Pomsky vs Mackenzie River 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.

The name Mackenzie River Husky was given to these huskies by those wanting to name the freight huskies of a certain area. The name took hold in the 1960’s, but the dog began to disappear with the introduction of snow machines.

They’re a mixture of native sled dogs - Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, Staghounds and Wolf. As a mixed breed, they have always been regarded as classic sled dogs.

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.

The beautiful Mackenzie River Husky stands at 66 to 74cm in height and weighs between 29 and 47kg.

This deep chested dog has a long, straight coat with the colors being typically wolf-like – white, cream, black, tan, blonde and red. He has erect ears, long legs and a long, bushy tail.

Temperament:

This wolf-type dog is strong willed and independent and was always a pack dog. They wouldn’t be described as a good choice for the first time dog owner as they do seem to have some wolf traits and will require a strong, firm, level headed owner.

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 MacKenzie River Husky is such a likeable pet to have. True, he does tend to be a bit stubborn and independent but there is nothing that training and socialization won’t do for him. You’ll find him much more obedient and amicable, and he gets on well with children and pets in the home.

He is an intelligent dog too and very energetic so will require an owner who is active, firm and consistent. He thrives on human company and just wants to be around his owner all the time, ready to join in with any activity happening in his life.

He is therefore far more suited to life in the countryside than to the city. Loyal, devoted and loving, a MacKenzie River Husky isn’t only a beautiful dog to own, he promises to offer everything you want in a 4-legged 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.

Your MacKenzie River Husky, regardless of how healthy he is, can suffer with some common health problems that all dogs are prone to.

Perhaps one of the more common health problems that this particular dog breed has to contend with is cataracts, hip dyslasia and hypothyroidism.

Cataracts:

Many people associate cataracts in dogs with age, little realizing that there are many medical reasons as to why our pets develop cataracts. Cataracts can start as early as 6 months of age, although this is unlikely. They come about because of a disease which affects the lens of the eye, causing the lens to lose its transparency.

You’ll notice a whitish/grey shade in your dog’s eye and this can actually impair vision. Cataracts are particularly the lot of diabetic dogs. It can certainly help to have your dog’s eyes checked by a vet regularly.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is another fairly common problem with Huskies. It’s almost like a death sentence if your MacKenzie is a working dog because it can lead to lameness. The disease can lead to problems in the hip joint which cab be debilitating ad give your dog a lot of pain.

It doesn’t strike old dogs only, but can be the lot of young dogs too. Sometimes treatment will require surgery but there are non-invasive options too. You want to make sure that you don’t allow your pet to become overweight as this can contribute to developing hip dysplasia.

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:

Huskies like this one will require a good deal of exercise every single day. These are working dogs who have always had a job to do and you can certainly count him in when you do your hiking walks, swimming – you name it. The only thing he will object to is that he doesn’t do well in hot weather. Strong-willed, you’ll want your MacKenzie River Husky trained and socialized if you want him to be a companionable dog.

Diet:

Dogs need to be fed according to the size, their age and their lifestyle. If your MacKenzie River Husky is an active working dog, his food must be the very best and contain enough calories to cover the daily caloric expenses.

Quality and the amount of vitamins and minerals in the food is most important for a dog like this. If you feed him commercially manufactured food, make sure its high quality and not made up of fillers, and other bad stuff. Read the label and understand exactly what’s going into your dog’s stomach.

Simplicity with feeding is best for your pet. Treat him occasionally to cooked chicken, brown rice, pasta and cooked or raw vegetables which can be added into his dry kibble. A dog like this will require some raw meat as well to ensure his coat and eyes are always shiny and bright.

Grooming:

Grooming of the MacKenzie River Husky must be done at least twice a week to get rid of loose hairs.