2005:

• In the spring of 2005, the first UK Tamaskan Dogs were imported out of Finland: Blustag Inuit Crow (Hannibal) and Blustag Menominee Owl (Woulf).  They are brother and sister out of Anzara and Redkite Wiyanna @ Blustag (Sylka).

2006:

• Blustag River Phoenix (Apache) and Blustag River Rising (Lobo), born July 7, 2006 out of Jackal @Blustag and Blustag Mystic Spirit (Bindi), arrived in late summer 2006.   

2007:

• The US saw more growth in the UK Tamaskan Dog population in 2007.  Six dogs were imported, most to prospective breeders, and two US litters were born.  The first 2007 import was Blustag Wanderer (Moose), out of Blustag Star Burst @ Blufawn (Banjo) and Tumanra @ Blustag. Around the same time, Moonstone Lovelight (Tasha) and Moonstone Eternity (Tundra) were also imported.  [Tasha and Tundra are littermates of Moonstone Make Me Pure @ Alba (Odin) in Scotland.]  Blustag Forest Fire (Storm), out of Dingo @ Blustag and Tumanra @ Blustag (Iola), arrived in early summer 2007. 
  

• On June 15, 2007, the first Tamaskan Dog litter was born in the US.  There were nine pups born of this litter, two of which went to registered breeders in the US: J & J Moonlight @ Ta-Kari (Takeia) and J & J Moonstruck Tundra @ Tarheel (Tundra).  

• In late July 2007 , Blustag Little Big Wolf (Tala), out of Whitefang (Valko) and Redkite Mitka @ Blustag (Paloose), was imported.  Finally, in late December 2007, Blustag Onager (Mikko), out of Dingo @ Blustag and Susi @ Blustag, was imported by Conchur (Oregon). 
  

• On December 16, 2007, the second litter of registered UK Tamaskan Dogs (Blustag Wanderer x Moonstone Eternity) was born in North Carolina. 
  

2008:

• In May 2008, Alba Daer (Blaze @ Tarheel) and Alba Isen (Inna @ Conchur), out of Moonstone Make Me Pure @ Alba (Odin) and Alba Lycaon (Xena) were imported to the US out of Alba Kennels in Scotland. 

• In July/August 2008, another Alba puppy was imported to J & J Kennels.
  

2009:

• Alba Brun @ Ta-Kari (Dakari) was imported to the US in February 2009.  Dakari is out of Moonstone Make Me Pure @ Alba (Odin) and Alba Sumarlidl (Kite).
  

• In January 2009, a litter was born of Blustag River Rising @ J & J (Lobo) and Blustag Menominee Owl @ J&J (Woulf). In February 2009, a litter of nine puppies was born of Alba Daer @ Tarheel (Blaze) and J & J Moonstruck Tundra @ Tarheel (Tundra). Neither litter was registered by the TDR due to a lack of passing the required health testing.
  

• In August of 2009, two founding members of the Tamaskan Dog, as well two long-standing TDR registered UK Tamaskan Dog breeders, resigned from the UK group. [This was in addition to another founding member having resigned in June 2008.] While the specific personal reasons for their resignations varied, the general consensus was that the personal ethics and moral character of the two remaining founders of the group (Blustag and Blufawn) were questionable at best, and that the TDR was not providing, and in all likelihood could not provide, what was needed for the UK Tamaskan Dog to survive and thrive in the US without significant improvements in a number of areas.

• Three of these breeders, Alba in Scotland, Conchur in Oregon and Ta-Kari in Colorado, banded together under the Tamaskan Breeders Association to introduce the Aatu Tamaskan.
  

• Prior to these resignations, however, extensive research into the UK Tamaskan Dog was undertaken and revealed that Blustag and Blufawn (head committee members of the TDR) intentionally removed registered names and breeder kennels from the pedigrees, thereby presenting incomplete and inaccurate pedigree documents. The TBA believed that restoring the integrity of these pedigrees was paramount, and proceeded to research the true history of the origins of the UK Tamaskan Dog. This research further showed that Blustag and Blufawn knowingly and intentionally disregarded health information presented to them which indicated significant health issues and genetic conditions within some of the UK Tamaskan Dog lines.

• After the resignation of the four mentioned above, it was discovered that Blustag and Blufawn kennels (as shown in their own correspondence and previous archived websites) admitted that the UK Tamaskan Dog that they were developing had some wolf content. Additionally, some high content wolfdogs (F2) were being used in the current UK breeding program. Further, despite adamant claims to the contrary, Blustag and Blufawn made extensive use of a purebred Czechoslovakian Wolfdog in their breeding program, considering him to be a “foundation dog”. These discoveries negated the TDR’s claim and motto for the Tamaskan as the “wolfdog without the wolf”.

With regard to the pedigrees of the current foundation stock of the Aatu Tamaskan, we present the following:

Conchur Tamaskans in Oregon, USA: Blustag Onager @ Conchur (Mikko) has been determined to be a higher content Czech Wolfdog, the balance being Malamute/Husky.

Alba Isen @ Conchur (Inna) is a lower content Czech Wolfdog, with the balance being Utonagan/Husky.

Ta-Kari Tamaskans in Colorado, USA: Alba Brun @ Ta-Kari (Dakari) is Utonagan x Siberian Husky with some Czech Wolfdog several generations back.

J & J Moonlight @ Ta-Kari (Takeia) is Czech Wolfdog X Utonagan on the sire's side. Based on personal correspondence wherein Ms. Sharkey/Hardey states that Taz is a high content wolfdog, this would make Blustag Menominee Owl (Woulf), the dam, an F4/F5 wolfdog. Therefore, puppies born out of Menominee Owl @ J & J would be F5/F6 wolfdogs. However, the worst case scenario is that Takeia is an F5 wolfdog. In that case any offspring produced by Takeia would no longer be considered wolf dogs under the legal definition, as wolf content is only calculated to the fifth generation (F5).

THE BEGINNING … AND THE FUTURE

The History of the Aatu Tamaskan is just beginning. Now that we have restored official registered names and breeding kennels, and have researched the health background of our lines, Aatu Tamaskan breeders can move forward to improve the health of the breed and breed toward higher standards. For example, in the last three years hip scores (a measure of the potential for hip dysplasia) have risen in the UK Tamaskan Dog. Despite calculating an average score for the breed, TDR Committee members allow for a broad range of hip scores to include the very highest scores up to, but not including, borderline dysplasia (Tumanra hip score =16). Most recently, the Secretary of the TDR herself bred two dogs (August 2009, litter born 10/2009) whose scores exceeded the posted breed average by 26%.

Our goal is to breed better, healthier dogs, and to continue to make improvements in the breed, rather than simply respond to the economics of producing more puppies because of the demand for this beautiful and rare breed, as has been the case with certain UK breeders.

What is in store for the Aatu Tamaskan in 2010? The future is exciting and bright. There will be several litters born in the US and overseas. We will be introducing new breeds to our foundation stock and revising the Aatu Breed Standard accordingly. Some adjustments will include a larger size and longer coat. We will also breed for better tail carriage, and will include some adjustments to allow for what is found in the natural wolf population.

Further, we will work with all future and potential breeders to ensure that we have the highest standards of testing and up to date breeding practices in place.

Armed now with accurate information on our pedigrees and an extensive health database, we are confident that the Aatu Tamaskan will be your "Best Friend in Wolf's Clothing!"