Missy Gives Birth

I got Missy (Canton Mystic Night) to be a key foundation bitch. She was a recommendation of my breed mentor, Basilio Yap of Canton kennel. While she may be big and not outwardly impressive, she turns out to be one a splendid choice for a foundation bitch.

She gave birth to 3 healthy pups on October 30, 2008 - the natural way. The first black male was delivered without fanfare. At around 11am, the water bag appeared and within less than 10 minutes, the male pup was out. Another 10 minutes later and the pup was already sucking milk from the mom's teats. Missy was very motherly, cleaning her pup and never wanting to let the pup go more than a foot away from her. So the pup stayed with her while she continued on her labor.

An hour later, the next pup was still not forthcoming. I worried a bit as I could feel that her tummy was still heavy with at least 2 puppies. I called up the vet and he prescribed oxytocin, 2 shots at an interval of 15-20 minutes. He also recommended that I remove the first pup despite Missy's light protest so the nursing mother could focus on giving birth to the others. The shots and the separation seemed to work. An hour after the last shot, another water bag appeared. Within minutes, the second pup was delivered. It was a big female, breathing but not squirming as the first. With her bigger size, she must have had difficulty passing through the birth canal. It took about 3 hours for her to learn how to suckle, but she surely made up for lost time by suckling heavily thereafter.

Within less than 15 minutes from the birth of the second pup, the third and last pup was delivered. Delivery was fast and smooth. It was a sable pup, male, small and active. As soon as the last pup was wiped dry and deemed healthy, the whole litter was brought back to the mom to nurse. Despite the delay in the birth of the middle pup, I deemed the whole birthing process as a good one. I do not like caesarian section and the long recovery times it requires from the mom. I want the birthing process to be as natural as possible. I try to limit my intervention to opening the water bag (especially if the prior contractions were very long) and to cutting the umbilical cord.

To Missy, congratulations for being a good, first time mom. To PH HOF Canton Harry Potter, may your kids look and do well as you. And Basilio, thanks for the recommendation and for parting with a prized bitch. I am stubborn most of the time, but I know I should listen to you.

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When Bitches Come to Heat

The year 2008 is supposed to be the year when I breed pomeranians extensively. The past two years I have been slowly collecting bitches and 2008 was supposed to be the year when they sexually mature. Of the 5 pom bitches I keep, the last heat was on Jan 2, 2008, on the bitch's first year birthday. After my first pom litter unexpectedly died in January, I was aching to pick-up the pieces and try again, but year-old bitch in heat (Princess) was simply too young to be bred at that time.

Almost every day after January I would inspect the behinds of my pom bitches anticipating that hint of blood or swelling that would signal the onset of estrus. Days and weeks will fly and I end up disappointed. I was aching to breed again, to see if I can raise a viable litter the second time around, hoping that the new litter will erase the pain of the lost one and erase self-doubts of being a failure as a pomeranian breeder. There I was aspiring to be a breeder of significance, poring over books and web pages, supposedly armed with nuggets and anecdotes of breeding wisdom, elected pomeranian board moderator and Philippine pomeranian club president, and yet my very first pom litter - while very promising, all mysteriously died within hours of each other at a supposedly safe age of 2 months.

The ache and doubt were so much that I ended up in the kennel of my breed mentor one day requesting for a bitch of breeding age with which I can finally wrestle and vanquish the demons in my head and heart. For almost two hours, I was choosing among a steady stream of bitches offered. My eyes kept hovering over the small, pretty bitches, but my mentor wisely told me that I need a big bitch for breeding. It need not be pretty, so long as it has good bloodline behind it that can produce the pretty ones I like. For two hours I was debating between pretty and big. Eventually I surrended and got the big (5.5 lbs), black bitch Missy. I swear I didn't like Missy. I find her ugly. I was already at home with her on the first night, but part of me is still contemplating on exchanging her for the small, pretty ones I left behind. I did not want Missy, but I knew I need her. I know my mentor was right.

Eight months after her first heat, Princess finally had her second heat on August 14. By this time, my heart and mind have gotten already numb from fruitless waiting. I have learned to surrender to fate. I was elated about the breeding opportunity, but I was not jumping for joy the way I would have been had it happened earlier in the year. And so I scheduled a mating with Canton kennel. I simply wanted to mate Princess with any Canton dog that can help correct her not so straight quarters.

Two days after Princess' first mating, Missy showed hints of blood. Apparently, older Missy would not allow Princess to have babies way ahead of her. In animals, there is a pecking order on who is supposed to reproduce. The larger and stronger bitch ought to reproduce first to ensure greater success in perpetuating the species. By coming into heat, Missy is asserting this biological fact. As Missy is a valuable Canton bitch, the choice of stud took more careful study. I eventually chose a Hall of Famer whose face and luxurious, harsh coat I adore so much.

Two days after Missy's first sign of heat, little miss Peggy followed suit. Peggy is a few days shy of her first birthday, but this assertive female with voracious appetite seemed to be announcing to the world that she also has the right to reproduce herself. She is not to be left behind, her age notwithstanding. I faced a dilemma with Peggy. My normal breeding dictum is to breed on second heat (just like in the case of Princess) and not to breed a bitch younger than one year. And so I ignored Peggy.

A few day's after Peggy's first sign of heat, yet another bitch is coming to heat. It was Blossom, mother of my first litter that died. Blossom actually came into heat sometime in March but I skipped that because she had caesarian section the last time. Now she is ready again. I planned to breed her again to Pumpkin Prince, with the hope that this time the Supreme Breeder will bless me with the same beautiful litter that will grow into adulthood. And so I called Canton again for a mating appointment - the third dog in a span of 2 weeks! I should get frequent flyer miles for visiting that kennel :-) All I got were eyebags for having to wake up early for those morning matings. My bitches' business have to be done before I go to work.

The night before I sent Blossom for mating, I examined her vulva. The size, color and smell did not seem to scream "I am already ready!" I put her back into her pen and picked up instead Peggy who has been demanding my attention more since she came into heat. So what is domineering Peggy up to this time? I examined her casually and I was surprised with what I saw. Her vulva was so swollen and so big that it was actually larger than that of the bigger Missy. Peggy is a compact but sturdy 4.5 lb dog at close to a year old. Another interesting fact is the way her vulva was angled - it was tilted outward as if teasing any male who would give her the humping she deserved. I have not seen that before in my bitches in heat. She was also tilting her tail to the side whenever tough near the rump - this is a text book sign of readiness to mate. I have read about this but I have not seen it yet on my dogs, and certainly not as obvious as the way Peggy does it. This bitch is screaming for sex! I was certainly intrigued. Should I mate her? She turns a year old in a matter of days but it is her first heat. Is her body ready to carry and nurse a litter? I kept asking myself this last question. Is she ready? Having had mated two bitches earlier, I do not have to breed Peggy to get the litter I want. Is she ready? A voracious eater, she is a full-bodied dog of sturdy frame all tucked in a compact, vigorous body. Her wide vaginal opening is conducive to birthing and her voracious appetite promises sturdy milk supply. In all honesty, I think she is ready. I made the exception to my breeding rule and mated her to a very promising show dog.

Eventually, I also had Blossom mated. I now have 4 pom bitches mated. My fifth and last pom bitch actually also joined the fray. Basha was the last to come to hit. I felt Basha's body is still slight so I opted not to breed her. I want her to bulk up first for the rigors of pregnancy. Basha just turned a year old.

After months of waiting, all my pom bitches are now in heat, and they have to do it almost in unison. Have I mentioned that my year old beagle also joined the fray? No I did not breed her - she is way too young and I certainly have my hands full with four mated poms. I have heard anecdotes of synchronized menstrual periods in all-women dorms, and have learned about synchronized estrus in pigs in high school, but God must be smiling and teasing me in heaven when he finally granted my wish. When it rains, it does pour :-)

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When Pomeranian Lovers Congregate

Despite the inclement weather, last Sunday morning (July 27, 9-12am) was a glorious time for Philippine pomeranian lovers. Fifty people braved the strong winds and rain to make the trip to PCCI Activity center in Marikina, hear top pomeranian breeder Basilio Yap discuss show grooming and watch international handler Faustino Farro do his magic on the show carpet.

About 75 people registered for the event through club officers and the PCCI. Invitation was made in online fora as well as traditional mail. Fifty people came while several expressed regret via text messages that they cannot make it, mostly because of the weather.The weather on the seminar site was cooperative enough. The skies held back the rain from registration hours until the end of the seminar. And then the rain came down in torrents. My party left with less than a handful of people left waiting for the rain to abate; I hope everyone reached their homes or destinations safely.

The idea for the seminar was simple enough: we want to encourage more people to try the show ring. We want to demonstrate to fellow pomeranian lovers that showing is a fun activity with their dogs and that they themselves can easily try it. We want to ease real or perceived barriers to show entry. Two of these perceived barriers to entry are knowledge of grooming and handling. The third perceived barrier is the quality of dog that one has. The Philippine Pomeranian Club earlier addressed this through a seminar on pomeranian standards held last January 26, 2008. The third seminar in 2008, which is about breeding and pomeranian bloodlines, will hopefully encourage and enable new exhibitors to breed a specimen they can show, if outright purchase of a show prospect is initially beyond one's means.

The seminar started with Mr. Basilio Yap talking about general pomeranian grooming. One by one, Mr. Yap demonstrated to the participants the proper ways of brushing (tapping versus stroking). A demo dog (Canton Versace) was placed on table. Versace was shown as a baby puppy but was temporarily taken out of the show circuit while awaiting coat growth. The pup has grown tremendous adult (1.5 years old) coat but is not as accustomed to show grooming as the regular show dogs of Canton. The proper way of trimming was demonstrated: from the hair growing out the ear tips, the chest frill, the hair at the back of the forequarters as well as that of the hindquarters, the hair at the base of the tail, the hair growth on the behind of the dog, the coat underneath the body, and finally the stray hairs sticking out of the round silhouette for poms.

The next part was fun as owners who brought their dogs were asked to line up with their poms and individually walk and place their dogs on the judging table. Tino Farro emphasized the importance of making the dog at ease on top of the table and near the edge. Once the dog becomes comfortable, the legs can then be individually placed for proper stacking. The liver sausage Tino brought surely made the hungry dogs comfortable on the table.

Among the dogs brought in for the seminar, one is a clear show prospect with strong possibility of bagging a championship. They are about a handful more that can also be shown with enough assistance on grooming and training. I hope people become more comfortable with the idea of showing. See you guys on the show ring!

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Pet Photography

Capturing the essence of my dogs in photos has always been a fascination of mine. I have a clear picture in my head of how the shot should look like, but unfortunately, I do not have the equipment and four hands to hold the dog while clicking the camera. So I did the next best thing and requested a friend to help me in this endeavor.

I asked my friend Dino Ordonez to use some of my dogs as model subjects with the request that the following shots be made: side view profile of the dog showing the body proportions and stance, close-up face shots, and candid photos exhibiting the individual antics and quirkiness of my dogs. And so I waked up early Saturday morning for this photo shoot. The shoot started off well with nice photos of my sheltie Sofia under the after rain, sunless but clear morning sky. And then it drizzled. It took the quickness and inventiveness of my friend Dino to capture on memory card five other dogs within the erratic moments that the sun pierces through the clouds and rain.

Despite the uncooperative, challenging weather and the short time period, we were able to get some nice pictures. Obviously, the new pictures where a lot better in quality and composition to the stolen shots I took of my dogs. I particularly like the face of Bart in the profile photo. The fire in the eyes and the naughty but nice facial expression I love so much about this Philippine champion was captured splendidly in the photo. I also like the the profile and head shot of my Sheltie Sofia, particularly the lighting, the play of colors and the whimsy of the white flowers in the background.

So Dino, the job has begun. I have other dogs awaiting better photographs, and I want more shots of the first batch of dogs. I know you will hate me for this, but I give credit where it is due. My friend's multiply site is dinotante.multiply.com. Hey, my dogs deserve space in your multiply site. Update it man.

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Bart Becomes a Champion!

In December 2006, I started showing 5-month old Canton Latin King in the baby puppy class. He just came from heavy puppy shed and an unfortunate accident where he broke both major bones (radius and ulna) in one leg. A very active dog, Bart was already walking without a splint four days after the accident. There was initial calcification of bones around the fractures, but it disappeared a month after the incident and he trotted as if he never had fractures.

As a baby puppy exhibit, Bart already showed the promise of the standard double coat - very harsh top coat and soft undercoat. His eyes beamed with vitality matched only by his vigorous gait. The only thing to work on was his stubborn refusal to let others examine his mouth. He did not have competition in his lone show as baby puppy, but I was happy to see that he loves the show ring.

Bart came back into the show ring as a 9-month old puppy in March 2007. He won reserve winners dog in his first foray into the regular class. His first pair of single points came during a PCCI and AKU show where Japanese judges / pomeranian specialists put him ahead of a related dog which eventually become a champion. His pointed wins are listed below:

June 24, 2007: Bart won Winner's Dog under Japanese judges Mr. Hideo Tateyama and Mr. Sadao Kobayashi, both pomeranian specialists, during the June AKU and PCCI shows held in the PCCI Activity Center, Marikina. Bart got a point each from the 2 judges.

July 28, 2007: Bart won Winner's Dog, Best of Winners, Best Philippine-bred and Runner-up Best of Breed under Filipino judge Dr. Jose Mendiola during the all-breed show sponsored by the Beagle Fanciers Club Inc in Tiendesitas, Pasig. Bart got 5-points, his first major win, bringing up his championship tally to 7 points.

November 24, 2007: Bart won Winner's Dog and Best of Winners under Korean judge and prominent pomeranian breeder Jung-Hoon Choi during the all-breed show sponsored by the Chihuahua Federation of the Philippines in Tiendesitas. Bart got 3 points, his second major win, bringing his championship points total to 10 points.

April 5, 2008: Bart was the lone male regular entry but he won Best of Winners to get the same 5 point win as the Winners Bitch. He won under judge Michael Hollobone during the show sponsored by the Philippine Siberian Husky Owners.

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When Monopoly is Better

As former student and teacher of economics, I am a strong advocate of competition and the power of competitive markets to advance societal welfare. However, I also understand that in the real world, there are cases where competitive markets fail and that some form of monopoly is inevitable and even the better alternative. One instance where competitive market fails is when economies of scale exist in an industry, i.e. a firm actually becomes more cost-efficient the bigger they become. In such an industry, it makes economic sense to have just one player. I believe scale economies exist in the canine pedigree registry and the championship titling system “industries”.

A duopoly in the registry and titling system only implies waste of scarce societal resources – two sets of overhead costs for essentially the same services demanded. If two clubs are offering the same services, both sets of players can actually gain more if they band together, share administrative costs and revenues, and provide a single set of services. The reality is that there are two clubs now – a result more of difference in vision rather than the pursuit of the optimal set-up. Personally, I would rather see competition in the election of officers of a single club. This is how this natural monopoly is supposed to be regulated. Since there are 2 clubs now in existence, I simply watch with keen interest the on-going developments.

There are 3 simple scenarios how this game will play out. One, PCCI remains the dominant club. Two, both clubs become equals. Three, AKCUPI replaces PCCI as the dominant club. In all scenarios, society loses because significant resources are channeled into club promotional activities. Customers bear this additional cost. Costs escalate as both clubs reach equal status. Aside from promotional costs, customers may end up with the sad state of maintaining two sets of pedigrees and titles. As a customer, I dread this scenario. The returns to the club itself will depend on who becomes dominant.

In my opinion, the likely scenario is that a single dominant club will ultimately prevail in the market for legitimate pedigree and valued championship titles. The only way a second club can continue to exist is for it to segment the market and differentiate its product. Mostly likely, market will be segmented between pedigree purists and cost-conscious commercial breeders. Product differentiation will manifest itself as battle between first class and second-class pedigrees and titles. In a perfect world where pet buyers are knowledgeable, there is no room for commercial breeders and second-class papers and titles. Since this is an imperfect world, there will be one esteemed club and a lesser club. There will be an AKC and a UKC. It will be a fierce battle, with few winners, bitter losers, and customers as unwitting victims. Our only consolation is that we customers can influence the outcome with our wise patronage.

Part of me still dreams of the day we shall all realise that our common interests are best served by one club only. May that be the club that we all deserve.

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Bart chosen Best of Winners in Chi Fed Show

Canton Latin King (Bart) was chosen Winners Dog and Best of Winners during the all-breed show sponsored by the Chihuahua Federation of the Philippines held at Tiendesitas. He won 3 points (a major win) under Korean Judge and prominent pomeranian breeder Jung Hoon Choi. This latest feat is Bart's second major win and brings Bart's championship points to a total of 10. Five minor points to go before his championship!

The win was a pleasant surprise considering that we are not even certain that we can make it to the show on time and that Bart was minimally groomed. Apparently, two weeks of no bath and absence of any grooming product on the coat actually do wonders for his harsh textured coat.

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The Price of Beauty

Grooming is the price of beauty. This rings true for imperial dog Shih Tzu. The long, shiny flowing hair that sways with the dog’s jaunty trot is a product of hours of brushing, bathing and blow drying. This ancient dog is meant for the appreciation of the imperial family, assisted by court attendants to the dogs. The modern shih tzu is not for everyone – it deserves only those who have the time and resources to groom the dog.

The shih tzu is the fastest mover in the lucrative pet trade. People easily fall for the furry coat, big eyes, and nice color patterns. Buyers rarely realize that these cute furballs double or triple in size, grow floor length hair, and love to wet and smudge their long facial hair. Some owners don’t even realize that they have to brush the dog!

A shih tzu owner and grooming client texted me earlier that his dog hates and itches from its new skinhead cut. This former client went to a commercial groomer after I regretfully told him that I am lying low on grooming on account of new and expected puppy litters. Over short message service (SMS), I proceeded to explain to him that hair is vital protection against dirt, heat, cold, dryness, pests and other evils in the world. I then advised him to bathe the itching dog with moisturizing shampoo and keep him indoors until the coat grows back. I was taken aback when he asked me what brush to use. This was a multi-visit client who even watched the whole grooming process in at least 2 occasions. Throughout the process I was explaining not only the whats and hows of grooming, but more importantly the whys.

I lament the forgetfulness or unawareness, if not the lack of will and responsibility to study the grooming and care requirements of the breed. I feel I was facing a generation of new owners of long-coated, purebred dogs – owners who grew up with smooth-coated native dogs capable of fending for themselves. I am glad that they have discovered and joined the purebred dog fancy, but I hope they put more time in selecting and studying breeds, and that there are more resources for them to learn proper care.

I lament the practice of shaving down a matted dog. I have been in Tiendesitas often enough to see scores of shih tzus, poodles, terriers and even Pomeranians shaved down. The shih tzu is supposed to be painstakingly de-matted, pet poodles trimmed, terriers stripped and Pomeranians simply brushed. Shaving dogs bald robs them of protection and leave them vulnerable. Dog coat is normally comprised of the thicker, shinier guard hairs and the soft, cottony undercoat. In double coats, the distinction is pronounced; in single-coats, the hair types are almost indistinguishable. For both coat types, shaving down has been observed to inhibit the re-growth of the protective guard hairs and the profusion of cottony and tangle-happy undercoat. The theory is that shaving changes the skin temperature and kills some of the hair follicles. Shaving exacerbates what it is supposed to address – matting. Once a long-coat owner decides to shave his dog, he subjects himself to the hapless cycle of matting and shaving. Once a prospective client asked me to shave down his shih tzu. I explained that it is not advisable and he asked me “what if the clients want it that way?” I responded that as a matter of principle, I would have to decline.

Shaving is the last resort to a heavily matted dog – a condition which should not have happened in the first place. Shaving is also the refuge of the lazy and the time-strapped. It takes minutes to blade away matted coat, but hours to de-matt strand by strand. Faced with stiff competition and depressed service price, the commercial groomer is enticed to groom as many dogs in less possible time.

For pet shih tzu, I actually advise keeping the hair long – the long guard hairs keeps the undercoat safely down under. The owner just has to brush down into the undercoat – something many shih tzu owners often forget. Done properly, the effort involved in maintaining long hair is less compared to maintaining puppy coats where undercoats are exposed. Puppy cuts require frequent trips to the groomer. Besides, puppy cuts look good only on short-backed, plump shih tzus, but look horrible and dachshund-like on short-legged, long-bodied specimens. More importantly, if you cannot maintain a long coat, why choose one in the first place? If you think floor-length hair is too much to handle, you may trim the hair an inch or two, but please do not cut so much that the undercoat is exposed. Another pet style I like for shih tzu is what I call the cocker cut – long coat on body, chest and legs, trimmed muzzle, long ears, and trimmed or beribboned head.

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Label Him a Professional Breeder

The Beauty and Tyranny of Labels

We make sense of our world through labels. Language – a meaningful set of words or labels – allows us to associate objects, events, thoughts and emotions with mutually-agreed upon sounds or letters, and to use the same to communicate with people who share our language. With our language we label things important to us. This is the beauty of language – of words and labels. Thus, we have family, partner, friends, house, hobbies, pets, etc.

Within the dog-and-human realm, labels also proliferate. We profess to be dog lovers. Some are breeders, exhibitors and animal welfare advocates. We have trainers, groomers and veterinarians. These are the good labels – we value or take pride in knowing or carrying one of these labels. At the other end of the spectrum are the notorious labels – pet abusers, backyard breeders and puppy millers. I believe these people deserve the stigma attached to their labels.

It is in the gray areas of the dog world that we find the injustice or tyranny of labels. Within the pet dog world, two strong tides of public opinion are pervasive. First, human society’s widespread and deepening love affair with dogs brought forth a growing cadre of enthusiasts who go the extra mile for their companion dogs. Second, the irresponsible acts and the continued profitability of puppy millers leave a bad taste in the mouth of the dog-loving populace.

For the love of their dogs, many dog owners buy super premium food; hire the services of a top-notch vet and groomer; and spend a fortune on dog clothes, grooming products and canine equipment. For these people, their dogs deserve only the best. Man’s growing material affluence allows this group of owners to carry-on with these activities with passion. Intrinsically, there is nothing wrong with these pursuits – the dog lovers are simply sharing the fruits of their material success or hard-earned labor with their well-loved doggie companions. Difficulty only arises when other dog lovers are compared with this group. Here lies the tyranny of labels. There is silent pressure to provide one’s dog with the best available care. To give less is to love your dog less. It is also this social pressure that causes the cost of dog care to escalate. Manufacturers and service provides know that dog lovers are a captive, price-insensitive market. While all true dog lovers want the best for their dogs, dog owners differ on their capacity to provide. This social reality is a given. We hope to remove the stigma though – the unjust label that those who provide their dogs with simpler products and services love their dog less. Beneath the thinness or thickness of one’s wallet lies the one label that truly matters – “dog caring person”.

The other wave of opinion stems from the public’s outrage over irresponsible practices of puppy millers. The dog-loving public decries seeing sickly, frail and substandard puppies being peddled by puppy millers through online ads and dingy pet shops. These poorly bred pups often end in clueless pet homes. The public outcry is understandable. Puppy milling is wanton disregard of breed standards, health concerns, and basic honesty – all in pursuit of easy profit. Dog breeding is turned into lucrative business by unscrupulous puppy millers. The outrage and the opinion backlash are such that anyone who makes money from breeding dogs becomes suspect.


In Search of A Label

A dichotomy exists in the dog breeding world. Hobby breeders vs puppy millers. Responsible breeders vs irresponsible breeders. Rightly or wrongly, the responsible label is accorded to the hobby breeders while the irresponsible tag is put on puppy millers. There is no doubt about the puppy millers’ tag. On the other hand, the dog world lauds the efforts of the hobby breeders who use personal resources to improve the breed. That the hobby breeders often times suffer net financial loss in this noble pursuit only makes their efforts more laudable.
I admire the dedication of hobby breeders and consider myself as one. On the other hand, I cringe at puppy milling and pray for karmic retribution. Nonetheless, I honestly find the following statements unsettling: “One should not make money out of dogs”. “Dog breeding is about improving the breed; it is not meant to be a profitable business”. I am bothered by the sweeping generalizations and implications these statements make.

The root of evil is not money; it’s the unquenchable thirst for it. So is the pursuit of it at the expense of others. As a person who has lived through dearth and surplus of money, I see money simply as a means to purchase one’s needs or wants, and as a measure of work effort – paid in terms of salary, professional fee or entrepreneurial profit.

A blanket, negative label on making money from dogs maligns the work of veterinarians, trainers, groomers, dog product manufacturers, and other canine product or service providers. These people would either be salaried employees, professionals or entrepreneurs making honest living directly or obliquely from dogs.

In a world teeming with hobby breeders, I often wonder why there is no professional breeder. In truth he/she may be out there – silently doing his/her work, wary of stigma, and waiting for the right label.


The Professional Breeder

The professional dog breeder is someone who makes a living from selling quality puppies he himself carefully planned and raised. As a professional, he sets and benchmarks himself against work standards, continuously improves his craft, and lives within a defined code of ethics. At the minimum, the professional breeder knows his breed standard by heart, sets his breeding objectives and plan, passes the professional bar by finishing champions, keeps detailed genealogy and client records, guarantees puppy health and integrity of the pedigree, provides dog care tips to clients, and continually learns from fellow breeders, research and the canine public.

The question remains. Is the world ready for a professional breeder? Can it be done? Can one improve the breed and be adequately compensated for it?

In the strictest economic sense, profit is a surplus that remains from the price paid/received after all costs have been deducted. Expenses include the cost of a professional or entrepreneur’s time and foregone interest revenue he could have safely earned from time deposit if he has not foolishly plunked capital into the profession or enterprise. Should the professional breeder at least break-even, then he is justly compensated and his endeavor is deemed a success.

Babies and dogs have long conspired to entice us humans to spend more pesos than what are really necessary to raise them. Years of evolution gave babies and puppies goo-goo eyes, cuddly bodies and charming antics that we adults can’t help but succumb to their spell. This poses the first challenge to the professional breeder: how do you rein in cost while raising well-bred, well-adjusted puppies? In principle it can be done. May God bless you with strong will and restraint.

The next challenge is determining the optimum breeding scale. How many litters will you have to raise to keep yourself paid without comprising quality and service? While the challenge seems daunting, to say it cannot be done because others have failed is to belittle the abilities of the imaginative, resourceful and determined. For the visionary, dreamer or pragmatist, we leave the door ajar. Should you succeed, the skeptics would be grateful believers. Should the task prove Herculean or too taxing, please err on the side of quality and bear the monetary loss with dignity. In the meantime, we cheer you on. You have been bestowed a label worthy of your aspirations. Please guard it well.

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Caveat Emptor: Let the Buyer Beware

I just put down the phone after talking with a pomeranian seller. He was pontificating on the virtues or inadequacies of certain local Pomeranian lines. I was listening and asking respectfully about the sire and dam of the puppies he was selling, but I kept getting condescending answers and remarks like “Ano bang hanap mo?”, “Chrisden/Canton lang ‘yan” and “Di naman lahat ng pino-produce nila maganda.” I can tolerate lack of knowledge or misconception, but I put my foot down on mouthing of top kennels and champions and masquerading as a breed expert. I am also new in the breed, but I had to say good-bye to the hot air and the rudeness emanating from the other end of the line. This scenario is just one of things a pomeranian seeker will have to contend with.

Almost a year ago I decided I want to own, breed and show pomeranians. I thought 3 years of watching toy dog shows; reading about breed standards and bone structures and ; searching for and breeding toy poodles prepared me enough in my search for my first pomeranian. I was dead wrong. I knew that the safe and tested route in getting good breeding stock was to secure one from the established breeders. However, I had scarce financial resources then and I convinced myself that I should try the small-time breeders first. I reasoned out that if my foray into Pomeranians failed, I had at least limited my loss to a smaller amount and less tears. I said to myself I would just work my way up to eventually producing a show quality pup.

I began my pom quest by browsing through Buy and Sell ads. I probably bought at least 6 issues; later on my wallet convinced me to try the online version. I had yet to discover Dog Tracker Online and Philippine Pet Finder forums then. I did a parallel search within petshops in Cartimar and Tiendesitas (I know, I know, I violated the pet rule book again).

I got my first pom (a female!) while checking the Cartimar shops. It had a champion grandsire, familiar names in the pedigree, and double digit number of red marks. It seemed small and fluffy enough. There were two females but I got the less pretty but more active one. I hoped to mitigate the risk from getting a pup from a petshop. Physically, the pup was beautiful – not splashy for show but within breed type.

A month after getting my first pom, I was back scanning the ads. I was already doing a lot of pre-visit phone interviews to weed out the undesirable breeders. A lot still slipped through my net. I checked a pom in Caloocan and reminded the owners that they had to first transfer ownership of their dam to themselves. I got excited over pom pics I saw in Adpost only to get bowled over when I saw the pups’ living conditions still in Caloocan and the sorry physical state of the spitz-looking dam. I checked out a breeder in Alabang; the kennel seemed promising but there were still traces of spitz blood. I saw a pom in San Juan that looked and weighed like a chow-chow puppy. In Merville, I viewed a sweet black pom that was way oversized. All these supposedly had papers and of standard size. Well, they do fall within Philippine pet pom standards – only these standards differ from international breed standards. All along I thought only the Americans want their cars and most things big.

One time in Commonwealth I got lucky and stumbled upon one of the prettiest pom faces I have seen in a pup. The breeder seemed a caring individual who gave me puppy food, dextrose powder and detailed instructions for the care of the pup. The dextrose powder was for hypoglycemia to which poms and other toy dogs are supposedly susceptible. I came home happy with the find and I lovingly gave the pup food and drink with powder to help it cope with stress as I was instructed. I left the pup to attend a family affair; hours later I saw a stiff body stuck between my gym bag and the wall. That was one of the few instances I cried in my life. My heart and spirit sank with grief, loss and guilt. Up to now I couldn’t fathom why the pup squeezed herself through a 1-inch gap between a heavy bag and a wall. Why couldn’t it simply backed off when it met resistance from the bag? Was it young puppy ignorance, canine neurosis or panic driven by hypoglycemia? I had had pups who romped around in my supposedly puppy-proof living room without any incident. I have used crates since then but up to now, my mind burns with guilt and my heart with grief whenever I try to picture how the pup struggled. A month later I saw on the pedigree that the puppy was a result of inbreeding. Was this a factor? I wished I knew.

Two months after I acquired my first pom, I had to say good-bye to it when it succumbed to epileptic fits and heart attacks. My small petshop pom with redmarks died on me. This was the second puppy death within a narrow period of 2-3 months. I was devastated. Prior to the tragedies, I have seen puppy diarrhea, ticks or fractured bones at worst, but I have never had a puppy die on me – certainly not two in a row.

The events made me reassess my motives and my means. I still want to be a pomeranian breeder and produce my own dainty little foxy dog for show. On hindsight I realized I should have spent the sum I used to purchase the two now-dead poms to purchase a single quality pup from a reputable breeder. With whatever was left with my breeding funds, I sought to seek another pom. This time I would simply get the healthiest pup I can afford. I found a litter happily suckling from its dam. For me this was a good sign that the puppies are healthy and well-adjusted. The puppies were small and healthy, but the dam seemed to lack enough undercoat to produce the stand-off coat and puffy ball silhouette characteristic of show poms. Still smarting from the pom deaths and the disappointed with other puppies I saw, I bought not one but two of this healthy litter. I simply wished to successfully raise a pom and planned to pair it with the best stud I can afford.

I was eventually able to raise my two sister poms past the critical 6-month age. This landmark emboldened me to get another female – hopefully of better stock. I was back to searching the ads. In Commonwealth I saw a healthy, plump, big-boned and doll faced puppy being sold at affordable price. It was a chance too good to be true so I grabbed it. Indeed the pup was too good to be true. It turned out the puppy sold to me was very young so it still looked very cute and within breed standard size. The cute little pup remained healthy but it grew big and tall. The soft baby doll features transformed into foxy spitz with long muzzle, piercing eyes and pointy ears.

I realized I had been stubborn long enough. I followed the rule book this time and got a show prospect male from a top breeder. It cost me a fortune but the pup continues to give me dividends of joy. I am presently showing this male. This male will be a cornerstone of my pomeranian breeding.

I also got another female of reasonably good pedigree and known to have profuse undercoat. The pup is not perfect and the breeder was open about this, but I know this pup will complement the breeding stock I have. I am currently in the quest for an even better female. I am just saving so I can get from the reputable breeders.

My melodramatic pomeranian saga helped me develop an eye on how puppies offered for sale will turn out. The warning signs of undesirable poms are aplenty: pointy and widely spaced ears; slanted eyes with white areas instead of dark, round or almond eyes; big foot pads; puppy skulls bigger in diameter than a coke can; 2-month puppies way too big to carry easily with a single palm; too weak to stand or walk, etc. I insist on seeing the dam. Normally, the stud will be better looking so the dam will tell you how bad the pup can turn out. I shun sellers with multiple ads in multiple forums, certain studs and lines that are favored by puppy millers, sellers who are know-it-alls, rumor-mongers and those who only know the good traits of their pups.

To people looking to get a pom, I say this: Let the buyer beware. It is a nasty world out there. The pom is a favorite of puppy millers who produce pom-colored dogs from spitz-like dogs and over-used pom studs. I tried to save and cut corners but I was burned. Choose the path to take. I do hope you become guided by my experience.

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