'Tasha' - Tasman Siberians

'Tasha & Cheryl'

Today I have some very sad news to report...Tasha has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, just under a week shy of her 16th Birthday. Tasha was bred by Candy Criner, Krykan Siberians out of Ch. Krykan's Alpha Centauri x Krykan's Streetcar Named Desire. She was the last surviving Alfie sibling.

She was doing great until the last couple of days. We think she may of had a stroke Wednesday. We gave it a couple of days, but it was time and made the decision to take her in late Friday.

We are so grateful to Candy for selling us such a wonderful girl that has been a joy in our lives from the day we brought her home. Tasha was one of the best Siberians we ever had the pleasure of owning. Never a problem, always kind and very loving, a quite girl who kept to herself and put up with many new additions to our kennel over the years. Our first Champion, my teacher to help learn to show dogs as she was so easy to show and did everything like a push button making my learning how to show a dog a very pleasurable and easy experience. While attending the George Alston seminar she was a big contributor to my being awarded Best Overall Handler in Seminar. Then Mary attended the same seminar a couple years later, She asked to borrow Tasha for the experience because she worked so well in the show ring...the same award was bestowed to Mary! Tasha - you made it so easy girl....

At one time we were approached by the Japanese to purchase Tasha for a very large amount of money. They were turned down cold. They persisted with phone calls to purchase her and the price kept going up with each phone call. I finally told the Japanese this quote: "She is NOT forsale at ANY price". They were quite unhappy and hung up on me and that was the last we heard from them!

Tasha has been the core of our breeding program producing many offspring in dogs that many of you in this email will find in your pedigree from puppies, breedings etc... Her first litter was sired by Ch. Husqvarna's Donnatello and second litter of one sired by Am/Can. Ch. Tasman's Gun Metal Blue. If it were not for Tasha there would be no Chloe', Jane, Shawnice and Tumble. From that, there would be no Lanna, Shasta, Kargo, Rosie, Tara, Kanoe, no Kayak, Hootie, Kuli...from there no Luke, Yukon, Laura and Chinook, River and Rush....I can go on and on....

Not only did Tasha have her accomplishments in breeding and showing where she was a multiple BOB and Group winner in both USA and Canada (finished her Canadian Championship UNDEFEATED in the classes in 3 consecutive shows here first trip up) but she was also a enthusiastic sled dog in her day, would run lead, ran lead for me along with Candy's dog the late, Ethan at the Punderson race in 2 dog where we finished 2nd in a class of close to 20 entries! Tasha was a popular borrowed dog for our friends when they were starting out as she would lead and so friendly with strange dogs. The Groth's used Tasha too when they were first starting out. She was a real trooper...

Tasha also served the Siberian Husky Club of Greater Cleveland well over the years with pictures with Santa and Sled Dog Demos'. She was a wonderful ambassador for our breed.

Her last show as at the 2002 National Specialty in Carlisle in the Veteran class where at that time she was the oldest dog at Nationals and she looked and showed like dynamite! She rec'd the most applause on her go-around and even broke into a gallop. She really loved to show. Boy did she looked good and received many compliments! I will cherish that memory forever.

Tasha's nick-names were "Pretty, Pretty" - goes without saying....and "T".

Thank you for listening to this tribute to Tasha and Thank you again Candy for selling us Tasha and providing the foundation for Tasman. She now lives through her offspring and their offspring which many of them look very much like her.

We will forever miss this very special girl.

Cheryl & Tim
Saturday, October 9th, 2004

Tasha was our second foundation bitch, purchased from Candy Criner in Columbus, Ohio. After finding Candy's name in Kona's pedigree, I called to inquire about puppies. Luckily, Candy had a litter that was 2 weeks old. I was still searching for my blue eyed puppy. I bugged Candy weekly about her puppies. She wanted to wait until the puppies were 8 weeks old, but I was so persistent, we were able to get Tasha at 6 weeks. Candy still maintains that we were the only ones to get a puppy from her so young. We are thankful to Candy for Tasha and for offering her guidance and expertise when we were starting out.

Tasha finished her Canadian Championship in 3 consecutive shows, undefeated in the classes, in 1991. She finished her American Championship that same year. Tasha is a Multiple Group Placer in the US and Canada. Tasha whelped 2 litters of puppies for us. The first produced 5 puppies, including Am./Can. Ch. Tasman's Diamond In The Ruff and Can. Ch. Tasman's Plain Jane I Ain't. The second litter was a one puppy litter born New Year's Eve, 1994 - Am./Can. Ch. Tasman's Mover N-A Shaker.

In April 1997, Tasha won the Veteran Bitch class at the Siberian Husky Club Of Greater Cleveland Specialty Show. Like Kona, Tasha is a good trainer for new sled dogs and mushers in training.

Sire - Ch Krykan's Alpha Centauri
Dam - Krykan's Streetcar Named Desire
OFA - SH-9333G37F
CERF - SH-4030/1993