Rain Mountain Chinooks

UWP Grand Champion PR Rain Mountain Tonasket
Thunder
CGC HCT DNA-VIP Total Dog

(also ARBA champion and IABCA Ehren Champion)
Three time Best in Multi-Breed Show
Number 1 in Top Ten for 2001

call name: Thunder Wonder
OFA Fair, seizure free, CERF Breeder's Option
July 17, 1995 to March 21, 2005
Breeder/Owner: Ginger Corley, Rain Mountain Chinooks
Sire: North Wind Kiska, 1994 National Best of Breed (OFA Fair at nine years of age)
Dam: Ch. PR Mystic Sahalee Rain, CGC, HCT, 1995, 1996, and 1997 National Best Female (OFA Good)

A Piece of My Heart is Gone

On Monday March 21, 2005 UWP Grand Ch. PR Rain Mountain Tonasket Thunder CGC HCT DNA-VIP went to sleep and will be napping at the Rainbow Bridge until the day I join him there. For the short term at least, my heart is in pieces though I know that someday the other cold noses and warm hearts in my household will help it mend. My silly puppy, brave protector, and canine comedian is greatly missed already. I was with him at the end, along with friends and my longtime vet, who was also with me when Thunder was born. Please humor me with his eulogy.

Thunder is the son of the great North Wind Kiska and the flamboyant and dashing Holly, born in July of 1995 as part of the Heatwave litter. As a baby, he suffered a badly broken shoulder and for a time we didn't know if he would ever even be able to walk normally. Thunder prevailed though and not only recovered but went on to the life of a canine pro athlete and show dog. He won his first Best in Show when he was only a year old and was graced with two other Best in Show titles and the prestigious Number 1 in Top Ten for 2001, after which he retired a true Total Dog. He was one of the first Chinooks to win a UKC weight pull title (pulling over 2,000 pounds) and also one of the first (along with his dam Holly) to earn an AHBA Herding Instinct Certified title. He got his AKC Canine Good Citizen despite the fact that on the recall, he came with so much enthusiasm, launching himself in the air towards me, that I was knocked over in the process (he passed anyway as this was not covered in the regulations as a disqualification and the tester said that he could tell Thunder would never fail to come when I called). Thunder was an “honest dog” on the Rain Mountain sledding and rigging team and never let his lines go slack. When the other dogs were intimidated by an obstacle, Thunder just dug in and pulled the whole team through.

Perhaps Thunder's biggest service to me was during 1998, 1999, and again in 2001 when I was laid up because of spinal cord injuries and he took on the role of Service Dog. Around the house he wore a pack that held my glasses, the phone, a book, and other items I might need and was happy to bring them to me whenever I needed them. He was always gentle with me and knew when I was hurting worse than normal. If I fell, he would brace himself so I could use him to help me back up and if I couldn't get up for any reason, he was taught to bark loudly enough that my neighbors could hear and come to help. His loud bark intimidated strangers but those who knew him, knew to look for the wildly wagging tail and big smile as he was always happy to see friends visit. Many of you reading this have had Thunder as a house guest and know what fun he was to live with.

On our frequent cross country road trips, he had the wisdom to know the difference between a friend we had just met and a stranger who meant us harm and I was never afraid when I was with him. I could find no better companion for a trip, be it 2500 miles to Michigan or simply to the grocery store down the street. He loved to travel through the mountains of the Northwest watched the scenery out the windows while we went through the hills but he always slept through the flat lands of Wyoming and the deserts of eastern Washington. He even took some trips without me. He loved his visits with Hurricane Chinooks in South Carolina where he spent time in both 2002 and 2003 and he also frequently visited with Marne and Corine Lindhorst of High Plains Chinooks in Montana. I don't know if Marne’s lap will ever recover from having all 80+ pounds of Thunder sitting on him.

Thunder is survived by his mother Holly, who though she is 13 and batty as a fruitcake, is still going strong, and by his siblings Quinn and Misha, Mikey and Mariah. His children include many champions and well loved family pets – Moose and John-John with his true love Ladybug, Mocha and Bailey with his sweetheart Brandy. With Hurricane Electra he sired Cheyenne, Malibu, Katsuk, and Mercury, Gus, Remington, and Hiyu with Hurricane Kniki. He sired the Rivertrail litter of 2003, Lilo and Barley, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some of them. His grand pups are now joining many families across the country including the BrownStone litter of 2004 which brought me his sweet granddaughter Lolo.

Thunder's arthritis probably started many years ago, attacking the shoulder he broke as a baby and the hip where he was kicked by a horse that did not want to play with him despite his polite play bow. We saw no sign of it until this past fall when his gait was off quite a bit after the first rig run of the season. Both traditional and natural medications and treatments did not help the pain and he became less and less happy with life every day. He had other medical problems as well but I chose to not put him through endless tests, painful procedures, or give him medications that would cause two new problems for every one they helped. His last week was a good one though as his favorite human came to visit, my old roommate Chad, and they were able to spend two days together watching TV and just hanging around the house. In his last week he was also bred to Taaku though it was during this breeding that we saw just how much pain he was in. I have promised my animals that I will not make them live in pain and it was heartbreaking to realize that Thunder was ready to go.

Thunder had a very special place in my heart where he will stay forever but for now my remaining pack of three Chinooks, crazy Kitty Rory who used Thunder as a rubbing pillar, and I miss him terribly. I am going to take some time to stay at home with them quietly. Holly needs special attention now that she is older and if Taaku is pregnant she too will need some quiet time. Thunder is waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge with Sarah Susan, his honorary grandma-dog, and Kitty Kitty Bandit, wrestling buddy of his puppyhood. Ten years was just not long enough to be loved by Thunder Wonder.

The following is more about Thunder, originally written up in 2003 when he was still active in weight pulling and as a stud muffin. I hope to add more photos soon.

Thunder taking Best of Breed and Best in Multi-Breed Show
August of 1998, Northwest APBT Club, Judge June Pasko, handled by Kurt Dally
(photo by Valerie Piltz)

Thunder Wonder is my pride and joy. He was born the summer of 1995, one of five pups in the Heatwave litter. From the start he was a big, bulky boy and now weighs about 80 pounds and stands 24 inches at the shoulder. Thunder quickly won his ARBA junior championship at eight months of age, his UKC championship at one year (finishing with a Best in Show award from the Golden State Kennel Club show in California, Easter of 1997), and completed his UKC Grand Championship and multiple levels of IABCA championships. In 1999, 2000, and 2001 Thunder was ranked in the UKC's Top Ten, culminating with the #1 spot for 2001.

In addition to his success in the show ring, Thunder has many other talents. He and his dam, Mystic Sahalee Rain, were the first Chinooks in history to earn a Herding Capability Tested title from the American Herding Breeds Association (AHBA). Thunder is also very good at formal obedience, though I am not. He earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen certification with great enthusiasm. On a recreational basis, he loves running on a sled or rig team and is a very dependable wheel dog. We also participate in weight pulling, originally with the International Weight Pull Association (IWPA) then beginning in 2002 with UKC's weight pulling program.

Thunder retired from conformation showing for the most part at the end of 2001. However in February of 2003 he returned to the ring one last time in search of the UKC Total Dog award. To earn this title, a dog must both win his class in conformation competition and win a qualifying leg in a performance event. With his usual style, Thunder did one better by earning Best of Breed against some of his gorgeous younger nieces and nephews AND earning his UWP weight pull title with a personal best pull of 1,820 pounds.

Thunder has a very sweet, biddable temperament and loves both his mom and teddy bear. He has started competitive obedience training and is my most willing worker. He is a very powerful wheel dog on the Rain Mountain sled and rig team. When the going gets rough, Thunder kicks in and keeps the whole team going. He's very enthusiastic about herding sheep and has completed his American Herding Breeds Association "Herding Capability Tested" title. To earn this he had to pass a preliminary test to prove he had the instinct to herd, then demonstrate that he could move sheep off a fence, drive them to me, stop and hold them, drop at my command, and leave the sheep and come to me when I called. He also knows somehow that he is not to chase livestock at other times and is trustworthy around horses, sheep and other animals when he's on the other side of the fence.

Thunder has sired litters here at home, for Hurricane Chinooks, Spring Creek Chinooks, and more are planned. All are great, turning into winners in the conformation ring as well as strong and enthusiastic pullers on both snow or in weight pulling. To date his pups are showing his best features -- his strength, his magnificent Chinook head, and a strong desire to work. His litter sisters, Ch. PR Mountain Rain Dancer Quinault and PR Rain Mountain Stillaguamish, have also thrown excellent pups, many of them already Champions and Grand Champions (including Best in Top Ten for 2000, Grand Ch. PR Rain Mountain Malipaluk) that are now members of the breeding programs of many Chinook kennels across the country.

Despite his heavy build, Thunder is a very athletic dog. People are amazed to see his light footed leaps and acrobatics. He loves to run and has a very powerful gait with excellent reach. His coat is a dark tawny with black eyeliner and chin; as a pup his tail and ears were solid black until he was six months old. He loves to lead games around the house and is a pretty good retriever (for a Chinook that is) to boot. He also enjoys swimming.

Around the house, Thunder is my most trustworthy dog. After my spinal cord injury he was certified as an Assistance Dog for me. If I fell, he came running and braced himself so I could get back up. He wore a pack around the house to carry my phone, glasses and other items I needed. If something happened, he was trained to bark loud enough for my neighbors to hear so they could come and help me. He loves people, especially women, but also got between me and an intimidating stranger when I needed him. He is not aggressive; he simply stood between us, making it clear that the person not to come any closer. I've taken frequent cross country trips with him and always feel safe when he's there. He's the good citizen of my home. When his mom and the other girl dogs raid the garbage can, Thunder stands back since he knows that would be wrong. He has a great sense of humor and likes to laugh.

People that know Thunder will tell you of his unique giggle when he's having a good time. He loves teddy bears (our name for any stuffed thing) and carries one around the house most of the time. He also is the world's greatest Buster Cube player and would like to compete if there was ever a sport for how fast a dog can empty one. Despite the fact that he has never turned down a meal in his life, when playing with his Buster, he is far more intent on rolling it around and getting the rattling food bits out than he is about eating the food itself. He actually leaves the kibbles for the girl dogs to munch while he kicks the Buster Cube through every room in the house.

All in all, Thunder is a joy to live with. I can't imagine a house without this big lovey goof there on a daily basis.

Thunder's Offspring

As a stud, Thunder passed on to his offspring his wonderful bone and magnificent head. Those that have worked in harness are all excellent sled dogs and Mocha is one of the best weight pullers in the West though she recently took a season off for her first litter. In addition to Mocha, some of the others have already produced litters of their own -- Moose, John-John, and Malibu so far -- and others are integral parts of other Chinook breeding programs and will be bred in coming years.

Thunder x Grand Ch. PR WoodsRunner Lady Rain HCT

PR Rain Mountain Yakama Pride (Moose)
PR Rain Runner Johnny Rebel CGC (John-John)
(four pups from this litter died at birth and in the first day due to problems during delivery)

Thunder x PR WoodsRunner Brandy

UWP Ch. PR Springcreek's Stormrunner (Mocha)
Ch PR Springcreek Irish Outlaw (Bailey)

Thunder x Grand Ch. PR Hurricane Wilhemina

PR Rivertrail Lilo
PR Rivertrail Barley

Thunder x Grand Ch. PR Hurricane Kniki

Ch. PR Hurricane Hiyu Rain
PR Hurricane Remington
PR Hurricane Koko (Gus)

Thunder x Ch. PR Hurricane Electra

Ch. PR Hurricane Malibu Rain
Ch. PR Hurricane Cheyenne Rain
PR Hurricane Katsuk Rain Song
PR Hurricane Mercury
PR Hurricane Escalade

In the week before he passed away, Thunder was bred to Grand Ch. PR Rain Mountain Kutaan Taaku of Bear Creek. Nine weeks later Taaku presented us with two sons and a daughter on May 19th. (Pups are shown below with their "baby names," not their registered names which have not yet been selected.) I have high hopes for loving Chinooks with their dad's goofy personality.

Thunder x Grand Ch. PR Rain Mountain Kutaan Taaku of Bear Creek

Rain Mountain "Big Dan"
Rain Mountain "Alan"
Rain Mountain "Mary"