May 15th 2008

Today we have lost our beloved Chanouka. Our little princess. For a long time we thought she would at least reach
the age of 16, but all of a sudden we had to say goodbye.
As our second Samoyed, she walked into our lives at Christmas Eve 1994. A small dog and she always stayed small.
Very fond of Will and Will so fond of her. Especially after he saved her from falling through thin ice.

She could get very moody when Will didn't come home for a few days. But once he got home they drank beer together.

Being a princess was one side, the other one was being as dirty as she could get. Eating dirt was something
she kept doing all her life.

Working in the team was not her thing. But for years and years she ran along the cart with the team. When she got older and
slower, she often cut of the trail by herself and we would find her waiting for us at the next junction.

A wonderfull dog to live with, always obedient. Often going to work with me and her first job there was to check all the
dustbins to see if there was something dirty for her. Everybody loved her.

Goodbye, little funny face! We will miss you terribly.

Because we named you after the Jewish Festival of Lights,
for you: "Hello again" from Neil Diamond

Hello again, hello
Just called to say hello
I couldn't sleep at all tonight
And I know it's late
But I couldn't wait

Hello, my friend, hello
Just called to let you know
I think about you ev'ry night
When I'm here alone
And you're there at home, hello

Maybe it's been crazy
And maybe I'm to blame
But I put my heart above my head
We've been through it all
And you loved me just the same
And when you're not there
I just need to hear

Hello, my friend, hello
It's good to need you so
It's good to love you like I do
And to feel this way
When I hear you say, hello

Hello, my friend, hello
Just called to let you know
I think about you ev'ry night
And I know it's late
But I couldn't wait
Hello

It's good this way ... Ezrah, Robber and Berber are waiting for you

Will, Anita, Sterre, Aspen, Baruff & Danica

Here is Chanouka's story:

Chanouk was born on October 21st 1994. Berber was over the moon when she arrived. Now he had a playmate!

Chanouk is a very sweet dog, very sensitive. She can always run loose and always comes back. She is very fond of Will. She finds running in the team okay, but wouldn't mind to be a housepet for the rest of her life. But she can be very helpful in the team. There is always a moment when the leader doesn't know which way to go, then Chanouk pulls the team into the right direction. Chanouk is a younger sister of Robber and her littersister Chaika also runs in a sleddogteam.

Here we find Chanouk in the hole she had been digging herself in the garden. We wondered what she was doing and we found her in her own hole looking very happy.

Chanouk is also the dog who keeps the packrules in control. New puppies and dogs who come to visit have a hard time the first few days, because Chanouk tells them exactly who is the boss in the pack and most of the time it is not the stranger.

Now that Robber no longer runs in the team, we wonder what to do with Chanouk in the 2000/2001 Winter. She will be great teaching Sterre all the commands, but she is way too slow for
the rest of the dogs. We will let you know.