As published in Pom Reader - September, 2003

First of all I would like to thank the Pom Reader for the opportunity to do this Kennel visit. It truly is an honor. Also I would like to take a moment to wish Sharon & Benson all the best in their future endeavours. They have been an incredible asset to the PR, and leave behind some awfully big shoes to fill.

Diogenoir...The Present

Hi there! My name is Lisa Stasiuk and together with my husband Mike Carbno we are Diogenoir Pomeranians.

We both work full time, Mike as a Behaviour Analyst Practitioner and I as a Psychiatric Nurse. We live in a bungalow in a small town ahalf an hour west of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Our house is fondly referred to as "the zoo" as we have Poms, cats, birds, fish, turtles, hamsters and rabbits. This last year Mike has found a new passion in breeding and showing Netherland Dwarf rabbits and I wish him as much luck in that as we have experienced with the Poms!

We are a small, home-based kennel and try to keep our numbers around 10 dogs, including "the elders" whom we would never part with. The Elders currently number three of our present nine.

The dogs are housed in the basement, which is finished and contains a whelping room, bathroom, family area and a large tiled run for the dogs when we are not at home. We were worried about accidents as the dogs had to navigate the stairs (both up and down) to reach the yard, so we had a covered ramp made that runs up the wall and out a dog door to the outside run. They love this, and not only does it allow them to go outside whenever they want when we are home, several of our more exuberant characters play in it and sit at the top looking down on us in the sitting area. Not always quietly might I add! Our dogs are crated for transport, at night, and for eating and the remainder of the time are in the run inside or have the run of the lower floor when we are at home. We can easily divide the run by using an ex-pen if we have visiting Poms or bitches in season. The entire "dog area" is a blend of tile, lino and hardwood so is easy to clean and "puppy friendly".

Diogenoir... The History

After our less-than-traditional wedding (often referred to as our run through the bushes) Mike and I actually courted tradition and bought a house. Our first house was a striking Victorian shingle-wrap with much character, and lacked only a dog to make it a home. what kind of dog was the only question.

Mike had been competitive in both bird and fish shows before we, me and was keen on trying his hand (read: luck?!) at the dog game. Prior to meeting Mike I had never owned a purebred dog and had never heard of dog shows much less bird or fish shows!

Mike's Aunt, Jeanette Glass had bred and shown Poms under the Ginette prefix while mike was growing up. I think her best known dog would have been Ch. Ginette's Rusty Bow - which I believe was #3 Pom in Canada at one time. Needless to say Mike favored this breed, and after seeing my first Pom in a pet store, we agreed that this would be the breed for us. Our began in earnest for a registered black Pom.

That search ended in Northern Saskatchewan at the home of Don and Margaret Rovensky. From them we purchased Valentina CD. "Tina" for short. Tina wasn't show quality, but she WAS very smart, a fact we learned the hard way! We enrolled her in obedience classes after she slipped her lead and she and I engaged in a 45 minute jog amidst morning traffic. Imagine my surprise when this delicate dog that we had just spent the previous three days lifting on and off the couch, cleared a five foot retaining wall and bolted off down the street! Rule 3 1 - don't underestimate them! Tina graduated top of her class, a fact that surprised many as she spent the first three weeks dusting the floor with her rump!

Mike and Tina ventured into the obedience ring where Tina earned her CD in Three consecutive trials. My wording there no mistake, as Mike likes to put it ... she earned her title DESPITE having me in the ring with her!! One judge even said to him, "Your dog works great... YOU need work!!!!" Rule #2 future ring presentation becomes my responsibility!

We joined a local all-breed club and started attending shows and working at shows. We became accomplished ring stewards (Mike in obedience and I in conformation) all the while scoping out the Pom ring.

Diogenoir Pomeranians

Lisa Stasiuk and Mike Carbno

Knowing that we were serious about showing and breeding we decided to apply for a kennel name while we were looking for a foundation bitch. Since Tina was really the foundation of our kennel (not from a genetic standpoint but by being such a fabulous ambassador of the breed) we felt it only right to name the kennel in her honor. Thus began Diogenoir. Huh? Whazzat you ask?!! Blackdog was taken, so we played on that ending up with D-O-G-noir, noir meaning black in French.

During this time a showy little dog caught our eye with his showmanship and winning ways. That dog was Ch. La Cherie Hershey of Bi-Mar, owned, shown and loved by Rosie Varjassy. Rosie was kind enough to befriend us and introduce us to the Pomeranian Club of Canada, as well as steered us towards Dot and Ed Martin of La Cherie Kennels. Here at last was our foundation bitch, a girl that Dot and Ed were originally going to keep for themselves but entrusted to us. Cherie was her name and she became Ch. La Cherie Hope for Diogenoir, earning several Group placements and puppy groups.

Our foundation bitch "Cherie"

"Chakotay" Cdn. Ch. Diogenoir Coyote Stone at 5 months
Am. Cdn. Int'l Ch. Diogenoir The Next Generation

"Picard"

From this start we developed a breeding program that consists of blending pedigrees linebred on Am. Ch. Millamor's Mark Tradition and Am. Cdn. Bda. Ch. Millamor's Rock Medallion to produce dogs of outstanding type, possessing pleasing heads and exceptional movement.

Our foundation bitch, Cherie was a blend of Bev Nor, Southland, and Millamor lines - line breed on Am. Ch. Millamor's Mark tradition. She was owner handled to multi group placements by Lisa. when it came time for our first litter, we selected a son of Am. Ch. Millamor's Mark tradition that we felt complemented Cherie as far as strengths and faults were concerned. this breeding resulted in a litter of three puppies all of which finished quickly. Ch. Diogenoir's Northern Tradition (Am./Cdn. Rock N Tradition of Oakridge's first Canadian Champion offspring, Ch. Diogenoir Tradit'n Rocks North, and Ch. Diogenoir Rock Starr at Samsu CD.

Ch. Diogenoir's Northern Tradition was later bred to Ch. Foxworth Frontier Spirit (an Am./Cdn. Rock N Tradition of Oakridge "Jake" grandson) producing our BISA, Multi BISS, BPISS, Multi BPIS, Multi Group wining and placing boy; Am. Cdn. Int/l. Ch. Diogenoir The Next Genration a.k.a. "Picard" (Ch. Foxworth Frontier Spirit's first of many Champion descendants).

We were later honored to purchase Ch. Chriscendo Classic Illusion a.k.a. "Ramona" from Chris and John Heartz. We finished this lovely bitch and inbred to her father Am./Cdn. Ch. Chriscendo Classico producing Am./Cdn. Ch. Diogenoir Calculated Risk "Cypher", Diogenoir Smoke and Mirrors, and Diogenoir Beyond Belief "Ripley".

Diogenoir Pomeranians

Lisa Stasiuk and Mike Carbno

We are still very new to this sport (translation: way of life!!) and have done very well in the short time we have been involved. Since our first show Pom in 1994 we have produced 10 Poms:

* 7 of which have attained their Championships
* 5 who are Group winning and/or placing
* 1 dual Ch. (Cdn. & Am.)
* 1 who has his Canadian, American and International Ch.;
* 1 who is too young to be shown as of yet.

We attribute so much success so quickly in the sport of breeding and showing Poms to: being lucky enough to be trusted with outstanding foundation stock from people such as Dot and Ed Martin & Chris and John Heartz; being fortunate to line breed to studs of outstanding quality; moving slowly and choosing to breed very few litters; and striving to produce quality not quantity. We have remained truly a home based kennel, where the dogs are raised and loved underfoot.

Picard winning Award of Merit & Best Puppy at the Canadian Pom National Specialty
"Cypher"
Am. Cdn. Ch. Diogenoir Calculated Risk
owned by Adrienne Pye
 
"Nrg" a Picard son
Cdn. Diogenoir Projected Light N NRG owned by Pat Murk
"Silky"
Cdn. Ch. Sablewood silk N Lace
a Dalton daughter bred & co-owned with
Laurie Kinsman
Other factors that we feel have had great contribution and needful of mention would have to be:
~ Grooming tips (and whole sessions!) from such talented people as Chris Heartz, Dwayne Ward, Jane Lehtinen and Tammy Corbin.
~ On going mentoring from wonderful, knowledgeable people as Chris and John Heartz, Pam Dodsworth and Larry Fox, Virginia Watkins, and Erika Moureau.
~ Aattending National Specialties on both sides of the border and having the chance to meet icons of the breed, both two and four legged.
~ starting our career in what is the greatest place to show Poms... Saskatchewan! Exhibitors in Saskatchewan can be seen all socializing together following shows at the homes of fellow Pom exhibitors who live in the area or at a local restaurant sharing in the joy for all who were victorious that day. Saskatchewan exhibitors are noted for their strong support of each other. Out of province exhibitors comment and marvel at the camaraderie and sportsmanship displayed by the Saskatchewan exhibitors and what a joy it is to show in that province. People have been known to be surprised with a cake at the show building if it was let slip you were celebrating a birthday or experience some other gesture of the famous prairie hospitality.

~ and finally, the unlimited support from Pom friends (U knpw who U R!) and other show addicts too numerous to mention!

Our many thanks to the Pomeranian Club of Canada for the opportunity to do this Kennel visit.

Diogenoir Pomeranians

Lisa Stasiuk and Mike Carbno

 
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