Tikaani is the foundation dam of Vanguard Chinooks. Her robust health, sweet and loving personality, classic Chinook beauty, and solid work ethic are the best base I can think of for a new generation of Chinooks! Tikaani had three litters of wonderful puppies- sweet, loving, outgoing, and confident. Her pups have excelled in both working venues — with titles in Sledding, Backpacking, Agility, Lure Coursing, and Rally Obedience, Weight Pull, Nosework and conformation.
Tikaani is a Top Producing Chinook dam, with 2 National Bests of Breed and 4 Grand Champions across her three litters. Most importantly, I'm thrilled at the wonderful working dogs and family companions she produced.
Tikaani is a happy and often serious dog - eager to understand exactly what I need from her so she can execute perfectly. Her more serious side is just one facet of her personality- she can be incredibly playful and joyful - almost goofy with sheer exuberance when the mood strikes her. She starts wagging when she knows I am awake in the morning, and when I call her name, she drops everything to come running back to me, smiling and wagging the whole way. She is a gift and a blessing!
Tikaani is a phenomenal working dog- exhibiting Chinook sledding instinct from the minutes she first donned her harness. She ran lead on my recreational sledding team with her daughter Sakari before she retired to a well-deserved comfy dog bed. While Sakari contributed the flash and dash, Tikaani was the rock solid foundation of the team - steady and focused in her work.
Tikaani sailed through pet dog training, and earned her first title in Rally Obedience in only 3 runs. She earned an APDT Award of Excellence for qualifying for a title with exemplary competition results. She loves working with me, and would try anything I asked her. She loves agility, and is become captivated by K9 nosework.
Tikaani is the ninth Chinook to ‘graduate’ to UKC Purebred status, and the first dog from the GreatMountain Cross line. What does that mean? Tikaani has 1 great-great-grandparent , Glendon's Sweetie, who was not a Chinook! Sweetie was a fantastic sled dog with excellent health, a wonderful temperament, and a strong resemblance to a Chinook. Sweetie's daughter Northdown X Cheena became the foundation of the GreatMountain cross line. For over a decade, GreatMountain Chinooks carefully bred Cheena and her descendants to other purebred Chinooks, blending Sweetie's health and working drive into the Chinook population.