Sweet, smart, intuitive Simi is fifth generation of her canine family intertwined in our human family’s home and hearts. Our first Canaan Dog was Tovah; our first male, Mazel. We kept Tovah’s daughter Naftalia, granddaughter Yomi, and great-grandson Matan, but never owned any Mazel puppies outright. I dreamed of a female descendent of Mazel and Tovah, white-with-red like my Heart Dog Mazel. I loved Mazel’s beautiful great-granddaughter, Dazey. We finally successfully bred Dazey to our Matan. The puppies were born at Shanks’ house; first a white-with-black male. “That’s your puppy,” I told Keith and Cheryl. (That puppy is now RBIS/BISS GCH / UCH Kochav Mazel Tov Lil Roy me Toro.) A white-with-red female puppy emerged next! I held her up like the Lion King, and exclaimed, “MY puppy!”
For years I saved lyrics from a congratulatory Hebrew song for happy occasions--“Mazel Tov U’Siman Tov = “Good Luck and a Good Sign”--to bestow upon my own descendant of Mazel and Tovah.
When I brought Simi home at 8 weeks, her Grandma Yomi—my Heart Dog since Mazel’s death—carefully helped raise her. Yomi died when Simi was 5 months. Simi cuddled me and licked tears. The mantle of her Grandmother Yomi and Great-Great Grandfather Mazel settled onto her shoulders.
A year ago, Craig and I moved from Minnesota to New Hampshire for his job. We scattered the ashes of Mazel, Tovah, Naftalia and Yomi in the woods behind our longtime Minnesota home. Simi, descended from every Mazel Tov dog that lived their lives out in that home, is their genetic material and spirit that traveled East with me to new adventures.
In limited shows, Simi has earned AKC and UKC points. We’re training obedience and agility, and she’s earned a Tricks title. Now a country dog, she hikes mountain trails with me, very interested in our neighbors’ sheep. But she braved Times Square in New York, putting her tricks to good use entertaining children at Meet the Breeds at Westminster.
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