If you're curious about being a Pomsky breeder (or any breed for that matter), there are some steps you should take. This will not only save you heartache, but also a lot of time and money.

1) GET A MENTOR. Before you buy a dog, get a mentor. A mentor can help steer you towards the right dogs. They will teach you what to look for, how to read DNA panels and show you how to match up a female to a male dog.

2) GET A MENTOR. They will help you through the steps you need to take to be a reputable breeder.

3) GET A MENTOR. In case you haven't figured it out yet, this is an EXTREMELY important step! Even if you are an experienced breeder with other dogs, a mentor can still answer a lot of questions for you and be your introduction into the community.

4) LEARN. There is a huge learning curve to Pomskies. You have to become familiar with the structure of two breeds of dogs. Do you know how to tell the "F" generations? Can you read the DNA traits panels and know what they mean? Do you know about canine diseases, how to determine recessive traits - what is expressed with 1 gene versus requiring 2 genes? Can you tell if a dog is cow-hocked or roach-backed? Can you spot a breeding quality dog?

5) TIME. A Pomsky breeder must wear multiple hats. In any given day we are required to be a 1) dog breeder, 2) dog trainer, 3) vet tech, 4) genetic specialist, 5) website designer, 6) marketer, 7) customer service specialist, 8) social media expert, 9) Pomsky activist, 10) legal contract creator/enforcer, 11) groomer, etc etc. Home/life balance is a challenge as you will get phone calls and texts all hours of the day and night. Vacations become difficult as you cannot schedule when your dog has their cycles. And more than one dog, they do not all cycle at once. During the birthing process, you are often up 48hours without sleep, and then the next 2-3 weeks with very little sleep if you have any babies that struggle.

6) SAVE YOUR MONEY. Most Pomsky breeders spend an average of 15-20k a year on their programs, not including new dogs. Emergencies can easily drain your savings, so having a good bank balance is a must. The purchase of a breed quality Pomsky male and female should run between $8-12k. If they do not, chances are they are not breed quality.

7) KNOW WHAT ETHICAL BREEDING IS. If you receive a dog (again, your mentor can save you here) that happens to have breeds in it that are not either Pomsky, Husky, Eskimo or Klein, then you should really rehome that dog to a pet home and look again. Also, as the dog ages, you may have to retire due to the dog failing one of their OFA health tests or the testicles don't drop. Are you willing to do the right thing, even though it can be a financial hardship? If the answer is not, then you shouldn't be a breeder.

If you need a mentor, reach out to one of the Facebook boards (or me) and say "I'm curious about breeding and need a mentor!"

HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD YOUR MALE DOG WOULD MAKE A STUD DOG?

First off, determine if you have a strict spay/neuter contract. If you did not purchase breed rights, chances are your dog is not breeding quality. Purchasing from Craigslist, Lancaster, or Pet Stores is generally an immediate 100% NOT breed quality as those puppies command higher prices and not sold through these avenues. Breeding quality is only about 10% of the population. A beautiful pet does not equal a breeding quality dog but this does not mean that your pet is not a wonderful pet.

Ask a breeder to constructively critique your dog to see if they might possibly be enough. If males are larger than 18lbs, most likely that size alone means they are not stud quality. You must do all of the appropriate health testing to even consider if he’s breed worthy, Embark DNA, OFA Hips, Elbows, Patellas)

Ask yourself these questions below:

  1. Do you want the responsibility that comes with being a stud dog owner?

  2. You'll need a well written stud contract by an attorney.

  3. How will you handle the situation if the female fails to have any live puppies born, do you refund, offer breed-backs, etc?

  4. Decide if you want to do live-cover or collect for chilled/frozen AI. With live cover, you need to understand that the female may not be cooperative, stud boys do sometimes get bitten or wounded. Sometimes the boys need some help, either holding the girl still or giving the boy a little boost.

  5. You must to be present during the entire time, including the tie which can take over an hour, just to make sure the female doesn't freak out and flip around, injuring your boy.

  6. You'll want the female's owner to do progesterone tests and Brucellosis test prior to breeding (your boy should be Brucellosis tested before each girl he breeds). The female should also have DNA testing and at a minimum Patellas tested, as the DNA test will give an indicator on compatibility and ensure that you are not passing diseases on to the offspring.

  7. Need to decide if you offer to board females for breeding, or if it's by appointment only (it's the female who decides when the appointment is)

  8. Females should come to your house, where your boy feels most comfortable and the female doesn't have a territory to defend.

  9. If you are collecting, then you'll take your boy to a vet that specializes in reproductive services. If it's chilled, then you have to do it on the day the female's progesterone test says she's ready. If you want to do frozen then you'll need to pay for storage.

  10. You will have to test your stud boy collected twice a year just to check the quality of his semen (motility, sperm count) as that is a question that will be asked by potential female owners.

  11. Marking. By having an intact boy, you will most likely deal with marking (peeing everywhere). Especially during and after a breeding. Your boy may also develop aggressive qualities, especially around other intact females. They may also get a tendency to roam/escape.