Health and Grooming
Health
All of our breeding dogs are DNA and genetic health tested through Embark. This ensures our puppies are protected from over 200+ genetic health risks. We would never breed any dogs that may knowingly pose health risks to their future puppies. We choose not to breed for exotic colors such as blue or lilac, due to the health risks (such as alopecia) associated with the genes that allow those colors to be expressed. We also do not allow any Merle in our lines due to future health concerns associated with the Merle gene (such a blindness and hearing loss). All of our puppies receive a comprehensive health examination from a licensed veterinarian, routine deworming, and are up to date on vaccinations. We also provide a 2 year genetic health guarantee for every puppy.
Vaccines

(DHPP Vaccine - DHPP stands for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus. Adult dogs usually also have a leptospirosis vaccine included.)
Vaccines are very important to the health and safety of your puppy. During their health exam with a licensed Veterinarian, (Just before or at 8 weeks of age) our puppies receive their first set of booster vaccines. It’s very important that you understand that when your puppy comes home, they are not fully protected until two weeks after they receive their last booster vaccines at 16 weeks of age. We urge everyone to be very cautious with their puppy and not take them to public places where dogs frequent. This includes parks, pet stores, even going for a walk in your neighborhood.
The Parvo virus is so devastating and often fatal. Its highly contagious and can live on the ground in full sunlight for over a year! Remember your puppy isn't fully protected until it has its full round of boosters. The virus is contracted by ingesting it, so it can get on your puppy's paws and get in their mouth after licking or get on their nose from sniffing the ground. Puppies are like babies and pretty much everything ends up in their mouths.
We know its so exciting when you bring your new puppy home and you want to start socializing right away, but there are ways to do that without putting your puppy's health at risk. Having visitors to your home is a great way to socialize and inviting known and trusted canine pals who you know are fully vaccinated can visit too! We recommend removing shoes at the door and keeping them away from curious puppy mouths.
You can also take your puppy places to visit, just don't let those feet touch the ground. Puppies don't mind the pampered treatment and love the extra cuddles.
Deworming
At Northern California Pomskies we start a de-worming routine for our puppies at 2 weeks of age. This is an important practice that any reputable breeder should maintain. Unlike most mammals puppies can contract worms before they are born, from their mothers. Even if the mother is on a good worming schedule herself, you cannot guarantee that the puppies will not have worms.
The most common worms in dogs are hookworms and roundworms. Hookworms feed on the blood of a dog and can lead to anemia and roundworms compete for a dog's food supply which if left untreated can lead to malnutrition.
A safe treatment for puppies is Pyrantel Pamoate and some good brands of this treatment are Nemex 2, Evict DS and Pro-wormer 2. The recommended schedule for worming starts at 2 weeks old and continues at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks and again at 12 and 16 weeks. We recommend talking to your veterinarian about de-worming when you bring your new puppy home. They can advise you on continuing de-worming into adulthood, including heart worm prevention!
The most common worms in dogs are hookworms and roundworms. Hookworms feed on the blood of a dog and can lead to anemia and roundworms compete for a dog's food supply which if left untreated can lead to malnutrition.
A safe treatment for puppies is Pyrantel Pamoate and some good brands of this treatment are Nemex 2, Evict DS and Pro-wormer 2. The recommended schedule for worming starts at 2 weeks old and continues at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks and again at 12 and 16 weeks. We recommend talking to your veterinarian about de-worming when you bring your new puppy home. They can advise you on continuing de-worming into adulthood, including heart worm prevention!
Food Saftey

Dogs love table scraps, even leftovers at a restaurant used to be sent home in a "doggie bag". However not all food that is safe for us is safe for your puppy! Here is a list of foods that are not safe to give your dog or puppy:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Apple seeds
- Apricot pits
- Avocados
- Cherry pits
- Candy (particularly chocolate—which is toxic to dogs—and any candy containing the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
- Coffee (grounds, beans, and chocolate-covered espresso beans)
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Gum (can cause blockages and sugar free gums may contain the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
- Hops (used in home beer brewing)
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy foods
- Mushroom plants
- Mustard seeds
- Onions and onion powder
- Peach pits
- Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
- Raisins
- Rhubarb leaves
- Salt
- Tea (because it contains caffeine)
- Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
- Walnuts
- Xylitol (artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets)
- Yeast dough

And just so you don't think we're no fun at all, here are some human foods that are both safe and good for your dog in moderation. Doggies love have a little treat especially when they see you eating it too!
- Apple slices
- Peanut butter (just be sure to check it does not contain the artificial sweetener, Xylitol!)
- Cooked chicken
- Cheese
- Baby carrots
- Yogurt
- Salmon
- Pumpkin
- Eggs
- Green beans
- Oatmeal
- Rice
- Sweet potatoes
Toy Safety

Giving your puppy toys not only brings you joy and builds the bond between you and your dog, it is also important for your dog's metal stimulation. However, some toys are unsuitable for certain dogs and some toys should only be given when there is supervision.
Many huskies take immense pleasure in destroying toys, and because they make up half of your puppy's genetics, they may have inherited a similar trait. It will take time and getting to know you dog before you know if this is the case, but you should keep a close eye on your new furry friend.
Being destructive with toys is not necessarily a behavior problem. The toy belongs to them they can do what they please with it, however, some toys may become dangerous once torn apart. Toys with stuffing that become long strips of cloth or rope toys that are dismantled can be fatal. When a dog or puppy ingest the contents of their toy it can cause bowel obstruction or twist and rip the intensities causing internal poisoning.
Also toys or bones that can be chewed down to a size that can be swallowed can obstruct the airway or bowels.
We learned this lesson the hard way when one of our young huskies dismantled an intricate rope toy and swallowed a 2 ft piece of rope. We cleaned up the chewed up pieces, but never realized she ate any of it. The rope twisted and ripped open her intestines as she tired to digest it. Although we took her to the vet when it was apparent she was ill, we were unable to save her. The veterinarian was very kind and tried to comfort us. We didn't know, and never thought about what could happen with a toy made for dogs! We now do not buy any rope toys and a few of our dogs are banned from cloth toys with stuffing.
We recommend investing money in high quality, durable toys. There are many companies that specialize in durable toys and it is so worth it! We are not saying that you can't buy your dogs rope toys or cloth toys with stuffing, we just ask that you please supervise them. Don't let those toys be left alone with them when you are away.
Many huskies take immense pleasure in destroying toys, and because they make up half of your puppy's genetics, they may have inherited a similar trait. It will take time and getting to know you dog before you know if this is the case, but you should keep a close eye on your new furry friend.
Being destructive with toys is not necessarily a behavior problem. The toy belongs to them they can do what they please with it, however, some toys may become dangerous once torn apart. Toys with stuffing that become long strips of cloth or rope toys that are dismantled can be fatal. When a dog or puppy ingest the contents of their toy it can cause bowel obstruction or twist and rip the intensities causing internal poisoning.
Also toys or bones that can be chewed down to a size that can be swallowed can obstruct the airway or bowels.
We learned this lesson the hard way when one of our young huskies dismantled an intricate rope toy and swallowed a 2 ft piece of rope. We cleaned up the chewed up pieces, but never realized she ate any of it. The rope twisted and ripped open her intestines as she tired to digest it. Although we took her to the vet when it was apparent she was ill, we were unable to save her. The veterinarian was very kind and tried to comfort us. We didn't know, and never thought about what could happen with a toy made for dogs! We now do not buy any rope toys and a few of our dogs are banned from cloth toys with stuffing.
We recommend investing money in high quality, durable toys. There are many companies that specialize in durable toys and it is so worth it! We are not saying that you can't buy your dogs rope toys or cloth toys with stuffing, we just ask that you please supervise them. Don't let those toys be left alone with them when you are away.
Grooming

Many people stress when they see a dog with a medium to long coat. They imagine it is extremely difficult to maintain and that grooming will be hard. Granted it is a little more work to groom a Pomsky than say a Boxer or Lab, but it is not that hard!
Brushing - Pomsky coats are typically somewhere between a husky coat and a pomeranian coat. They are soft and fluffy but have a silky quality that most pomeranian coats lack. Most of the dead hairs will sit in the coat until you brush them out so shedding is not a big issue with regular brushing. However they do blow their coats in the Summer and for a couple weeks they will shed like crazy, but again, this can be controlled with more frequent brushing. We recommend getting a rake and slicker brush for these times of the year. DO NOT use a furminator brush as those rip at the fur and will damage your Pomsky’s coat.
Bathing - bathing should not be done too often. Bathing too much can strip the skin of essential oils and cause your dog's skin to become dry and itchy, it can also cause the coat to look dry and brittle. If you can keep bathing to no more that once a month it would be ideal for your dog's coat and comfort, even three months between baths would be fine if your dog does not seem to need one. For in between baths we recommend doggie wipes that you can get at the pet store or waterless bathes, a spray on solution that can cleanse the top coat and clean up little dirty paws. Of course if your Pomsky gets especially dirty for some reason, don't hesitate to deviate from their normal bath schedule!
Nail care - As a rule to keep in mind, a dog's nails should be trimmed when they just about touch the ground when they walk. If your dog's nails are clicking or getting snagged on the floor, it's time for a trim. For less active dog's this could mean a weekly trim, but often dog's who are walked frequently on sidewalks, their nails are worn down naturally and need a trim much less often.
Visiting a Groomer - Many families enjoy taking their Pomsky to the groomers. It’s a nice way to get your pup freshened up without having to do the work yourself. However it’s important that you are very clear with the groomer. NEVER allow them to shave your Pomsky. You may see memes of Huskies, Pomeranians, and even Pomskies that look silly in their “summer cuts”, and though they think they’re doing their pups a favor in the warm weather it actually has the opposite effect. Not to mention it can permanently damage your dog’s beautiful coat. These types of breeds have insulating layers to their coats that not only keep them warm in the cold, but also keep them cooler in the heat! So definitely take your pooch to be pampered if you want to, but be sure they understand that only light trims or sanitary cuts are acceptable.
Brushing - Pomsky coats are typically somewhere between a husky coat and a pomeranian coat. They are soft and fluffy but have a silky quality that most pomeranian coats lack. Most of the dead hairs will sit in the coat until you brush them out so shedding is not a big issue with regular brushing. However they do blow their coats in the Summer and for a couple weeks they will shed like crazy, but again, this can be controlled with more frequent brushing. We recommend getting a rake and slicker brush for these times of the year. DO NOT use a furminator brush as those rip at the fur and will damage your Pomsky’s coat.
Bathing - bathing should not be done too often. Bathing too much can strip the skin of essential oils and cause your dog's skin to become dry and itchy, it can also cause the coat to look dry and brittle. If you can keep bathing to no more that once a month it would be ideal for your dog's coat and comfort, even three months between baths would be fine if your dog does not seem to need one. For in between baths we recommend doggie wipes that you can get at the pet store or waterless bathes, a spray on solution that can cleanse the top coat and clean up little dirty paws. Of course if your Pomsky gets especially dirty for some reason, don't hesitate to deviate from their normal bath schedule!
Nail care - As a rule to keep in mind, a dog's nails should be trimmed when they just about touch the ground when they walk. If your dog's nails are clicking or getting snagged on the floor, it's time for a trim. For less active dog's this could mean a weekly trim, but often dog's who are walked frequently on sidewalks, their nails are worn down naturally and need a trim much less often.
Visiting a Groomer - Many families enjoy taking their Pomsky to the groomers. It’s a nice way to get your pup freshened up without having to do the work yourself. However it’s important that you are very clear with the groomer. NEVER allow them to shave your Pomsky. You may see memes of Huskies, Pomeranians, and even Pomskies that look silly in their “summer cuts”, and though they think they’re doing their pups a favor in the warm weather it actually has the opposite effect. Not to mention it can permanently damage your dog’s beautiful coat. These types of breeds have insulating layers to their coats that not only keep them warm in the cold, but also keep them cooler in the heat! So definitely take your pooch to be pampered if you want to, but be sure they understand that only light trims or sanitary cuts are acceptable.