Michele Lyons | Triple Crown Pomeranians & Biewer Terriers

Interview with Michele Lyons, Breeder of Triple Crown Pomeranians & Biewer Terriers

Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder?

Michele Lyons: I reside in Colorado. I have been showing/breeding Pomeranians for around 20 years, and Biewer Terriers for eight years.

What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep?

>Michele Lyons: My kennel name is Triple Crown. I work with my show fancier friends to keep our numbers manageable and still provide outstanding show Pomeranians and Biewer Terriers for our own purposes, and sell pets to good homes if that is the best arrangement for that particular dog.

Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy winners?

Michele Lyons: In Pomeranians, GCHP Char’s Seattle Slew for Triple Crown has had several Bests in Show and Group Placements, and GCHB Triple Crown Tim Tam Of TNT had a 2020 National Specialty Best of Veterans out of a large, quality class.

In Biewer Terriers, GCHS Irish Jazz Dzhaga-Dzhaga was the most-winning Biewer Terrier prior to full acceptance and finished our first year of AKC acceptance as a breed as No. 1 in Breed in 2022. More recently, GCHB Triple Crown Chad’s Winning Lotto Ticket For Lynn is currently ranked the No. 1 Biewer Terrier in Breed, 2022 National Best in Specialty out of a large entry, and 2023 Westminster Best of Breed.

Which have been my most influential sires and dams?

Michele Lyons: In Pomeranians, GCHB Triple Crown Tim Tam has sired several champions and two Best in Show winners.

In Biewer Terriers, GCH Ola De Gras and dam, Irish Jazz Matrotuska, have produced several outstanding champion Biewer Terriers, including GCHB Triple Crown Chad’s Winning Lotto Ticket For Lynn and CH Triple Crown American Pharoah Firecracker For TNT. These boys have continued the outstanding legacy with several outstanding puppies that we are bringing out in 2023/2024.

Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised?

Michele Lyons: My dogs are raised in my home. We believe, as Toy Dogs, they thrive best with being with us in our home.

What is my “process” for selecting Show Puppies? Performance Puppies?

Michele Lyons: Show potential Pomeranian and Biewer Terrier puppies are assessed at 4 months, initially against their respective Breed Standard and for temperament to be able to handle travel, noise, and the excitement to want to show. We have offspring Biewer Terriers in Agility and Scent Work. In Performance, it seems to be having the concentration and attitude to please and listen that makes them top candidates for such.

I believe, like most breed fanciers, that the National Specialties and Group Shows are very important. They are places to see how your breed is evolving, how your own program is going, and to celebrate your breed and peers.

What are your priorities when it comes to breeding? What are the drawbacks?

Michele Lyons: Of course, my priorities are to breed as close to the respective Breed Standard as possible. In both breeds, I strive for a pleasant head. I think the style of Toy Breeds that I strive to breed are not only correct, but very pretty and pleasing to the eye. However, you can get caught up too much in wanting a pretty head and you have to balance your view and appreciate a handsome example that is very true to the Standard, as you can get too refined and lose necessary characteristics of your Standard.

How would I define “conditioning” as it relates to my breeds? How important is coat care?

Michele Lyons: It is vital in Pomeranians and Biewer Terriers. Pomeranians need to have a beautiful double coat and the condition and health for that to shine through. The Biewer Terrier is a single-coated, drop-coat breed. It is very challenging to keep up a show coat, and good health and hair maintenance are needed if you wish to show. Pets in both breeds are adorable in puppy cuts for easier maintenance.

Are there any health-related concerns in my breeds? Any special nutritional needs?

Michele Lyons: Overall, Pomeranians and Biewer Terriers are very healthy breeds. In Pomeranians, you need to watch for patellas and collapsing tracheas.

In Biewer Terriers, it is a newer breed and many of the dog fanciers are testing for about everything they can think of to maintain a healthy breed. We do note that the breed has had some GI sensitivity and all that goes along with being a Toy Breed for patellas.

Do I think my breeds are supported by a sufficient number of preservation breeders?

Michele Lyons: Pomeranians, yes. There are many longtime breeders and wonderful new dog fanciers in that breed working hard at it.

In Biewer Terriers, it is a fairly new breed with limited access. There are many breeders trying very hard to maintain the Breed Standard and health. Unfortunately, in both breeds you see breeders who do not appear to have the knowledge of the Breed Standard and are knowingly breeding exotic colors into the breeds and calling them purebreds, which they are not.

Are my breeds well suited to be family dogs? Who are the best candidates to own my breeds?

Michele Lyons: Both breeds are happy-go-lucky and I find these two breeds really get along well together. They make great family pets. They can be suitable for apartment living and easily adjust to those who are more active and keep right up with that family’s lifestyle. Many families are well suited for these breeds; however, young children must learn boundaries on how to hold and be careful with a smaller-sized breed.

What are the biggest misconceptions about my breeds? What are my breeds’ best-kept secrets?

Michele Lyons: The biggest myth is that Pomeranians and Biewer Terriers are all yappy. Yes, they bark when the doorbell rings or when they are happy to greet you when you come home. Overall, these breeds, with the right environment, are not overly yappy dogs. The best-kept secrets of these two breeds are that they live long lives, to age 15-18, age well if taken care of well, and are fairly easy to potty train.

If I could share a comment or two with judges of my breeds, what would I like to say to them?

Michele Lyons: In Pomeranians, please do not put up overly trimmed dogs. We have coat issues in this breed and we need to see correct coats, not put up winners with overly trimmed coats. In Biewer Terriers, be patient with the breed’s evolution. It is a new breed with many exhibitors who are new to AKC.

Treat them respectfully so that they wish to keep breeding better dogs and return to showing again and again. Nonetheless, with that said, because it is a newer breed, it does not mean that you should put up non-deserving dogs to the Standard. If the dog has a terrible topline, no tan on the face, and has no legs to it and cannot move, it is not worth encouraging exhibitors to keep breeding that type of dog because it won. You still need to keep us honest to our Breed Standard and not accept less.

Do I have any words of wisdom to pass along to newer breeders?

Michele Lyons: Never give up! Strive to have mentors who are ethical, non-gossipy, and will be honest with you about your dog and which direction you may need to go with showing a particular dog or breeding—should you even breed that dog, and if so, what do you need to make your program successful. Also, do not get hung up on wins. You win some, you lose some. Always be a good sport and refuse to tolerate poor sportsmanship.

For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever experienced with a Toy Dog?

Michele Lyons: Once GCHP “Huey” the Pomeranian had retired from the show ring, we took him with us on a vacation in Maine. I was in a very small canoe that only had a hole for me to sit and paddle in, so Huey sat on the hull with a life jacket on. We paddled along the coastline where Huey just surveyed his kingdom. We had many people on the shore ask to take our picture, as we seemed to make an unusual sight—a middle-aged lady and a fluffy Pom with a life jacket on, just paddling away. Huey did not have a care in the world. He went from being a top show dog with multiple Bests in Show to totally hanging out with the family, doing whatever we did.