 Crystalcreek Alaskan Malamutes and German Shepherds | sitemap | log in
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Star
Arctictrek Rivendale Queen
(Shepherdsway Wovoka of Snowolf x Arctictreks Solar Eclipse)
Hips 6-6; eyes clear
01/01/2003 - 04/09/2008
Star came into my life in March 2003, just the cutest young Malamute I have ever seen. She grew up to be a superb little dog. She was spot on the ideal freighting height and weight for a bitch, standing 23” at the shoulder and weighing in at 74.8lb. Apart from being the most beautiful Malamute in the world she was an absolute joy to own. She was very comical and made me laugh all the time, she knew how cute she was and used it to her full advantage, no matter how mischievous she was, she just looked at you in a certain coy way and you could not get cross with her. She was very vocal, just like her dad, Timber, giving her opinion at every opportunity. She was very active and loved to run in harness, her first rally was Aviemore Jan 2005 and she came 3rd and the following year, Jan 2006 she came 2nd. Unfortunately, her running mates couldn’t make it up for 2007, so we had to watch, although we did manage to get out on the sled on one of the training days with friends dogs, which she absolutely loved. She also loved agility and although we never got to compete as there are very few shows up here in Scotland, she really enjoyed her Sunday training sessions. We also did did clicker training and attended a training course with Mary Ray, she picked it up really quickly and learnt a few tricks on the course. She loved learning anything new that would get her the click and obviously the reward!! She was always very quick to learn, I think being very food oriented helped there!! She definitely helped to keep Kodi young, even when Kodi was nearly 12; they still played like puppies and were the best of friends.
Star appeared on Blue Peter when she was just 6 weeks old with her breeder Barbara Stanier. Because of Star's looks, size and attitude, I thought I would like to maybe have a litter from her. I went down to see Barbara to discuss it and see what she thought, knowing my experience and seeing Star, she was in favour, so I set about looking for a husband!! There were very few "suitable" dogs around, and only 3 came up to scratch with what I was looking for. One was Fonzie who came recommended by Sharon Loades (who has Star's dad) and thankfully Barbara also approved of him. Star was mated in March 2007 and had a litter in May 2007, 3 girls and 2 boys. I had always planned to keep a girl and after much deliberation, I kept Rio. The others went to superb homes and we are all now one big crystalcreek family...... After the litter, Star went off "working", she gave up on agility and was not interested in being in harness. I had two dogs coming up for Aviemore 2008 - the Sibe clubs 25th Anniversary and my 15th, so I dearly wanted to run her. Thankfully, at the start of 2008 she suddenly "switched back on and started to work again - back to her old self. The two dogs had run with her on a fun run on a sled the year before and had been well matched. Sadly, this time it was not to be. One of the dogs did not want to run and kept trying to turn back, after swapping them around several times, we finally got going, but naturally lost a lot of time.
Sadly on 4th September 2008 Star was put to sleep after having a seizure that the vet could not bring her out of. The week before she had been running free in the woods and was so happy, then a few days later she looked like she had a stiff neck, she was given a painkiller by the vet and asked to come back on Monday, but during Sunday night she had a fit and another one early Monday which left her walking funny. The vets kept her in for a day and started treating for meningitis, she came home Tuesday still suffering the effects of the seizure and within half an hour was seizing again, I rushed her back to the vets with her seizing every few minutes, it was the longest most harrowing journey of my life. They kept her in and gave her all the usual seizure medication in higher doses and tried to bring her out the next day but she never really regained consciousness. I have never got over losing her so young and so suddenly, I think of her every day and am so glad I have a part of her in Rio.
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