The German Shepherd breed is known for a number of desirable characteristics. Because of this, they…
The German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix
German Shepherds and Pomeranians aren’t two dog breeds that people would naturally think would be crossed due to their size difference. However, with mixed breeds becoming more popular all over the world, the German Shepherd Pomeranian mix has become an option.
This article will discuss the general characteristics of this spunky mixed breed as well as the level of care they require to help you determine if this pup will fit into your family and lifestyle.
About the German Shepherd Breed
German Shepherds are an extremely popular breed, currently ranking 2nd by the American Kennel Club in popularity. They are known for being brave, smart, loyal, and the all-around versatile working dog.
German Shepherd Dogs are herding dogs that were used originally for livestock management.
Although GSDs still have those natural herding instincts, today they are used in a number of different roles such as on the police force, in the military, as guard dogs, and as family pets.
Even though German Shepherds excel as hard workers who love having a job, they have also proven to be great a family member. They bond closely with their people and are affectionate, loving, and playful.
They can be great with children (even babies), they just need to be taught how to be gentle due to their size. With proper socialization, they can also be good with other pets including cats.
About the Pomeranian Breed
Although not quite as popular as the GSD, Pomeranians are still very popular in the United States ranking 23rd in popularity by the AKC.
It is not as commonly known that the Pomeranian was originally a larger dog breed that were used for a variety of tasks including hunting and herding.
Now considered a toy dog, they become more popular in the later 1800s after being seen in conformation shows by the Queen of England. Pomeranians are smart, spunky, and active dogs who surprisingly can be great little guard dogs.
They do well in apartments or smaller living quarters, but will still need a decent amount of exercise and mental stimulation because of their energy levels. They are better with older children than younger children and can also be ok with other pets if very well socialized early on.
Why Cross a German Shepherd with a Pomeranian?
Apart from the size difference, German Shepherds and Pomeranians actually have a lot of common traits.
Crossing these two breeds will likely result in a wonderful working dog that is smaller in size than the GSD and as such is more manageable for those who don’t have a lot of space for a large dog.
German Shepherds are better with small children than the Pomeranian, thus crossing the two will result in a mix that can be an excellent companion for families with children of all ages.
General Characteristics of German Shepherd Pomeranian Mixes
The Pomeranian and German Shepherd have many similar traits, but there are also some key differences that will make a cross between these breeds a very interesting mutt.
If you are considering getting a German Shepherd Pomeranian mix here are the key features and characteristics you should expect from the breed:
Size
One of the biggest differences between these two breeds is obviously their size. German Shepherds being a large dog, and Pomeranians being a toy dog.
Here is how these breeds compare in terms of weight and height:
| Breed | Height (in.) | Weight (lbs.) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| German Shepherd Dog | 24 – 26 | 22 – 24 | 65 – 90 | 50 - 70 |
| Pomeranian | 6 - 12 | 6 - 12 | 3 - 7 | 3 - 7 |
Sometimes male Pomeranians can be slightly taller than their female counterparts, but they typically aren’t found to be over 12 inches tall. 12 inches is tall for a Pomeranian, most are usually closer to 7 or 8 inches tall.
Given the numbers above, it can be assumed that a Pomeranian German Shepherd cross would fall somewhere in the middle of the two breeds in terms of size and weight.
Females GSD Pom mixes can be expected to stand around 14 – 17 inches tall and weigh between 26 – 39 pounds. Whereas males can be expected to stand between 15 – 19 inches tall and weigh between 34 – 49 pounds.
Coat
German Shepherds have a double coat of medium to long fur with an undercoat. The Pomeranian is also a double-coated breed with an undercoat; however, their fur is longer and fluffier.
Accordingly, the coat of a Pomeranian GSD mix will largely depend on which parent the pup takes after.
If the pup takes after their GSD parent their coat will be smoother whereas if they take after their Pomeranian parent, their coat will be longer and have more fluff. This mix will shed year-round.
As far as color, a German Shepherd Pom mix has the potential for many different color options depending mostly on which parents’ traits are more dominant.
If they take after the GSD parent they are more likely to be sable, black and tan, all black, blue, or liver. Whereas, if they take after their Pomeranian parent they can be, red, orange, cream, sable, black, tri-colored, brown, or blue.
Grooming
The grooming needs of a GSD Pomerania mix will be a little more involved, especially if the pup takes after their Pomeranian parent.
Although they won’t need bathing often, they will need to be groomed professionally every four to six weeks on average.
Between grooming visits, they should be brushed twice weekly, and their face should be cleaned at least every other day, as they are prone to get eye stains. Teeth cleaning and nail clipping requirement are in the same frequency as any other dog.
Since German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes will have erect ears, they should be cleaned once a month, and more often if they are prone to ear infections.
Strength
As larger more muscular dogs German Shepherds are definitely stronger than the Pomeranian.
German Shepherds have a bite force of around 238 psi whereas Pomeranians bite force has not been documented.
One could expect a mix between these breeds to lead to a medium-sized dog of average strength with a bite force ranging somewhere in the mid 100s.
Speed
German Shepherds have been documented to run at a top speed of up to 30 miles per hour. The Pomeranian being smaller obviously runs slower at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour.
A mix between these breeds would likely result in a dog that runs at speeds between 19 – 21 miles per hour.
Exercise Requirement
Although German Shepherds and Pomeranians are energetic dogs, a mix between these two will be easier to manage exercise wise. Thirty to forty minutes of exercise a day should be sufficient for a German Shepherd Pomeranian mix.
However, monitor your dog as this can vary from dog to dog. If you find your dog is starting to exhibit some destructive behaviors you may need to increase their daily physical activity.
Canine sports as well as other “jobs” will also be a great option for this mix as they will likely excel at obedience, agility, rally, as guard dogs, or therapy dogs.
Physical exercise isn’t the only thing this mix will need, they will also need mental exercise.
Since both Pomeranians and German Shepherds are really smart, a mix from these breeds will also benefit from engaging their minds regularly. This can be done with puzzle toys and learning new tricks.
Trainability
Both German Shepherds and Pomeranians are very trainable, meaning a mix between the two will be trainable as well.
German Shepherds rank as the 3rd most intelligent dog breed, and Pomeranians rank as 23rd most intelligent dog breed.
Accordingly, a Pomeranian German Shepherd mixed breed would be a dog of excellent intelligence making for a very trainable dog. A dog at this intelligence level will be able to learn new commands with 5 to 15 repetitions and obey the first commands given 85% of the time.
Temperament
German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes are fun-natured, active dogs with a spunky unique personality. Expect this dog to be vocal and like to bark, whine and maybe even howl.
With proper socialization and training, this dog can be friendly with both their family as well as people outside their circle.
You will need to focus on socialization around other pets from a young age, as sometimes these dogs can be less friendly with larger dogs and animals as they feel threatened because of their size.
These dogs are better with older children but can be trained on how to interact with younger children if that is needed. Overall, these dogs will have a confident eager to please attitude and will show their family lots of love and affection.
Health
The Pomeranian German Shepherd cross can be prone to hypothyroidism, diabetes, cataracts, collapsed trachea, and congestive heart failure most commonly.
All dogs have genetic predispositions to certain ailments, however, having a good vet and going to regular visits helps catch any potential problems that may arise early enough for them to be addressed.
Lifespan
Pomeranian typically live between 12 to 16 years, while German Shepherds tend to live between 12 to 14 years.
A cross between these two would most likely have an average lifespan around 13 to 15 years.
It is important to remember that the best way to increase the odds of your dog living longer is to provide them with a healthy lifestyle containing high-quality dog food and regular exercise and vet visits.
AKC Recognition
The AKC does will not recognize German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes because it is not a purebred dog. The AKC only maintains a registry of purebreds.
The good news is that the AKC does have a program called the Canine Partners Program where mixed breeds are allowed to participate in different AKC events.
How Popular is the German Shepherd Pomeranian Mix?
German Shepherd Pomeranian mixes are very rare and so are not very popular.
Due to their size difference, these breeds aren’t commonly crossed intentionally. Also, because these breeds are in such high demand in their purebred form, the enthusiasts of these breeds don’t often advocate for mixing them.
Usually, this mix is a result of an accidental mating situation. However, there are some breeders that are intentionally mating these two breeds via artificial insemination to create this dog.
When this occurs, the female is usually the German Shepherd and the male is usually the Pomeranian for safety since the size of the puppies may be too large for the tiny Pom to carry to term.
Final Thoughts
The German Shepherd Pomeranian mix is a medium-sized dog with a fun-loving spunky temperament. They are extremely intelligent, easy to train, and loyal to their family. This mix needs proper socialization and training to be well balanced around other dogs, small children, and strangers.
If you aren’t totally convinced that this mix is right for you, check out the German Shepherd Jack Russell mix, German Shepherd Coonhound mix, and the German Shepherd Dalmatian mix.
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