Why Sundog
Kennel
Maybe by learning a little about a Sundog you will see why we chose Sundog and what it means to us.
What is a Sundog. . .
A sundog, or sundogs, are an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of a pair of bright spots flanking either side of the sun and often accompanied by a ring which is known as a 22° halo.
Sundogs are formed when the light interacts with ice crystals in the atmosphere. They can technically appear in any season and in any location, but are most obvious when the sun is low in the sky and when higher and colder cirrus clouds are present, which is why they are common in climates like Alaska's interior.
There is no definitive origin for the term Sundog, but one idea is that dog is derived from “dag” (a term for dew), similarly to the idea of a “water dog”. Another is that the term is derived from Norse mythology, specifically the story surrounding Ulf’s Keptr (the Mouth of the Wolf) where there are wolves hunting the sun and the moon.
Why Sundog . . .
I wanted a name that was not only unique, but that encompassed what I saw in the Tamaskan breed and who we were.
A Sundog is a unique phenomenon that is commonly visible in the extreme Alaskan winters that we love. This is where Clara was raised and where she wanted nothing more than to enjoy the snow she was built to thrive in. And although Sundogs are common there it requires one to go looking for the phenomina. You need to go out into more extreme weather and enjoy it, go on an adventure - and even then if you aren’t looking you will miss it.
Sundogs are also still a mystery in many ways. They cannot truly be predicted and they show themselves in their own time; they are a beautiful and stunning sight to behold. All of that reminded us of the childlike, yet occasionally stubborn, trickster, and strong-willed personality of this striking breed that I am lucky enough to be involved with.
To us saying why Sundog is like saying why Tamaskans. The Tamaskan is so new compared to other breeds I have worked and love. They are an unknown and a risk, but one that can pay off if the community pulls together and continues what was started. I see this possibility every day in Clara and Sassenach and it took a year with Clara to see this perfect correlation that could become our name and our goal - to find the Sundogs out there, wherever they may be.
So we are named Sundog Tamaskan because my dogs are Sundogs, it isn't just our name it is the hope they bring and the vibrancy they share with the world.