While we here at Pommy Mommy are all about the celebrity Pom Moms, we figured that Father’s Day is the perfect time to recognize some famous  Pommy Dads!

Did you know that Bill Cosby, Elvis Presley, Isaac Newton, Mozart and Michelangelo all owned Pomeranians?! Singer/songwriter Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty fame and rapper, record producer and actor P. Diddy (Sean Combs) are also proud Pom owners! These guys aren’t afraid to show affection for their furry little friends, and have been seen out and about with their Pommies.

Movie star Sylvester Stallone, who is our “Pommy Daddy of the Month,”  has also been spotted more than once   with a super poofy sable Pomeranian riding in the front seat of his convertible sports car. He’s also owns an absolutely adorable tiny white Teacup Pommy.

Stallone adores his Pomeranian and has been seen several times out on the town with the sweet little ball of fur. Extremely faithful to their owners, the Pomeranian has become a hot favorite among celebrities, and Stallone is just one of them.

Now that you know Stallone prefers Poms when it comes to dogs, here’s some more details about the actor’s life.

Stallone, who is also a screenwriter and film director, is best known for his Hollywood action roles – most notably the underdog boxer Rocky Balboa and soldier John Rambo.

He gained worldwide recognition as an actor, writer and director when he played the title role in his own screenplay of Rocky. The 1976 triple-Oscar-winning movie was inducted into the National Film Registry, and its film props have a place in the Smithsonian Museum. The 72 stone steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, Penn., have been nicknamed the “Rocky Steps” thanks to Stallone’s famous scene in the movie when his character runs up the steps to the song, “Gonna Fly Now.” Tourists often mimic Rocky’s famous climb.

There is also a bronze statue of Rocky near the museum that makes for a popular photo opportunity for visitors. Stallone’s role as Rocky landed him an induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011.

Rocky was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay nominations for Stallone. The film went on to win the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Film Editing. It spawned five sequels: Rocky II, III, IV, V and Rocky Balboa, all written by and starring Stallone.

Stallone had another big success when he wrote, directed and starred in Rambo, an action film series in which he plays John Ramob, a troubled Vietnam War veteran. The series includes First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III and Rambo.

Stallone also wrote, directed and starred in the 2010 action thriller The Expendables, which boasted a cast of stars including Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke and several others. The film opened at No. 1 at the box office making Stallone the only actor to open a No. 1 film across five decades.

The iconic actor has been involved in several other films over the years including Stayling Alive, Demolition Man, Bullet to the Head, The Specialist, Assassins, Daylight and many others. He’s received countless awards and accolades for his work.

Who knew an actor famous for his tough-guy action roles would have an affinity for poofy little Pomeranians?! It’s just more proof that Pommies can capture the heart of anyone!

Today, we’d like to wish all of the Pommy Dads out there a Happy Father’s Day!

Jaime and her Pomeranians Foxy and Bear-Bear

Peace, Love and Pomeranians

Pom Mom Jaime Mowers

Jordy and Keira
Best Friends

In the winter of 2009, I found myself ready, willing and wanting to bring a dog into my home. I didn’t have a preference for any particular breed or whether it was male or female.  All I did was simply start my search.

Jordy Loves Nature

At the time I was admittedly naïve to the realities of dog rescue and I didn’t realize just how many dogs were spending their days in shelters, foster homes and on the streets. I soon discovered endless websites devoted to canine rescue with profile after profile after profile of dogs that needed a warm, loving home to call their own.

I was initially drawn to smaller breeds because, at the time, I was living in apartment. Soon after I started combing through adoption profiles, I found one for an almost-three-year-old, rusty-coloured Pomeranian cross named Jordy. Alarm bells went off in my head when I saw that his profile came with a warning that he was a dog with high anxiety and would require a lot of care. Though barely three, in Jordy’s short life he had already been re-homed six times including his foster home. Before he was in foster care, Jordy lived with a man who was unkind to him and hurt him a great deal – both physically and emotionally.

Not up for the challenge, I kept clicking and moved on.

Jordy – Totally Zen

However, something about the sad, frightened eyes in Jordy’s profile photo kept drawing me back. I found myself clicking over to his profile at various times throughout my work day, re-reading his profile so many times I practically had it memorized. After a little bit of deliberation and the notion that there must be some reason why I keep coming back to him, I decided to submit an adoption application. The rescue group, Furever After Small Dog Rescue, immediately responded to tell me that Jordy already had several pending applications but that it wasn’t on a first-come, first-served basis; whoever was the best match for Jordy would be bringing him home.

Undeterred, I filled out the mammoth-sized application, dove through the numerous hoops of a home visit, telephone interviews and reference checks before I was even invited to meet Jordy. To most it would seem like too many hoops to jump through, but I knew that the rescue organization wanted to make sure that whoever would be Jordy’s guardian needed to have a lot of moxie and a little bit of fortitude.

Handsome Jordy

After about a month, I visited Jordy at his foster home on nearby Vancouver Island. He lived there with a handful of other small dogs – all of whom were very well taken care of – but it was clear from the start that Jordy was different from the others. While his foster brothers and sister played in a large heap in the family room, Jordy was the “sad little orphan” hiding in corners and shadows, out of sight. He seemed completely disinterested in interacting with me and was clearly attached to his foster mom. We decided to take Jordy and one of the other foster dogs for a walk in the nearby woods with me holding Jordy’s leash. After 10 or 15 minutes, Jordy’s foster mom told me that I could drop Jordy’s leash and he would not run away. I told her that I was pretty sure he’d run ahead and walk with her rather than with me, but I dropped his leash anyway. To my surprise, Jordy didn’t run ahead. He continued to trot right alongside of me. After about a minute he stopped walking, turned and placed his front paws on my shins. I stooped down to pick Jordy up and hold him in my arms. To my astonishment, he started to lick my face! I looked over at his foster mom and saw her jaw quite nearly on the ground. “In the six months he’s been with me, he’s never done that to anyone,” she exclaimed. We both laughed a little as Jordy continued to lick my face before she said “Well, sometimes they just choose you…”

Jordy in his yard

How right she was! I was certain then as I was a month before that I wanted to adopt Jordy. His foster mom informed me that all the requirements had been met and that the rescue group was comfortable with the idea of me adopting him. She told me that if I wanted Jordy, he was mine.

A week later, after returning home to prepare my apartment for Jordy’s arrival, adoption day arrived. A car ride and a ferry sailing back to Vancouver later, Jordy was finally home. Really, truly home.

I still remember that day, over four years ago now, how he leapt up onto my couch upon entering my apartment and made himself quite at home. I remember how he’d circle around me on our walks in Jordy’s new neighbourhood. I remember how every single day I would return from work to find that he’d peed somewhere in the apartment, allowing his fears to materialize as he staked his claim. I remember how he’d crawl into bed with me in the evening, kiss my face goodnight with his little pink tongue and continue to pant in his sleep throughout the night. The first few months were filled with a lot of struggle as Jordy learned to adapt to his new home and routine and as he learned to trust his new and forever circumstances. It was challenging for both of us but my love and commitment wouldn’t let me fail him.

Jordy at the beach

It’s been more than four years and to say that Jordy is a different dog today would be an overwhelming understatement. Jordy is bright, affectionate, cuddly, quirky and downright hilarious. He has more nicknames than furry hairs on his head. If Jordy has it his way, he’d be outside in nature with us all the time – going for walks and camping trips are his favorite!

Jordy on Adoption Day

Jordy is such a central part of our lives. My fiancé and I can’t imagine what each of our days would be like without his happy smile greeting us when we arrive home. Lazy Sunday afternoons would feel incomplete without his furry body stretched out on the couch next to us. While my love of dogs includes all breeds, it’s no surprise that Pomeranians have taken a special place in my heart – all thanks to this furry little monkey who has given us so much more than we have given him.

Acclaimed TV personality, producer, author, music manager, businesswoman and cancer survivor Sharon Osbourne doesn’t just love dogs – she’s got a soft spot for sweet little Pomeranians. 

Osbourne, who has been a judge on  NBC’s hit reality competition show “America’s Got Talent” for several seasons, is the proud Pommy Mommy of several rescue Poms – Bella, Mr. Chips, Chicken, Bunny, Puffy, Rocky and Pippy.

Photographers have often captured shots of this celebrity Pommy Mommy shopping at high-end retail boutiques in L.A. with a Giorgio Armani bag on one arm and one of her adorable Poms tucked under the other. She’s also been spotted walking her Poms in the park and they’ve been seen getting a lift with her in a limousine. Such is the life of a Pommy who is owned by a celeb! 

Osbourne devotes an entire portion of her personal website to her pets. She has posted photos of her 13 dogs – of which at least six are Poms! She describes Mr. Chips, a teacup Pomeranian named by her heavy-metal singer/songwriter husband Ozzy Osbourne, as the “most gorgeous creature from the land of Poms.” She goes on to say he is the “snuggliest of them all and spends most of his spare time being carried around like a baby by everyone in the house!”

Osbourne also talks about Pippy, her black teacup Pomeranian. This Pommy has had an interesting life.

“Bought by me as a gift for Aimee, she was stolen by a housekeeper that worked on our street and taken to live 200 miles outside of Los Angeles,”Osbourne writes on her website. “Many months later the U.S. morning talk show “Live! with Regis and Kelly” featured a segment on Pippy and how she was stolen from the Osbourne’s. We received many calls from people that had spotted our Pippy and finally to our delight Pip was returned to us – a little shaken, but unharmed! Upon her return she was viciously attacked by a coyote and wrenched from its serrated jaw by a terrified, but

Photo Credit: architecturaldigest.com

brave Ozzy.”

  Osbourne also owned another Pom named Minnie, who passed away in 2008. Her other dogs include Maggie  and New Baby a.k.a. Crazy Baby the Japanese Chins, Lola the English Bulldog, Martin the Chihuahua, Mini the Maltese, and Storm, Two Face and Charlie. She does not specify a breed for Storm, Two Face and Charlie, but Two Face looks like he could be part Pom. 

Osbourne has admitted that she employs a nanny to help her take care of all of her dogs, which are rescues. She has been quoted saying: “They’re such company. I rescue them all…and I have a full-time nanny just to care for them. Bella, a five-pound Pomeranian, is my favorite.”

Photo Credit: Zimbio.com

Osbourne’s love for Poms runs in the family. Her daughter, Kelly Osbourne, also has two rescue Pomeranians – a little black one named Sid and a caramel-colored one named Story. She also had one named Noodles who passed away in 2011.

Osbourne’s famous husband had a Pomeranian named Little Bit, who was tragically eaten by a coyote at his family’s Los Angeles home years ago while the Osbournes were watching the Michael Jackson tribute and funeral on TV. 

Osbourne has enjoyed an extremely diverse career. She came into the limelight after creating, producing and appearing in one of the first celebrity reality TV shows, “The Osbournes,” which followed her family’s daily life. The show had one of MTV’s highest ratings and won a Primetime Emmy for Best Reality Show in 2003. 

Osbourne later became a judge on the talent shows “The X Factor” in the U.K. and then “America’s Got Talent” in the U.S.

Following the success of “The Osbournes” and “The X Factor,” Osbourne hosted her own talk show. She is one of the co-hosts of “The Talk,” during which she discusses controversial topics and contemporary issues. She also starred in season three of NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” in 2010.Osbourne has made guest appearances on “Will & Grace,” “Days of our Lives,” “Punk’d,” and several others.

 Osbourne has also had great success in the music industry. She is credited with saving her husband’s heavy metal career by founding the summer Ozzfest tour, which has become one of the biggest hard rock touring festivals in America. She has also managed several artists’ careers including the Smashing Pumpkins, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Electric Light Orchestra, Slade and others.

Osbourne can add author to her title having written an autobiography, “Sharon Osbourne Extreme: My Autobiography,” and “Revenge,” which is about a competitive relationship between two sisters. 

Having survived colon cancer, she started the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation in association with Cedars Sinai Medical Center. The foundation’s mission is to provide free screenings, support and healthcare to those with the disease who cannot afford it. Along with the fact that she gives a home to many animals in need, that makes Osbourne a Pommy Mommy we can get on board with!

Jaime and her Pomeranians Foxy and Bear-Bear

Peace, Love and Pomeranians,

Pom Mom Jaime Mowers

Jaime Mowers is the Pommy Mommy of Foxy and Bear-Bear.

This weeks rescue Pomeranian comes from Kansas! Her name is Penny and her “Pommy Mommy” Jennifer is going to tell us all about how Penny came to live with her and her family! Go grab your little cuddle buddy and get ready for a super happy “tail waggin” read!

We had just lost both of our old dogs to cancer, within 5 months of each other and were left heartbroken and wanting a new little companion. I just adore animals (I haven’t even eaten meat since I was a kid) and all of our pets have been rescues so far… we especially have a soft spot for the ones who wouldn’t normally get a good home. There are so many animals out there in shelters who are in need of a loving home, that I couldn’t feel good about going to a breeder. I know there are many breeders who are legitimately caring and good to their dogs, but it’s often hard to tell.

We looked for dogs on Petfinder.com for several weeks, but hadn’t thought to look for places near the lake house. That Thanksgiving weekend, we decided to search the local shelters down there and I saw Penny’s pic at a place called S.T.A.F.F. (Society for the Treatment of Abandoned and Fractured Friends), and I fell in love with her. I had always wanted a Pom, but I was doubtful at first that I would ever find one through a shelter, so I was excited when I saw Penny. I had no idea what kind of life she had lived until we called and talked to a staff member named Kris, who explained her story that before they got her she had lived her entire life in a cage, never feeling grass under her feet and she would take a lot of patience and love and still may never be like a normal dog. When we got to the shelter, all of the dogs were jumping and barking like crazy, except Penny, who was named Foxy at the time. She stood at the back of her cage and wagged her tail at me when I said hi to her, making my heart squeeze a little.

We adopted Penny from the shelter, where she had been for 2 years of her 4 year life. The other two years she was at a puppy mill, where over 250 dogs were rescued.

The people at the shelter told us that when they went to raid the puppy mill, they found dogs who were eating each other’s legs.  It was that horrible… however despite all that she’s been through, Penny is a super sweet, but scared girl and never ever mean.

She had actually been adopted out before, but the family didn’t want to keep her and were going to sell her on Craigslist. Thankfully the shelter had found out what the evil people were planning to do and got her back again.  The shelter thought she would stay for the rest of her life. The owner of the shelter was so kind, and said she would give us Penny free of charge, because they could tell that we could give her the kind of home she needed. I work from home and can be around her almost always, ensuring she has care and someone to let her outside when need be. We also adopted a chihuahua the same day and he has been teaching Penny how to become a “real dog.”

Penny’s such a wonderful addition to our family and I can’t imagine why anyone would want to treat her bad or try to get rid of her. It broke my heart when I found out she had lived almost her whole life in a cage and never had felt grass under her feet until the shelter took her in. She’s not always the most affectionate dog, understandably, but when she does give those little puppy licks or wags her tail, you feel like you just earned the most amazing reward.

We’ve had our pups since Thanksgiving and Penny has already come out of her shell quite a lot! I’m so proud of her and every little step she makes feels like a big victory.

Pomeranians come in all kinds of colors and cuteness – and most often in tiny packages!

Adored for their small size, the poofy little bundles of joy can usually fit perfectly in their Pommy Mommy’s purse!

The standard size for a purebred Pomeranian, as designated by the American Kennel Club, is three to seven pounds, but there are plenty of Poms that are much larger than that. They even have a special name – they’re called “throwback” Pomeranians! 

If you have a big Pom, you might have a throwback. A Pomeranian classified as a throwback is one who is a full-grown adult Pom that is not overweight and is bigger than 14 pounds. A Pom with partial throwback genes would be one who is an adult that is not overweight, but is more than 10 pounds. Throwbacks, and those with partial throwback genes, are still purebred Poms, they’re just bigger than standard Poms. Some throwbacks weigh in at 18 to 20 pounds – that’s one big Pom!

The term throwback harkens to the Pomeranian’s larger sled-pulling ancestors. These Spitz-type dogs weighed about 30 pounds and are related to the American Eskimo dog and the Siberian Husky. Genetic testing of dog breeds has found that many Spitz types are in the group closest to wolves and are presumed to be the oldest type of dogs. This might explain the Pom’s fiesty demeanor.

In the late 1800s, Queen Victoria fell in love with the Spitz breed, but wanted the dogs to be smaller, as it was popular for those of royalty to have tiny lap dogs. She took it upon herself to create a breeding program to reduce the size of the dogs, and so became the small Pomeranians that we know and love today. The queen is credited with not only advancing the trend toward smaller Poms, but also dramatically increasing the popularity of the breed.

But not all Pomeranians are teeny-tiny fluff puffs, and that’s where the throwbacks come in. While throwbacks aren’t very common, they appear randomly in litters. They also tend to occur more in the long-haired, flat-coated Poms, and some throwbacks have a longer, Fox-like nose rather than a shorter, teddy-bear type nose.

Throwbacks don’t deviate much from typical Poms when it comes to their behavior and temperament. The standard Pom already displays behavior that is throwback in nature, such as being alert and independent. Most Poms also love to travel and adapt well to new situations, which was typical behavior of their larger Spitz counterparts. Throwbacks are just as adorable, loving and sweet as any other Pomeranian. 

Jaime and her Pommy

Throwbacks aren’t thought to have any health problems due to their larger size. In fact, being bigger can be to their advantage. Whereas small Poms can get injured by jumping from heights, the stockier throwback isn’t as prone to such injuries and might enjoy more of certain activities like jumping.

I can attest to that because I am   one of the many Pommy Mommies who is the proud owner of a throwback Pom! My throwback – and I use that term very affectionately – is a big boy! Bear-Bear is a purebred Pom who weighs in at 16-17 pounds, clearly putting him in the throwback category. He’s definitely a sturdy Pom and he also loves to jump a lot – classic throwback characteristics!

Bear-Bear is bigger than his brother Foxy, who weighs 11-12 pounds. Although Foxy could have partial throwback genes, he’s not considered a throwback Pom.

Coincidentally, the Pomeranian my family had when I was growing up, Sugar, was also a throwback! We didn’t know about throwback Poms at the time, but were surprised by how big she was for a Pomeranian. Sugar weighed about 16 to 18 pounds and was even bigger than Bear-Bear! Her daddy Pom was named Big Red, so maybe he was a throwback Pom, too!

It just proves that Pomeranian love comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes! I’m sure all of my fellow Pommy Mommies will agree that no matter how big or small, Pomeranians always manage to steal the show – and our hearts! 

Peace, Love & Pomeranians,

Pom Mom Jaime Mowers

Jaime Mowers is the Pommy Mommy of Foxy and Bear-Bear.