Finding a Reputable Breeder - Its All About ResponsiblityWe hope you've come here to learn about pomskies and that you've gained some valuable knowledge! However the most valuable knowledge we can offer is regarding choosing a breeder. We do our utmost to be a responsible breeder that our families can trust, but we understand that we may be not be quite what you're looking for, or may not have available puppies when it’s the right time for you to welcome a puppy into your family. However we urge you to do your due diligence when selecting a Pomsky breeder and please never be in a hurry or hastily make a decision when this is such a serious commitment.
The popularity of pomskies has grown and it seems like there is a new breeder popping up all the time. Unfortunately many of these "breeders" have very little to no practical knowledge on breeding, canine behavior or health. Sadly it appears some people have seen an opportunity to turn a profit and in our opinion, shouldn't be breeding at all. Not to mention the flat out scammers that pose as breeders, but are simply trying to steal from you. The guide below serves as a starting point in selecting a breeder you can trust. We strongly support responsible breeding and responsible ownership. We love pomskies and we want to see this breed thrive and grow. Please support responsible breeders producing healthy, quality dogs and fight against funding those who have no business doing it. Please note that any club membership or some form of stated registration or certification does not necessarily mean anything. Many of these titles are easily acquired with little to no requirements and they can also be claimed without being true. For example, Pomskies are not AKC recognized, so someone stating they have Pomsky puppies that are AKC registered is a giant red flag. Reputable breeders will follow a stated code of ethics. This is a set of standards that they commit to following within their breeding program. Many breeders will have their code of ethics on their website or they may link to a club’s code that they follow. Either way, it is good to know what that code of ethics entails, see that they are committed to following those standards, and that you agree that their code of ethics reflects a responsible breeder’s practices. |
Things to look for in a reputable breeder:
* Takes responsible care of all of his or her dogs (breeding stock & puppies), and provides:
* Sufficient companionship, affection, interaction & attention
* Nutritious quality dog food & fresh clean water
* Adequate shelter
* Immunization
* Proper vet care
* Parasite prevention/treatment
* Grooming
* Exercise
* Socialization
* Only breeds dogs that have excellent temperaments.
* Is very knowledgeable about both Siberian Huskies and Pomeranians and provides information on what to expect in their puppy. (Due to the fact that Pomskies as a breed are still rather new and under development in many cases, a comprehensive standard in temperament and appearance may not be available. If a breeder makes any guarantees about a puppy's weight, coat or temperament it should be considered a red flag, a responsible breeder recognizes that they can only make estimates and will be honest about this.)
* Strives to better their breed. (Pomskies, although still under development as stated above, are intended to be a miniature husky-like dog in appearance. The goal should always be to achieve this. If a breeder is consistently producing puppies that do not meet this goal they may not have the best interests of the breed at heart. It takes a lot of time, research, experience and investment to get just the right breeding stock to produce the ideal Pomsky. Not every puppy in a litter will meet this goal and that is understandable, but it should be apparent that a breeder is striving to improve the quality of their puppies. A breeder with many years of experience can show how their lines have developed and improved.)
* Immunizes their puppies' Sires and Dams (& their Puppies)
*Has health tests done on all breeding dogs to ensure the future health of their puppies and will provide a written contractual commitment to the health of their puppies.
*Will provide veterinary references and past puppy owner references upon request.
* Screens potential owners thoroughly, and does not sell to those who are unsuitable. A reputable breeder wants to know as much about you, your household, your schedule and your ability to properly care for a puppy (throughout its entire lifetime), as you want to know about the breeder's puppies.
* Provides several photos and videos of available puppies. A good breeder will have photos of their puppies from birth to present. This is important to consider because many scammers will steal photos from breeders and try to ‘sell’ those puppies, but they usually only have a couple photos to share. A reputable breeder will also be happy to video chat with potential families with the puppy they’re interested in present. Many responsible breeders have a policy of not allowing visitors to their homes to protect the health and safety of their dogs and puppies, this is not an indication that the breeder is trying to hide something as some may suggest, however it does make it all the more important to look into the breeder’s reputation. It’s important to be sure that they will provide as much information as possible , including photos, videos and video chats.
* Requires Spay/Neuter contracts on all puppies and will only provide breeding rights to those extensively screened and approved of as responsible breeders.
* Offers new puppy owners guidance and support for the puppy's entire lifetime.
* NEVER sells puppies to puppy brokers, pet shops or puppy outlets of any kind. Period. Important Note: Many pet stores and puppy brokers tell prospective puppy buyers that their puppies come from “reputable breeders”, even though the large majority of these places actually get their puppies from puppy mills and second-rate commercial breeding facilities. The bottom line is: NO reputable breeder would ever sell their puppies to a pet store or puppy broker, and NO pet store or puppy broker will ever admit to getting their puppies from a puppy mill.
* Never breeds out of greed and never over-breeds. (If a breeder has far too many puppies than they could reasonably care for adequately at one time or they have over 10 breeding adult dogs in one household, it would be wise to consider what kind of breeder they really are. Also if a breeder is breeding multiple different breeds it’s often an indication that profit is their main concern.)
* Will have prices on the higher end of what's average ($2000 to $5000). (It's important to note however, that due to the high demand for Pomsky puppies even breeders who are less-than-reputable are able to sell their puppies for the higher end of average. We’ve seen puppy brokers selling Pomskies for as high as $8500, so this certainly should not be a deciding factor, only a consideration that when you see "a really good deal" as there are many Pomsky scams to be aware of.)
* Will have the Sire and Dam on site, unless a stud service was provided in which case all information about the Stud, including photos, will be provided. Multi-home kennels and guardianship programs have also become an acceptable and alternative way to provide each individual breeding dog proper care and attention, but all information regarding the puppy parents should still be readily available.
*A reputable breeder will also have a strong internet presence, making as much information available as possible to potential buyers. Good things to look for: An informative website, responsiveness to messages and/or emails, as well as a social media presence that reflects a favorable history with past puppies and families.
* Takes responsible care of all of his or her dogs (breeding stock & puppies), and provides:
* Sufficient companionship, affection, interaction & attention
* Nutritious quality dog food & fresh clean water
* Adequate shelter
* Immunization
* Proper vet care
* Parasite prevention/treatment
* Grooming
* Exercise
* Socialization
* Only breeds dogs that have excellent temperaments.
* Is very knowledgeable about both Siberian Huskies and Pomeranians and provides information on what to expect in their puppy. (Due to the fact that Pomskies as a breed are still rather new and under development in many cases, a comprehensive standard in temperament and appearance may not be available. If a breeder makes any guarantees about a puppy's weight, coat or temperament it should be considered a red flag, a responsible breeder recognizes that they can only make estimates and will be honest about this.)
* Strives to better their breed. (Pomskies, although still under development as stated above, are intended to be a miniature husky-like dog in appearance. The goal should always be to achieve this. If a breeder is consistently producing puppies that do not meet this goal they may not have the best interests of the breed at heart. It takes a lot of time, research, experience and investment to get just the right breeding stock to produce the ideal Pomsky. Not every puppy in a litter will meet this goal and that is understandable, but it should be apparent that a breeder is striving to improve the quality of their puppies. A breeder with many years of experience can show how their lines have developed and improved.)
* Immunizes their puppies' Sires and Dams (& their Puppies)
*Has health tests done on all breeding dogs to ensure the future health of their puppies and will provide a written contractual commitment to the health of their puppies.
*Will provide veterinary references and past puppy owner references upon request.
* Screens potential owners thoroughly, and does not sell to those who are unsuitable. A reputable breeder wants to know as much about you, your household, your schedule and your ability to properly care for a puppy (throughout its entire lifetime), as you want to know about the breeder's puppies.
* Provides several photos and videos of available puppies. A good breeder will have photos of their puppies from birth to present. This is important to consider because many scammers will steal photos from breeders and try to ‘sell’ those puppies, but they usually only have a couple photos to share. A reputable breeder will also be happy to video chat with potential families with the puppy they’re interested in present. Many responsible breeders have a policy of not allowing visitors to their homes to protect the health and safety of their dogs and puppies, this is not an indication that the breeder is trying to hide something as some may suggest, however it does make it all the more important to look into the breeder’s reputation. It’s important to be sure that they will provide as much information as possible , including photos, videos and video chats.
* Requires Spay/Neuter contracts on all puppies and will only provide breeding rights to those extensively screened and approved of as responsible breeders.
* Offers new puppy owners guidance and support for the puppy's entire lifetime.
* NEVER sells puppies to puppy brokers, pet shops or puppy outlets of any kind. Period. Important Note: Many pet stores and puppy brokers tell prospective puppy buyers that their puppies come from “reputable breeders”, even though the large majority of these places actually get their puppies from puppy mills and second-rate commercial breeding facilities. The bottom line is: NO reputable breeder would ever sell their puppies to a pet store or puppy broker, and NO pet store or puppy broker will ever admit to getting their puppies from a puppy mill.
* Never breeds out of greed and never over-breeds. (If a breeder has far too many puppies than they could reasonably care for adequately at one time or they have over 10 breeding adult dogs in one household, it would be wise to consider what kind of breeder they really are. Also if a breeder is breeding multiple different breeds it’s often an indication that profit is their main concern.)
* Will have prices on the higher end of what's average ($2000 to $5000). (It's important to note however, that due to the high demand for Pomsky puppies even breeders who are less-than-reputable are able to sell their puppies for the higher end of average. We’ve seen puppy brokers selling Pomskies for as high as $8500, so this certainly should not be a deciding factor, only a consideration that when you see "a really good deal" as there are many Pomsky scams to be aware of.)
* Will have the Sire and Dam on site, unless a stud service was provided in which case all information about the Stud, including photos, will be provided. Multi-home kennels and guardianship programs have also become an acceptable and alternative way to provide each individual breeding dog proper care and attention, but all information regarding the puppy parents should still be readily available.
*A reputable breeder will also have a strong internet presence, making as much information available as possible to potential buyers. Good things to look for: An informative website, responsiveness to messages and/or emails, as well as a social media presence that reflects a favorable history with past puppies and families.