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ARDISTAN NEWS TODAY

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Nov 22, 2010 - well, I've been busy with things and there's a bit to catch up on with the puppies see the second week here

Nov 12, 2010 They are one week old and already they are squeeking long and loud ... See'em.

Nov 11, 2010 ... Pictures for the 10th and the 11th of November can be found here!

Nov 9, 2010 ...The pups are growing like weeds!

Nov. 8 ... Yup. you guessed it ... mooore puppy pics!

Nov. 7, More pics of the puppies.

Nov 6, 2010 All is well with the new pups and their momma, Khatun. Go here to see the latest pics.

Nov 5, 2010 After a three year break we again have Ardistan puppies. Early this morning Khatun delivered 5 pups, 4 males (one seal and the others grey) and one female (grey). Go here to check out the pics so far!

Nov 3, 2010 - Khatun is due anytime now!!! In late August I had sent to visit her friend Tao at Taolan Kennel. Well, I guess they hit it off, finally and thrid time lucky Khatun is stuffed with puppies, or so it appers at any rate. So stay tuned for the great event! It'll be the first pups in three years at Ardistan!!

Black Ribbon announcement Early in June Missy was diagnosed with cancer, with a second opinion in July it was decided we would give her the very best palliative care possible. By mid September Missy had taken a genuine turn for the worse. One day when I got home from school it was obvious that she was in great distress. I took her for her last van ride to the local vet. While on the road Missy got up on her front feet and watched the scenery go by as she was always so fond of doing. This is so reminiscent of her sire Calvin. When I parked in the vets yard Missy lay back down with a groan and when I came around to the side door see how she was doing she gave me a quick lick/kiss on my cheek. I went in to the vets office and asked if we could do what we needed to do in the van. Missy left easily, her head in my hands. Farewell Missy and thanks for the Junior kids.

March 31, 2010 ... Spring has sprung. The birds are back in droves and the Mals are shedding just in time to have the birds carry off the wool for nice bedding in their nests. Things are calm here and I am hoping that Khatun will come into season fairly soon and I will try to breed her again to Ron's Tao. Three times lucky?? Stay tuned.

Feb 12, 2010 ... Update

I'm a little calmer now and don't get emails from many folks anymore. Interesting how the wind blows when you stop and take the time to feel it.

Yup, I have indeed left the AMCC. I see no reason to belong. Too bad, as it has such potential.

It is interesting that many people I have spoken to recently say the same thing, sympathise with what I have said and done, though, in fairness, some disagree that I should have quit entirely. I have thought about it quite a bit since the trigger of an AMCC member advertising Alaskan Malamute Giants for sale came across my desk. As a long-time member said to me, it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I knew long ago about the complacent attitude among members regarding the actions of others. I have heard for years the griping, complaining, bitching and whining with regard to those members who do not live up to the agreement of membership as stated in the Constitution and on the membership forms. It has always struck me as odd why members would complain if they had no intention of actually doing anything about it. I remember this well when I was editor of the Malamute Review from 1995-2000.

Squabbles between breeders over injustices of one form or another is one thing, but blatant contravention of the Constitution, the heart of the AMCC, was and is another matter. That members cannot find the courage to defend their breed and the Constitutional Objectives of the AMCC is a mystery to me. While education of the public and membership is important and essential to ensuring and maintaining standards, there are times when active 'policing' of the membership is required to deal with those members who run afoul and ignore the Objectives for their own personal gain in one way or another. Sometimes omission is as bad as comission of errors in judgment; for example not taking back dogs one has bred that have ended up in shelters for whatever reason. If nothing else a formal investigation by itself may have good results and may 'educate' the membership, but most often even this is too much to expect. In any case there are plenty of complaints, but nothing is ever done about them. The leadership of the AMCC has heard these complaints, has felt hugely aggrieved by them. The Board members have discussed bitterly and in dismay the direction to which our breed appears to be heading. Board members have pointed out the many contraventions of the Constitution and agreement of membership and vehemently demanded that something be done, but most have declined to do anything more than that. When push has come to shove, when it came to making a vote towards action, the most vehement renegged on their earleir position and nothing happened. This behavior has been a big disappointment for me as I felt abandoned by my peers and I felt particularly for the decline of the reputation of the Alaskan Malamute Club of Canada. I shouldn't have though, as I knew all this before I became President. I could hear, "I told you so's", ripple in with the wind.

Being president of the AMCC is greatly frustrating as it is a position that demands action, but is powerless to do anything. I have known many past presidents and all say the same thing. I was warned of this when I agreed to take over from the President before me. I remember saying to friends that I feelt I was too driven and demanded too much from others for this position, but that there was no-one else at the time and so I agreed to take the job. A few issues came and went, and true to form, and history, the Board generally did not have the nerve to follow through on their convictions. Only later do I find out the behind the scenes connections, fears of guilt by association and general hesitancy to actually create precedence in AMCC affairs with which we could actively, rather than passively, guide the future of the Alaskan Malamute in this country. When my term was up, I was fully prepared to walk away as my frustration was high and it was obvious to me and a few others that I was not suited for this position. As happened before there was no-one in the wings and so, reluctantly, I let my name stand on the ballot. It was a big mistake and my disappointment enormous.

I came, finally, to the realisation that the AMCC is a social club with the only common reason for its existance the Alaskan Malamute, in all its forms. It is not an organisation that adheres to all its Objectives and does not actually stand by the agreement of membership that stipulates what a newcomer, or longstanding member, must do to be a member. I became further disallusioned, a rather mild word actually, with the Board in regards to its complacency and downright hypocrisy to actual issues of importance that have far ranging affects on how our club is viewed by its members and the public at large. To me it was not enough to educate the public and have a National every year when, in promoting the breed to the general public, we allow unethical breeders, allow breeders of giants and puppy millers to thrive within the club. We all know who these disreputable breeders are, their names pop up in conversation all the time and I daresay even they know. It is an embarrassment that these members are in the ring of our National, the premier event of the AMCC, and are presented as promoting the AMCC, its Constitution, objectives and the Alaskan Malamute.

And so after 15 years I have left the club.

Jan 20, 2010 ... Just so you know ...

I can no longer accept (I deleted my original phrase here as they were in anger and then wrote a little less strong words to express my feelings) the goings on of the Alaskan Malamute Club of Canada.  I can no longer abide with the general complacent attitude of members towards the obvious contravention by other members of the stated goals and objectives of the club.  Certainly there are conflicts of interest in breeders judging against breeders, and members judging members, as some 'reputable' members are seemingly involved with less than reputable members who contravene the goals and objectives of the AMCC.  Others wish not to get involved in actively ensuring that standards are maintained as they may fall foul as well, and still others interpret that the goals and objectives of the Constitution are mere guidelines that may or may not be followed as suits the individual.

In my view the AMCC is a duly and formally constructed and constituted association with expressed goals and objectives and rules of conduct complete with a system within its Constitution of dealing with those who may run afoul of these goals and objectives .  These parts within the Constitution, it could be surmised, were deemed important enough for inclusion when it was created. The AMCC is an association with a constitution outlining goals and objectives upon which members are measured. Otherwise, why have goals and objectives, or a constitution at all?

Certainly those members who just simply do not know how and why they may have contravened the goals and objectives could be gently corrected, but even that is too much to ask of the AMCC. By knowingly not doing anything to curtail the activities of those who would be sub-standard, one is in fact also being sub-standard by condoning such activity.  In my view if one does nothing regarding those who do not stand up to the measure, or worse, those who purposefully contravene those goals and objectives, then one, regardless of how good one is following the goals and objectives themselves, is the same as those doing whatever they do against those goals and objectives. That is guilt by association.  If this is so, and this is condoned to occur (which it appears it is as club history more than bears this out) then there are, in effect, no goals and objectives.

So, as an owner and breeder of Alaskan Malamutes, AND as an individual (as they are inseparable), I would rather not be associated if that is the only option left open to me to retain and maintain my personal reputation, which, sadly, it appears it is.

In spite of complaints and evidence of grave misdeeds of ‘members’, the Board of the AMCC has never found the nerve to set precedence against such practices that so obviously go against the goals and objectives of membership and the Constitution.   The following is a short list of these misdeeds – knowingly selling sick puppies, having very poor business practice, being a known puppy mill, breeding other than Standard Malamutes and advertise as such, refusing to take back animals they have created from shelters, SPCA’s, HELP Leagues and individuals to whom they have sold a pup but can no longer care for them for whatever reason.  As much as the AMCC says it promotes the Alaskan Malamute, it does nothing to protect them, seemingly has no interest in doing so and therefore is nothing more than a social club with various types of members all of whom benefit from the ‘name’ of the AMCC.  Puppy Mills and long standing honourable members are as equals in this ‘association’.

As much as it is galling to me to have to do this, I am disappointed both in the club and myself, but at least I can choose, thankfully, the path I must now take. After 15 years of membership and service to the AMCC where I have tried to promote and protect the Alaskan Malamute in my work, writings and reputation, I have resigned from the club as a whole as I can no longer lend my support and name. I will not share my good reputation to elevate the reputations of those at the bottom.

Also, I choose not to be associated with those who willingly accept others who purposefully do not measure up.  Unfortunately their reach is far and they colour many and that is the saddest part of the situation within the AMCC.

One more point I should add about associations as I am sure what I wrote could be, and would be, misconstrued.

My feelings toward the formal 'association' does not preclude my being friends with individuals who may be members of the association.  I separate the two.

Friends have different goals than associations, if they have goals other than to feel good in each others’ presence and lend one another support.  Also, and most significantly, I choose who my individual friends are.  Friendship is a wholly different circumstance, not without risk, however, but a risk I choose to take in the name of friendship.

And I can choose to be part of the association assuming that others do so for the same reasons, that is the goals and objectives of the organisation.  I become a member based on these constituted objectives, not for the friendships, although they may overlap.  In fact, I do not know most of the members, but our ‘association’ with one another is, first and foremost, based on the objectives of the association, not on friendship.  And it is this formal association, in this particular case, I cannot be 'associated' with as I explained above.

Just wanted to clear up that little niggly bit.

Dec 30, 2009 Its still cold and snowy. We've been out skijoring. Knickers has proved to be a wonder puller at 9 years of age! She's been a perfect skiing companion. Buddy, on the other hand, has been a handfull. LOL He's the best puller and a real team dog, but on his own he just hasn't the leadership in him to be out front alone. His departed brother Junior was all that. Buddy complains being out front all alone and if I fall Buddy will come back and lay on me, push me deeper into the snow and lick my face like he did the other day! LOL We'll try others as we go along through the winter months. I'm looking forward to trying Jochi and Khatun.

We expect Khatun to come back into season late January or early February. We'll try and breed her to Taolan's Tao once again.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Dec 12, 2009 Geez, its cold! But I have Mals shedding coat! Temujin has clumps popping out, looks like a Mallified stuffy toy! I have big plans for a good show season this spring with Temujin leading the way. He's looking just marvelous right now and he is such a joy to take places and hang out with.

I wish one and all a wonderful holiday season!

Oct 25, 2009 Well darn! Khatun had xrays taken to see how many puppies she may be carrying. The answer is none. We are terribly disappointed. But after speaking to Ron Pohl, we have decided to try again on Khatun's next season with the same sire, Tao. This is projected to be sometime in March 2010. I'll keep you all posted.

Sept 28, 2009 A Black Ribbon announcement ... After hanging around with us for another year, she obviously hadn't finished with us yet after her illness last spring, Berri has this morning crossed over to her brother, Junior, and sire, Fraser. For the past year, always in the lead, Berri just plowed along as she usually did taking me for walks instead of me taking her, but it was obvious she wasn't the same Berri. This was true even yesterday afternoon as we went for a short wander on the trails out back, unsteady on her feet, but game as ever, she looked around and smelled everything she could get her nose to and jostled my legs to play with me. When we got home again she was exhausted and happy to lay in the sun. This morning, after the morning feed, I was alerted by the others that something was happening with Berri. Khatun yelled and yelled and wouldn't take her eyes of the kennel under the back deck I had made to keep Berri closer to us. I ran outside and saw Berri struggling, she had collapsed and she couldn't get up anymore, and though tried to she just couldn't. The look on her face was heartbreaking, she wanted to get up and come to me, but she couldn't. I went to her and she was in dire condition. Some time later, as we lay on the vet floor, though in distress but calm, she looked over to me, swung her head into mine and gave me one last swift lick on my cheek as if to to say goodbye. I called her "Sweetie" one last time and she was gone. Rest in Peace my "Sweetie".

Sept 5, 2009 Finally a successful breeding between Tao and Khatun has occurred! Now we wait and see if it took and somewhere down in the first week of November we'll know how many puppies are born. Stay tuned!

July 19, 2009 I've updated some pages and am trying out a new look. Hope it works!

July 17, 2009 Maureen has sent along fantastic new pictures of Logan out enjoying himself on a glacier in July!

March 5th, 2009 I have posted updated photos of Jochi (Ardistan's Golden Khan) and Khatun (Ardistan's Yeke Khatun) as they are now two years of age. Things are going well with them and the rest of the crew. Pretty soon I'll have Khatun back out on the show trail beginning with the Red Deer and District Kennel Club shows in early April 2009. I am still planning to breed her in her next cycle sometime in May.

January 17, 2009 Finally some nice weather after a fairly lengthy deep freeze which, I must say, we are growing unaccomstomed to these days. The last number of years have been fairly mild. Just as a rundown of the Mals here at Ardistan - Moe will be 12 this August! Hard to believe. Her kids, Jack, Passion, Buddy, Berri, Knickers will be 9 in November. Gosh, Fraser, their sire, has been gone that long already. Missy will be 8, Temujin will be 6 in August, Sydney 3 in August and Jochi and Khatun 2 next month.

I planned to breed Kahtun last month but the holiday season was too busy and I missed the opportunity. So, we'll try again in May or June when she next comes into season with Ron Pohl's, Tao.

I recieved a number of fabulous pictures of Logan from Maureen and they are so wonderful I just had to put them up on the website for more people to enjoy. Please have a look. This is a pup out of Missy and Buddy, something that may well be worth trying again as Missy's last lick at the cat, so tp speak!

November 23, 2008 Well, in OTHER news ... Our barn is done! An "Affordable Barn" has appeared on our land! The structure was up in late summer, then the gravel fill went around the outside edges and the sand went into the stalls. Hay came from the neighbors to fill another stall and the tack room was put right. Then the poplar floors went down and Hey, Presto! the barn's done! Check it out!

October, 2008 Finally! Some GREAT news!! Temujin and I went to the London Canine Association shows in Tillsonburg southern Ontario and for the 2008 AMCC National Specialty. On Friday the 17th Temujin went BOS and scored big points as there was a large showing of Mals in preparation for the Nationals. Check out the pictures of Tem's show shots from this year!

July 30, 2008 There's a new horse here! Meet Scooter!

June 13, 2008 Well, sometimes you're lucky and disappoint the Angel of Death. In late April Berri came down with an illness. I could easily see she was not happy. I took her in the house and took her temperature and it was 107F!! With the advice of my regular on call vet, off to the emergency clinic we went. It did not look good. I had to leave her there after a time and I got home at 4AM. Next day she looked pretty ragged, I looked into her eyes expecting the tell tale "look", but instead I saw her say to me, "Hang on. I feel like crap, but I'm coming home." She gave me a weak kiss, a mere tip of the tongue on my cheek. I told the folks at the clinic to do whatever they had to. The following day she was up and stumbling around, but at least she looked at me, whined and wagged her tail as to say, "look! See, I'm getting better. I had expected some internal ailment, pancreas or liver, as she was very very ill. All the tests including the biopsy came back negative! In the end we don't know what it was. The fever should have killed her to begin with, but with her convalescing in the puppy room at home and getting better every day, it wasn't too long before I had my Berri back. It took a month before she wanted to go back to hang out with her brother, Buddy, in their kennel, and even then she didn't stay long. I stayed with her many a night as she slept beside me on the floor as I slept in my chair. All is good now. She's slowed down a bit, I think its cost her, but right now she's happy and healthy. I'm so glad I took the extra time to ask her what she wanted and that I listened.

Mar 18, 2008 Logan is growing up and doing well!

Mar 9, Jochi and Kid show that Malamutes can play with other dogs!

Jan 20, New feature - The Play page!
Check often as I will be adding to it regularly! It can also be found on the main menu inside the website

Jan 18, new pictures of Logan!

Jan 14, 2008 Happy New Year!
Bring it in with new Extended Family pictures of Nanook!!

Dec. 1, 2007 One day at the Calgary Kennel and Obedience Club show and Jochi takes the points with BW and BP

Nov 26, 2007 - Extended Family page updated with new pics of Tundra, Logan and Talisker

Nov 16, 17, 18 - The AMCC National in Winnipeg
Well, Khatun went on a plane ride with her cousin Temujin to the National Specialty and the WAMM Specialty in Winnipeg. Mercifully the flight was uneventful and the weather in 'Winterpeg' unseasonably warm! Khatun went second in the Jr Puppy Female class in the AMCC Sweepstakes, then third in Jr Puppy Female class in the AMCC National itself and second in her class in the WAMM Specialty. I was very proud of my little girl! Temujin again showed himself the consummate ambassador of Ardistan Kennel, he showed well, was a joy to show and got many compliments from competitors and spectators alike. I couldn't be prouder of him.

Nov 3 and 4, 2007 Not Bad in Red Deer either!

Now at 8 months both Jochi and Khatun are getting to be old hands in the ring! Khatun duplicated her wins from Camrose, Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, Best of Opposite Sex and Best Puppy on the one day and Jochi, Winners Dog and Best Puppy the other day!

Oct 13 and 14, 2007 Great show in Camrose!!

With their first shows as 7 month old pups Khatun and Jochi get their first points. On the Saturday Khat, Ardistan's Yeke Khatun, took Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, Best of Opposite Sex and Best Puppy! Jochi, Ardistan's Golden Khan, got Reserve Winners Dog. On the Sunday Jochi went Winners Dog, Best of Winners and Best Puppy. Khat was Reserve Winners Bitch So, all in all it was a successfull foray back into the ring after a lengthy absence for me and a GREAT day for the pups.

Next Show Red Deer, then the AMCC National with Temujin and Khatun, and then finally the Calgary show to round out the Fall season.

Sept 24th, 2007 Jochi and Khatun are seven months old !!

Feb. 24, 2007 Passion delivers 4 pups!!

Nov. 9, 2006 A friend and mentor in dogsledding, Marc Champagne, has passed away very unexpectedly. Please click here to visit my tribute to him

Aug. 24th Passion, is right on que, but has only one puppy!

August 18th. The Buddy Missy pups are doing well.

Click the link above to see!

August 14th. Missy has two puppies.

As per usual Missy had a small litter, but I hadn't really imagined one that small! Two pups, one female and the other male. The female arrived at 9:40 PM and the male at 10:20, both were 17 ounces at birth. With only the two of them they should grow like weeds!!

We're still waiting .....

Aug 13th. 9:00 AM Missy's temperature fell this morning, the precursor to labour. So I suspect sometime tonight or early tomorrow morning she'll begin. To help you keep track of puppies click here, or click on Puppies on the Main Menu.

We are waiting and waiting and waiting ...

Its the 10th of August and Missy is due this Sunday, the 13th of August, 2006. To be followed by Passion on the 24th! The whelping room is nearly ready, one more day to get that done!

Good Days

Followed by the breeding of Buddy to Missy on June 10th and 11th, Passion was AI'd to Stoli on the 21st. Now we just have to wait to see if we have puppies expected on August 13th and the 24th! Stay tuned.

A Sad Day

Its been a rough week culminating on Wednesday May 31, 2006 with my beloved Junior (Can Ch Ardistan's Fraser Junior) crossing over the rainbow bridge. It is hard to believe when I look out to the kennel that he is not regally sitting on his doghouse, with his sister Passion close by, surveying his domain. As good friends Ron and Laurie said, "... we're just remembering a very cool dog." You will be missed my boy, you will be missed. Farewell.

Planning for Puppies

It's the 10th of May, 2006. We're waiting for the girls Missy and Passion to come into season! They should come in during May and June. To see what we're doing and who the males are go to the Puppy Announcement page.

The New Year is Very Different

The US National was a real eye opener. I ended up taking Temujin. He showed well, I was sorta okay and we had a great load of fun together! It was fabulous to meet in person all the names I have known over the internet. I also had a great time meeting new people. I learned much and with that changed a little of what I was planning for my own kennel. Cool. I'm going both inside and outside the box and then on down the road again. Thanks Indiana!!

Heading to the US National this year!

Well, finally I am in fact going to the Nov 2005 AMCA National Specialty in Columbus, Indiana (how many Columbus's are there in the US anyway?), my flights are booked and benching space reserved, hotel reserved, vehicular travel co-ordinated (all thanks to Laurie Newburn). Not sure who I'm taking yet, it's a toss up between Passion and her nephew Temujin . I'm leaning pretty heavily towards Passion actually, she's the best mover. Tem has more time on his hands and could use more maturity.

Passion does well at AKC summer shows!!

Well, we were entered in the 2005 Alberta Kennel Club summer show all four days; Friday July 29, 30, 31 and Aug 1st. But due to a scheduling foul-up of Mr Stanbridge's get 'em done so fast they create their own absenteeism and then we can go even faster! and the lack of nerve of the ring steward and organizers to maintain a decent schedule inspite of the rantings of this judge, we missed Sunday's show - with arguably the greatest spectator attendance and so most unfortunate for the Malamute spectators that day. Many exhibitors in Group 3 missed their times - what should have taken more than an hour and a half until Mals were up took only 45 minutes. And!!! we had showed up about 20 minutes ahead of schedule because of his reputation for racing through the schedule and still we were late by 10 to 15 minutes!!! It was a sham to say the least. Inspite of this setback, Passion was still able to shine on the other 3 days going Best Of Opposite each time. Her winning feature? Movement.

No Puppies!!

Maybe its the year 2005; the rain, the flooded and wrecked puppy room, the Pink Lady butterflies that came like snowflakes one day and flew by in the gazillions for a week, the fresh snow in the mountains in the middle of summer - I dunno ..... but we'll try again in the Fall.

1/200 year flood hits - 7 inches of rain in 36 hours just 10 days after 5 inches in three days!!

Check out these pages of flood pictures that I have taken June 17, 18, 19 and 21st

Buddy continues to shine while collecting his Can. Championship!!

Bud (Ch. Ardistan's Magical Buddy) is awarded Best of Winners on Saturday (March 12/05) and Sunday (March 13/05) of the Calgary Kennel and Obedience Club Shows to finish his Canadian Championship!! This makes him the 3rd son and 4th member of seven offspring of Fraser and Moe to finish. This is a wonderful legacy to their parents, particularly sire BISS Am/Can Ch Waterstone Meandering Fraser TT. I have to admit I was a little choked up when I was awarded the BW as I remembered Buddy's sire. As I looked into Bud's eyes I said under my breath, "You should be proud Frase, all of your sons and one daughter are finished Can. Champions." Not bad, not bad at all.

"Buddy" does well at Alberta Kennel Club shows!!!

Ardistan's Magical Buddy "Buddy" is sitting at 9 points towards his Canadian Championship after having picked up 1 on Saturday, February 5, for WD and 3 for BW on Sunday February 6, 2005. When done he'll be the last of sire Fraser's offspring to finish.

Yearly Dreamhost Report for Ardistan.com

year: requests: pages:
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2001 15304 2534:
2002 37091 7499:
2003 115874 28701:
2004 169951 42882:
2005 2223 631:

Busiest year: 2004 (42,882 requests for pages).

Daily summary

day: reqs: pages:
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Sun: 47208: 11286:
Mon: 53882: 13325:
Tue: 59955: 14352:
Wed: 51427: 12265:
Thu: 50220: 12061:
Fri: 40268: 9978:
Sat: 37483: 8980:

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