Siberian Husky VS Pomsky: Differences, Similarities & More

When it comes to the husky vs pomsky there are a lot of differences.

The main differences between huskies and pomskies are appearance, overall size and exercise/mental stimulation requirements. Pomskies are more of a designer breed that is less work, whereas huskies are purebred and require a more experienced owner.

Here’s a quick rundown of all the facts.

Husky vs pomsky infographic summarising the key differences and similarities

Siberian Husky Quick Overview

Huskies were bred by the Chukchi people of Siberia to assist with pulling sleds over long distances.

Huskies have a pack mentality and were not used for guarding or hunting, but rather as a functional part of a pack to work.

Huskies retain a large capacity for exercise due to this and like to be around other dogs due to their pack mentality.

They are very intelligent but difficult to train as they can be stubborn and independent.

They have a thick double coat that requires regular grooming and are not suited for being left alone as they will get bored easily and can develop destructive behaviors.

Pomsky Quick Overview

The pomsky is a mix between the pomeranian and Siberian husky and has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years.

Pomskies are extremely loving and seek attention at all times.

They are less work than a husky as they require less exercise and mental stimulation and are generally more easygoing, but they can be very loud and cause issues if they aren’t given enough attention.

Pomskies are currently not an officially recognised breed and are a relatively new husky mix that has become more popular over the last few years.

Differences Between Husky VS Pomsky

Let’s take a deeper dive into the differences between these two dogs.

Appearance

The most obvious difference is in appearance, which is to be expected considering huskies are purebred and pomskies are a cross between huskies and pomeranians.

A Siberian husky on some grass looking to the left
A standard Siberian Husky

Huskies are medium-sized dogs with pointed ears, almond-shaped eyes and straight, well-defined noses.

Huskies are often compared to wolves in appearance.

They come in a variety of different colors, from black to pure white to red and with markings.

The ideal AKC breed standard for the husky can be found here if you are interested.

There is a lot of variation in how pomskies can look.

Some take on more qualities of the husky, with others adopting more qualities of the pomeranian. Pomskies usually resemble small wolves and have long coats in varying colors.

The main difference is usually seen in the face. Pomskies usually have a rounder nose, similar to the pomeranian, with more pronounced eyes.

The pomsky above clearly takes on more characteristics of the husky, whereas the one below is a great example of a pomsky that shows more prominent pomeranian features.

Purebred Vs Crossbreed

Huskies are purebred, whereas pomskies are a mix between the pomeranian and husky.

This is pretty obvious, but it is the reason why there is so much variation in how pomskies look.

Some pomskies can look more pomeranian than husky, and vice versa.

Size

Pomskies are smaller on average due to pomeranians being significantly smaller than huskies.

Pomskies weigh an average of 20-35lbs and reach 12-17 inches tall, whereas huskies typically reach 20-23.5 inches tall and weigh 35-60lbs.

Exercise Requirements

Huskies need a lot of exercise – ideally at least 2 hours per day of intense exercise.

Pomskies are smaller in size and need less exercise on average.

Anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes is usually more than enough for a pomsky.

Working History

Huskies are a working breed that were originally bred to pull sleds over long distances by the Chukchi people of Siberia.

Pomeranians, on the other hand, are toy dogs that require much less exercise and mental stimulation.

Pomskies were bred for designer purposes rather than to fulfil a specific job. They are less work than huskies due to the pomeranian influence.

They have become very popular over the years and are one of the most common husky mixes that you can find today.

The majority of huskies nowadays are kept as pets, but they still have stringent exercise and mental stimulation needs due to their background as working dogs.

Personality & Temperament

Huskies love to be with their owners, but they can also be quite independent as well and even stubborn at times.

Pomeranians, however, love attention pretty much all of the time and are very curious and playful.

The pomsky makes for a very friendly and approachable mix with little guarding or protective tendencies.

Huskies are similar in the sense that they will happily approach strangers, but they can be more independent and stubborn in their behavior.

Huskies need more mental stimulation to keep happy and can show destructive behaviors if their needs are not met, whereas pomskies are less prone to this type of behavior.

Similarities Between Husky VS Pomsky

Let’s take a deep dive into the similarities between huskies and pomskies.

Grooming Schedule & Shedding

Both huskies and pomeranians have a double coat, which means pomskies will also inherit this type of coat.

Double-coated breeds require a lot of grooming, especially when they are blowing coat, and huskies/pomskies are no different.

You can expect to groom both of these dogs once per day, and multiple times per day if they are changing into their summer coats.

Vocal

Huskies are notorious for howling, and pomeranians are similar for barking or yapping.

This means that pomskies are also super vocal, just like huskies, and both will have no problem letting you know if something is wrong.

Lifespan

Fortunately, the lifespan for both huskies and pomskies is quite high, with an average of 12-15 years.

Pomeranians do have a higher lifespan than huskies on average, but since the pomsky mix is so new there isn’t sufficient data to prove that this has influenced the pomsky yet.

Pomeranians usually live anywhere from 12 to 16 years, with plenty of stories of them living even older.

So, you could probably assume that pomskies would live longer on average, but this hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Whichever way you look at it, both are quite healthy choices.

Popularity

Both huskies and pomskies are super popular.

Pomskies have attracted a lot of attention on social media over recent years despite being a relatively new mix and have become one of the most popular husky mixes.

Huskies have been a popular dog breed, especially in North America, for a very long time.

In Summary

Huskies are perfect dogs for people with active lifestyles who are able to meet their needs, both physical and mental.

Pomskies are less work overall and also smaller in size. They tend to be very playful and loyal and are very friendly, similar to the husky.

Both of these dogs are great choices as they are quite healthy breeds, it just depends on how much time you have to give them in making the final choice.

Want to see more husky breed comparisons? Check out some of our others here:

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About The Author

Caitlin is the owner and lead writer for The Malamute Mom. She has over 10 years of experience with Alaskan Malamutes and Huskies. She is currently working on getting her PhD in materials science but continues to write for The Malamute Mom in her spare time.

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