If you’re a big fan of cute tiny pups, you’ve probably got your eye on the Westie and Pomeranian. Both dogs are sweet, playful, and charming and make for amazing companions. So, which pooch should you pick? Well, how about a crossbreed? With a Weeraninan pup, you’ll get the loyalty and joyfulness of a Westie paired with the intelligence and curiosity of a Pom. And with early socialization and proper training, you’ll be able to turn it into the perfect fur baby!

Breed Overview

A mix between two small breeds, the Weeranian is a lovely pooch with adorable personality traits. And, despite its energetic nature, this is a low-maintenance dog that’s quick to adapt and happy to spend time with its owners. But are these dogs good with little kids and other pets? How do you groom and train a Weeranian? Which (potential) medical issues should you be worried about? Let’s find out!

Weeranian Puppies

Just like its parent breeds, the Weeranian is a vigorous, perky dog that likes to bounce around and have fun. So, make sure you’re ready to match this puppy’s energy before you adopt one and bring it home. Speaking of adoption, as a crossbreed, Weeranians are available at a very affordable price. Depending on the breeder, you’ll end up paying $400–$700 for a healthy, properly-raised pup. That said, the Weeranian isn’t the most popular breed out there.

Thus, you’ll probably have to check out a few adoption centers, rescue organizations, and shelters until you find one. If you go to a breeder, the chances of getting a Pom Westie pup will be higher, but they’ll charge you more. In any case, don’t pay for the doggo until you receive a full medical report and see that it doesn’t have any chronic or hereditary conditions. If the breeder refuses to provide the necessary info, don’t go ahead with the deal.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Weeranian

Both Poms and Westies are smart and capable dogs, so it’s only natural for their “love child” to be as witty and resourceful. Yes, Weeranians are intelligent dogs and love to be mentally challenged. As for temperament, these champs rarely show signs of aggression toward their owners yet can be a bit strong-willed and stubborn. This is a personality trait that they adopt from West Highland White Terrier dogs.

Going back to the pros, Weeranians are equally cheerful when living on a large property or “trapped” in a relatively small apartment. As long as they have enough room to play some games and run around, they’ll be alright. Also, in contrast to some dogs that only bond and respond well to one single owner, Weeranians are quick to warm up to the entire family and share their love with each other.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Weeranian pups thrive when surrounded by people they love and like to spend as much time with their human parents as possible. That makes them a great choice for a big, active family that has the time to exercise and play with an energetic pet and include it in various fun activities. Seniors and single owners will like these pups as well.

More good news: Weeranians are quick to adapt to new circumstances and environments and won’t get anxious if you move a lot.

That makes them generally friendly toward strangers. While they can be aloof from other pets (we’ll cover that in a moment), these dogs are always happy to meet new people. So, if you’re used to having relatives and friends over, you won’t have to worry about the Pom Westie treating them as enemies. There might be some barking involved, but that’s about it. As long as every person in the family knows how to treat a small dog, this pup will be an excellent pick.

What About Little Children?

Weeranians have big, loving hearts and like spending time with children. They are extremely friendly and tolerant with kids and won’t lash out at them when picked up or cuddled, especially if properly socialized. Some fun exercises, games, or intelligent puzzles will be enough to keep them excited. However, it’s important to remember that Weeranians and tiny dogs that rarely weigh more than 15 pounds or reach higher than 12 inches in height.

Therefore, while they won’t intentionally harm a soul, the children might provoke them. Teasing, pulling its fur, or attempting to “ride” a Weeranian will probably end badly. And the only way to avoid this is to either provide 24/7 supervision (which is not doable for most parents that have to work) or teach the children from a very young age how to behave around tiny pooches. Or you can just wait until the kids grow up and then adopt a Pom Westie.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

West Highland White Terriers aren’t the most welcoming pups when it comes to meeting other dogs. The same goes for Pomeranians. They’re both a bit standoffish toward strangers and will, most likely, start barking when introduced to fellow canines, cats, or other pets. Partially, this is due to their highly protective nature. That’s right: despite the compact size, Poms and Westies are top-notch watchdogs and hard-wired to safeguard their families.

Expect the same behavior from Weeranians. But, if you put enough effort into early socialization and show the dog that making new furry friends and playing with them is fun, this attitude can be altered. Just remember that Westies were bred with one goal: to hunt rats, mice, and bunnies. As a result, Weeranians that take after their Westie parents will have a high prey drive which might prove to be hard to tame.

Things to Know When Owning a Weeranian:

Food & Diet Requirements

You can buy commercial food or prepare a home-cooked meal for the Weeranian. The important part here is for the ingredients to be of the highest quality. Also, consult with a veterinarian to form the right diet for your dog. First, you’ll need to consider the pet’s age (the food will be slightly different for pups, adults, and seniors). Secondly, make sure it’s rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals and has a high nutritional value.

Small dogs aren’t as prone to obesity as the giant breeds, but you should still keep tabs on the pup’s daily calorie intake. This is especially true if you like to treat it with snacks. For the most part, one full cup of food per day is enough for an active Weeranian. Lastly, the doggo should always have easy access to fresh water.

Exercise

How much daily activity do Weeranians need to stay fit and healthy? On average, 30–60 minutes of exercise should suffice. It can be a short walk, hike, or a game like fetch. To stimulate the pet mentally, buy a couple of toys and puzzles that will keep it busy and kill boredom. Weeranian dogs like to follow their owners wherever they go, and, when properly socialized, will happily make friends with other humans or even dogs.

Supervision is important, though: don’t let the pup wander off too far, as that might get it in trouble. Since it’s a tiny pooch, Weeraninan can be prey for a bigger animal.

Training

Weeranian dogs are always eager to please their human parents, which makes them an easy breed to train. While a bit standoffish and stubborn at times, these pooches are very smart and quickly learn new moves and commands. All you have to do is be patient and supportive and reward the doggo with positive reinforcement for a job well done. With that, do keep in mind that Pom Westies often have a high prey drive.

So, it would be best to train the pooch in an enclosed area where you’ll have all its attention. Again, the pup might get distracted and run after a bird or rodent in the middle of a session!

Grooming ✂️

Moderate grooming—that’s all these dogs need to keep that glorious double coat in proper shape. The fur is longer than you might expect, though, and a bit curly. Make sure to brush it weekly to get rid of the dead hair and skin particles. A pin plus a slicker brush, and a comb should do the trick. Weeranians are prone to matting, so don’t leave the coat unattended for too long. Next, remember to brush the dog’s teeth at least 2–3 times a week to keep its breath nice and fresh.

Regular nail clipping (2–3 times per week) and ear cleaning (to avoid bacteria build-up) should be a part of the deal as well. As for bathing, these pups won’t mind a quick wash once in 1–2 months. Doing it more often might damage the hard coat. Also, if you have the budget for that, visiting a professional groomer once in 2–3 months wouldn’t hurt. Oh, and the sooner you start grooming the Weeranian, the better, as puppies tend to get used to the routine quicker.

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Health and Conditions

It’s no secret that small dogs are generally healthier than their larger counterparts. Also, there’s no scientific proof or evidence that crossbreeds are weaker (or healthier) than purebreds. And that’s great news for Weeranians since they’re both tiny and a mixed breed. Still, these dogs are, of course, prone to various diseases, including some widespread issues like dysplasia, patella, and cataracts. Here’s a closer look at the severe and (relatively) minor medical conditions:

Male vs Female

For the most part, male and female Weeranians are the same. True, the boys will be slightly taller and heavier, yet the difference won’t be very significant (only an inch/pound or two). You won’t see much aggression from the males, either. But they might be a bit more stubborn and territorial and get distracted easier. That’s totally fine: you’ll get the same deal with a Pomeranian or Westie pup.

This is especially true for dogs that haven’t been sterilized. On average, female dogs are a bit more easygoing and quicker to follow commands. Also, they reach maturity earlier. As for the temperament, it will depend more on the individual doggo. Sometimes, the boys are more affectionate; in other cases, it’s the girls that demand more attention and show more love.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Weeranian

1. It’s One of the Newest Crossbreed Dogs

While it’s hard to tell exactly when professional breeders brought these cute pooches to life, there’s no doubt that Weeranians are a very young and somewhat rare hybrid breed. Therefore, you might not find a pup at a local shelter or adoption center. That said, they are already recognized by a wide range of kennel clubs, including the ACHC (American Canine Hybrid Club), IDCR (International Designer Canine Registry), and the DDKC (Designer Dogs Kennel Club).

By the way, Pomeranians were recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club) in 1888, while Westies received that same honor 20 years later (in 1908, to be exact).

2. The Weeranian Almost Never Drools

Are you tired of having to clean after your pup every time it drools all over the carpet or the couch? Well, that won’t be a problem with a Weeraninan! While these dogs do, technically, drool, they do it rarely and the scale of the “disaster” is very small. So, as long as it’s got a healthy GI tract and teeth and is fed the right kind of food, you won’t have to deal with nasty, slobbery spots on your clothes and all over the house.

And if the doggo starts to drool heavily, have it checked by a veterinarian.

3. These Pups Like to Bark a Lot

This is a trait that Weeranians share with their parent breeds and other small dogs. They mostly bark when coming in contact with other dogs or strangers (humans) but can also do that to express their excitement for something. For some owners, this might be a big con when all they want is to get some rest. On the bright side, a socialized, well-mannered Weeranian won’t be nearly as vocal as a poorly raised pup.

Summing Up

The Weeranian is among the best hybrid dogs for adoption. It’s sweet, well-tempered, and unbelievably loyal. More good news: this pup takes little effort to maintain, eats tiny portions of food, and lives for up to 15 years. Plus, as a tiny doggo, it’s full of energy and loves nothing more than to spend time with its mom and dad. That makes it a great choice for active families looking for an upbeat, buoyant fur baby.

Pom Westie dogs are big fans of the outdoors but will happily live and prosper in a small apartment as long as you give them enough attention. Speaking of that, while these champs are relatively easy to train, they can be headstrong at times (the males). Therefore, if you have little children in the house, early socialization and supervision will be necessary to keep both the pet and the kids safe.

Lastly, Weeranians aren’t very friendly with strangers. Guardians by nature, they sometimes “welcome” other dogs and pets with a bark. But, overall, Weeranians are amazing dogs with a curious, affectionate, and playful temperament that have inherited the best traits from Pomeranians and Westies. So, if you’re in the market for a faithful and cheerful tiny companion, you’ll get exactly that!

See also:

• West of Argyll Terrier (Westie & Beagle Mix): Care, Pictures, Info & More
• Highland Maltie (Westie & Maltese Mix): Care, Pictures, Info, & More

Featured Image Credit: Left – rebeccaashworth, Shutterstock | Right – KoolShooters, Pexels