Colbyco Pomeranians -- About Us

We are Rex & Debra Hopkins of Colbyco's Pomeranians.
We have a true Love for our dogs and have had since the 1st Pomeranian that joined our family. I no longer work away from home, due to health reasons and stay with the dogs every day to see to their needs, and their wants, and to play with them and the puppies. I love the show ring and have made lots of friends there. Keep an eye out for Colbyco Poms in the show ring.
Debra is a state worker, but she spends as much time as she can with the dogs as well in the evenings and on weekends. Debra and I have a son named Colby thence comes the name Colbyco Pomeranians. We now have our first grand baby; his name is Jakob Allen Hopkins. He is as grande of a grandson as you can ask for.

All of our kids here at COLBYCOS are registered with the American Kennel Club. We breed to the standards set forth by the American kennel Club of American.

We live in the Country in Southeast Missouri. We have 3 acres that our kids have one of to just run and play on. We train for conformation and Agility. Our dogs are all healthy and happy. They have a large area to play and exercise in daily. Our son Colby did help out with the babies until he got his own baby ( Jakob) he still helps to socialize the kids by doing his Part time job now ......... Playing with the adults & puppies.

Here at Colbyco’s we breed for Quality and Temperament, and to the AKC Standard for the breed. We use only the top lines to produce the top of the line quality in our Pomeranians. We breed in hopes of attaining show quality puppies that we can show and those that are not show quality for whatever reason will make excellent quality lap babies.

We strive to raise healthy puppies. We feed a premium dog food, regular grooming and bathing care, and all our dogs get regular vet care. Our adults are raised on Premium edge skin and coat , and the puppies are on premium edge puppy lamb and rice

Our kennel has air-conditioning for the summer and gas and electric heating for the winter months. They have their own washer and dryer. So we are able to keep their beddings clean, and smelling fresh each and every day. All our dogs have free access to the out doors , where they can exercise and take care of their business. They visit the vet 1- 2 times a year for a general health checkup and teeth cleaning.

We are proud of our dogs and our facility. Visit all our pages to see what is going on at COLBYCOS today. We strive to give all our dogs all the attention and the love that they need and want.

Our puppies are placed only in approved show or pet homes; they are never placed with brokers or in pet shops.

Hope to see you at the shows!

HER ARE FEW TIPS ABOUT TRAINING;
I would like to take this time to tell you a little about the need for training your puppy. I have trained several puppies through obedience classes. I start my puppies that are going to be shown in the puppy class. This gives them a chance to get the socialization skills that they will need to be around other dogs at the show ring. We tell anyone that gets a puppy from us about the puppy training classes and recommend it. Although it is not a requirement to take your puppy to training classes, it will help you and your puppy when he or she is grown to be good friends and good neighbors with the people around you. You have no doubt seen someone walking their dog, but in reality the dog is dragging their human anywhere it desires to go. Or the person who doesn't have their dog on a leash running after it trying to catch up with it or just catch it. These classes teach YOU how to keep your puppy or adult dog under control at all times. This is the beginning of good citizenship between you, your dog, and the people around you. And will aid you in prevention of an accident happening to you new puppy or your old time friend.

Others
I want to thank everyone who helped us get our start here at Colbyco’s. For allowing us the great blood lines that we have managed to accquire. We would also like to thank Caldia of Flint, Mi. for the training she gave me in confirmation showing, Peggy and Sue also of Flint, Mi. for the training in Obedience, and Sally Slade a dear friend of mine and my wife’s for the training in Agility. Sally you are one of the best.

Thank you all for your support and help to get where we are today.
Rex and Debra Hopkins

"It's easy to say that John Jones or Mary Smith runs a puppy mill or that pet store puppies come from puppy mills, but the label is tossed about so frequently and with so little regard for accuracy that it is difficult for prospective dog owners to see clearly what they are dealing with. Unfortunately, some people who are well-ensconced in your local dog scene could be categorized as operating puppy mills. Prospective buyers should be careful to question anyone they are considering as a source for a puppy. Remember, as with any purchase,
BUYER BEWARE!"

We hear about this all the time, and are warned against buying a dog from a "Puppy Mill".
But what makes a place a puppy mill?

A hobby breeder dedicated to promoting and protecting a particular breed or two might consider all of the above "breeders" to be puppy mills. Animal shelter and rescue workers who deal daily with abandoned dogs might agree. Operators of clean commercial kennels, licensed by the US Department of Agriculture, will strongly disagree, for the very mention of "puppy mill" damages their business and that of the pet stores they deal with.

Puppy Mills began after World War II, when desperate farmers looked for other ways to make money in the face of widespread farm failures. In response to this situation, the US Department of Agriculture encouraged the raising of puppies as a crop. Retail pet outlets grew in numbers as the supply of puppies increased, and puppy production was on its way. However, the puppy farmers had little knowledge of canine husbandry and often began their ventures with little money and already rundown conditions. They housed their dogs in chicken coops and rabbit hutches, provided little socialization, and often couldn't afford veterinary care. Animal welfare organizations got involved, investigating conditions at these farms and eventually were successful in bringing national attention to the dreadful and irresponsible conditions at these "puppy mills."

Puppy mill conditions led to the passage of the national Animal Welfare Act (AWA). However, the term "puppy mill" has been applied to any breeder who breeds lots of dogs, no matter what the conditions of the kennel or the health of the puppies. The AWA is administered by the US Department of Agriculture.

Here are some definitions that will help you understand some of the terms that are most commonly used:

Hobby breeder: A breed fancier who usually has only one breed but may have more, follows a breeding plan in efforts to preserve and protect the breed, produces from none to five litters per year, breeds only when a litter will enhance the breed and the breeding program, raises the puppies with plenty of environmental and human contact, has a contract that protects breeder, dog, and buyer, runs a small, clean kennel, screens breeding stock to eliminate hereditary defects from the breed, works with a breed club or kennel club to promote and protect the breed, and cares that each and every puppy is placed in the best home possible.

Commercial breeder: One who usually has several breeds of dogs with profit as the primary motive for existence. The dogs may be healthy or not and the kennel may be clean or not. The dogs are probably not screened for genetic diseases, and the breeding stock is probably not selected for resemblance to the breed standard or for good temperament. Most commercial breeders sell their puppies to pet stores or to brokers who sell to pet stores.

Broker: One who buys puppies from commercial kennels and sells to retail outlets. Brokers ship puppies by the crate-load on airlines or by truckload throughout the country. Brokers must be licensed by USDA and must abide by the shipping regulations in the Animal Welfare Act.

Buncher: One who collects dogs of unknown origin for sale to laboratories or other bunchers or brokers. Bunchers are considered lower on the evolutionary scale than puppy mill operators, for there is much suspicion that they buy stolen pets, collect pets advertised as "Free to a good home", and adopt unwanted pets from animal shelters for research at veterinary colleges or industrial research laboratories.

Backyard breeder: A dog owner whose pet either gets bred by accident or who breeds on purpose for a variety of reasons. This breeder is usually ignorant of the breed standard, genetics, behavior, and good health practices. A backyard breeder can very easily become a commercial breeder or a puppy mill.

Puppy mill: A breeder who produces puppies as fast as possible with no breeding program, little attention to puppy placement, and poor health and socialization practices. A puppy mill may or may not be dirty but it is usually overcrowded and the dogs may be neglected or abused because the breeder can't properly handle as many dogs as he has. Puppy mill operators often denigrate hobby breeders and their dogs in attempts to make a sale.

It's easy to say that John Jones or Mary Smith runs a puppy mill or that pet store puppies come from puppy mills, but the label is tossed about so frequently and with so little regard for accuracy that it is difficult for prospective dog owners to see clearly what they are dealing with. Unfortunately, some people who are well-ensconced in your local dog scene could be categorized as operating puppy mills. Prospective buyers should be careful to question anyone they are considering as a source for a puppy. Remember, as with any purchase, BUYER BEWARE!

If you think you've found a puppy mill and wish to report it there are several actions you can take.