My cousin Lorene and her husband Roy live in Sebring, Florida where they raise these adorable little Pomeranian dogs. Anyone interested in learning about buying, grooming, or showing these dogs, can contact Lorene at www.lightningstrikestwice.com, or by e-mailing me.
In the picture above, Roy is holding their six month old puppy named Jewell Lee and Lorene is holding Krypton, who is three. Krypton was going to be a show dog and at one time was to compete against a Pomeranian named Superman. Roy and Lorene thought Krypton-Knight (the Superman killer) would be cool, so that's his registered name. Normally, he's just call him Krypton (Krip'tin).
This next picture was taken of Krypton and me in front of my friend Marcia's town home in Davie, Florida recently. That's my black Tribute behind me.
Krypton is very bright and alert, and has a real sweet disposition.
He's an adorable little guy, and we all love him here. Even Calo (our cat) likes him.
Look Mom, Krypton can drive!
Most people that see Krypton have a big smile on their face and say, "Look at the little fur ball".
Click here to see pictures of Krypton at the dog show where he won this 3rd place ribbon
On Saturday April 20th, Krypton took 3rd Place at an AKC sanctioned dog show in Zolfo Springs, Florida. The show was put on by the Heartland Dog Club of Florida. This was my first show, but Krypton has done this before. Click here to see pictures of us in action.
Krypton loves going down the slide
The Pomeranian is a little spark plug. He's lively, bold and inquisitive, too. This makes him an excellent and fearless watchdog despite his tiny size. He's smart and will respond well to consistent training. Poms are sometimes suspicious of strangers and other animals.
The Pomeranian descended from the sled dogs of Iceland and Lapland. They make a magnificent family pet, and are hearty and strong despite their fragile appearance. The Pomeranian's coat gives the appearance of being difficult to care for, but it is actually quite easy, a regular brushing will keep the coat in good condition.
Pomeranians have become one of the most popular registered dog breeds in America. Pomeranians (or Poms as they affectionately known by their owners) broke into the top ten list for registered dogs. The popularity of the small lovable dogs is at an all-time high. The average weight is six pounds for adults.
The Pomeranian is related to the Spitz family, which are furry dogs out of the blustery Arctic circle, renowned for their skills in carrying loads, hunting, and guard dog duties.
The Pom got its name from a small province called Pomerania in what is now eastern Germany. Back in the Renaissance era these early German Poms weighed in at a hefty 35 pounds. They were highly desirable pets for the people who lived in continental Europe.
Michelangelo had a Pomeranian who patiently watched him paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Isaac Newton had a Pom named Diamond. Mozart had a female Pom named Pimperl (to whom he dedicated an aria) and Chopin was so amused by his girlfriend's Pom that he composed the "Valse des Petits Chiens" for the pet.
It was in 1761 when a 17-year-old girl from a neighboring province of Pomerania traveled to England and married Prince George III. Her name was Charlotte and she was the first to bring Poms to England. They were mainly white dogs and most weighed over 20 pounds. The granddaughter of Queen Charlotte was Victoria and she was a devoted dog fancier. When her husband (Prince Albert) suddenly sickened and died in 1861 at the age of 42 the saddened Queen grew even fonder of her gentle pets. She raised in her lifetime more than 15 different breeds of canines and in her later years her attentions were particularly focused on the Pomeranian breed.
The beloved Queen made a trip to Italy in 1888 and while there she purchased a sable red Pom named Marco and brought him back to England. Marco weighed only 12 pounds and many dog historians point to him as being the instigator of the desire to breed smaller Pomeranians. Marco went on to compete under the Queen's name in many dog shows and he won many honors. Victoria also bought three other Poms on the same trip to Florence in 1888 and the most famous next to Marco was a cute little female named Gina who also became a champion at London dog shows. Victoria loved her Poms so much that as she lay dying she asked for her favorite Pom Turi to be brought to her bedside.
Spurred by the Queen's kennel of Poms, English dog fanciers began breeding even smaller Poms, and when the adult dogs began to hit below eight pounds they were called Toy Pomeranians. In 1888 the first American Pom was entered into the American Kennel Club's stud book, and in 1892 the first Pom to be shown in America was entered in a dog show in New York.
A very lovable dog, the Pom is excellent with children and can be trained to do many tricks. A fairly expensive dog, full-blooded toy Pomeranian pups can command hefty prices for their masters. But because of the desirable qualities of the breed most owners consider it money well spent. The Pomerian owes its genetic makeup to a diverse group of sledding, hunting, and herding dogs that sprang from northern Europe, commonly lumped together as the spitz. Its relatives, the Samoyed, the Norwegian Elkhound, and a number of other breeds certainly have proven their worth as workers, companions, and pets.
The Samoyeds looks very much like the American Eskimo Dog. They are perky, dependable playmates, often wearing "smiles" on their faces. They are full of fun, and love nothing more than an afternoon of frisky activity in the snow. They are active and alert, indoors and out.
It takes a brave dog to track a moose, and that's what Norwegian Elkhounds did for thousands of years. Over the thousands of years it has existed, the Norwegian Elkhound has looked just as it does now. Nature made him strong and clever, so he could be a good hunter. His thick, soft, gray coat can stand the cold and snow of Norway. And his noble, playful ways have made him a beloved friend.
The Keeshond (KAZE-hond), sometimes known by the unflattering name of "over-sized Pomeranian" is a happy dog by nature. They are extremely affectionate. When a Keeshond joins the family, he looks forward to being an important part of it. He loves children and will gladly play games and bounce around with them.
The Keeshound really does resemble the Pomeranian. His features look almost identical to Krypton's.
Some information and drawings from the American Kennel Club (AKC) and other sources on the Internet. More information can be found on Pomeranians at the AKC website by clicking here.
