Origin of Nordic Hope - The Story Continues

My first best friend left a lasting impression. As a little girl, my first and only childhood pet, other than short-lived fish and a hamster named Oliver – was Kolda. Kolda was adopted at about 3 years old, although details are sketchy and her CKC papers long lost, she was a magnificent friend and my first love, I always knew I would come back to the Alaskan Malamute when conditions were right. Going to school and working seasonally in Parks Canada - a dog was out of the question and so I inherited a purebred cat. Pablo was an Exotic Shorthair Persian, my dearest companion and my first insight into the importance of careful breeding. This breed in particular is plagued by feline PKD. At the time of her breeding, testing for the gene did not exist and as such the disease presented in an estimated 50% of the breed. She crossed the rainbow bridge at 9 ½ years in July 2009.

Then in 2008, puzzle pieces started fitting into place: I met Colin, I found a secure job, we found a home, and the next step was to get a dog. We are avid outdoor recreationists, nature lovers, and unofficial spokespersons for wilderness conservation. The Alaskan Malamute was a natural choice.

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In 2008, I returned from New Brunswick with Kanata and Kapik and learned our first lesson the hard way. We were not equipped or prepared to handle littermates. We made a tough decision with the support of our breeder to re-home Kapik. Kanata was a handful. Amazingly intelligent, but curious and similar to a child - putting everything she could find straight into her mouth. This led to life-saving surgery at only 6 months of age. The next summer, we got news that our breeder had decided to close her kennel and if we knew of good homes looking to adopt a dog. We immediately knew that we would welcome Atka, a 16 month old male with a loving temperament. Once again our learning curve was driven exponentially upward.

Having an intact male was to be a new and trying challenge at times. Kanata was brought into a false heat and when she did hit her first heat cycle, well, Atka hit the roof. In my career, I have always professed and practiced experiential learning and there has been no experience quite like we have had with these two animals. People who live their lives with Malamutes as companions say they are special dogs and we believe that with ferocity. One of the oldest breeds in the world, they are one of the most challenging dogs to live with for the average pet owner but also one of the most cherished companions you will ever love.

As new breeders of the Alaskan Malamute we know that new challenges and exciting adventures await and we look forward to our new future. Nordic Hope has become a journey in itself, a family of people loving and working these majestic, independent, and loyal companions. We invite you to join us on our journey…

And now the story begins….

Jill Pitcher and Colin Cumben

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