Ginny!

Sutula's Dancin' Up a Storm

"Ginger"

January 11, 1999

Ch. Stormwatch's Montana x Keenonne's Dream Catcher

November 2010

 Meet Ginny! She's the current "Old Lady" at my place - at 12 and a half, she's now the oldest of my dogs, and you'd swear she was at least a couple of years younger! An eternal puppy, she IS finally showing some signs of slowing down a bit. She will still bounce at the gate, waiting to be let out, and will dash out once it's opened - unless young Zeke, her grandson, is waiting to pounce on her! Zekie plays a little too rough, for her old bones. Ginger's mother, Hope, managed to get to see Alaska before I did, traveling up to stay with Chris and Wayne Curtis to be bred to Monty, the first AKC breed champion to complete an Iditarod Sled Dog Race! Poor Hope needed a c-section, so Gin and her littermates arrived all at once as an emergency. I still remember them - all in a Rubbermaid tote and less than an hour old - waiting impatiently for Mom to wake up and feed them, having a group howl! 





Ginger didn't think much (still doesn't!) of obedience or agility classes, but LOVED to sled! She's quite the drama queen, and will squall like she's being murdered if you so much as grab her by her collar! Mostly, she likes to lay around, these days, in the kennel next to her daughter, Rory - I assume they chat! 


(Probably talking about what a brat Rory's son Zeke is!)

Roll'r Coast'r of the Midnight Sun

Roll'r Coast'r of the Midnight Sun

October 26, 1996 - July 30, 2011

July 30, 2011 was a rough day - I lost 2 friends on that day, my best friend, Shad, for one, but also another old friend, Roller. I bought Roller from Jan Stadler when he was about 18 months old. He was a dog that could drive me nuts, but was also a very funny dog, at times! He was one of those that loved to push buttons - really good entertainment - for him! 

He had fun going to shows for a while, but I never tried to work him much in obedience or agility - I was doing both with Shad (who was about 5 months younger - and very jealous!), and had more fun with him - HE was willing to do it without arguing! Roller LOVED it, however, when the harnesses came out - especially if there was SNOW! He was a pretty decent wheel dog - he worked hard, and had a great time. He generally got along with all other dogs - except Shad! I guess they were too close in age, and Shad was too jealous to share 'his' mom! Tempers cooled, as they aged (and both were neutered!) - hopefully they've now settled their differences at the Rainbow Bridge!

Roller sledding

June 2010 - 13 years old and still sassing!

His last day - ice cream - a final treat!

Previous Blog entries for Shad...

http://sutsibe.blogspot.com/

About 5 years ago, I took a teaching class that dealt with technology. As a requirement for the class, I had to create a blog. I didn't keep it up, but there were a few entries, mostly featuring Shad...

A Tribute to Shad

Shad & his mom, Ariel (Ari)

My best friend passed on just over two weeks ago. Now many people would say, "He was just a dog!" but that isn't quite true. What IS true, is that he WAS a dog - but not "just a dog"! I always was aware that he wasn't human - but he was very much a person! He went through the darkest and saddest times of my life with me, and I will be forever grateful to him for that! 


Shad was one of the most intelligent and wise dogs I've ever met, and he was a great communicator, for all that he rarely made a sound. He was always quick to 'tell' me what he wanted - which was usually to go where ever I went (which he often did) and to eat whatever I did (which generally didn't happen!). His greatest wish was to be by my side - he slept beside my bed most of his life, until the last year, when he could no longer make it up the stairs. He would sleep on the bed during the coldest nights of winter, but generally found it too warm - when he did, he preferred to take his half from the middle, usually laying length-wise across the width of the bed! 


He was that rare Siberian Husky who was reliable off-lead. No squirrel or rabbit was safe - unless I was there to call him off! Cats were, however, another matter! He really liked cats (although he pretended to merely tolerate them!) - and all the cats who hung around my home LOVED him - they learned to trust him before they did me! He was trained for conformation, obedience and agility as a young dog - he earned some points in the show ring, as well as a leg toward his Companion Dog title - but was smart enough to know that the heeling pattern was really stupid! I could just hear him say, "But WHY should I heel?!? You're just going to walk, turn, go fast, go slow, turn around, and end up back here! Where's the sense in that!?" He was also my main leader for my sled team. 


Shad, I will miss you until we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge - love you, always!

Wheel - Gabby & Roller

Lead - Shad & Chi

(Shad, Chi and Gabby all were Ari's kids)

Sutula's Shadow Dancer, CGC --- March 21, 1997 - July 30, 2011