Pomapoo: Your Complete Guide
One of the cutest dogs you’ll ever lay eyes on is the pomapoo. These dogs are a cross between Pomeranians and toy poodles, so you may know them as pooranians, pomeroodles, or even as Teddy Bear dogs.
The combination of these breeds makes the dog small, playful, and full of energy. Plus, they have a big personality and love to bark if they find something wrong or want to get your attention. While their bark is on the loud side, it’s certainly effective.
Because of their size, pomapoos are great dogs for people who live in apartments or any type of housing. However, the barking mentioned earlier will need to be kept under control, something very doable with training.
If you’re wondering about whether a pomapoo is right for you, read on to learn everything you need to know.
Quick Look at the Pomapoo
Below is a glance at the pomapoo breed regarding their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 5-10 pounds, 8-10 inches |
| Coat Type | Short to medium, straight and wavy |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Intelligent, playful, affectionate |
| Good With Kids | |
| Good With Other Animals |  |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
What Is the History of Pomapoos?
Pomapoos are designer dogs that don’t have a vast history. Unlike some other breeds that have been around for centuries, pomapoos originated in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. Breeders created these dogs because they wanted a small dog that didn’t shed as much as Pomeranians. Moreover, breeders also wanted to reduce the number of health issues the breed faced. This resulted in an attempt to make the smallest possible combination of a poodle and Pomeranian, and it worked.
While pomapoos are a newer breed, much is known about their parent breeds. Pomeranians have been around since the late 1800s and have some royal heritage. The queen of England, Queen Charlotte, helped create the breed by bringing small spitz dogs home from Italy. These dogs were mixed with her court dogs from Germany until they were smaller. It took a few rounds of breeding, but this is how the Pomeranian came to be in Europe. While not much has changed about the breed over the years, it’s a common breed to mix with other breeds.
The other half of this breed is the poodle, which originated in Germany. These dogs were bred to hunt in the water, and their unusual haircut prevented them from getting waterlogged. From there, miniature poodles and other small poodle breeds were bred for their unique appearance and intelligence. Poodles are also commonly crossed with other breeds to get a smaller or more intelligent result.
What Do Pomapoos Look Like?
Pomapoos are tiny dogs that resemble their parent breeds, the poodle and Pomeranian. They’re only about 10 inches tall and weigh around five to 10 pounds, which is enough to classify them as a toy breed. In fact, they’re one of the smallest dogs you can find.
You’ll know it’s a pomapoo because they have a face like a teddy bear with big round ears and black or brown eyes. Pomapoos also have tails that can reach their heads, and their heads are wedge-shaped with a long and narrow muzzle.
Typically, their coats are thick and dense because pomapoos have double coats. This means that they need to be groomed often to prevent matting. When it comes to color, you can find pomapoos in shades of brown, black, white, and a combination of these colors.
What Size Is a Pomapoo?
Pomapoos are tiny dogs, and we mean small. They’re known as toy breeds, so they rarely reach a height of more than 10 inches at the shoulder. This applies to male and female pomapoos.
As for their weight, pomapoos are between 5 and 10 pounds. Because of their small size, it’s important to be careful with them. Failing to do so can result in injury.
What Is a Pomapoos Coat Type and Length?
Pomapoos can have a wide range of coats. Typically, their coats are short and curly, but you can also find some with medium and straight hair. Ultimately, their coat length and type come down to the dog’s parents.
When dealing with wavy or curly hair, brush it often to prevent problems. Long-haired pomapoos are easier to manage but still need proper grooming.
What Is a Pomapoo’s Temperament?
Pomapoos are intelligent dogs that love to spend time with the whole family. They’re affectionate, friendly, and outgoing. That said, their temperament might change if they have more Pomeranian genes, as they are a bit more sassy and reserved. Furthermore, they’re good with children and pets as long as no rough-housing occurs. Children or other pets being too rough can result in pomapoo injuries or injuries to your children or the other pet.
Are Pomapoos Good With Kids?
Yes, pomapoos can be great with children, so long as their boundaries are being respected. Ear/tail pulling and other rough play is a surefire way to get nipped at. It is important to teach youngsters these boundaries with all dogs, but especially with toy breeds like the pomapoo as their small bodies are much more suseptable to injury during rough play.
Are Pomapoos Good With Other Animals?
Pomapoos are good with other animals as long as they’re small. They can get along with cats, small dogs, and other animals like guinea pigs or ferrets. While they’re good with small animals and dogs, they’re not the best with large animals. Pomapoos may sometimes act like they’re huge, which can result in them getting into trouble with larger dogs that can harm them.
As long as you practice socialization training from a young age, you shouldn’t have to worry about pomapoos around larger dogs or any other animals.
Are Pomapoos More Aggressive?
No, pomapoos are not aggressive. While they can get nippy if they feel in danger, they don’t have overtly aggressive behavior. They may act more unruly if they have more Pomeranian genes, but they aren’t one of the more aggressive breeds. After all, they’re known as Teddy Bear dogs for a reason.
This does come down to the individual dog, though, and aggressive behavior can be possible in any breed given their circumstances. Always keep this in mind when adopting a dog.
Do Pomapoos Bark?
Pomapoos don’t bark too often but can bark at strangers if they haven’t been trained properly. Even if that gets to be too much, they’re easy to train, and you can train excessive barking out of them. Some pomapoos can bark often but usually have to see or hear something to get started. They may also begin to bark if you’re away from home for extended periods.
Their laid-back demeanor and lack of frequent barking make them perfect for apartments and homes that don’t want to deal with loud barking all day.
Are Pomapoos Affectionate?
Pomapoos are affectionate with their owners and share a special bond with them. Signs of affection from pomapoos include sitting on their owner’s lap, sleeping with them, and spending time around them.
Pomapoos can also be affectionate with strangers and other animals in the home. This may take some time and socialization training though.
Are Pomapoos Intelligent?
Pomapoos are smart dogs but not as smart as some of the smartest breeds, like German shepherds. That said, they’re easy to train and respond well to commands and instructions. They can usually learn complex tasks and solve tricky puzzles when given the time.
Are Pomapoos Energetic?
Pomapoos have moderate energy levels, which means they don’t need a ton of exercise each day. All you need to do to keep a pomapoo happy is engaging in play around the house and one moderate daily walk. This will be enough to keep them happy and healthy.
Are Pomapoos Easy to Train?
Yes, pomapoos are easy to train. You can teach them to learn specific commands and even some complex ones that require months of repeated instruction. Training is also easy to do at home without a professional trainer. That said, you’ll always have the best results when you work with a professional familiar with the breed and how to make them cooperate.
Are Pomapoos Good Watchdogs?
Pomapoos are not good watchdogs. While they’re small and will bark at strangers, they’re not great at identifying threats. They’re also not intimidating to strangers, even if they might think they are. as it is, they likely wont stop anyone from entering your home.
For these reasons, you’re better off with a larger dog if you need a watchdog.
Are Pomapoos Good Service Dogs?
Pomapoos can be great service dogs because they’re easy to train. However, their small size keeps them limited to more mental health-related disabilities. This means that they’re suitable for psychiatric service dog work, which is a service dog that can help someone through panic attacks, depression, anxiety, and other severe mental health disabilities.
Pomapoos are also great emotional support animals. Their small size makes it easy to take them into any home or apartment, and you might have some extra leeway in public because of their adorable appearance. That said, ESAs don’t have the same protections as service dogs, so you can’t take them on planes or into private businesses without permission.
The last thing to note is that they’re good therapy dogs. A therapy dog is found in nursing homes, schools, funeral homes, or hospitals. They have a similar role as ESAs, but they’re better at comforting a group of people instead of being bonded to one individual.
While they’re not the best physical service dogs, pomapoos are great for other types of service dog work.
How to Care for a Pomapoo?
Pomapoos aren’t challenging dogs to care for, but you need to take your time to familiarize yourself with their needs. It’s important to note that you need to groom them often, feed them a balanced diet, and monitor any potential health conditions as they get older.
One of the most important aspects of caring for a pomapoo is always having someone around. These dogs don’t like being home alone, so they’re best-suited in homes that have a family member home for most of the day. Being away for too long can cause stress, anxiety, and other unwanted behaviors.
Do You Need to Groom a Pomapoo?
Yes, you need to groom a pomapoo. In fact, they’re one of the highest maintenance dogs you can have regarding grooming needs. It would help if you brushed them daily to prevent matting, and it’s important to bring them to a professional groomer every four to six weeks.
If you thought that was it, you’re not off the hook yet. It’s also important to bathe them at home between appointments with the groomer to keep their coats healthy. Plus, their hair needs to be trimmed regularly along with their nails.
Overall, their grooming needs are intensive compared to some other breeds.
Do Pomapoos Shed?
Pomapoos do shed, but it depends on their parent dogs. These dogs are mixed with poodles and Pomeranians, so it’s not uncommon for them to have an undercoat that sheds more than the top layer of hair. Furthermore, these dogs shed more than most poodle and mixed poodle breeds because of their Pomeranian genes.
That said, they’re still not heavy shedders. At most, you’re looking at a light to moderate shedder that may shed more during the warm months if they have an undercoat.
What Health Problems Do Pomapoos Have?
Pomapoos are usually a healthy dog breed and don’t face many health issues that impact the lives of larger dogs. Still, that doesn’t mean they’re invincible. You’ll want to watch out for health problems like cataracts, dental problems, and weight gain. These can happen to any breed, but weight gain is common in pomapoos because of their small size and large appetite.
Other serious health conditions to monitor include epilepsy, tracheal collapse, and patellar luxation (kneecap dislocation). Epilepsy usually appears in puppies, but patellar luxation and tracheal collapse can happen at any age.
Most health problems are more likely to develop when your pomapoo is older, but regular vet visits can help you prevent conditions from developing or getting worse. A healthy diet paired with exercise is also key for longevity.
How Long Do Pomapoos Live?
Pomapoos live a long life compared to some larger breeds but an average one compared to some smaller dog breeds. Most pomapoos will live for between 12 and 15 years, but it’s not uncommon to see pomapoos that are much older. Taking care of your pomapoo with a healthy diet and exercise routine is the best way to improve longevity.
What Should a Pomapoo Eat?
Small dog formulated kibble is a great choice for your pomapoo. There are plenty of formulas out there to choose from. Alternatively, you can make your own dog food at home; just be sure to talk to your vet to make sure your dog is getting all the nutrients it needs.
If your dog has medical issues or is deficient in some nutrient or another, there are specially formulated dog foods out there that can help. Again, please make sure you speak with your vet before starting your dog on any specialty diets.
Is a Pomapoo the Right Dog for Me?
Pomapoos are cute little rascals, but they might not be for everyone. That said, they are intelligent and easy to train, so you can always teach away the less ideal traits. They make a good dog for most households, but it’s important to know when and where you shouldn’t adopt or purchase a pomapoo.
It’s important to give them plenty of attention and ensure you don’t leave them alone to avoid fits of barking or sassy behavior. This makes them great family dogs if you have a big family with the time to give them attention and affection. Also, they’re suitable for most living spaces because of their small size. Therefore, apartments, condos, and any other type of home are okay for a pomapoo.
On the other hand, you won’t want a pomapoo if you can’t keep up with the grooming needs as they can get overwhelming. Additionally, you’ll want to avoid this breed if you don’t have time to train or play with them because they might develop bad behaviors. Lastly, you’ll want to avoid this breed if you have small children because pomapoos are delicate and can get aggressive when handled incorrectly.