Sundog Tamaskan

05/18/2026

Clara Oswald

IABCA WCCH TDCH White Elk Isabella Bird at Sundog RATS RATI TD-Rom TKP CGC PKD-N

7.11.2013 - 5.11.2026

I have dreaded this day for over 12 years.

I’ve loved stories my whole life, I’ve never wanted to rip out the last page. But today, for a week… I hate endings, I hate this ending. But the people we love, the people we loose, they are all stories. This is her story.

Once upon a time I dreamed of moving far away from home, I wanted to travel all over. I never pictured my companion but I should have seen her. I should have known from the second we met what her name was but even that is a fantastic part of her story. I left my new home and friends in Alaska and went back to Washington. A man I’d never met but had talked to for hours told me this was the one, the little girl that was mine. I was scared and afraid- this wasn’t the plan. But I knew it was right, it didn’t even feel like a choice. So I walked into their house, sat down in a room and a tiny, spunky ball of fluff launched at me in a single bound. I knew she was mine the instant I saw her. They didn’t even need to tell me.

The next morning we left, friends picked us up, we stayed with them and with no idea what to call this amazing, beautiful girl we flew home. Days went on, we spent our days together, she met friends and explored a wild world full of adventure and new things from the instant I took her, but we still couldn’t find her name.

One night she was running and playing with friends and a little girl stopped beside me, and told me her name was Clara because she was my companion, my impossible girl- just like the Doctor. This little girl just called her name and she came chasing after- loving the moment we all found ourselves in. And in that moment I think the pieces all fell into place.

Shortly after, out of nowhere she started naturally alerting, excelling at her training, moving seamlessly through so many lives and adventures. She was a pet, a service dog, a show dog, a sport dog, a lazy dog, an adventure dog…. She would not accept limitations or a single life- she had many. And she saved me in so many ways, so many moments.

She drove me to explore, to meet new people, try new things, to explore the world, to make a home, she taught Sara to love life, she helped strangers everywhere we went, raised puppies, calmed dogs who never wanted to get along with others. She was fearless and trusted me. And when our world shattered, when Sara got sick she was there. When our life crashed and shattered into pieces she was there, when I struggled with my health and when Sara needed to go, she was there.

When we started brining in puppies to train she raised them, taught them, loved them. She was with me every day at work for years. A constant companion, constant unwavering support and joy bolstered with curiosity and independence- I always whispered to her to be brave as she stood on cliffs, jumped into the sea, ran to chase the sky, vibrated with the roar of engines, flew through they sky, traveled to different worlds and even galaxies far far away. Then yet again she gave me a gift. Friends, friends I’ll have the rest of my life, communities and people that I know will always be there when I need them. And with that she also taught me to educate and advocate for her, her breed, my passion, working dogs, myself.

And when we were able to make it work, after we thought the time was long past we worked together and she gave me 8 amazing puppies. And then there was a little girl, a girl that made my heart sing, that was born while my companion slept beside me. The one she delivered all on her own- a gift. She has her own story but yet again my companion made me a promise with her name, with her love.

We moved through the world together after that- the three of us. Others came and went, but there was always us three. And as many know time hurts, memories can hurt, the days tied to those moments can be sharp. She was there every day, especially the days that ached. And time, as she would know, can change how we feel. How we grow. We started to move on, we healed, we bought a house, I realized that we were all happy, safe, and together, so I made a choice. I made a friend and we added someone to our family. And while they to have their own story I’m convinced she made the difference, she is why we finally found each other. And when that happened I fell in love. With her, with her daughter, with my partner, with myself, with the city, with our home. Time with the four of us together made the pain fade, made us happy, showed her new adventures, new life, a comfort and a calm we had never known.

In January I begged her to be brave. I did not whisper, I screamed it. I though I’d loose her. In a sterile office with space between us. And I demanded she stay. I willed it. And being my impossible girl she did the impossible. She stayed, she heeled against all odds. She should not have survived even hours but she survived days, weeks, months. Our family was crushed trying to save her, support her, hold on to her. And like she pulled through with her unique spark every time I even whispered she was brave and she stayed by my side. She gave us time to love her, spoil her, take one more walk, snuggle a few more days, sleep back to back in bed, play with her kids, celebrate, roll in the grass, let me see our home was a home and was safe, took away my fear and hesitation, played with toys, convinced me to give her one more treat, and made sure we had all of the supplies and tools needed to treat her, to treat someone else who was suffering like she was.

Then a week ago we had the BEST Mother’s Day. It was an anniversary for our family, of the loss of a friend, the birth of another, of our word shattering and being built up again. She gave me the gift of a day full of love with our family, a night out for dinner, and returning to her excitement, joy and story of all activities from my absence. A relaxing evening that was truly normal and beautiful in our home- we lost track of time and worry. The next morning I woke up rested for the first time in months. We had breakfast and did our daily meds. She slept by me, we talked about our losses and joys, how we were happy and home, how a friend was having puppies. Casey slept in but joined us, the four of us together. While I worked and she relaxed with him and Sass. She looked at me, paws up, head resting between like a million times before. I told her I loved her. I told her she was such a good girl and I was so proud of her. That she was doing so well. We smiled and she closed her eyes and went to sleep. She dreamed… racing, running - remembering….

Then my world ended. She howled as she looked at me. And I ran to her. And her story ended.

Love isn’t an emotion. Love is a promise. and the name you choose is like a promise you make. She made one hell of a promise - Clara, my impossible girl. You took me home the long way round. And while my heart is broken and I will miss you every day, and I don’t know what else I believe in I believe in you, I let you be brave. And I will be brave too, because you taught me to do that.

Run, run you clever girl, and remember until I find you again like I have before, like I always will.

04/16/2026

Hello everyone. Wow has it been a crazy year!

We wanted to share a bit of good and bad news now that we have had some time to process and heal up from some misadventures in the “wilds” of our own yard.

TLDR. Clara has not been well since early Jan. But she is on the mend, happy and getting back to full health. The good news is she is once again proving to be the Impossible girl I took into my heart over a decade ago and beating the odds of fluke accidents that only she could live through or experience.

The longer more detailed story (but still a pretty abbreviated version).
Early this year we went outside in the yard with the girls + visiting kiddo like every day before. Heck! It is a huge part of why we bought this house and love it out here. It was even one of those very rare cold days in Louisiana that all the pups live for. Loki and Sass ran to one side of the yard out in the open, and Clara did her typical mom patrol around the parameter, on the side of the house, and through the side garden bed. Everyone was cool she gave what we thought was a warning bark to her crazy children not to run her over she did a zoomie lap and we went inside, and Loki went home later that day.

About an hr after going inside Clara woke up, was distressed and her left shoulder and forearm was swollen. Upon examination an area near her arm formed a drain point right under her elbow which I flushed, cleaned and we then proceeded to watch. The swelling immediately started to subside, behavior and comfort improved. We cared for her at home over the weekend with plans to see our vet Monday mid day or after work as long as this positive change continues and plans to go to the ER if anything remained stagnant or didn’t improve.

And because nothing is ever as it seems on Monday when we woke up for one of our early am checks and it just felt wrong. Clara was not behaving well. I rushed her to the ER vet, summarized the last few days and they treated her. The info was inconclusive and we were looking at anything from rolling on a sharp object that caused infection (like a bone or stick left in the yard by a visiting critter), to embedded thorn or grass seeds, to a possible but highly unlikely snake bite (as I was maybe 10 ft from her and hadn’t seen one and she had acted odd).

No puncture or bites were located prior to the visit or this day by myself other people or staff, the wound and area were flushed, cleaned, shoulder/elbow and leg were examined and xrayed. She was sent packing with medication and a vet visit scheduled with our own vet but in much better spirits and new friends.

A few days later we went to our regular vet for our follow up and additional study. My vet had seen a lot and is fantastic. But were were all scratching our heads- Clara likes to have that affect on everyone. Looking for every option from a spider or snake bite to immune issue, chemical interaction/burns, poison, joint displacement, a combo, etc. a ton of blood work, analysis and testing later, some shaved areas to examine what appeared to look like chemical blister/burns that formed once swelling fully subsided. We went home with a tired but happy dog, burn cream, meds, and a lot more questions.

Once we got more result about 5 days later and our vet kindly spoke to colleagues all over the country we were noticing a very slight anomaly in her glucose level- not even technically high, but higher than normal for her. So back to the drawing board. No answers and a referral to internal med. Specialists, an ultrasound scheduled, and more questions.

At the referral we had updated of our own and they had the data to match. Two night before the appointment I located fang marks/scars going from the inside under armpit to her elbow that had not been visible due to symptoms in the area until the fur and skin was cleared/not inflamed. With more details and luck someone close to us had witnessed an almost identical snake bite and the symptoms of that dog. Clara’s symptoms and all the odd details matched perfectly with this prior situation without that person or myself having prior knowledge of the symptoms and circumstances of either dog. Without this info the symptoms and issues we saw via ultrasound and additional testing via the referral matched. Major organ stress/damage, anomalous blood sugar levels and a laundry list of things for us to tackle. Basically paralysis of her whole system.

I can not express how grateful I am to everyone who has helped us, the vet teams locally and across the country who looked at her results and info, and the teams still checking on her and helping her.

Today she is happy, perky, spunky, playing with Loki and Sass. Back to being able to be home alone and not needing constant check in’s.

We couldn’t “fix” everything and she will likely have lifelong ramifications and treatment from this as it affected her thyroid, GI, and liver more than other things. It also affected her uterus and ovaries as well as her kidney. But we are now very confident this was all caused by a snake bite. She healed enough for a spay earlier this month and is now better than ever with a few food changes to assist with the GI issue, is having her blood sugar monitored 24/7 with a FreeStyle Libre, we are altering insulin injections to adjust for the changes/healing, and she is also receiving medication for her thyroid which has even had to be adjusted down since our initial start. I’d love if as stated as a possibility we could slowly remove some or all of these treatments as she continues to heal, but even if this is our new reality I am beyond grateful and happy for the support, kindness, and thorough care everyone has given to us. And I’m thankful other causes were ruled out and that the only bad news I have to offer is that of our own adventures and stresses and not any underlying medical condition or genetic issue.

I have included some photos. Nothing overly graphic but 5-7 is of the blistering incase anyone needs to identify this /is worried they may have an unidentified snake bite and looking for some physical symptoms.

02/21/2025

Not my breed, but an amazing breeder.

If anyone is looking for a smaller friend to add to their family this could be a great place to look.

01/21/2025

Sassenach is so disappointed that the US Postal Service didn’t take advantage of her delivery skills in this weather.

I never thought I’d see significant snowfall down here and I brought my yearling sled down from Alaska when I moved back for the memories more than anything, but I’m ecstatic that although it’s years later and across the continent Clara and Sass along with quite a few other dogs I’ve had for their first snow falls/seasons have all pulled this sled. Just never thought one of those seasons would be in St. Charles Parish.

Stay safe and warm y’all

08/21/2024

While this is not our breed a good friend has put a lot of time and effort into their breed and this could assist them with a very big step and some great stepping stones for the breed.

If you have the ability to assist them I’m sure every little bit would be appreciated.

Though rare, Shikoku Ken are sometimes afflicted by a Lysosomal Storage Dis… Samantha Walker needs your support for Donate to Save Future Shikoku from Disease

03/20/2024

Please check out Calanthia Tamaskan’s waitlist if you are interested in adding a Tamaskan to your family.

POSTPONED to Spring 2025
Applications : OPEN
Kennel: Calanthia
Location: USA
Year: 2025
Outcross litter (Trapper)

01/24/2024

Sassenach is out here being royal and stuff.

I love when we get to do the demo shoots for these pop ups. I get all the best photos from Caroline E Smith Photography.

12/25/2023

We are wishing you a happy Howlidays! No matter what you celebrate this season we hope you have a happy one surrounded by your family and friends.

11/27/2023

Our family is heartbroken for this loss to Linda and the entire Points Unknown, LLC: Dog Sled, Paddle, Hike family. I will forever be so grateful and honored for the relationship I’ve had with them that started with Arrow and for what Arrow gave to this program. He is so visible in the pups he and Clara produced, which is so obvious to me daily with Sass in my home- but even more with Max here and Loki in and out over the last few weeks. And I can’t imagine the absence felt by his loss now with those closer to him than myself.

11/08/2023

Happy Birthday boat buns!!

Who would believe 4 years ago about this time you were all born safe and sound, and so very small. But you have all grown up to be such amazing dogs. I love you all more than words can ever say and I’m forever grateful for the amazing families that have welcomed you into their lives.

It is a busy day for us, mid week, but we are celebrating, thinking of all of you, and Sassenach and Max (Seawolf) are getting some fun times in together while he visits.

06/23/2023

Congratulation Daesyn Setters!! We are so happy for you and excited to see how your litter grows.

Yes we know this isn’t our typical Tamaskan content but I think it is important to make friends, find family, and support ethical breeders in all stages of their journeys and growth and in all different breeds!! These little guys are going to go on to do amazing things and I can’t wait to watch another litter from Daesyn grow ❤️💜

The Broadway’s were born this morning. Meeseeks had a textbook whelp and did absolutely fantastic- first puppy was at 8:32am, final at 11:15am. 4 boys, and 4 girls. She’s being super attentive to the puppies and now getting some well deserved rest. ❤️🍀