 years.

A Pomsky breeder must therefore be a professional with a SIREN number, they must test their breeding stock for DNA and for disease, and since the Pomsky is non-LOF your breeder must be transparent about the dog you are buying.

The Pomsky is not just any cross. It should be a considered, sensible cross, and not merely a cross that earns the Pomsky label and allows a sale. Today a “fake” Pomsky with no tests costs more than some fine LOF dogs. So no, paying 2,500 euros for a dog with no tests is not a bargain and is not cheap. You may as well go for a lovely Australian Shepherd, Husky, Japanese Spitz or LOF Keeshond.

Finally, the Pomsky is a dog and not the fashionable teddy bear to own. It has needs like any dog. Buying a dog is a 15-year responsibility.