Born into my hands on 9-4-94; left in my arms on 4-10-07
This is a sad day for me and it came about suddenly, so unexpected. My retired leader, Tucker, blew a disc in his neck, was in significant pain and losing the motor control in his legs. It is my job to know when the time is right, no matter the reason. I gave him an injection for pain relief and sedation; the vet came out at noon and we freed his spirit. He will be cremated so that I can incorporate a bit of his ashes in a Soulburst (custom hand-blown memorial art-glass).

At 2 ½ weeks of age, I heard a loud squalling from the puppy pen. As I ran to see what it was, it quit. I got there to find that this little puppy, with eyes barely open, had decided that 72° was too warm. He had crawled out on the porch of the puppy house, hung his little feet and head over the edge and went back to sleep!

That was Tucker! Opinionated and making it known, right from the start!

On Tucker’s third puppy run in harness, he very clearly said, “Put me up front, that’s where I belong”…. And he ran lead until he retired at age 11, both in racing and training young leaders, most of them his sons, daughters, grand and great-grand sons/daughters. He produced many leaders as well as the top Siberian in AKC obedience in 2002.

Tucker was hard driving and full of attitude. He was always the dog who set the pace. He was a playful comedian at home.

So, today I said goodbye to a very special dog, not ready, but knowing it was his time.