Poshies

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5-25 lbs
7-16"
United States
Pomeranian
Shetland Sheepdog
Sheltie Pom
Born from the combination of a Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog) and a Pomeranian, the Poshies is a very energetic, independent, and  loyal hybrid breed that is sure to steal your heart. The Poshies is a small to medium sized dog that has thick, double coated fur like the Pomeranian, small black eyes, a curly tail, and a long muzzle that ends in a delicate black button nose. Taking the loving nature of the Pomeranian, the Poshies is a wonderful lap dog who wants nothing more to be with his owner all day long. But don't be fooled by his cuddly nature! The Poshies also takes after the Sheltie, who is a very energetic and raring-to-go type of dog; this means that he can have a high and independent energy that causes him to be slightly wary of strangers, making the  Poshies an excellent watch dog for you and your family. This is an easy breed to train due to his eagerness to please, but he does have a slight stubborn streak so there will be a need for repetition when teaching a new trick. Despite this fact, the Poshies learns very quickly and once he's figured out something, he'll master it in no time.
purpose Purpose
Companion, Watch Dog
history Date of Origin
2000's
ancestry Ancestry
Shetland Sheepdog and Pomeranian

Poshies Health

Average Size
Male Poshies size stats
Height: 7-16 inches Weight: 5-25 lbs
Female Poshies size stats
Height: 7-16 inches Weight: 5-25 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Deafness
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Von Willebrand's Disease
  • Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA)
  • Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
Minor Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Entropion
  • Cataracts
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Tracheal Collapse
  • Eyelid Defects
  • Color Dilution Alopecia
  • Microphthalmia
  • Corneal Dystrophy
  • Sick Sinus Syndrome
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
  • Cryptorchidism
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Hemophilia
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease
  • Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)
Occasional Tests
  • Hip X-Rays
  • Dna For Pra
  • Eye Examinations
  • Blood Tests
  • Full Physical Examination
  • Hearing and Ear Tests
  • DNA for VWD

Poshies Breed History

As a newer hybrid just developed within the last century, there are not many details that highlight why the hybrid was created. In order to learn more about what makes the Poshies useful and special to us as humans, we will need to take a look at the Sheltie's and the Pomeranian's origin stories. In doing so, we can learn more about their individual traits and why they are (and have always been) so popular. The Pomeranian is from the Northern region of Europe right on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Not surprisingly, the name Pomeranian comes from that specific region which goes by the name of Pomerania. This spunky little dog was originally bred out from the Spitz and usually weighed around 20 to 30 pounds fully grown, which is way bigger than the little fluff balls we know today!  While vacationing in Florence one day (back in 1888), Queen Victoria of England stumbled upon the Pomeranian and absolutely fell in love. She brought one back to England with her and from there the breed's popularity sky rocketed. It wasn't long before the Pom made his way to America and soon after began showing in the American Kennel Club. Nowadays, the Pomeranian is still a showman at heart and an excellent companion dog to people everywhere. The adorable miniature sheepdog known as the Shetland Sheepdog originates from the Shetland Isles. Much of the livestock is smaller there, so it makes sense that the dogs created for tending to the livestock and warning the owners of possible intruders were also small. While the exact origin of the Sheltie is unknown, many people think that his heritage consists of breeds such as the Pomeranian itself, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and perhaps a larger Collie. Such a cute dog was a total magnet for those who came to visit the isles and the Sheltie was frequently taken as a souvenir; so he made his way around quite quickly. Because people liked to mix the breed in with other dogs around the world, the Sheltie nowadays varies quite a lot in size and color. The American Kennel Club recognized the Sheltie as an official breed in the year 1911 and it is now one of the top 20 breeds registered by the AKC.

Poshies Breed Appearance

Combining the good looks of both the Pomeranian and the Sheltie, the Poshies is a small breed that has a large coat and an adorable face. His ears stand erect and tall with feathering all around them just like the Pomeranian. The eyes are small and black with a lustrous playful nature shining inside that reveals your hybrid's love of life. His long muzzle ends in a perfect black nose that compliments his face very well and accents the lighter colored fur in a very attractive way. Small paws, a big curled tail, and slight feathering around the rear and legs complete the gorgeous appearance of the Poshies. When you see one of these little dogs coming your way, get ready to catch your heart, because it's going to melt!
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Poshies eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Poshies nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
fawn Poshies coat
Fawn
white Poshies coat
White
brown Poshies coat
Brown
sable Poshies coat
Sable
red Poshies coat
Red
brindle Poshies coat
Brindle
blue Poshies coat
Blue
black Poshies coat
Black
cream Poshies coat
Cream
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Poshies straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Poshies Breed Maintenance

Due to the silky nature of the fur of the Poshies, frequent brushing will be required in order to keep it smooth and tangle free. Just a quick brush a day with a simple metal comb and pin brush will be more than enough to keep the fur looking wonderful, but if you want to go a step further, a trip to the groomer may be a nice way of keeping your Poshies - well "posh" - as it were. Bathing only needs to occur about once a month (as this breed doesn't have a bad doggy odor) unless you have a lighter colored dog that shows dirt easily. Besides brushing and bathing, the final two steps to the maintenance routine would be ear cleanings and a good nail trim every few weeks or so. This will keep the ears and feet healthy and free of snags or debris.
Brushes for Poshies
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Comb
Comb
Scissors
Scissors
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Poshies requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Poshies Temperament

With a sharp intelligence and a love for life, the Poshies is a playful and fun little dog. He may be small, but his loyal spirit makes him the perfect watch dog for a small family or, perhaps, for an older individual who doesn't want to handle a larger dog. The Poshies does wonderfully with children and other pets, but can get a bit temperamental if handled too roughly. This most likely comes from the Pomeranian side, but the good news is that if the Poshies is socialized young, this shouldn't be an issue that sticks around forever. Because the Poshies has a herding background, another trait that could pop up from time to time is the desire to herd things such as smaller children or other animals. Again, this is a trait that will most likely be rare and can be managed with early socialization, training, and a firm guidance. This breed makes a perfect addition to any family and will do well in any size home as long as he has a place to get some exercise each day.

Poshies Activity Requirements

Although the Poshies is primarily a cuddling dog by nature (thanks to the Pomeranian) he does have that energetic herding nature that comes from the Sheltie. Because of this, daily play times and training sessions will be essential in keeping the Poshies well behaved and happy. Long walks, trips to the park, and playing fetch in the yard are great ways to keep the Poshies entertained. Even if the weather is bad outside, the Poshies has a well insulated coat that keeps him from getting too cold, or over heating; so no matter what the weather is, you can still get your dog the exercise that he needs. And the best part is that as soon as your Poshies has gotten all his wiggles out, he will happily cuddle up next to you or in your lap for a good snooze.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
7 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Poshies

Similarly Sized Breeds to Poshies

Poshies Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$0.90 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$25.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Poshies Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Poshies size stats at six months
Height: 9.0 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
Female Poshies size stats at six months
Height: 9.0 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Poshies size stats at 12 months
Height: 11.0 inches Weight: 18.0 lbs
Female Poshies size stats at 12 months
Height: 11.0 inches Weight: 18.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Poshies size stats at 18 months
Height: 14.0 inches Weight: 22.5 lbs
Female Poshies size stats at 18 months
Height: 14.0 inches Weight: 22.5 lbs
author-img

Written by a Siberian Husky lover Lyndsie Harris

Published: 11/30/2017, edited: 02/24/2021

More articles by Lyndsie Harris

Poshies Owner Experiences

Zuko
3 Years
1 People
Studio
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Snuggle
Tug-of-war
Run
Walk
emotional support animal
Fetch
I absolutely adore my poshie Zuko. I adopted him a year ago from a county shelter. He is very energetic and as long as he gets enough activity and play, he becomes very snuggly. He’s a bit stubborn but is very intelligent when it comes to training. He is like my shadow, he will follow me everywhere and is very affectionate. He does well in my small studio apartment.
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Jake
7 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Jake is sweet and very affectionate.
1 year ago
Ellie
3 Years
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Rescue from Grand Cayman. Wonderful dog. Lively, cute, very intelligent. Loves to play, walk, run, chase squirrels and go for car rides. We are previous Pomeranian owners (5 champion dogs) and this Poshie is great.
4 years, 4 months ago
Murphy
12 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Murphy is a rescue and the best dog I have ever had. He is extremely smart (many tricks and a large vocabulary from listening to conversations). Murphy is a herder and loves other dogs. He is less friendly towards strangers and becomes very affectionate once he knows you. Murphy is 12 years old, but still acts like a puppy at times. He is very beautiful and still gets a lot of attention wherever we go. He does not like hot weather and often needs a fan on him. He has a lot of anxiety when confronted with larger noises, machinery, large trucks,skateboards, airplanes in the sky, and even the blimp. Lastly, Murphy is very observant and misses very little whether it is on the ground or in the sky, he is a great watch dog!
3 years, 3 months ago
Foxy
15 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I have always had dogs, the Poshie is the best I have ever had! He is my constant companion, very loyal,and protective. Foxy loves other animals especially his cats. He pulls his cat,in a jogging stroller every day,even at age 15! He has fun every day,quite the little athlete!
2 years, 6 months ago
Brownie
1 Year
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He’s funny and loving and very alert, I don’t know what to feed him, I tried everything
2 years, 2 months ago
Riley
10 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Run
Explore the woods
Road trip
Tug-of-war
Chase
Fetch
nap time
Riley is by far the best dog I’ve ever owned or lived with. She has a very specific personality that’s always a joy to engage with. She’s loyal and protective, extremely sweet and caring. She loves any and all activities just as much as a long nap (where she always has to be cuddled up next to me). She’s wary of strangers at first (mostly woman, I think b/c she’s very protective of me), but once she knows you she’ll be begging for love and attention! She has a huge vocabulary and easily picks up on subtle clues and emotions. Riley is very, very smart and is (by far) the easiest dog to train that I’ve ever come across! She loves other dogs, but gets super jealous if I start giving another dog too much attention, which in her eyes is not a lot lol
2 years, 2 months ago
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - Behavior
Question

I am looking into getting a poshie. Do these tend to be healthy dogs? Bark a lot? Good with other dogs and older kids?

Answer
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