Article written/researched by Vivienne Peterson BA - First published July 2007 - Copyright Protected

 

 

Ch. Dragonfly was born May 6th,1903*. His breeder was Mr Wilson of Manchester. He was registered with the Kennel Club as a shaded sable. His sire was the small black Cheetwood Swell and his dam Cheetwood Judy was described in Miss Ives' book as an exquisite sable who was unfortunately stolen from him. Judy was not registered with the KC which was very typical of brood bitches in that era. Full Pedigree of Ch Dragonfly given below. Dragonfly was described by Miss Ives as an orange shaded sable and her summary of his achievements can be found in her book in the section headed Shaded Sables. 

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He weighed  5.5 lbs - which was well within the Standard of that era when they in fact still had challenge certificates for 'overweights' - being Poms over 8lbs. Our current standard suggests the weight for males to be ideally 4 to 4.5lbs. He was purchased by Miss Ives and campaigned by her after 1905. He won 6 challenge certificates. In her won book Miss Ives states his lovely colour was, " the foundation of the orange shaded sable as distinct from the wolf-sable colour." 

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 He is recorded as siring three champions and was the grandsire of seven more. Pomeranians closely related to him gained 34 challenge certificates and according to Ives more than 300 winning sable offspring descended from him. Miss Ives was a keen enthusiast and was the President of the North of England Pomeranian Club - she had been exhibiting since about 1885. When Volpino's from Italy were considered by the KC to be Pomeranians she mentions how she owned a pair and showed them in brace. Miss Ives also owned Ch Boy Blue ( NOT as often recorded Blue Boy who was born in 1884 bred/owned by Mr F Hayward) ---- Ch Boy Blue was born Aug 1899 and was bred by Mrs Fisher.

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 In October 1913 Miss Ives exhibited Ch Dragonfly as 'Not for Competition' at the North of England Pomeranian Club's 15th Annual Show at White City, Manchester. She was clearly very proud of her beloved dog and despite Dragonfly being 10 years old she considered him still worthy of being admired. At this point in time Miss Ives had been the President of this Club for about 15 years. His entry is re-printed below. At this show one of the trophies was dedicated to a son of Ch Dragonfly - Ch Pomland Dragon Fly which was given by Mrs Sturgess of New York for the best adult orange shaded sable with black tipped hairs, under 7lbs, and bred by exhibitor.  Another son of Ch Dragonfly was also sold to the American ( NYC) Mrs Caner Wiedersheim  for £60.

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 I hope you have enjoyed my vignette of Ch Dragonfly and I hope he will continue to live on in the heart and minds of true Pomeranian enthusiasts whenever you have the pleasure of seeing an orange shaded sable Pomeranian.