My Pets                 My well-meaning husband bought her straight out of the pet store instead of listening to advice and calling a reputable breeder. She was a college graduation present. His heart was in the right place and he thought he did a good thing ‘rescuing’ her from the pet store. However, the pet store always gets another puppy from the puppy mill in a few days to replace what was sold. Demand = Supply. Never buy from a pet store! It is easy to see the quality here is certainly not a ‘show dog’ and should never be bred. She was spayed as a puppy.     Lacey     Again, my well-meaning husband brought a puppy home. This one needed a home and couldn’t stay with the people that had bought him, besides, “He looked just like Lacey.” Sigh. Spencer arrived with all kinds of issues, had no confidence, was very submissive and was not fun to live with. He basically had a screw loose. After several years of constant work, he adjusted into a semi-normal companion and also obtained an obedience title. Judging from his parents Foo-Foo names, our best guess is that he came from a ‘back-yard breeder.’ Someone who breeds two pets together and has no idea why they are doing it other than to make puppies. You can see the result. Buy from someone who knows what they are breeding and why!!! Spencer now lives with family in Orlando and is a very spoiled pet. It took lots of work and love to turn him into an almost normal pet. Spencer If you want a pom that looks like Lacey and Spencer they can be found most weekends in local newspapers from well-meaning people who didn’t know not to breed their pets.           Rocky Rocky was added to the family to be the first show dog. He won at puppy matches and seemed like he was going to be a great show dog. However, Rocky was sadly afflicted with a medical problem that baffles veterinarians, breeders and researchers. His hair started falling out before his first birthday and he was primarily bald. He was neutered before he turned a year old. When this happens, poms are usually tested for Thyroid disorders and Cushing’s Disease. A skin biopsy is usually completed. If the veterinarians find normal hair follicles and no hair, they usually determine that it is “Alopecia X” meaning “hair loss of unknown reasons.” After exposure to the air & elements long enough, the skin darkens and skin on some dogs turns shades of gray and black. Many breeders still call it “black skin disease” (BSD) or “severe hair loss syndrome” (SHLS). Regardless what it is called, we don’t need to breed the bald dogs themselves. Veterinary researchers believe it is genetic and believe it is X linked, meaning passed through the mother. However, there are no conclusive tests and sadly no way to guarantee not producing these poms with Alopecia X. Rocky’s Champion mom was spayed by a responsible breeder shortly after Rocky lost his hair. Hormonally, some of these dogs do not feel well. Others seem to feel fine. Rocky remained bald for six years. Finally at age six, he decided to grow some hair. I expect it to fall back out before the year is up. He is again a happy dog and was able to earn an obedience title himself. On the Links page is information about Alopecia Research. They always need donations to help with studying this problem. Samples of blood from affected dogs and their relatives are most appreciated at the University! Help to find the solution.   On this page are several “Pet Poms” and they are the quality that should not ever be bred. All were spayed and neutered as puppies themselves. However, each did obtain an obedience title from AKC while living with me.