The following was published in the American Pomeranian Club’s Pomeranian Review in 2021.
It’s been over 10 years since I last was asked to write a Kennel Visit for the Pom Review.
At that time, I had bred 4 AKC champions and a couple others with titles in other countries. I
was still just a baby breeder, full of a lot of dreams and ambition. Some of those dreams I’ve
fulfilled, many I’ve discovered are a lot more elusive than you would first think. Yet here I am 10
years and an additional 59 AKC champions later (for a total of 63), still passionate about this
sport but maybe a little more world-weary and wise.
Since I’ve written before, I’ll try to give the short version of my back story. I began
researching poms as a teenager, when I was lucky enough to meet Judy Green of Razzle Dazzle
Poms, the only APC member listed in my home state of Delaware. While initially uninterested in
taking on an overly enthusiastic 15 year old girl as a mentee, we grew to become great friends.
She introduced me to some of the greats of the Pom world – Christine Heartz, Doug Stratton,
and many others – and shared all of her knowledge and experience with me. We co bred my
first champion (Ch. Silhouette’s Slow Dance) and a few others. I learned so much from our car
rides to dog shows, long phone calls, and visits every time I went home to Delaware for the
holidays. Judy’s no-nonsense attitude and knowledge of obedience training helped me form the
way I interacted with and trained my dogs, set goals for myself and worked hard to achieve
them. She really is and will always be my “Dog Mom”, and I think everyone needs a Judy in their
life!
As far as my breeding program, I had read all the books and articles on breeding that I
could get my hands on. I set out to buy some great bitches, find that perfect stud dog that I
could form my line around and linebreed on and just turn out little carbon copy puppies over
and over like the breeders did in the days of Yore. What I found out gradually over about 5-10
years was 1) most bitches are not great producers (in terms of whelping, number of puppies,
and consistently producing quality), and 2) there’s not a lot of dogs that once you use them a
lot, you actually feel are worthy of linebreeding on.
Perhaps for that reason, my line has wound up being centered around my foundation
bitch, Sunterra Sweet Surrender ROMX “Adia”, bred by Doug Stratton and sired by Ch. Tokie
The Legend Continues ROM. While not a phenomenal show bitch, she had just the right type of
pedigree and the right set of genes to be an incredible producer. She easily whelped litters of 4
puppies, all 4 and 5 oz. In each litter, there was always at least one “special one”, capable of
winning group placements or BISS in the right hands. Unfortunately, they were also almost
always male. Here I finally had a fantastic producing bitch and she gave me almost nothing but
boys!
Adia was bred to some legendary producers at a time when it seemed like there were
plenty of those to be found. Her first litters were sired by Ch. Starlight’s Fun Times ROM, Ch.
Chriscendo Communicado ROMX, Ch. Chriscendo Call to Arms ROMS, Ch. CR Tuff Guy of
Isabella ROMS. The list reads like a who’s who of the top stud dogs of the early 2000s. To top it
off, she gave birth to the last puppy ever sired by BIS BISS CH. Pufpride Sweet Dreams ROMS
the top producing Pom sire of all time, which gave me one of her few daughters, Ch.
Silhouette’s Surreal. Through her sons, Adia’s name appears in pedigrees all over the world. I
am always amazed how many times I scroll past a dog that catches my eye on Facebook, check
the pedigree – and yep, there she is. It reminds me of when I was collecting pedigrees in the
early 2000s and would always see Great Elms Sweet Candy ROMS appear in the most
unexpected places (for those who don’t know, she was the dam of CH. Great Elms Prince Charming II who won BIS at Westminster, and many other top sires—and similarly not that
many daughters).
Adia produced a total of 9 AKC champions, with several others who were titled in Russia,
Canada and Thailand, and could have finished here had they been shown. Her son “Darcy” GCh.
Silhouette Surrender to Chriscendo ROM was the first dog I successfully specialed, reaching #7
in breed rankings in 2011, all handled by myself, a group and specialty winner. Adia’s ability to
produce was dizzying, but after having a bitch like her the question is – what do you do next?
She did finally give me a litter of 3 girls sired by Christine Goodin’s GCh. Dee Little Who’s The
Boss ROMX (who himself had a dam that was a top producer), an ideal pedigree for producers. I
kept one, Silhouette’s Sweet Nothings “Edith”, who produced 3 AKC champions, and mostly
bitches, in a bit of a turn-around from her dam! Two of those bitches went on to win Best of
Opposite at the APC National, GCh. Silhouette’s Strumbella and GCh. Silhouette’s Sweet Potato
Pie, both owned and shown by Joan Behrend. Her 3 rd daughter, who I kept, Ch. Silhouette’s
Sweet Disaster “Desi” was sired by APC National BISS Ch. Mythical Traveling In Style ROM, and
Desi has lately proved to be a great producer for me as the dam of GCh. Silhouette’s Stolen Kiss
(2020 APC Select Bitch) and multi-group placing GCh. Silhouette’s Skip to my Lou “Skippy” who
finished with back-to-back 5 pt majors at the 2021 APC National Specialty weekend. I look
forward to showing her newest daughter, Tasty, Silhouette’s Sweet Tart, in 2022. Desi is
continuing her dam Edith’s tradition of making beautiful girls.
Edith’s litter sister Mary, Ch. Silhouette’s Sleepin With The Boss ROMX, came back to me
for a litter sired by Ch. Glen Iris Evian D’Castile ROM, which produced Ch. Dee Little Sleeping
Beauty ROMX “Mindy” who herself won BOS at the APC National in 2015 (and Select the
following year handled by me), and Ch. Silhouette’s Stormin The Castle “Marsha”. Marsha
produced two group placers for me, GChS. Silhouette’s Seeking Nirvana ROM “Cobain” and
GChB. Silhouette’s Stay In Your Lane, and Cobain’s sister Ch. Silhouette’s Soaked In Bleach
recently gave me a beautiful bitch puppy sired by GCh. InTime In A Pinch who won BOB at the
AKC National Puppy & Jr Stakes in Orlando in December 2021. Her name is Silhouette’s Sun
Summoner “Alina”.
So, as you can see this dam line descended from Adia has given me some incredibly nice
bitches, some of whom were also great producers. My only wish is that I had more of them! I
currently have 5 bitches whose dam line goes directly back to Adia, but all of my (10 or so)
bitches go back to Adia in one way or another. I have managed to bring her back in several
times through various sons, by breeding to or buying some of their descendants, as well as to
some descendants of Mary’s. This is usually where I find my happiest balance of pretty faces,
good structure and head carriage. I also imported an Adia granddaughter sired by one of her
sons by Ch. Starlight’s Fun Times, Ch. Pomstyle Sweet Dream ROMX “Roulette”. She became
the anchor of my other dam line, producing 8 champions herself. I recently finished one of
Roulette’s great-great-granddaughters, Ch. Silhouette’s Starchaser, sired by GCh. CR Chase
What Matters ROM. Again I’ve had a lot of pretty girls from that family line, and some nice boys
too.
I have really been more satisfied with my bitches as producers when taken to good
males than I have been with my attempts to find a great foundation stud dog. Although I have
owned and bred several males who achieved their ROMs, I often found they fell short a bit
compared to those top sires of the early 2000s as far as stamping the look I love, along with good structure. And of course sometimes health issues rear their heads. Coats are always a
struggle in this breed, and one I expect to deal with from time to time (but hopefully moving in
the direction of eliminating it), but some things like kidney or liver issues, or other life-
threatening problems that reoccur are good reason not to line-breed on a dog, or even to
remove the dog from your program altogether. In other cases, while I got “good” puppies from
them, I didn’t get exactly the type I loved, so I didn’t see reason to keep using a dog, much less
double on him. That is not to say that I outcross, quite the contrary, but my breedings are more
loosely linebred on a related family of dogs, or on some of my bitches (like Adia), rather than
directly on one particular stud dog. It seems counterintuitive to linebreed on a brood bitch, but
the genes don’t lie, and the proof is in the pudding as they say.
I have found some dogs are not prepotent as stud dogs themselves, but when their
offspring are bred or if they are linebred on you can see their qualities emerge once again and
that’s something I hope to play around with. Notably my dog Kert, GCh. Mythical Easy As Heck
ROM who was a gift long ago from my good friend Nady Godbout (since he was born on my
birthday!), doesn’t always throw his “look”, but I have seen it come out again in the successive
generations, both in my own breeding program and others’. His son “Cobain”, BISS GChS.
Silhouette’s Seeking Nirvana, owned by Deb Snow, was specialed by Aly Bell-Lytle and sired two
group winners for her. And his daughter Ch. Silhouette’s Sittin’ Pretty ROM was the dam of 5
champions.
Kert is now almost 11 years old, in huge full coat, doesn’t act a day over 4 or 5, doesn’t
even have a white muzzle. He is in exceptional shape for his age, still producing puppies (I had a
litter by him fall of 2021 at over 10). He is a bit extreme in style himself, but tends to throw
good leg, structure and substance. I hope I have a chance to use him again in 2022. He is still
available for others to use as well. [ NOTE: After this was published, Kert went on to win an Award of Merit & Best Veteran at the 2022 APC National Specialty at 11 years old. He brought the crowd to laughter and then applause with his antics and judge Curtiss Smith just couldn’t say no!]
I have been very fortunate to have the benefit of some good friends who have let me
borrow their boys sometimes. In particular, Chris Heartz has let a couple of her boys visit me
either briefly or to stand at stud, such as Ch. Chriscendo Common Sense ROM who sired a
couple champions for myself and others while in VA. Chris sold me one of my first stud dogs 15
years ago, Ch. Chriscendo Communicado ROMX, and owned a son of his, Can CH. Silhouette Say
It Right, who went on to sire her Ch. Chriscendo Connoisseur, who was proving to be a
spectacular show dog and producer before he was lost tragically young. Currently I have been
enjoying the visit of “Kasian”, GCh. InTime In A Pinch, who I showed for his breeder Alexander
Alexandrov to his CH and GCH. I have a couple of nice Kasian babies I hope to show in the new
year. I think cooperating in this manner helps both parties as well as the breed overall!
I have also gone out for stud service many times over the years. Recently, my wonderful
girl Skippy was sired by GCh. Marzipan Premiera Poland who was imported by my friend
Gretchen King, and he sired a BISS winning boy for me in another litter, GCh. Silhouette’s
Scaramouch Bohemian Rhapsody owned by Cheryl Silveira. Stephanie Pineault’s BISS GCh.
Pomhaven’s Rise of the Samurai sired a boy for me, “Tarly”, GCh. Silhouette’s Sword In The
Stone, who Brenda Heimbach co-owned and handled to back to back Group 1s and a Reserve
BIS their first time in the ring together. He is now owned and loved by Stephanie. And last year I
was fortunate enough to breed to Celeste Madison’s GCh. CR Chase What Matters after seeing
him show in the 9-12 Years Veterans class at the APC National, which produced my Ch. Silhouette’s Starchaser. I am appreciative of those who have allowed me to use their stud dogs
over the years, whether on lease or for stud service.
In the last 20 years it seems like either top producing stud dogs have reduced in
number, or we have a harder time seeing where they are. This is due to an overall reduction in
the amount of breeders, and/or the size of breeders’ kennels for a variety of reasons. There
used to be a lot of bigger breeders who could use a stud dog a lot, see what they produce, put
them in the ring, and then the smaller breeders had the benefit of seeing what traits they might
have to advance their own program. Now it seems like these prepotent producers are few and
far between, and harder to spot. Transportation of bitches is also becoming more onerous
especially in the post-pandemic world. Importing dogs has become a lot more common lately,
as many breeders are trying to reintroduce pedigrees that were sold overseas in the early
2000s.
I have sold a few dogs overseas myself, and I am happy to see how well they have done
for their owners and admire their breeding programs –I just wish they lived closer! The first
was many years ago, Silhouette Shows Who’s Boss “Westley”, a tiny little boy sired by GCh. Dee
Little Who’s The Boss, who went to Margarita Titarenko of Upstart-Fora. A Kert son,
Silhouette’s Secret to Dan-Star-Kom, went to Russia to Lyudmila Komyakova, and went on to
sire several nice dogs for her including group winning Am Ch. Dan-Star-Kom Lindo Tattoo.
Lyudmila also purchased Silhouette’s So Special N ORG, a son of APC National BISS Ch. Finch’s
You’re So Special N Blk, who is behind some of her creams. His black littermate GCh.
Silhouette’s Shadowboxer went to Thailand to Mo and Tair of Moxiepoms where he produced
some blacks for their program, and later went to Ukraine where he has sired both blacks and
chocolates. A heavy sable “Diego” son, Ch. Silhouette’s Spitfire “Drago” went to Korea to
Kimmilove Poms, and his owner Miae Kim has come back several times to the US to compete
with some of his offspring and grandkids, which is always fun to see! Most recently, I sent my
first black & tan champion, Ch. Silhouette’s Slayer of Monsters “Geralt” to Marta Cah in Italy,
and look forward to seeing what he produces there.
In 2018 I imported (Ch.) Dvortsoviy Pes Harli Invebel, a handsome dark orange boy with
an immense harsh coat, bred by Elena Dvoretskaja in Russia. He is linebred on Doug Stratton’s
lovely Sunterra dogs like my foundation bitch Adia (who of course you will find in his pedigree).
He won the 12-18 mos class at the 2019 APC National under Edd Bivin and finished his
championship quickly that spring. Harley is just one champion shy of his ROM award, and at 4
yrs old still has one of the best coats I’ve ever personally had – super long, always growing, very
harsh, with lots of undercoat and guard coat. My 9 year old “Palmer” son, GCh. Silhouette’s Ser
Jorah, has a similar coat, albeit not as harsh.
Coats are one of the hardest parts of this breed, not just because of alopecia but
because so many dogs don’t have the correct texture or length. The two issues are somewhat
tied together. We are starting to see the re-emergence of cottony coated (adult) dogs winning
in the ring which was a harbinger of disaster in the 90s. When I started breeding poms in 2004
it was not unusual for most of the Top 10 poms to be out of the ring due to alopecia before the
start of the new year. You’d see dogs with no skirts or tail winning BOB and group placements,
because “you can really see their bodies” and “my how short backed they are”, and “what a
nice shape they have with that tight trim job”, with judges (and breeders/handlers alike)
apparently being unaware that a short, lacking coat is a bad, bad sign in a Pom. I’m glad we don’t see that as much, whether because alopecia is becoming less common, people are
spotting it earlier, and/or being more honest with themselves when they see early signs. But I
see some of the newer people in our breed falling back into that same trap, especially since the
excessively fluffy puppy coats and extreme faces are very popular with pet buyers and those
serving up social media “likes”. Not to mention, back in the day some dogs were quietly sold
overseas when they started losing coat to buyers who were after the pedigree and type they
had to offer. Some of these dogs formed the foundation of their kennels and we need to be
mindful of this when importing dogs back in.
Not to say we don’t have our share of problems
here in the USA, but I feel like we have been making some progress and I fear the breed may be
on the brink of backsliding if judges and breeders alike aren’t mindful. I would encourage
everyone to make this a priority in their program, along with correct structure and movement.
I try not to put dogs into the ring that I suspect will have a coat issue, or sell them to
show homes (if I have a suspicion, they go as a pet with a reduced price & disclosure)–but I’ve
been fooled several times. I’ve had puppies both cottony and fully shed out that later had
issues at 2 or 3. I’ve neutered and placed as pets puppies and even champions that were or
could have been group placement winners because I want better for the breed and my
breeding program.
This is one reason I don’t charge outrageous prices for my show puppies; I
know the bite of having one you paid a lot for or invested a lot into losing coat (or not working
out for any other reason), and I don’t want to be responsible for taking someone’s money for a
dog that is ultimately useless for their breeding program. With no genetic marker to point us
firmly in the right direction of eliminating it altogether, all you can really do is judge the dogs’
coats day to day and eliminate them from your program if and when you start to see a problem.
I don’t advocate for neutering any dog that produces a coat issue, but if it seems every good
puppy sired by a dog loses its hair, it’s time to move on. Poms should have an immense, harsh
double coat that is constantly growing. If the coat is soft, predominantly undercoat, lacks
length, etc. then it’s not a great Pom, while it might have many other good attributes.
That said, I have come to realize I will never, ever produce a perfect dog, because there
is no such thing. We all have struggles and Poms are a very hard breed to get started in, and a
hard breed to continue with! I am more than happy, however, to help new people get started
in this breed and share my experiences and knowledge. I’ve helped several people get off the
ground in the ring and the whelping box, and I consider each one a victory for the future of our
sport. Anyone owned by a Pom knows there is no other breed like it, and I want to see the
breed continue on well into the future.
I would like to thank all of those who have helped me along the way – there are too
many to list – as well as all of those who have supported me over the years by owning, loving
and showing a Silhouette Pom!
