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Our dogs
At Rocky Wolf Ranch in Alberta, you can meet each of our sled dogs in person, discover their stories, and support them through our sponsorship program.
If you stay with us on the ranch for several days, you have the opportunity to take on a sponsored dog for that time. This means that, with our support, you take responsibility for your dog like a real musher.
Providing water, feeding, cleaning, and going for walks are just as much a part of it as petting, cuddling, and spending time together.
To give you a better idea of our dogs, we introduce them here briefly. Each dog has its own preferences, quirks, and character traits – from calm to energetic, from reserved to affectionate, everything is represented.
To make the sponsorship a great experience for everyone, we are happy to help you choose the right dog.
Would you like to continue sponsoring your dog even after your stay?
Feel free to talk to us about, for example, a one-year sponsorship. The duration is entirely up to you.
The sponsorship costs $180 per year. In return, you will receive a report about your dog twice a year, including photos. Visits are possible at any time by arrangement.
You will also receive a 10% discount on our Rocky Wolf Ranch events and on photoshoots with your sponsored dog.
So it’s definitely worth it!
Inari Idja Austrian Wolf
Inari is our original! She is 15 years old, which is already very old for an Alaskan Malamute. She is always cheerful, lively, and friendly toward all living beings. Unfortunately, Inari never had puppies, as she became infertile at a young age. Behind her exceptionally lovable and balanced character lies a true fighter’s heart! Inari survived not only a uterine infection but also poisoning from a death cap mushroom.
Inari became European Champion with Kilyan in 2016. She was not originally part of the team but had to step in on short notice and won the title – almost untrained compared to her teammates. Today she is deaf, but that doesn’t stop her from still giving everything. Because of her deafness, she may sometimes seem a bit “confused,” but don’t be fooled: her nose and eyes still work perfectly!
If Inari were a human, she would be: Mother Teresa, Joan of Arc
Special thanks to her sponsor: Andrea Krug
Yukon is an 12-year-old Alaskan Malamute male and one of four brothers born with us. He comes from a very old bloodline, which is why he looks a bit different from modern Malamutes.
He is a very special dog. After the sudden death of his father Karhu, he took over leadership of what was then still a small pack. Yukon was made for this role. Calm, thoughtful, fair, and consistent, he led the group.
As a lead dog in a sled team, he is always reliable and focused, which is why he has also become a multiple European champion.
Yukon
Today he has grown older, the pack is now twice the size it was at the beginning of his “time in charge,” and the younger males are starting to challenge his position.
He and his three brothers, Lauri, Anouk, and Cashou, are something very special in their friendly and carefully calm nature toward people. Yukon has a special connection with sick, weak, or disabled people. When Yukon looks into your eyes, he looks into your soul.
If Yukon were a human, he would be: Sean Connery (as a gentleman), Mr. Miyagi
Lauri Peterson
Lauri Peterson is one of four brothers (Yukon, Anouk, Cashou), all of whom are unique in their own way.
Lauri is the most arrogant of the four and can coldly ignore you if he feels he has no time or interest.
For Kilyan, he does everything and is the only one he has sworn absolute loyalty to.
Even in a simple training run, he will leave Anna standing 300 m after the start without hesitation, simply by refusing to work and stopping completely.
For Kilyan, he and his brother Yukon, as a lead dog duo, have won many titles.
He is a very motivated – if not over-motivated – runner who can never get enough. While his team comes home tired after 30 km, he is already asking what’s next. Today, Lauri is retired and occasionally runs short distances with children or lighter drivers in front of the wagon or sled. Otherwise, he enjoys the programs where cuddling and relaxing are the main focus.
If Lauri were a “human,” he would be: Roadrunner, Indiana Jones
Special thanks to his sponsor: Andrea Krug
Anouk – the third of the four brothers – decided to emulate his siblings in his lovable, patient, and warm nature. Yet he also wanted to be different and special, so he opted for his own personal look. The four look very similar, and Anouk felt that needed to change. As a puppy, he decided to jump out of his kennel with a bone in his mouth, breaking his upper jaw and ensuring that he now has the broadest head of all the brothers and a slightly crooked face. Combined with his fluffy coat (!), he looks a bit like a small bear – and children especially love him for it.
Anouk
During his midlife crisis, he decided to try something new and went for a different hairstyle. While his head, legs, and paws are completely covered in fur, he has several bald patches on his torso and only sporadic fur elsewhere. He has been thoroughly examined by a veterinarian and is clinically completely healthy. The cause of this hair loss remains a mystery, but he takes it in stride. He just doesn’t seem to like the fact that he’s the only true, purebred sled dog who has to wear a coat in winter. What will his colleagues think?
If Anouk were a human, he would be: Forest Whitaker, Charlie Chaplin
Elite Wolf Viv´ien
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Vivienne is a 5-year-old Malamute female.
Originally from Russia, she came to us as a puppy.
With people, Vivienne is incredibly gentle and affectionate. She loves being cuddled or brushed and is always seeking closeness to humans.
Within the pack, she is every male’s dream – which inevitably leads to constant conflict with the other females. She always speaks her mind and stands by it.
This means she has had her share of fights with other strong personalities like Destiny, Ambrosia, or Eija. She stands by her scars and wears them with pride, like an officer wears his badges.
She lives together with Yukon. Toward him, she is cheeky but not overstepping. Yukon is in charge, and she accepts that.
Before she had her first litter a little over a year ago – from which Kody comes – she was still quite unfocused as a sled dog, and her attitude toward work needed improvement. Since becoming a mother, she has matured and tried herself as a leader last racing season. Despite a few mistakes, she managed to secure 3rd place at the Dryland World Championship in Hungary together with her team and Anna.
If Vivienne were a human, she would be: Demi Moore, Lara Croft
Cherokee (8) - or rather BigBoy Cherokee, is the biggest and strongest male Malamute we know. Did he fall into the magic potion as a puppy? At 70cm at the shoulder and weighing around 40kg, he is a stubborn four-legged creature. He decides when to pay attention to you, he decides whether someone pets him, he decides whether a photo or video can be taken of him. Cuddling in public is also completely out of the question!! If he does, he turns away with a deep growl and simply leaves. He doesn't come back...not if he doesn't want to. He avoids conflict unless it's with females in heat, in which case you can sometimes argue with his brother and best buddy Chiron.
Cherokee
Breeding dog in breeding use
Stud fee on request
Otherwise, he meets hostility with a lot of patience - but at the end of the fuse, briefly, clearly and effectively.
As an athlete, he has the physique of a wrestler. But he operates in the world of marathon runners. This means that Chirokee will be deployed in the wheel, or at the back, of a larger team, where he can utilize his tremendous strength. In a two-horse team with Chiron, he has already earned the title of "Fastest Malamutes in Europe." As a leader, he is confident in his commands, but unfortunately, he doesn't set the pace. That simply doesn't suit him due to his size. Chirokee is a very impressive and successful stud dog with many offspring in Europe.
If Chirokee were a human, he would be: Bud Spencer, Spike (Tom+Jerry)
Chiron
Breeding dog in breeding use
Stud fee on request
Chiron – the “little” brother of Cherokee – is an 9-year-old Malamute male.
After a somewhat bumpy start as a puppy, he developed into a strong, expressive male who has already sired several offspring.
Chiron is the clown of the two brothers. He always needs to be the center of attention and never misses an opportunity to tease his brother.
He has a lot of patience with Chiron, but every now and then he manages to push him to the point where he loses his temper.
And when it comes to females, the two are not always the best of friends. But what could ever come between true “bear brothers”? – certainly not a woman!
Together with his brother, Chiron has won several trophies and medals as a lead dog. He is an intelligent leader and capable of running at higher speeds.
However, his weakness is his lack of focus and consistency.
With his big brother at his side, he is very reliable. On his own, especially with a young dog or a female next to him, he is easily distracted and all too willing to join in on the “bad ideas” of his teammates.
If Chiron were a human, he would be: Terence Hill, Chewbacca
Ambrosia is an Alaskan Malamute female who came to us as a puppy from the Ural region (Russia) 7 years ago.
She is a rare red Malamute, with a coat that is white and reddish-brown, and almost amber-colored eyes.
Ambrosia is one of our breeding females and has had 3 litters so far, producing very good puppies. Unfortunately, no red puppies have been born yet, as the color is inherited recessively. This means both parents must carry the red gene for it to appear.
Since we have not yet found a red male that meets our standards in terms of health, performance, and conformation, all puppies so far have been black and white.
One of her sons is Jasper – you will meet him later.
Ambrosia
Ambrosia is a very dominant female. Other females are seen as direct competition and are dealt with accordingly.
Even males do not have an easy time with her. If a male is too “weak” to assert himself, she will put him firmly in his place.
The love of her life was Asuluk, who sadly passed away far too early.
With people, Ambrosia is one of the sweetest and most affectionate dogs. For her role as a mother, which she fulfills exceptionally well, she gave up her racing career. Since her last litter, she is no longer running.
If Ambrosia were a human, she would be: Bella Swan (Twilight), Rexy (the T-Rex from Jurassic Park)
Jasper
Breeding dog in breeding use
Stud fee on request
Jasper is now a 3-year-old Alaskan Malamute male.
Since Malamutes are late developers, he will only reach his full size and full expression in his fourth year.
He is a son of Ambrosia and our Asuluk, who sadly passed away in an accident shortly before Jasper was born.
Jasper is just like his father – physically and in character, he resembles him in every way.
He is incredibly affectionate and always very happy to see people, but in doing so, he often ends up hurting you a little because he is such a loving roughhouse.
That can sometimes result in a sprained finger, a torn jacket, or even a bloody nose.
Around other males, he can be a bit cocky; with females, he is playful.
With people, he is a full-on cuddle machine and loves being part of photos.
As a sled dog, he gained his first experience last year and performed very well. Together with Vivienne and Anna, he placed 3rd at the World Championship in Hungary.
He is available as a stud dog.
If Jasper were a human, he would be: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Samwell Tarly (Game of Thrones)
Special thanks to his sponsor: Doris Babenhoff
Kody is just over two years old, an Alaskan Malamute male, and something very special.
Here at Rocky Wolf Ranch, he fills our “spot” for dogs with special needs. His mother Vivienne gave birth to six healthy puppies – and our Kody.
Kody likely suffered a stroke in the womb, which is very rare but does happen. From the very beginning, he was a bit different, but his heartbeat was as strong and steady as the stroke of a Viking ship’s oars.
We know this so well because he was bottle-fed by us and we had to hold him for every feeding.
Even as a little pup, Kody ran – or rather crawled – in circles more than the other puppies. Later,
it became clear that one eye remained smaller and his lower jaw is slightly crooked.
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Kody
We decided to keep Kody and not sell him. At 10 weeks old, we took him to the vet, where an issue with his atlas (upper cervical vertebra) and a heart defect were diagnosed. This means he will never be able to run in a team like other sled dogs.
Nevertheless, Kody has many roles here on the ranch. He is a regular part of our workshops because he loves to cuddle. On hikes, he can show how strong and alert he is. Because of his blind eye, he sometimes behaves a bit “differently” within the pack, but he is very well integrated and socialized.
When he gets excited, he still runs in circles – and that will likely stay with him. He also has a slightly different voice than the others, which reminds us of Darth Vader. What he will probably never say, however, is: “I am your father!” – because he will not be used for breeding due to his condition.
If Kody were a human, he would be: Darth Vader, Forrest Gump
Herkja
This lovely lady's name is Herkja. She is 4 years old and a daughter of Destiny and Asuluk, making her a half-sister to Jasper. Herkja became a mother for the first time this year and has done a great job. Her training methods are, well, perhaps a bit alternative. If she had any training, it's hard to say for sure. Herkja is a very sensitive dog. She's incredibly cuddly. Her sensitivity is difficult to manage in a team.
If the pressure becomes too much, the pace too fast, or the run too strenuous, she will refuse to cooperate the next time. Furthermore, after a paw injury, she is no longer physically able to perform at 1000%. We will continue to work patiently to perhaps turn her into a sled dog. Her priority, however, will be breeding, as she produces beautiful puppies. Herkja loves workshops where there are lots of children who need to be cuddled. Like her dad, she may be a late developer in the athletic field and won't reach the necessary maturity and strength until she's 6-8 years old.
If Herkja were a human, she would be: Maria Tecla Artemisia Montessori,
Ilu
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Ilu, our ray of sunshine. She is a 6-year-old Canadian Eskimo Dog and came to us via a roundabout route. While her sister Elja and Fram moved in with us straight away, Ilu was first sold to Italy. The lady wanted to take Ilu to dog shows but quickly found the breed's contrary disposition too much for her. So we took Ilu in. At first she was very unsure about pulling because she had to learn not to pull for the shows and had gotten into trouble for it. She was given the chance to run alongside Cherokee - the big Malamute male in the wheel (directly in front of the sled) with Anna. He was able to give her the calm and security she needed.
In this position, she also had to learn how to pull properly, as this is where the strongest dogs are usually used. And so Ilu became a confident wheeler. Today, she is an integral and important part of Kilyan's Eskimo team, supporting her children Braga and Booster in wheeling.
Ilu has already become a mother twice. Istu is her first son. Braga and Booster are from the second litter of seven puppies. Ilu isn't a very strong-nerved mother. She gets annoyed by her youngsters quite quickly, and you have to help her out now and then, especially while the puppies are still small, to ensure she fulfills her duties. Once the puppies are bigger or even grown up, she's a great mother. She enjoys competing with the youngsters and putting them in their place when necessary.
Ilu enjoys being part of the events because she loves to cuddle and loves to fall asleep sitting in the sun!
If Ilu were human, she would be: Sandra Bullock, Katelyn Stark (Game of Thrones)
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Braga is a Canadian Eskimo Dog and a daughter of Ilu. She's a real eye-catcher with her brown spots and amber eyes. Describing Braga isn't easy. She's a real teenager. Bitchy, moody, sometimes sweet, sometimes ready to fight. Sometimes she wants to cuddle, sometimes she locks herself in her room and doesn't want to be disturbed. She's usually very well-behaved with her mother. She's often a bit bossy with other dogs, even males, and sometimes they're just teased because she teased them. As an athlete, she's a fighter and shows great commitment.
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Braga
In the Wheele, together with Ilu, she was carrying herself and the team home or to the finish line, either with a cut paw (she must have stepped on something during training) or with circulatory problems (she was just coming into heat), without us noticing. When you want to take care of her, she's back to her teenage self: "Go away, I'm fine, I don't need help!"
Brage is 3 years old and still relatively immature—which is why no litter is planned for her yet. She still needs some time.
If Braga were a person, she would be: Nellie Oleson (Little House on the Prairie), Nicole Kidman
Ruja
Ruja comes from a breeder friend in Italy and came to us at 12 weeks old. She is now 3 years old and runs alongside Fram in Team Kilyan as the leader. Despite her young age, she replaced Elja in that position. Her confident and relatively focused manner made her better than the easily distracted Elja. Ruja is a cheerful person and interested in all sorts of nonsense. This is how we were able to teach her the command "cheer," which causes her to throw both front legs in the air as if in celebration.
Despite her young age, Ruja is a very confident dog. She only argues when necessary and otherwise punishes her snarling opponents with calm and ignorance. When everyone else gets upset, she lies there and waits.
Sir observes what is happening around her very closely and looks down on the events to assess whether a reaction is necessary or not.
As a junior leader, she's usually focused and moves forward well. Otherwise, she also orients herself well toward Fram, who still has a lot to teach her.
She is always very friendly towards people and likes to give back massages, especially when she doesn't get enough attention.
If she were a human, she would be: Arya Stark (Game of Thrones), Julia Roberts
Boody - that's his nickname - is called Booster. He is a son of Ilu, a brother of Braga and Istu. His father is Fram. Booster was born to us three years ago. He actually had a bright future ahead of him. With loving people, two malamutes in the family, and family connections. But unfortunately, things turned out differently. The family's parents separated, and the family and dog family were torn apart. He was suddenly alone with other people in unfamiliar surroundings. Since he couldn't cope with the change, probably because he wasn't well supervised, we soon received news that Booster wasn't well and was already displaying behavioral problems. We contacted the buyer and, after a detailed and informative conversation, demanded the dog - our puppy Booster - back. A return agreement was signed with no return ticket for the dog's well-being.
Booster
When Booster returned to us at just under a year old, the extent of the disaster became clear. In short, normal handling was impossible. Putting on a leash, putting on a harness, and going for walks became a challenge. Rehoming him, as we had originally planned for Boody, was not possible in our view. A decision for life was made - Booster was to stay. We spent several months regaining his trust in us and in everyday situations. Then, we worked on integrating him into the existing pack. We, and especially Booster, succeeded in both of these things very well. Today he is Wheeler in Kilyan's Eskimo Team and one of the cuddliest dogs in the pack. He loves to hug us. Thanks to his considerable size, he can almost look you in the eye. He can be used in workshops without any problems. In large groups, it sometimes becomes too much for him. We notice this and then remove him from the situation or don't use him at all.
If Booster were a human, he would be: Johra Mormont (Game of Thrones), Keanu Reeves
Thanks go to the sponsor: Andrea Krug
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Istu
Istu is the first Canadian Eskimo Dog born in Germany. Kilyan's pride and joy. Having grown into a beautiful male, Istu is now 4 years old and competes in the CED (Canadian Eskimo Dog) team in the middle position. Istu is a clown who makes even the grumpiest of people laugh with his exuberant joy. With males in the pack, he likes to test who's stronger and is sometimes relieved when his chosen opponents are locked up. Sometimes he doesn't know who he's messing with. With girls, he's goofy, playful, and sometimes even acts as a justice of the peace, although he's only moderately successful at it.
Breeding dog in breeding use
Stud fee on request
With his unique coat color and bright eyes, Istu is a real eye-catcher and will surely be heard from here in Canada. He is available as a stud dog. The first dog shows are planned. Petting and cuddling are difficult, as he's always on the move and can hardly stay still. However, he loves being brushed – he can lie still for a long time and enjoys the comfort.
If Istu were human, he would be: Jim Carrey, Ron Weasley (Harry Potter)
Thanks go to the sponsor: Andrea Krug
Tosha – our chatterbox – is 3 years old and came to us at just under a year old from our dear fellow breeder, Beverley Arsanau, in Alberta, Canada. Tosha is a super bright and cheerful dog who loves to chatter, babble, and sing all day long. If you talk to her, you always get an answer. Sometimes it's one you don't want to hear, or one that's more detailed than you expected. She lives with Istu, and the two joke around a lot. Last year, she gained her first experience as a sled dog, alongside Nutka, in front of a scooter. Here, she proves to be very motivated and stress-resistant, and together with Leonie, a young aspiring musher, she became European Youth Champion!
Tosha
Tosha still has a lot ahead of her. She'll definitely be a great mom someday and maybe even become part of the big Eskimo team.
If Tosha were a human, she would be: Ellen DeGeneres, Tweety
Fram
Breeding dog in breeding use
Stud fee on request
He is the forefather of all Canadian Eskimo Dogs born in Germany. He is the leader of the first and only Canadian Eskimo team in the German-speaking world. He is unique in his character.
Fram is now 6 years old and came to Germany from Canada as a puppy. Together with Elja, they were the first breeding pair in the German-speaking world, and he is the father of Istu, Braga, and Booster. Fram is a dog with a very unique and special personality.
A very sensitive dog when it comes to people and their moods, especially with Kilyan, but also a fighter and a very focused, concentrated team leader in a team. He often needs a bit of time to get used to new tasks, but once he's done, he's a rock. For example, while the transition from a team of two to leading a team of six was initially difficult for him, he now leads the team confidently alongside Kilyan.
He handles small groups quite well at workshops. Large bus groups, however, stress him out because his sensitive nature prevents him from assessing the diverse moods of too many people.
If Fram were a person, he would be: Claude Monet, Pierce Brosnan
Elja is a 6-year-old Canadian Eskimo bitch and came to us from Canada with Fram in 2010. While her sister Ilu preferred to start a family, Elja opted for her career. She is an absolute power woman and has no intention of having children. Together with Fram she was supposed to have the first IBD puppies in German-speaking countries. But we hadn't reckoned with Elja. Even when in heat she won't let Fram mate her. Instead she led the teams with her as co-leader for a long time. However, Elja is not very focused because she's always thinking about nonsense and is easily distracted by butterflies or sticks on the ground.
Elja
She's now moved to the midfield of the team to make way for Ruja in the lead. Elja is doing a great job here. And if she ever shows interest in the outside, the team simply takes her along. Elja is a real clown with people. You can do any kind of silly thing with her and laugh yourself silly at her manner. Everything she thinks is loudly expressed with lots of chatter. "Booooo" is her favorite word.
If Elja were a human, she would be: Jennifer Aniston, Marilyn Monroe
Nutka
Breeding dog in breeding use
Stud fee on request
Nutka is a 3-year-old male Canadian Eskimo Dog and has been in our possession since his early days. At the age of 2, he finally came to us in Germany from Canada. Together with Berverley Arsenau, the stated goal was to make Nutka a Canadian Champion. And so it happened. In 2023, Nutka became Canadian Beauty Champion. This means that he meets all breed standards and ideals and has the appropriate temperament. Nutka is available as a stud dog.
In 2024, he won the title of Junior European Champion with Leonie, a young musher, and Tosha, riding a scooter. He often has a big mouth with other males in the pack, which has sometimes been his downfall. Chiron and Cherokee, however, were merciful and limited him to a single lesson. This lasted a day or two, after which the learning effect wore off. With girls, he's a goofy gentleman. He's cuddly with people and always wants to be the center of attention. Another dog gets petted or receives attention? Not with Nutka. The beauty champion then draws attention to himself by any means necessary.
If Nutka were a human, he would be: Shawn Mendes, Richi Rich
Luna
Luna is Herkja's daughter and is just 5 months old. She also has a rather sensitive nature and loves to be petted and cuddled extensively. She is very smart and learns quickly. She has a rather balanced nature and will observe before taking action. ...unlike her sister Lovi...
Lovi is completely different. Always at the forefront, and if you can stir up a little drama, all the better. She's a little bully and loud. She can't deny her Uncle Jasper and Grandpa Asuluk. She also loves being petted, although it's still very difficult for her to stay still. Pinching her nose is much more fun! ...
Lovi
In Erinnerung an unsere 🕊️ Hunde 🕊️
Anuri
Winddancer
🕊️ 2025
Anuri is one of our most successful and impressive stud dogs. Born in 2015, he is the sire of our successful dogs Cherokee and Chiron, among others.
Anuri is usually above it all. There are few opponents who can unsettle him. He is a calm, level-headed male, but when he's happy, he becomes a complete clown. Then he jumps around foolishly, waving his front legs. His racing career in his younger years was quite remarkable.
However, at the age of 6, he decided to retire from major sports and observe the events as a private individual. If you harness him up these days, it's hard to motivate him. He's more interested in the pretty girls running with him. This can sometimes lead to a lack of progress.
If Anuri were a human, he would be: Marlon Brando (The Godfather), Gérard Depardieu (Obelix)
Page is one of the founding mothers of our breeding program. As the mother of the brothers Anuri and Asuluk, grandmother of the brothers Chirokee and Chiron, as well as Herkja and Jasper, and great-grandmother of Luna, Lovi, and Kody, she already has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
At 11 years old, she's still very spry. Her eyes are just starting to get a little cloudy. Page Pepper had a lot of energy as a young dog. Not only was she a versatile athlete, able to play in a variety of positions on the team, but she also enjoyed a good fight with her opponents, especially Destiny.
As a mother, she was a strict but loving mother.
Today she still takes gentle walks or enjoys her well-earned retirement.
While we were creating the website, Page left us forever at the age of almost 13 after a brief, serious illness. Goodbye, dear Page...
Page Pepper
Polly Pocket Crazy Crew
🕊️ 2025
If Page were a human, she would be: Meryl Streep, Barbara Streisand
Destiny is an 11-year-old Alaskan Malamute. She was a successful breeding bitch and, with Kilyan, became European Team Champion in 2017.
With her slightly silvery eyes, she looks a bit dim, but she's a smart and very dominant dog. For example, she hates it when other dogs move around the stakeout and the leash she's attached to shakes. As sweet as she can be, her grumpy face becomes ugly when she snaps at those responsible for the disturbance.
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Destiny
🕊️ 2025
She is the mother of the successful males Chiron and Cherokee, as well as Herkja, whom we will introduce to you later. As a mother, she was very strict but fair. Destiny has since been spayed and is no longer available as a breeding bitch. She is still used in workshops and for light pulling work.
If Destiny were human, she would be: Breienne of Tarth (Game of Thrones)
Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter)