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Back to Chez Herd to continue the name game today with Kodiak. If you want to participate, check out Frankie’s blog and the rules of the game. We bent the rules and are going to take a post every day this week and explain where each member of The Herd’s name came from. We will, at least, finish on July 4 – the day when everyone is supposed to post their stories. And don’t forget that every member of The Herd has his/her own page here, including past members of The Herd. Today we focus on Kodiak.
Loving hanging out with The Herd
As we explained on Wednesday, we knew that we were losing our matriarch, Nikita, and had been searching the area rescues for a new Siberian Husky when we found Kiska. After losing Nikita, the house seemed quiet despite the fact that we had three Siberian Huskies running around. Nikita was known for her big personality and her constant “woo-chatter”, so guess it just seemed empty. So when Siberian Husky Assist called and said they thought they had found the perfect Siberian for us, we agreed to meet him even after we told them about Kiska.
Just a big old puppy.
They brought him to our house October 28 2006 to meet the rest of The Herd and he and Kiska hit it off the second they saw each other. The nicknames of boyfriend and girlfriend started that very day the way they hung on each other. They remain that way even today, as evidenced by this picture taken just two weeks ago.
Yet another picture showing why we call Kiska and Kodiak - Girlfriend and Boyfriend.
He was named Champ by the rescue. While we liked that, we wanted a name more fitting of his Sibeness. And, besides, any group of nordic dogs has to have a Kodiak, right? And so he was named Kodiak very quickly and it just stuck. We also struggled with figuring out his age. The rescue believed he was only a year or two old, and some of that rang true with his total puppy attitude. But in other ways, he seemed to be much older. Our wonderful vet summed it up best when she said chronologically he could be much older, but there was “a lot of puppy between the ears.” Regardless, one of our nicknames for him is “Old Man” based on the grey on his muzzle.
Puppy at heart.
Our biggest curve ball was the discovery in early 2007 that he was heartworm positive. The rescue had tested him and we repeated the test when we adopted him. Both tests were negative. However, a dog can test negative for heartworms for months after actually being infected. Fortunately, he handled the treatment like a “Champ” and is perfectly healthy today.
Cheoah and Kodiak share the bliss of snow.
His most endearing trait is the famous Kodi-Hug. During a rousing game of bitey face with The Herd, chewing a bully stick, or just laying in a room with the humans, Kodiak suddenly decides that a hug is in order. This is given by racing across the room, flying through the air (all 57 pounds of him), head colliding into the human’s chest, and front paws wrapped around the human and squeezing. The hug lasts for several seconds (while the human is struggling to breathe again from the shock), and then he releases and returns to whatever he was doing. While the hu-dad tries hard not to anthropomorphize canine behavior, he really can not come up with any explanation for this other than a periodic “thank you”.
I think I can relax here at Chez Herd.
Your welcome, Kodi, your welcome.
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I’m proud to (kind of)share a name with you 😀
Kodi x
The Kodi-hug sounds like the cutest thing! 🙂
Mochi
(Champ) and Kiska sitting on a tree . . . 🙂 That does not sound right. Let’s try it once more: Kodiak and Kiska sitting on a tree. Much better.
Phew on the heartworms!
Kodiak the long lasting hugger. So adorable! And so are the photos btw
Twinkie
Kodiak and Kiska sitting in a tree, H-U-G-G-I-N-G …
i love the pic of him on the snow 🙂
Woo have to know the last pikh would be my favourite!
Thanks fur sharing his name gaming!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
You have the greatest stories to tell about each of the pups. Kodiak’s is so special and touching. We did not know about the heartworm but are so glad he beat it. We would so love to see a pic of that sibe hug – has to be priceless.
Woos – Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara
Just how sweet are he and Kiska together!?!? I wonder if they knew each other before they joined the Herd!
We didn’t know about the heartworm. That is so scary and we’re glad Kodiak got through the treatment so well!
Dave likes to hug humans by leaning into their legs.
Love,
Ammy
Aww! He’s beautiful.
I know what you mean about making an effort not to anthropomorphize, but I don’t know what other explanation those hugs could be. They sound wonderful! Much better than getting bitchy glares.
What an interesting way to say, thank you. 🙂
I think I like Lilac’s version of the Kodi Hug better. She comes up, wraps her head around your neck and squeezes. She’s the only dog I’ve had who does it.
I didn’t realize he’d had heartworm. Yet again, I think of the fickle winds of fate that just lead certain dogs to the place where they were meant to be!
That’s super scary that a dog can test negative for heartworm TWICE but still have it. So glad Kodiak recovered fully. I love the vet’s comment about “lots of puppy between the ears”!
Aw, Kodi’s beautiful inside and out.
Wow! I all ways love your stories on a counta they are so intimately descriptive and tellin bout each of you… and this one is so very special!
I love knowin you better, Kodiak! I fink you are a sweet boy to hug your fank yous!
wif love from the Luke
Wooos! I like how woo wound up with two more instead of just one. What a big heart woo family must have! I have never seen a sibe hug before, must be unusual!I like the snow picture with the cooling of the tummy, sadly I have to do that in my pool.
~husky kisses~
-Kira The BeaWootiful
Aww that’s a great story of how he was adopted! I try to hug my Momma the same way Kodiak does, but I’ve got a bit less mass, and I don’t actually try to hug her as much as knock her down so I can lick her face.
Sonic
Aww he’s beautiful!
I waaannna Kodi-hug! um… does he call Juno now and then and coach her on it? cuz i can swear she “tries” the Kodi-hug now and then. but she can’t seem to sweep me off my feet.