Pomeagle

Despite the Pomeranian and Beagle not sharing much in common, this hasn’t stopped them from joining forces to create a unique hybrid. The Pomeranian is a confident, noisy little Spitz dog, while the Beagle is hunting hound who loves to be sociable and is very food-driven. Their progeny can inherit characteristics from either parent, making for a lot of variation within this new cross-breed.

A small dog, the Pomeagle does not yet have a consistent appearance and the way they look will vary from pup to pup. Their coat tends to be short and fluffy and can be number of colours, including brown, white and black. They have brown eyes that portray a calm yet attentive look.

About & History

Pomeagles have not been around for very long but both parents have plenty of history under their belts. The first mating of their two parent breeds is likely to have occurred within the last 20 or 30 years but, as is the case with many of the newer hybrids, it’s impossible to know exactly when and where the first mating took place.

The Pomeranian

Pomeranians are the smallest Spitz breed in existence and while they are noticeably smaller than their close relatives the Siberian Husky and the Samoyed, they have retained the spitz features of their ancestors, including the wedge-shaped muzzle, prick ears and plush fur.

Pomeranians come from a region once referred to as Pomerania, which is now occupied by both Germany and Poland. The first records of the Pomeranian date back to the mid 18th century and, at this time, they were brought to England where they become firm favourites of the royals. One of their biggest historical supporters was Queen Victoria who consciously bred her favourite and smallest Pomeranians, resulting in the breed downsizing by about 50% during her reign.

The Beagle

Beagles are well-liked family pets and have been popularised in the media in cartoons, such as Snoopy and Garfield (in which Odie the yellow dog is said to be a Beagle). However, they were originally used as hunting dogs and took advantage of their superior sense of smell to track prey. They would hunt in packs, one of the reasons why they still enjoy being homed among other dogs today.

The Beagle is a British breed and while similar style dogs existed prior to this, the Beagle we know today emerged during the 19th century through matings with hunting breeds, such as the English Foxhound. Around the same time, the breed was exported to the USA where an American strain naturally began to emerge.

Appearance

As the Pomeranian is such a small and dainty dog, it’s little wonder that the Pomeagle is far smaller and less robust than their Beagle parent. Their skulls are relatively small and they have quite pointed muzzles with well-defined stops. They may inherit the triangular Spitz ears or the larger, floppy ears of their hound parent. They have sturdy legs and quite small, well-balanced paws.

Weighing between 3kg and 8kg, most Pomeagles are rather small dogs. They reach heights of 15cm to 35cm at the withers. The coat of the Pomeagle is short and fuzzy and may be slightly longer on their ears and tail. Their fur can be tan, brown, white, black or red and many dogs are tricolor with a black or white facial mask.

Character & Temperament

Pomeagles make good pets thanks to their intelligence, friendly nature and ability to adapt. These dogs are especially loyal to their owners and will bond closely with them, sometimes to the exclusion of others. However, this reliance on their family can be a double-edged sword as they can go on to develop separation anxiety – a behavioural issue that can be hard to address.

Fantastic guard dogs, the yappy Pomeagle will quickly inform you of any new arrival to their territory. Their high-pitched bark can be grating so owners should take this into account if they live in an apartment where their neighbours may become irritated at the constant, shrill barking.

Tolerant of children, Pomeagles are a suitable pet for young families, however, they should always be supervised as they are fragile when puppies and can be nippy at times. They love to join in with any family activities and, once they’ve had some exercise and play time, will be content to curl up on the sofa at the end of the day.

With the Beagle contributing to 50% of their DNA, it’s little wonder that the Pomeagle has a strong prey drive and is easily distracted by scents when out of the home. This can make outdoor training sessions trickier and means that their recall needs to be perfected before they can be trusted off the lead.

Trainability

As some Beagles will have a notable stubborn streak, it is quite possible that the Pomeagle will require a little extra time and attention to master their basic training. However, as both parent breeds are clever and attentive, they can come on quickly in the right hands.

To avoid them developing issues, such as separation anxiety, owners should work on their training from a young age and should consider implementing crate training from a young age. They benefit from a consistent routine and all family members should treat them in a similar manner (with no-one over-babying them or ignoring their training schedule).

Health

There are a number of health condition that can affect the Pomeagle and should be closely monitored for within their small population.

Patellar Luxation

Kneecaps that are not positioned firmly in place can pop in and out causing discomfort and an odd gait. For some, this will happen infrequently while for others, this will happen on a daily basis. The luxation is graded from a one to a four with four being the most significant. Whether or not a dog will require surgery depends on how badly they are affected in their day to day life.

Hypothyroidism

Those with an underactive thyroid do not produce enough thyroid hormone and will display a range of symptoms including sluggishness, weight gain and a low resting heart rate. As the signs are vague and tend to occur in middle-aged to older dogs, some owners can mistake this for ‘normal’ aging.

A simple blood test can detect when the thyroid hormone level is lower than it should be and if hypothyroidism is diagnosed, it can be treated satisfactorily with daily medication.

Epilepsy

Seizures can occur for a large variety of reasons, including after ingestion of a toxic substance or head trauma. However, when there is no diagnosable reason, an animal that has fits is said to be epileptic. It’s important to rule out any other cause so those that have fits will often have a range of diagnostic tests carried out before a definitive diagnosis is reached.

Obesity

Beagles are highly food-driven and Pomeranians are quick to put on weight so it comes as no surprise that many Pomeagles are prone to obesity. This can be managed and as long as owners are diligent when it comes to their portion size, calorie intake and exercise, there is no reason why they cannot maintain a lean body condition throughout their lives.

Exercise and Activity Levels

The Pomeagle enjoys keeping active and is happiest when out on walks and playing with its family. They expend a lot of energy following their loved ones around at home but do also require a daily walk or two. A curious and, at times, energetic little dog, neglecting its exercise needs can result in a destructive dog that is incessantly yappy.

Grooming

A firm, metal brush should be used every day or two to prevent matts from forming and to remove any dead fur or skin that has been shed. Those with floppy ears should have them cleaned out on a weekly basis and owners should monitor them closely for any signs of infection (otitis externa).

Its important to get your Pomeagle used to having its claws clipped. While most can keep their nails in good shape by being walked on pavement, older dogs can develop thicker claws, which will require regular trims. Getting your Pomeagle used to this from a young age can save a lot of heartache and hassle in their later life.