At
Merrymont we bred for quality first and foremost. We produced 25
Champions in 6 years. Never had more than 20 dogs at any one time
including puppies and retirees. Our bloodline was a combination of
dogs from Ruth Beam (Great Elms), Joyce Apple (Apple's), and Bob
Goodrich (Model's). I was fortunate to have a hands on knowledge of at
least 4 generations of the dogs behind mine thus giving me the a
pretty good idea of what to expect with a breeding. Please note the
full heavy coats and heavy bone even on the puppies. Also, the
true rich colors particularly the deep reds. Now THAT"S a rare
color!
As
I have said, I began showing Pons in 1986. One of my mentors was Ruth
Beam. From her I learned the basics of the breed and how to breed.
From Joyce Apple and Maynard Wood I learned how a Pom was to be
groomed. Way back then the coat was something you bred for not
something that you cut off. Sculping was unheard of. You were proud of
the coarse guard hair and dense undercoat. You trimmed for neatness
PERIOD. A sable meant the bottom third of the hair shaft was a clear
color such as red, orange, or cream. Anything other than that was a
mismark.
In
1996 the standard was changed allowing any color and eliminating the
standard for trimming. In my opinion this was the downfall of the
breed. What I'm seeing the the showring today is a disgrace. How can
you have ANY color if it did not exist in the original gene pool?
These colors have not laid domant for 100 years and more just to crop
up today. You refer to these "new" colors as
"rare". That's a joke used just to get more money for your
dogs - a term used by puppy mills. As for the sculpting, the rears
look like they backed into a weed eater. I know one judge that
probably has cardiac arrest when these dogs are presented to him. I've
heard him say numerous times: "I've never seen a pretty ass
hole." Well, that's what is being shown today. Why bother to
breed for coat, when you are just going to whack it off down to the
under coat.
Black
skin disease is rampant in all lines. This was totally unnecessary. It
could have been eliminated simply by breeders being honest instead of
sweeping it under the rug.
Patty
Griffin
Merrymont Pomeranians
