Our Roxy

These pages are dedicated to our amazing Chinook, Roxy.  After the loss of our truly unforgettable and beloved 14 year old Vizsla, we weren't sure whether it would be fair to ask another dog to follow in his pawsteps. But after 2 years, we took the plunge, and somehow lightning struck twice. From the beginning, we knew she was special. After sizing me up upon our first meeting for nearly an hour before approaching me at the home of Laughing Mountain Chinooks, Roxy was steady as a rock during a 2.5 hr flight, never whimpering and often fixing me with her trustful gaze.  

{Learn where her full name came from below}

We continued to be marveled by her temperament, intelligence, and awareness. Others noticed it, too. When she was eight months old, we came across a small group of rather chaotic and loud dogs while on a hike. Their human companions apologized for their behavior and went to leash them, but then watched as Roxy calmly and confidently approached each until the yapping subsided. When told she was just 8 months, the hiker said, amazed, "Wow, that's a dog's dog."

We would often come upon deer on our hikes, and Roxy would approach and wait for them to turn and run before bolting after. I always said it seemed more like she was running with them rather than after them. After one such run, I looked down the trail behind me to see Roxy finally emerge from the brush. And walking beside her was a young buck. They walked together up the path and continued even when reaching me.


These are memorable events, but mostly we appreciate the daily things. How calm our kids are sitting and running their hands through her fur. That she completely tolerates unfamiliar children darting through the house yelling and waving who-knows-what over their heads. That she can sit at the soccer field and enjoy getting swarmed by a team of cooing girls. That she knows how to handle dogs of any temperament. That she's equally as good at vegging out as she is at taking long hikes. But most of all, we appreciate that we are hers and she is ours.


Temperament

Roxy's breeders described her to us when she was not yet 8 weeks old as "a mixture of mellow and spunky, with enough confidence to do things on her own upon occasion, and enough sweetness to be cuddly and devoted....headstrong and independent, but a real love...you just have to make her think things are her idea."  This description of her as a very young pup (known then as Ms. Purple) still fits her today.

 

She was the first in her litter to venture out of her whelping box.  When Laughing Mountain Chinooks hosted a puppy socialization party for her litter, we asked to see photos taken of the pups at the event (not knowing yet which would be ours) and were told: "Most ended up being of Purple because she was everywhere entertaining everyone."  

  

 "Today Roxy is a sweet, loving, confident
      dog with a beautiful face and soulful eyes." 

She is very affectionate with her family members including the three children, and she handles the craziness that those kids and their friends create quite well. She begins most encounters with strangers or in strange places with caution, but generally warms up quite quickly.  She would love to play with just about any dog, given the chance, and she has never been aggressive towards any.

Her personality is generally gentle and calm, but she has episodes of very sassy and frenetic play. She has a strong personality with streaks of stubbornness that her eyes communicate should be simply tolerated.  She is incredibly intelligent and picks up on new commands extremely quickly (as a puppy, she won the contest held by the trainer at the final session of her obedience class).  She’s also an amazing self-directed learner and has learned to operate the handles of many types of doors and gates.

Roxy is a bold adventurer and will confidently explore areas with appropriate caution. She loves to go on off-leash runs through the woods, chasing squirrels, birds, and deer, and is generally good about knowing where her human pack is. She does not have much use for fetch games and prefers to tug and chase and go lure coursing. She is always happy wading through creeks and streams but has less use for prolonged deep swimming. Despite the fact that she likes water, she despises baths.  She is skilled at catching the scent of moles in the yard and happily uncovers their tunnels. 
 

             "She is a fantastic companion and family pet

                                            who is greatly enjoyed and loved."

 

Built for Work and Play
 

    Ms. September,
2015 Chinook Calendar    

Roxy can't help being so beautiful, but she is much more than a just a pretty face. She has wonderful structure and beautiful, fluid movement. She is large for a female Chinook with a very sturdy build. Expert and clinical evaluations of Roxy have been outstanding. She was given the top mark in her litter evaluation by renowned expert, Pat Hastings, who also noted her "great rear end," a compliment to any sled dog. And we were thrilled with her later hip evaluation: OFA Excellent.

Being a southern belle, Roxy has limited opportunities for competition in the ring and has been in one conformation at one year of age. Despite her inept handler (me), Roxy showed surprising confidence and impressed the judge, who took time afterwards to say, "There is a lot to like about this one. Competition better look out as she gets a bit older!"  Despite her strong pedigree in the ring (Grand Champion mother and brother and Westminster Best of Breed uncle), Roxy is unlikely to spend much time there, and we think she's ok with that.

Rather, she likes to spend her time on the move...


             



     Running through the woods and creeks

                 

      Lure coursing


  

                   



    And bikejoring and rollerjoring

       ....backpacking...

  
 and, well...

 


  

What's in a Name?

Laughing Mountain
Roxy came to us in July, 2013, from Laughing Mountain Chinooks, a kennel run by a wonderful couple to whom we're forever grateful, Mary and Andy Malkiel, in Boulder, CO.  She was placed with us by Karen Hinchy of Bashaba Chinooks, who has been our steadfast and patient mentor in the world of Chinook ownership. 


Tinúviel
The pups in her litter were all given names from Lord of the Rings in memory of their mother, GRCH PR Lakeside Run Galadriel Lorien.  Roxy was bestowed the name Tinúviel, which means "daughter of twilight" and was the name of an elf princess of Doriath and the most beautiful of all that have ever lived. Elvin lore holds that Tinúviel's line shall never fail. Clearly, only elvin magic can make something this adorable!



Diamond Roxy
The name we gave our sweet pup comes from a wonderful book about a 12-year old girl and her beloved sled dog, Roxy:  Diamond Willow by Helen Frost.  Roxy and our daughter are featured in the potential "best fan art ever" at the bottom of this school library journal post by New York Public Library Children's Librarian Elizabeth Bird. Roxy was a lead sled dog beloved by Willow: "Roxy's eyes have always been so beautiful - deep, clear brown.  Intelligent.  I call it dog-love, that way she looks at us."  "She doesn't miss much."   No. No, she doesn't.