Sunday, October 20, 2013

And it started with a song.....

My first malamute mix Dakota, was a rescue and his true genetics unknown. He was a malamute in size and attitude, and that's what we called him. He had to be put down at 15, and it was indeed one of lifes harder moments. But he's why we're northern breed people, and I love him for that.

Shortly before Dakota's last Christmas, we discovered a local breeder of malamutes.  Their site was awesome to look at, and we fell in love with the woolie looking ones. That's when I, in musical whimsy that I swear I got from my mother, came up with the song 'I want a woolie malamute for Christmas'. Sung to the more popular tune 'I want a hippopotamus for Christmas'. My stepdaughter and I would sing this, to taunt and tease my wife who was holding strong on the 'no more dogs right now' mantra.  She would win out, but not without being tortured for a bit. :)

Summer 2011 was Dakota's last. With failing hind legs and spinal degeneration, the decision was hard, tough, and makes me tear up to this day. But it was best, and I owed him that. For the first time in 10 years we were without a dog. With kids getting older, we toyed with the idea of being a no dog family, allowing Rhonda and I the freedom of travel without a dog in tow. Maybe only I toyed with that idea, since I was in denial. Rhonda left the decision and choice of a next dog up to me.... only helping me decide if or when asked. She's a smart lady, she knew I needed a buddy...even though I hadn't admitted it yet.

I spent the next few months visiting shelters wherever my work took me across the state. But I never found that 'connection'. I hadn't resolved the type of dog, just big, furry, and fun. I met a lot of great pups, but never the 'one'. I then contacted the breeder who's site we'd loved. I'd had contact with her earlier that summer when some of her pups escaped, and had helped to find a very wooly dog named Chaos. After some conversations, the breeder came up with a possible match from her older puppies. Rhonda had hoped to avoid the chewing potty training days so we went with an older pup.

This, is what we met that day......

So on 11/19/2011 we met and fell in love with this malamute.  With my busy work schedule and the holidays we agreed to wait to pick him up. 
But, it was finally happening......

I was getting a wooly malamute for Christmas!! (Because only a wooly malamute will do...)

2 comments:

  1. Those 2 are right where they need to be! Who wouldn't want to scratch that belly everyday.

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  2. Aaaaaw! He needs to come and visit the Wooly Wolf. Rhonda, Mindy and I think they might just really be related.

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