Aussiepom
For those who love an unusual and interesting dog, the Aussiepom is certainly a real contender being a cross between the Australian Shepherd and the Pomeranian. With their fluffy coats that can be many colours, including a merle variety, they are cute-looking dogs that are far smaller than their Australian Shepherd parent. Retaining some Spitz features, most individuals will have curled-over tails and pointed ears, although there are exceptions.
There is a real range of personalities within this recently-developed breed, although most are affectionate and loyal to their family. Some are nervous of new people, meaning thorough socialisation is required from young age. For those that inherit their brains from their Australian Shepherd side, they should be provided with plenty of mental stimulation and tasks to complete.
About & History
A fairly new breed, the Aussiepom was only developed in the last couple of decades and has gained a small following in North America and Europe. Though the Pomeranian and Australian Shepherd are quite dissimilar breeds, mixing them together has resulted in a small and social dog that can make a fantastic pet.
With no real history of which to speak, when discussing the past of the Aussiepom, we must look to its parents. The Australian Shepherd has a misleading name as many credit America as being its homeland, not Australia. Why it was ever called the ‘Australian’ Shepherd is unclear though theories include the possibility that it travelled via Australia to get to America, or that Americans gave them the name in a nod to their Merle coat, a colour more commonly associated with Aussie dogs. Studies have revealed that the Australian Shepherd Dog is a close relative of the Border Collie and has traditionally been used to herd cattle and perform other farmyard tasks. Their superior intelligence has meant that they have also excelled in many other disciplines, including search and rescue and as drug detector dogs.
The Pomeranian is around 300 years old and is thought to have descended from the German Spitz. They were popularised by Queen Victoria of England, who preferred the dog to be small, leading to a trend for much smaller Poms during her lifetime. This cheeky dog is still a favourite pet of high society.
Appearance
Most would describe the Aussiepom as being a shrunken Australian Shepherd with foxy, Pomeranian-type features. They are undeniably cute and cuddly with unique markings and unusual fur colours.
Their size will depend on whether a standard, toy or miniature Australian Shepherd was used in their mix. Owing to the breeding options available, the Aussiepom is available in more sizes than most other pedigree dogs, though the average breed member will stand at around 30 to 45cm tall. Light-boned and elegant, they will weigh from 4.5kg to 13.5kg.
The ears of the Aussiepom may stand in erect triangles or may flop forwards. Their head is wedge-shaped and their snout relatively short. Their oval eyes are evenly spaced and may be blue, wall or brown. As with their Pomeranian parent, many have a permanently ‘smiling’ mouth. Though a large proportion will have the plumed, curl tail of the Spitz, some will retain the hanging, densely-furred tail of the Australian Shepherd.
The characteristic coat of the Aussiepom may be tri-colour (tan, black and white), blue, merle, red merle or solid blocks of colours, such as brown or black. The soft coat is medium in length and straight, resembling that of a plush toy. Most individuals will shed a moderate amount.
Character & Temperament
While the Pomeranian is celebrated for its feisty and determined nature, the Australian Shepherd dog is more known for its high levels of intelligence, athleticism and willingness to work. Not only do the Pomeranian and Aussie Shepherd look very different, but it is clear that they also have very dissimilar personalities. Mixing such diverse dogs together means that the Aussiepoms produced tend to have a variety of personalities.
On the whole, the Aussiepom is a sociable and friendly dog that forms strong attachments with its owners and can become territorial over its family and property. Separation anxiety is a real risk, so owners should ensure their Aussiepom is not left along for prolonged periods. While this breed does get on well with most children, they can be boisterous so should be monitored when around little ones. Most get on well with other dogs.
They can be highly-strung and always like to know what is going on around them. The very alert nature of the Aussiepom and its tendency to bark make it a good watchdog although it is not really hostile enough to succeed as a guard dog.
Trainability
Though perhaps not as quick-witted as the clever clogs Australian Shepherd, the Aussiepom is quite smart and likes to do things right, making them a trainable companion. Such a highly responsive dog needs stimulating training sessions that vary and do not become boring, but rather continue to pose an achievable challenge. Patience can be required and some report that they are anecdotally longer to house train than other breeds.
‘Small Dog Syndrome’ is a possibility and must be monitored for as the dog matures and be strongly discouraged. Despite their small stature, Aussiepoms should be treated the same as bigger dogs – not picked up and coddled all of the time. Any aggressive behaviour or nipping should be completely forbidden.
Health
There are a number of health conditions which we should consider and, while out-crossing any pedigree dog can improve its general health, it certainly does not mean that they will be disease-free.
Merle Considerations
For any dog with Merle parents, if they inherit two copies of the merle gene (‘double merle’ or ‘lethal whites’), they are at a very high risk of having congenital hearing and eyesight issues. Ethically, merle to merle matings should not be carried out due to this possibility. Even single merles can experience issues, with studies suggesting that around one third of single merles experience partial hearing loss.
Patellar Luxations
For those Pomeranians bred to Toy and Miniature Australian Shepherds in particular, there is a real risk of them developing patellar luxation. An orthopaedic condition that is more often seen in toy breeds, affected dogs have knee caps that do not sit as they should, popping out of place with varying frequency. For some, their condition is mild and they may only have a minor and temporary lameness.
For others, their knees are seriously affected and it is even possible for the kneecap to be permanently dislocated. For those dogs with high-grade patellar luxation, surgery is usually beneficial. Where surgery is not an option (whether for health or financial reasons), some dogs will improve with conservative therapy which can include weight loss, physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory medication.
Allergies
Allergies are prevalent in the entire canine population and are certainly not limited to the Aussiepom community. Dogs can be allergic to practically anything, with the most common allergies being to fleas, house dust mites, pollen, trees, mould and food. An allergic dog may experience a gamut of symptoms, including itchiness, chronic ear and skin infections, gastrointestinal upset, runny eyes and sneezing.
If possible, tests are run to determine the cause of the allergen and the offender is then avoided. If a dog is allergic to food alone, this is easily done with a hypoallergenic diet. Similarly, flea allergies can be well-controlled with the routine use of anti-parasite medication. Unfortunately, most dogs are allergic to several things, many of which are unavoidable, such as grass or pollens.
For some, specific immunotherapy injections can help to reduce symptoms over time, although some owners find this treatment route cost prohibitive. Many allergic dogs, even those who receive immunotherapy, will continue to experience flare-ups throughout their life and will require medication to help control the symptoms.
Exercise and Activity Levels
While exercise needs will vary depending on personality type and size, most should be provided with a 45 minute walk each day, as well as some outdoor activities, such as seeking games or herding.
Though the Pomeranian may make the ideal apartment dog, it is generally accepted that the Aussiepom requires space to run around and would ideally live in a spacious home with a large back yard. They enjoy having the freedom to roam, so a rural setting would work best.
Grooming
A quick daily brush through should keep the coat of this breed in good nick. Shedding indoors can be kept to a minimum by carrying out their grooming regime outdoors.
To prevent dental disease in later life, the teeth of the Aussiepom should be brushed daily. Either a finger brush or soft pet’s tooth brush can be used, and owners may choose to brush with water alone or with a flavoured pet tooth paste.