A lot of people know about Pomskies, but can Malamutes and Pomeranians be bred together?
It might be surprising to know that there are cases of these two dogs breeding together, although it is incredibly rare.
In this guide, we’ll explore the expectations for this mix, including average size, temperament, and much more, so you can get a better idea of what to expect.
Contents
Quick Profile
Before we get into the details of the Malamute Pomeranian mix, here’s a quick overview:
- Other Names: Alaskan Pom
- Average Lifespan: 10 to 16 years
- Average Height: 10 to 20 inches at the shoulder
- Average Weight: 25 to 50 lbs
- Coat appearance: Long and double coated. Can come in a variety of colors, including black, white, brown, and more
- Eye Color: Usually dark brown
- Activity Level: 30 to 90 minutes per day
- Grooming Frequency: Very high – daily grooming will be needed and even multiple times per day when they are blowing coat
- Typical Temperament: Very affectionate and loves attention. Can be wary of strangers and quite vocal, often has a stubborn streak
- Daily Food Consumption: Medium
- New Owner Friendly: Quite good for new owners
- Suitable to live with children? Must be socialized from an early age
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Must be socialized from an early age
- Suitable to live with cats? Must be socialized from an early age
Appearance
The Malamute Pomeranian mix is quite similar to both parent breeds in appearance due to how similar they look. Both have large, thick double coats, curly tails, and other physical characteristics, which we’ll explore later in this article.
After many hours of research, I couldn’t find a photo of this mix (which gives you an idea of how rare they are!). You could assume that this mix would look very similar to the Pomsky (Husky Pomeranian Cross, shown below) in both coat type and length, with a larger overall size – almost like a Miniature Malamute.
In order to get a better idea of the appearance of this mix, let’s take a look at the parent breeds so you can see the similarities despite the overall size difference.
Pomeranian Appearance
The Pomeranian is a small breed with a compact and well-balanced body structure. It has a fluffy double coat that comes in a wide range of colors, including white, black, orange, brown, and gray.
The eyes of a Pomeranian are almond-shaped and dark, giving them an alert and expressive look.
They have a charming and adorable appearance with their plumed tail carried high and their small, fox-like face. It’s clear to see why they are very popular companion dogs both in the US and across the world.
Alaskan Malamute Appearance
Alaskan Malamutes are one of the largest Spitz breeds, and their appearance shows it.
They have lots of characteristics of Spitz-type dogs, such as pointed ears, fluffy double coats, and a fluffy curled tail.
Malamutes have a super friendly expression, but they can be quite intimidating to those who aren’t familiar with the breed. You’ll usually find malamutes in a black-and-white coat, but there are a lot of other possible colors as well.
Average Size
Given the rarity of this mix, it’s very hard to predict an exact size. You can definitely expect a significantly smaller dog than the Malamute and obviously larger than a Pomeranian.
From my research, the Malamute Pomeranian mix will reach between 25 and 50 lbs in weight and 10 to 20 inches in height at the shoulder, but this is based on limited data.
Coat Appearance
There’s no doubt that this mix will have a long, thick double coat with a variety of color options.
Malamutes, for example, can have several different coat colors, including grey and white, silver and white, and many more.
Pomeranians are similar and can also have lots of color variation in their coats, from orange to black and tan.
Physical Features
There are a lot of shared physical features between these two breeds, and it’s highly likely that the mix would inherit a lot of them.
These include the double coat and variation in coat color, as well as pointed ears, almond-shaped eyes, and curly tails.
This is no surprise, given how both are Spitz-type dogs.
Grooming Guide
Grooming is going to be absolutely essential with this mix, given how both parent breeds have long, thick double coats.
A double coat is where the fur is made up of two layers:
- A short, dense wooly undercoat that provides insulation in both warm and cold weather.
- A long guard coat that provides protection from dirt and moisture.
It’s standard to groom this type of coat once per day with a grooming comb, as well as a more thorough grooming session once or twice per week as needed. You can find full details of that process here.
Unsurprisingly, this mix will shed very often, and that is something you’ll need to be prepared for. Shedding will happen year-round, as well as coat blowing twice per year when they transition into their summer coat.
Bathing
A lot of people assume that longer coats need bathing more often, but this is not the case.
Double coats are actually great at keeping themselves clean, and bathing too frequently can mess with the natural oils found within the coat and cause more damage than good.
Due to this, bathing once every 2 to 3 months when necessary will be fine for the Malamute Pomeranian mix.
Is The Malamute Pomeranian Mix Hypoallergenic?
Hypoallergenic isn’t really an accurate term, but it’s fair to say that this mix is not suited for people with allergies due to the sheer amount of shedding that it will experience year-round.
Exercise Requirements
The Malamute Pomeranian mix will require anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes of exercise per day on average.
Malamutes are known for needing a lot of exercise – ideally two hours per day – but Pomeranians have a much lower requirement (around 30 minutes) due to their size.
Temperament
Temperament is super important when it comes to choosing a dog.
Given how rare the Malamute Pomeranian mix is, it’s hard to say for certain what type of personality it will have, but there are certain traits that are common in both parent breeds.
Friendly & Affectionate
Both Malamutes and Pomeranians are highly friendly and affectionate.
They love attention and being around people. Malamutes tend to have more of an independent streak at times, but there’s a high chance that the Malamute Pomeranian mix will enjoy time being with people.
Vocal
Malamutes are known for howling and being very vocal, and Pomeranians have a reputation for being yappy at times.
Expect a Malamute Pomeranian mix to alert you to strangers by barking or howling or even when they just feel like it.
Energetic
Although Pomeranians require a lot less exercise due to their small frames, they are still a highly energetic breed and love to exercise or play.
Malamutes are very similar, so this mix is definitely not for people who don’t have a lot of time on their hands for exercise and playtime.
Stubborn
Malamutes and Pomeranians share a stubborn streak.
This is a defining feature of most Spitz-type dog breeds, and given how both of these dogs are in the Spitz family, it’s no surprise that they can both be very stubborn.
Malamute Pomeranian mixes are very likely to inherit this trait, and it’s important to know about it because it can make training difficult.
You’ll have to accept that this mix won’t listen to you 100% of the time.
Center Of Attention & Demanding
Pomeranians love to be the center of attention, but sometimes they can demand too much of your attention, especially if you have kids or other dogs.
Malamutes have a pack mentality by nature, and if they don’t see you as the alpha, they can take over a house and refuse to listen.
This is why early socialization and obedience training is a must for this mix.
Are Malamute Pomeranian Mixes Good Family Dogs?
Malamutes and Pomeranians make great family dogs, but early socialization will be needed with other dogs, small children, and other animals.
Here are a few potential issues that can arise:
- High prey drive – Both parent breeds have a prey drive, which can cause issues on walks if they spot a small animal or for households with cats.
- Supervision Needed With Small Kids – The Malamute Pomeranian mix is very likely to be energetic, which means they may accidentally knock into a small child, which can hurt them.
- Socialization With Other Dogs – Socializing this mix with other dogs from an early age is important. Pomeranians enjoy 100% attention from their owners, and Malamutes have a strong pack mentality.
Health Issues
There aren’t many common health issues between the parent breeds due to the sheer difference in their size aside from cataracts at an older age in Malmautes and at a young age in Poms.
Both breeds tend to live well over 10 years, so this mix has a good chance of being very healthy.
Is The Malamute Pomeranian Mix Intelligent?
There’s a very good chance that the Malamute Pomeranian mix will be intelligent:
- Pomeranians rank in the excellent working/obedience intelligence category in Stanley Coren’s ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’
- Malamutes rank lower because they are more stubborn but still reach the average working/obedience intelligence category
There’s a lot to be said about how dog intelligence is actually measured, but you can be quite sure that the Malamute Pomeranian mix will be quite capable in this area.
How Much Do They Cost?
Given how rare this mix is, it’s hard to say for certain how much it would cost.
There certainly aren’t any breeders (at least any I could find) that breed for this mix specifically, so you could pay anywhere from adoption fees to over a thousand dollars.
In Summary
Malamute Pomeranian mixes are incredibly rare, and likely to be very Spitz-like in their behavior.
They will love attention and require a medium amount of exercise, as well as regular grooming to keep their coats in top shape.
Interested in learning about other Malamute mixes? Check out some of our most recent articles below:
