Chow Chow and Pomeranian Mix: A Complete Guide

Are you thinking of getting a new dog? If so, maybe you should consider a mixed-breed dog. Hybrid dogs are becoming more popular each year, and this is leading to some interesting combinations.

Take, for instance, the Chow Chow/Pomeranian mix! It’s very cute, but its parent breeds are so incredibly different, in both size and personality.

This creates a very unique little dog breed. If you’re interested in adopting a Chow Chow/Pitbull mix, read ahead – we’ll cover the factors you need to consider first, including size, intelligence, trainability, and more! 

About Chow Chow Dogs

Chow Chows are a very old breed of dog, originating about 2,000 years ago. Although its exact history is unknown as it’s been lost to time, the Chow Chow is believed to be a cross between a Samoyed and Tibetan Mastiff. 

Chow Chows came from ancient China around 200 BCE and were used for hunting bears, herding animals, and pulling sleds.

Although Chow Chows were once a very aggressive breed, this trait has thankfully been phased out through breeding over the centuries. 

Nowadays, Chow Chows behave sort of like cats! That is to say, they’re independent and reserved; they’re not as hyper and playful as breeds like Huskies or Golden Retrievers. 

Still, this independence doesn’t stop a Chow Chow from being affectionate and loving their family.

However, the Chow Chow is not one of those dog breeds that’s eager to satisfy their owners. They can be stubborn. This means you’ll have to be assertive and firm with a Chow Chow to prevent him from acting up. 

Chow Chows are very protective of their owners and house and are wary of strangers. They can be trained to tolerate having strangers around, but will probably never greet unknown people with affection and a wagging tail. 

Chow Chows usually stand around 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh between 45 to 70 pounds. Despite being medium-sized, they’re very powerfully built!

Chow Chows have a double coat which is especially thick around the neck, giving them a mane-like appearance. Their fur will usually be red, black, blue, cinnamon, or cream-colored. 

One last interesting feature about the Chow Chow: Their tongue is blue!

Chow Chow dogs typically live 9-15 years.

About Pomeranian Dogs 

The Pomeranian, sometimes called a Pom, is a toy breed descended from large Spitz-type dogs. While their exact origin is unknown, they likely come from somewhere around Poland or East Germany. 

These tiny dogs have thick poofy coats, pointy ears, and a furry neck. Unlike Chow Chows, Pomeranians are quite outgoing and friendly. They tend to be curious and love to play!

While Pomeranians make for a good pet, they might not be great if you have small kids. That’s because Pomeranians have a small, fun appearance, and young children might treat them like a fluffy toy as a result. Pomeranians don’t like being yanked around and will bite back if they feel threatened.

Like many small dogs, Pomeranians feel the need to prove themselves because of their tiny size. This means they yap a lot at strangers, especially other dogs. A Pom will try to fight dogs several times bigger than themselves. 

However, Pomeranians are also intelligent dogs that respond well to training, so you can socialize and train them to get rid of these behaviors. Teach them that barking isn’t acceptable, and offer rewards like a toy or treat when they listen. 

Pomeranians are only about 6 to 7 inches tall at the shoulder, and weigh a puny 3 to 7 pounds – really! 

As mentioned earlier, Poms, like Chow Chows, have a thick double coat. This coat can be just about any color but is usually orange, tan, red, white, or brown.

Pomeranians have a pretty long lifespan of 12 to 16 years on average.

What’s a Pomeranian/Chow Chow Mix?

When you cross these two dogs, you get a Pomchow (or Chowpom). This is a relatively new breed of dog, so information on them is limited. What is known is that they’re extremely cute and super fluffy little lap dogs!

How Big are Pomchows?

Usually, a mixed-breed dog will be between the average size of both parent breeds. With Pomchows, though, this isn’t exactly true; they’re generally expected to weigh the same as a Pomeranian, somewhere between 3-7 pounds. 

They also stan only slightly taller, at around 7-10”. 

What is a Pomchow Like?

Temperament will depend on which one of the parent breeds your Pomchow got more genes from. In general, though, a Pomchow is an intelligent, outgoing, and high-energy mutt.

Does Pomchows Need a Lot of Exercises?

Yes – Pomchows tend to be high-energy dogs. You’ll need to take your Pomchow for a few walks each day, including at least one long one. 

Otherwise, your dog may get bored and become destructive. 

Are Pomchows Hard to Groom?

One look at both parent breeds should answer this question for you! Make sure to invest in a good brush and a good vacuum.

A Pomchow’s thick double coat needs to be brushed at least 4 times per week to prevent knots. They tend to clean themselves, so they won’t need baths too often. Bathing them too often will also dry out their skin.

Are Pomchows Easy to Train?

With a Pomeranian/Chow Chow mix, you’ll need to be dominant and strict. Otherwise, your little Pomchow may start to think they’re the one in control!

Use positive reinforcement and train them in short sessions. Although they’re smart and can learn quickly, they’re also independent and will need lots of rewards. 

How Long Do Pomchows Live?

The average lifespan of a Pomchow is somewhere between 9 to 13 years. This is quite short for a small dog. 

Chow Chow, Pomeranian, and Pomchow Comparison Table

	Chow Chow	Pomeranian	Pomchow
Average Weight	45-70 lbs	3-7lbs	3-7lbs
Average Height	17-20”	6-7”	7-10”
Grooming Difficulty	Very Difficult. Chow Chows have a thick double coat that needs to be brushed at least three times a week, and daily during season changes.	Moderate – you’ll need to give your Pomchow a few walks per day to prevent bad behavior.	Difficult. They will need brushing at least every other day, and daily during shedding season.
Shedding Level	Heavy!	Consistent	Mostly seasonal
Temperament	Reserved, loyal, affectionate.	Playful, extroverted, intelligent	Playful, energetic, independent
Exercise Needs	Not very high –  a few short walks per day is fine.	Low – only about 30 minutes per day is needed.	Moderate – you’ll need to give your Pomchow a few walks per day to prevent bad behaviour.
Intelligence	Not very intelligent	Intelligent	Fairly intelligent
Trainability	Trainable, but can be stubborn	Very trainable	Trainable, but stubborn.
Friendliness to Strangers	Wary of strangers, but can be trained to tolerate them.	Wary of strangers and will yap at them.	Can be trained to accept strangers.
Friendliness With Other Dogs	Not friendly with other pets, but can be trained to tolerate them.	Not friendly with other dogs and will try to pick fights, but can be trained and socialized.	Will need socializing.
Life Expectancy	9-15 years	12-16 years	9-13 years
Moderate – you’ll need to give your Pomchow a few walks per day to prevent bad behavior.	Hip Dysplasia, Patellar Luxation, eye problems	Luxating patella, tracheal collapse, black skin disease	Patellar Luxation, eye problems, hip dysplasia

In Conclusion: Adopting a Pomeranian/Chow Chow Mix

All in all, this dog mix is pretty rare but unique. They tend to be playful and energetic, but thanks to their Chow Chow parent, they may also be a bit wary of strangers. 

Be sure to use lots of positive reinforcement training from a young age to prevent bad behavior. Don’t forget that this breed will tolerate young children, but won’t play nice if they get treated roughly!

Also, take into account the fact that their thick coat will need lots of grooming, especially during the change of season.

Thanks for reading!

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