A Closer Look at Poms from the Past who Continue to

  Impact the Successful Breed Programs of Today.   

By Jennifer Munn

Many of us come into the breed choosing a certain line, or lines, to work with based on the traits in that line that we would like to emulate within our own programs. But who are the Poms that those very lines we love are built upon? When we breed to that stud dog who catches our eye, what is the real reason he is able to produce those consistently great offspring in litter after litter? I think the answers to these questions and many more can be found in those generations of dogs listed within our pedigrees.

In this series of articles my goal is to introduce you to some of these very special Poms. I hope you will aid me in this endeavor by contacting me to talk about some of the dogs who have played a major role in your programs. For example, I want to know what made these dogs critical to your success, and how their influence changed the course of your journey towards becoming an accomplished breeder.

With this first article, I’d like to start by writing about a dog who I feel has left his mark on my own breed program. His name can be found a total of eight times in the pedigree of our foundation bitch, Paris. And when running an inbreeding coefficient on most of our current Poms, he is always a prominent figure. His name may not be instantly familiar to you, since he has long since fallen off five generation pedigrees from the show dogs of today. But, I believe he continues to have a major impact on what myself, and many others, are currently producing. He is Am Ch Apple’s Traveling Diamond ROM, a little red Pom born on May 22, 1979, at the home of Mrs. Joyce Apple in Gibsonville, North Carolina.

Diamond, as he was affectionately called by his breeder, was the product of a pairing between the late Bob Goodrich’s famous Am & Can Ch Model’s Truly A Diamond ROM, and Apple’s Traveling Crickett, the daughter of one of Mrs. Apple’s first show dogs, Ch Apple’s Traveling Buddy. Mrs. Apple, now in her seventies, recalls fond memories of Diamond as the little red Pom who lived to be 13 years old, and carried wonderful structure beneath that abundant blazing red coat. His accomplishments in the show ring include multiple BOB wins over specials and a Group I from the classes, while being breeder/owner handled to his championship. After his show career ended, he went on to sire nine champion offspring. With three of his sons, Ch Apple’s Traveling Rambler, Ch Queenaire Diamond Apple, and Ch Cedarwood’s Image Of Diamond, following in their dad’s footsteps, by earning their ROM or ROMX titles as well.

Diamond’s list of grandchildren includes such well known names as BIS & BISS Ch. Great Elms Prince Charming II ROMX HOF, who has the distinction of being the only Pomeranian ever to win BIS at Westminster. Prince’s full brother’s BIS Ch Great Elms Pride and Joy GC HOF, Ch Great Elms Sweet Prince ROM, Ch Great Elms Firestarter ROMX, Ch Great Elms Firefighter ROM, and Ch Great Elms Master Mark ROM, whom have each certainly earned the right to be called spectacular showman and producers in their own right. Diamond’s list of grand kids continues with names like Ch Watt‘s Little Dakotah ROM, Ch Great Elms Toby, Ch. Millamor‘s Dance Of Sourwood ROM, and Mack’s Rambling Gypsy ROMX, who figures quite prominently in the pedigrees of many of the past and present greats produced at Lenette.

Diamond’s list of great grandchildren is every bit as outstanding, and just to name a few there is BIS Ch Dominic Of Lenette ROM whose influence as a sire and grandsire can be readily seen both here in the US and abroad. Ch Joart’s Super Harlee Davison, a multiple BIS winner and the number one dog per the breed system standings for 2000. Ch Starfire’s Nicolas El Grande ROM who played a starring role in the pedigrees of some of the lovely Poms produced by Tony Cabrera and Fabian Arienti over the years. Great Elms Master Gordon who can be found behind many of the stellar Poms produced by the Gilstrap‘s. Ch Great Elms Mr. Chips ROMX who has a reputation as a producer that speaks for itself. And last, but certainly not least BIS Am & Can Ch Chrsicendo Classica T T, the top winning Pom bitch in Canadian history.

I think one would have to agree Ch Apple’s Traveling Diamond ROM boasts a pretty impressive resume with the generations of progeny that he has left behind. But, I believe the real story of his contribution to the breed can be found when digging a little deeper. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that he appears in the pedigree’s of five of the current top ten dogs in the breed today. And Lee Cook’s beautiful winners dog at the national specialty in 2004, plus the number one dog for 2005, BIS Ch Firebrook’s Tabasco Fiasco ROM GC HOF, has Diamond listed in his pedigree 6 times, as does another notable ROM producer bred by Colleen Franks and owned by Celeste Solano, Ch. Cheyenne’s Kodiak Bear Second. Two of David & Carlene Gilstraps best producers to date, Ch. Mountain Crest Image of Logan and Ch Mountain Crest JJ ROM both go back to Diamond 7 times each. And the great Luther, BIS BISS Ch Starfire’s Wicked Mean N Nasty is a descendant 6 times over, as is Ch. Indiana Jones Of Lenette ROM.

Of course, no one dog can be given the credit for all this greatness, as an abundance of wonderful Poms can be found in the pedigrees of all the dogs and bitches listed within this article. But, I think it’s fair to say that it’s no accident so many notable Poms of our generation, have this very special little red dog appearing so prominently in their pedigrees. And through these outstanding descendents Diamond’s legacy is alive and well, and being represented proudly in some of the top breed programs of today.