Meet Dirigo
CH 'PR' Granite Hill GreatMtn Dirigo
DOB: 10/31/2011
Sire: GreatMountain Ashkii
Dam: GreatMountain Granite Abnaki
Height: 22"
Weight: 53 lbs
Hips: OFA Good
Eyes: CAER Normal, Breeders Option
Genetics: Clear of dwarfism, MRD1; Increased risk of CDDY/IVDD
Other: Seizure and allergy free
Dirigo’s Likes: sleeping on the bed (my bed), hanging out at home, running, caring for her puppies, food, snuggling, sleeping. ​Dirigo’s Dislikes: radios, box graters, blenders, thunderstorms (in real life or on television), dogsledding, Pride Parades (not on principle, but the dykes on bikes are so loud).
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Dirigo produced one litter of 7 puppies in 2018 with positive health outcomes for each of the puppies. Moon stayed here to live with Dirigo.​
See Dirigo's pedigree on Dogs Global - Chinook Global Database (dogsglobal.com)
Meet Dirigo's puppies from her 2018 litter!
The Road to Tamworth Litter
In 2018, Dirigo was bred with Bashaba Indiana (Indy) and we welcomed 7 pups in the early morning hours of 8/11/18. Dirigo delivered the first 3 naturally and then required a c-section when a pup got stuck in the birth canal - back feet first and upside down!
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The litter theme was created from names I saw on the drive between Lewiston and Tamworth to breed Dirigo with Indy, the connections that existed between the meaning that Tamworth has with the breed, and the journey we've traveled with Chinooks. The Road from Tamworth - what lays before us as we travel and what lays within us because of our travel experiences.
Canela (Nelly) was the first born. Her puppy name was Piper. Dirigo labored for a long time making little progress, so we headed to the Emergency vet to get some assistance. Piper was born in the driveway.
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She is named for Piper Trail on Mt Chocorua
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She's a lovely pup who lives in MA with a Chinook family member nearby.
Kancamagus , second born, arrived much more easily than his sister. Gus' name honors the Kancamagus Highway, a beautiful scenic drive that passes near Mt Chocorua and Tamworth
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Gus lives in NH with his people and dog relatives. He's a good boy who enjoys hiking and hanging out with his pals.
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Gus has a hip rating of Fair from OFA.
Nala, 3rd born, also arrived without a lot of fanfare. But things were moving slowly with the whelping between puppies. Still she was healthy and vigorous.
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Her puppy name, Stella, honors Frank Stella is an artist who created paintings of Mt Chocorua.
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Stella lives in Ohio. She joined another Chinook in her family and has been busy raising young boys into young men. ​
Leeloo had an auspicious arrival, arriving by c-section. We choose the puppy name Freedom in honor of her liberation from a stuck position in the birth canal! Freedom is a town in NH that I drive thru on my way to Tamworth.
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Leeloo is enjoying a wonderful life in TN with a family who got their first GreatMountain Chinook in 2000.
Erin was the 5th born puppy who we called Fiddlehead. Why? A local farm had a sign out for fiddleheads as I drove Dirigo to our dates with Indy!
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Erin is a lovely Chinook who moved to Iowa with her people and their Chinook. She has a hip rating of Good from OFA.
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In 2023, Erin produced a litter for Vanguard Chinooks. She was bred with a 1st generation Chinook-Lab cross from Chinook Breed Conservation Program. She had 7 puppies on 7/1/23. Rocket, a son from that litter, remained to live with Erin.
Moon was and remains Moon. When born she bore a sweet resemblance to Katahdin, our first Chinook.
She was named for our beloved Hurricane Chocorua Moon, Dirigo's granddam. We also thought it fitting since Dirigo and Indy were bred with Mt Chocorua watching over us.
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Moon remains here with her momma and the rest of the pack. She is a playful, loving, and sweet gal.
Tamworth was the third pup in this litter to keep his puppy name. Tamworth was where he was conceived and is the territory where the first Chinooks lived.
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Tam went to live in NH with an older brother Chinook. We hoped he would sire a litter, but it was not to be. Tam has a hip rating of Fair from OFA. He is a congenial guy and a good boy who sometimes sneaks off to visit his dog girlfriend up the road.
