About Fenrirkin

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to learn more about us.

My name is Alanna. I am currently based in Yorkshire (UK) where I live with my partner Keith. We share our home with 3 Alaskan Malamutes as well as a Royal Python called Bruce and some unnamed tropical fish.

I was born in North London, to a Scottish mother and an Irish father, where I grew up in a household filled with animals - cats, rats, tropical fish, stick insects - but remarkably no dogs!

I was lucky enough to meet many canines through friends and family, most memorably the German Shepherds owned by my childminder, and found that despite my lack of ownership I was fascinated by their psychology and physiology. 

However it was only when living in Cornwall in my early twenties that the opportunity to bring a dog into my life arose. I chucked the rulebook out the window, deciding that after much research (and despite the "not a good first time dog" warnings) the Alaskan Malamute was the breed for me. Little did I know at that time just how much hard work it would be, and nor did I realise that this small start would grow into a virtual lifestyle choice, and that a mild, but very much positive, obsession had started!

My dogs are first and foremost my family and companions. I love each of them individually in all their flaws and virtues, and for bringing so much joy (if not a few premature grey hairs) to my life.

They share our home (and the sofas and beds if we let them get away with it) because I like to have them as involved in all we do when it's possible. Sometimes that is in dog-orientated activities such as showing, working or training – and sometimes that means just cuddling up in the front room watching TV together or enjoying a drink & BBQ in the back garden with friends.

I do have long term goals and plans for my pupsters, where they can gain recognition for their skills and hard work, however that my dogs enjoy what they do is always my priority, and if the activity is not right for them they don't do it. Simple!

Fenrirkin is my Kennel Club registered affix. In hommage to the Nordic Spitz breed roots of my Malamutes, it as an allusion to Fenrir, the supernatural wolf from Norse mythology. Remembering him as a being of great strength destined to bring around the end of the world I thought it was fitting my dogs be identified as his ‘kin’ – their strength is self explanatory to anybody who has ever been on the other end of a lead from a malamute in pursuit of a rabbit, and if not the end of the world they’re certainly en route to the total destruction of my garden!!

My love of the Alaskan Malamutes is obvious however I also have a strong interest in the Japanese Akita Inu and the Greenland Dog. I am a member of Alaskan Malamute Club of the UK, Alaskan Malamute Working Association, Greenland Dog Club of Great Britain, Japanese Akita Inu Club of Great Britain and Akita Association of Ireland (see links page).
I have attended Breed Specific Seminars for the Alaskan Malamute and Japanese Akita Inu, have passed the Hands On Assesment for the Japanese Akita Inu, and am on the AMCUK C-List for judging the Alaskan Malamute and enjoy judging at Open Show level and stewarding.

I hope you enjoy browsing my site - and love hearing from those who do, so please feel free to use the contact page to drop me a message.