This big lunk can be suddenly gentle though when it comes to playing with small pups.  Even before the birth of his younger siblings, Taga got to play the role of big guy to his Granite Hill cousins.  John and Leslie Doinais flew out for a visit over Labor Day weekend 2006, bringing along Granite Hill Ruby of Rain and Granite Hill Enatai Rain to new homes here in the Northwest.  Ruby stayed with us for two weeks before JoAnn Filce had time to make the drive to Seattle from Sandpoint, Idaho to pick her up.  Taga was in heaven with even just a temporary "little sister" to wrestle with and it was the perfect prelude to the arrival in October 2006 of his younger brothers and sisters in the Big Dog Litter.  The first few days after the babies were born, Taga was afraid to do more than peer in at them from the doorway.  I can't blame him since his maother made some very snarly faces at him.  But by the time the pups were a week old, Taga took to lying on the bed next to the whelping box so he could watch them while Taaku nursed.  Later as they began to skitter around the house, he was in heaven.  No matter how many of them tried to help him chew a bone, he never complained (though he would occasionally sneak away to a more peaceful spot).  When they began to venture outside, he led the games.  He was in heaven with the multitude of visitors that came to see the babies and made sure to get his share of attention.

Taga began running in harness by the time he was seven months old and quickly proved he had excellent aptitude.  Though we're still working on the fine points, he knows his "gee" and "haw" and is both fast and powerful.  He has pulled the sled, my three-wheeled rig, and with a sulky in tandem with his buddy Brett.  We're looking forward to weight pulls now that my schedule has some free weekends.  I have no doubt that he'll quickly earn his weight pull title.  I see more hints of his sire when he's pulling -- occasionally Taga likes to stop and jump up and down while barking, just to let me know he's having a good time.  Considering this act includes play bows and wiggles, there's no question he's having fun.

12-month old Taga (right front) runs lead with his cousin Jiggles left).  Taaku (rear right) and Kamiak in wheel.	Taking (left) a break on a March 2006 afternoon of sledding with his dam Taaku (center) and Chinook-alike Pharaoh (lying at right).
The epitome of Taga -- a play bow for any and every occasion.	Practicing for weight pulls by pulling a tire; his baby cousin Ruby watches.

What with spending weekend helping out my mother who no longer drives, I don't have as many weekends for dog shows as I have in past years.  Taga doesn't seem to mind as he's happy to simply ride along on a visit to Mom's apartment about an hour south of me.  He did quite well though his one weekend of shows at the UKC Washington Classic, walking away with a couple class wins and one Best of Winners major.  I hope to have him back in the show ring more often in 2007 so we can see how he stacks up against the competition, many of whom are his relatives.  And let's face it, I enjoy dog shows since much more time is spent playing with the dogs and visiting friends than we ever spend actually in the ring.  

We didn't get much vacation time over the summer of 2006 other than one short trip to Sandpoint, Idaho and Great Falls, Montana. Taataga is just as good of company on road trips as all my other Chinooks have been.  We did get in some hiking over the summer though and he was an enthusiastic trail companion.  Any chance he gets, Taga is in the water.  Must be the fish oil capsules he gets as a treat.

Taga has had his first CERF exam (Normal) and it will be repeated in Fall of 2007.  He has had his OFA Prelim hip x-ray and we're waiting for the results now.  The x-rays looked gorgeous and his hips are very well seated.  Since some growth plates were still showing, I may wait a bit past his second birthday to get his permanent OFA x-ray done.  He's a big boy and I'm glad to see that he's growing slowly.He's had no health problems at all to date and is your basic happy and healthy guy. 

Though I had no immediate plans to use Taga at stud, he had other ideas.  He and Lolo have an accidental litter of seven pups February 22nd, 2007.  The pups look gorgeous so far and this breeding should produce good leg and bone.  Otherwise I have no hot dates lined up for him but he will be at stud after he is two years old.  If you are interested, I have some general information on stud services at Eventer, March 2002 - "Studley Do-Right Does His Paperwork -- Responsibilities of the Stud Owner". Basic criteria for any females is detailed here and we also have a Sample Contract for Stud Service posted also.

"Don't fence me in!"  Holly tortures 6-week old Taga by chewing a bone in front of him

Taataga at two weeks old.

As a baby, Taataga was called "Big Dan" after my vet of many years, Dan Frey.  Taga's sibling Admiral was called "Alan" after Dan's partner, Alan Marsh DVM