06/15/2020
Particularly in pomeranians, wherein there is a big preference for smaller typier dogs, the value of what is called an honest dog is neglected. Let me explain. The smaller typier poms are well sought after. Realistically, they are beautiful, endearing and really desirable in every way. Unfortunately, it is these small beautiful poms that have all the faults that need cleaning up. As breeders, we select select select and we come up with one with the least faults and with the most virtues and we show them. More often than not, particularly for poms and specially when you inbreed and linebreed, using such small typey poms will shrink the sizes of your pups to useless tiny females which are too difficult to breed often requiring a C section. And then, you have what is called the honest dog, which may not even be a champion, not the prettiest or even rather plain usually larger, sounder and the least faults which will stabilise your shrinking breeding program. I call this my ERASER of faults. I recall in the late 80s/early 90s, I visited Heather Moore of Paddockwood kennels. As I entered her house, I saw a rather large, ugly red sable Pom and I remarked why in the world do you keep a dog like that? Later on, when I saw a cream smaller super typier Pom, I exclaimed saying that this is what I wanted! Heather replied, sorry, it already sold to go to India and that(pointing to the ugly dog I insulted) is the sire!
I suppose this explains why I use some studs that are not champions when I have a long line up of Philippine, American and other foreign Champions and Grand Champions. Don’t get me wrong, I use my champions too but I choose the stud that I believe will be the best combination for the bitch.
This article that follows below further explains and support the above. It will also illustrate to novices who counts the reds letterings(champions) in the pedigree that though there is some value in reds in the pedigree, the breeder’s choosing of non champion specimens for breeding should not be put down.