CH Hawkwind's Palomino Onyx
(CH Wolf River's Raptor Ridge X CH Seamist's Amethyst of Hawkwind)
"Onyx"
Cerf Clear
OFA Good
Pedigree for Onyx
Can you say E-F-F-O-R-T-L-E-S-S?
This girl is an Athlete with a capital "A."
Onyx, my party girl! From teeny babyhood she had this capacity to take it all in, care, but get on with whatever was next. No worry. No strife. Not complicated. Just respond to all events by getting stronger no matter what happened.
In discussing the breed characteristics with Kay at Wolf River, she explained that she tested this girl's ancestors for a 'positive response to stress.' Basically that means dogs who get tough when the situation deserves it, calling from deep within whatever is needed to survive. Arctic life was not sitting in a snow bank eating bonbons. If a big storm is coming in and you are 10 miles from home, you want dogs who do what is asked, who put their heads down and pull the sled home. Not just that, but dogs who do it joyfully!
As a baby Onyx was the epitome of athleticism. While her sister, Jade, pondered the deeper aspects of life, Onyx just took it all for granted. Life was just great in her world and absolutely nothing could ruin her day. She is still like that today.
Having assisted many whelpings, I have NEVER seen a girl do it with such ease. Puppies came out with a couple easy pushes, and one after another....to a total of 8. Then up and out into the yard for a run and romp and enjoying life. MINUTES after whelping an entire litter! It is truly like looking into a window of the past....dogs who lived and thrived in the hardships of a harsh arctic climate.
Now I see where the phrase 'spitting 'em out like pumpkin seeds' came from!
Confident, loving, and truly, a sense of humor about it all...
Onyx' show career was another example of 'no problem!' At less than a year, when most little fillies are home romping in the yard, Onyx ate up the ground with her beautiful sidegait to pick up a 4 point specialty major at Chicagoland specialty under Denny Kodner.
And she was still a gawky kid then!
She was RARELY shown. Judges either loved her or ignored her...nothing in between.
But give her a big enough ring and nothing could touch her!
Breed type...arctic character. The ability to do it all, and with such EASE. Cute, fluffy, overdone? Not. Strong, great timing, caring attitude and the ability to bounce back. Yes. An easy care coat of sparkling white. Dark ink black pigment. And a 'laugh in the face of the devil' attitude!
Showing, loving, doing it all.
Her first national....4th in Sweeps. SCA 2002
Her second national, 2nd in Ambred. SCA 2003
Her 3rd national...oops. SCA National 2004. This was the only year she did NOT place. Pictured below. Leg length, tuckup, a picture of arctic grace. Confident. A samoyed.
One day I realized she hadn't been shown in quite a while, so entered her one day in Apple Valley under a judge we did not know at all....a second major. Ringside gossip was we knew the judge or something...ha! Had NO clue! It's just how Onyx does things. Sitting on 10 points we went into the ring at Greater Milwaukee to walk away with a 5 point specialty major to finish! (top picture) How easy does it get? Can't even recall how many times she was actually shown...rarely.
Bred in 2004 to Wolf River's Rimrock. The goal of this breeding was linebreeding on Rimrock's dam, Sandstone, who is linebred on Terra.
Kay and Wolf River's Sandstone. Above.
Below: Her son, Rimrock.
On December 3, 2004 Onyx whelps 8 kids in a just a couple hours....no problem!
This breeding offered a full Wolf River pedigree, bred by Wolf River, Seamist, and Hawkwind, linebred on Terra and her littermate, Thunder. These were kids with running gear!
Some of these girls were placed as foundation girls for kennels of the future. This litter is foundation stock, show, and working dogs. Only one boy and one girl were placed in special companion homes. So most of the kids of this breeding will go into the history of our breed.
Futurity nominated, Onyx son Hawkwind's Snowflake Obsidian was 4th in futurity under breeder judge Heidi Nieman at the 2005 SCA National in Owensboro.
This picture so perfectly depicts the attitude that Onyx gave her daughters; in this case, Sapphire. (Photo courtesy of Severnaya Samoyeds)
Baby Sapphire at 5 weeks.
Litter theme was gems that start with "O"
Onyx is the dam of:
Hawkwind's Sapphire Onyx
Hawkwind's Obsidian Electraglide
Hawkwind's Eternal Russian Opal
Hawkwind's Golden Amber Onyx
Hawkwind's Snowflake Obsidian
Hawkwind's Dash of RubyRed Onyx
Hawkwind's Frosty Onyx Wine
Hawkwind's Sonny Blue Onyx
Hawkwind's Ruby
Here's to the dogs who can do it ALL!