Bakura's Chaka Khan, F. Ch.
1977 - 1989
(Ch. X'actly Xanadu x Dona Dulcinea)

"Chaka" was a big self-masked red dog, very powerful and full of spirit. His name means "fighter king" and he lived up to every inch of it. He also was a master escape artist. He learned how to open any kind of door, gate, lock, refrigerator, etc. . . and fences were no obstacle either. If he couldn't jump it or climb it, he would just chew right through it. He even learned how to get out of his show crate! I should have named him Houdini. Needless to say, he was quite a handful. He had some nice wins in the conformation ring but in the field is where he excelled. He finished his ASFA Field Championship in 1979 and retired one 1st place shy of his LCM. Inspite of all the trouble he put me through, I was still hooked and had to have another Afghan.

In Authurian legends, Merlin the Magician liked to travel the countryside disguised as a bard. When traveling incognito, he used his Welsh name, Taliesin. It was said that Taliesin could cast spells with his music. Well, my "Tali" cast her spell on me from the first moment I brought her home. Tali became my best friend and constant companion. She became my first obedience titled dog, completing her CD in three consecutive shows. Two weeks later she blessed me with a litter of eight puppies. Four of those puppies later achieved their CD's. After Tali's maternity leave was over, I started training her in Agility. She had several nice agility wins before arthiritis forced her to quit.

Tali was my soulmate having been with me for many past lives. On December 11, 2000 she lost her long battle with cancer but not without her usual diginity and grace.

"Singer" got his name because of his vocal abilities. In fact, he announced his arrival into the world with the funniest sounding howl I have ever heard. I would sit for hours by the welping box listening and laughing at him 'singing'. He has an incredible temperament and is probably the sweetest and gentlest Afghan I've ever known. A gentle giant (he topped out at 33" high!), Singer achieved his CD in 1990 after going High In Trial at the Afghan Hound Club of Greater Houston Specialty.

"Stevie" was named after my favorite singer of the '70's, Stevie Nicks. Stevie Nick's publishing company was called Welsh Witch Music. And since her dam was named after a Welsh wizard, I thought it a fitting name. Too shy to stand out in the conformation ring, my Stevie took after her mother in the obedience ring. She finished her CD in 1991 ranking in the top ten for that year. As it turned out, motherhood seemed to be her forte. She gave birth to seven puppies one of which, Sirena, became my first conformation champion at thirteen months old!

Denali means "the great one" and Daemir means "the great game" (as in politics). I thought this was an appropriate name for a show dog. "Dino" was the perfect combination of beauty and brains. He was a deep dark red with a very black mask and long mandarin beard. He had an incredible floating gait that took your breath away. Dino was also one of the best working dogs in obedience that I've had since his grandmother, Tali. He took High In Trial at the Afghan Hound Club of Greater Houston Specialty in July 1996. Another soulmate and self-appointed guardian, he was truly a great one.

Named after the Fleetwood Mac song about a Welsh witch who could talk to animals, "Annie" is the reincarnation of her grandmother, Taliesin. Not only was she the spitting image of Tali, she also had the same sweet, willing-to-please personality.
Her calming presence will be missed.