Mulawa Kylea Nikiska WPD

We were fortunate to be given our second Malamute, Kiska, in November 1996, when he was two years old.  Kiska originally lived in a "show" home but, as he was not suitable for the show ring, he was offered to us so that he could get involved in some outdoor activity and harness work.

Kiska took a while to shake off his show training, but quickly learnt that harness work was good fun. He took to backpacking immediately and gained his Working Pack Dog title in 1998 - one of the first Malamutes in Australia to do so. This was no mean feat as the requirement of carrying 30% of the dog's body weight meant that Kiska had to lug around somewhere between 15 and 16 kilogram in his pack over a total of 48 kilometres (over 3 trips) to qualify for his title.

Click here for More photos of Kiska

He is extremely enthusiastic (and noisy) when he sees his harness and, after an initial burst of speed, enjoys trotting around the

He is reknowned for gathering items on his training runs and proudly trotting home with them in his mouth. Unfortunately one such "find", which he emerged with in his mouth after a quick lunge off to the side of the trail, was a large, dead and gassy wombat. Kiska was finally persuaded by his musher to part with the bloated wombat, but not before having punctured the skin thus releasing some rather noxious gasses for all to "enjoy"!

Kiska is a dog who just loves to please. He has done very well at obedience and is very happy to be involved in just about anything we're doing.

Kiska is very much the kennel clown and gatherer of goods. He loves to collect an array of items (preferably ones that we thought we'd put safely away out of reach), bring them to the back verandah and just sit with them looking very pleased with himself.

Being a long-coat, Kiska requires extra grooming to keep his fur in good condition and free of knots and bits of foliage. But he's a very lovable, handsome fellow and always attracts the attention whenever we take him out in public.

Kiska even has the distinction of being a pin-up boy, being on the December page of the 1999 Polapaws Alaskan Malamute Calendar (above).

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