We have been owners of an Alaskan Malamute since 2004. First seeing a Malamute whilst skiing
in Canada over 15 years ago, we were impressed by the size and a stunningly marked,
smiling, friendly face. We were smitten and when, sadly, we lost our Rottweiler Jade
in 1996 we made moves to try to obtain a Malamute, only to be told that
at
this time there could be up to a 3 year wait. I was desperate to fill the
void that Jade had left in our daily life, so that when we were advised to
try an Akita,
Oki came bouncing into our lives. We have not looked back on the
Spitz breeds since and find them quite unique as far as dogs go.
We very were lucky to have our first Malamute, Anuka, from a local breeder ‘Blaidderia’
and surprisingly she is from the original kennel line we contacted all those years
ago - ‘Seacourt’.
Our dogs are our family and are included totally in our lives. My career at work and in the netball world gave some time for obedience training to
aid us with our new found friends. Since finishing work I now devote the majority
of my day to the dogs and enjoy walking and cycling around the local countryside
and beaches - ‘chilling
out’ with my dogs who are solid lifetime companions. I regularly
assist a local retired Police Dog Handler with his obedience classes and it’s great
to be able to share my knowledge and experiences with like minded people.
To add to my seven years experience of instructing obedience classes, I have recently
gained my qualification in dog training and now hold 'The British Institute of Professional
Dog Trainers 1st Award' which qualifies me to train dogs to an advanced level in
obedience. I have also completed the Kennel Club requirements for Dog Show
Judging and now intend to take this further by completing a number of breed seminars.
Showing was a new hobby for ‘Anuka’ and myself; learning together – what better way?
I have
been delighted with ‘Anuka’s’ progress in the ring and have tried to keep everything
in perspective and not rush her or develop her too quickly. Often the pressure is
on me not to let her down, as I enjoy seeing her mature into a stunning young
lady.
The future is always fate driven in my world and I hope to have a new dog or dogs
in the next 2 years to continue with my showing pastime excursions. Our
Kennel name ‘Tokosha’ is from a range of mountains in Alaska which are quite magnificent
!!!
Avril and Terrance (Terry) Roper