History
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< _How did we begin?
The name Uyak (pronounced OOH Yak) was taken from a native village on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Our kennel began in 1966 with a family pet, Ch. Sena-lak's Simka , who was owner handled to his championship. In the process of training dogs and participating at dog shows as a family activity, we discovered that our ideal malamute existed only in our mind's eye. Therefore, we spent several years in intensive research and study of the breed, motivated to develop a breeding program that would produce outstanding Alaskan Malamutes and result in improving the breed. Our vision was clear; to create a bloodline and sustain a breeding program that would create exemplary breed type, conformation, soundness, good health and temperment. We pursued our goal and vision as a family endeavor since each of us shared a passion for Alaskan Malamutes. Our interest was not to breed to produce show dogs or accumulate ribbons (which we could have done quite easily by focusing on top winners and "trends" exemplified in the show ring). Our objective was to create and sustain exemplary Alaskan Malamutes who could not only meet with success in the show ring; but also had healthy minds and bodies, with the capacity to work in harness and live long healthy lives as family companions. Uyak dogs needed to be adaptable as good working dogs and good pets. Where did we start? After several years as show exhibitors whose goal was solely to improve the breed, we made a fresh start by starting over at our home on Long Island, New York in the late 1960's and are eternally grateful to Breeder/Judge Cassandra (Cass) Becker (Hager) from whom we acquired both of our foundation bitches; the first, Ch. Karohonta Conestoga. “Connie” (whose sire and dam were both bred in California and were pure Kodara dogs). We selected Connie because she was very tightly bred (on Kobuk's Dark Beauty) and exemplified excellent breed type, conformation, balance, movement and substance. This important bitch, Connie, finished her championship entirely owner-handled, taking both the New York-New Jersey AMCA Area Specialty under legendary Breeder/Judge and ‘Mother of Our Breed”, Short (Eva B.) Seeley and the AMCA Mid-East Area Specialty under highly respected All Breed Judge, Melbourne T. Downing. Our second foundation bitch, speciality winner Ch. Karohonta Voodoo Muskie, played a critical role in delivering the strength of the crosses across our pedigrees as well as those of collaborating kennels who shared this important genepool. NOTE: For more specifics on our original breedings, refer to Barbara Brooks' excellent book, "The Alaskan Malamute, Yesterday and Today", which is, in our opinion, currently, the outstanding source of information about our breed. What did we do? Harold Schwartzapfel was the first to identify and plan the first crosses of the tightly bred Karohonta Kodara stock with studs from T’Domar Kennels. The essence of the unmistakeable Uyak style malamute was defined by the selection of Uyak Buffalo Bill as the predominant progenator. Our beginning work towards a bloodline that began with the creation of Buffalo Bill, was established through repeated breedings of a highly select and concentrated gene pool which was achieved by the discrete crossing of our Kodara stock to two specific T'Domar studs. The challenge we faced was to maintain and preserve the precious type reflected in our small group of Kodara dogs while using the T'Domar studs to improve coat, feet, bone and pigment. A key to our vision in the early days and through today has been careful and disciplined screening for the phenotypical attributes as defined in the standard our breed and manifest them in genetically hardwired, healthy, sound dogs who had the ability to reproduce themselves. Since Harold had become an AKC licensed professional handler, showing Ch. T'Domar's Bismarck to Winners Dog at the 1968 National Specialty and 1968 Best of Winners at Westminster (before Bismarck was campaigned by George Heitzman), and Paula was handling several of the T'Domar dogs; both Harold and Paula were intimately familiar with the quality of the T’Domar bone and coat and as a family initiative, worked through the challenges of other characteristics that were also part of those animals in these early days. It is important to note that the Uyak bloodline was not established by a single breeding (Ch. T'Domar's Kulak x Ch. Karohonta Conestoga) but by many similar breedings and parallel pairings that included Ch. Uyak Buffalo Bill and two of his sons, Am/Can Ch. Karohonta Skymaster ROM and Ch.Uyak Bison Bobby as well as our splendid bitch, Ch. Karohonta Voodoo Muskie (Ch. T'Domar's Voodoo King x Ch. Karohonta Ta-Lo-Wah who was a full sister to Ch. Karohonta Conestoga). A key to these results and the ability to sustain exemplary stock was the sucessful and productive collaboration we established with a small number of other breeders working within this family of genetics. We are proud of the part we played in identifying and recommending this combination which has ultimately proved itself an outstanding contribution for many other breeders over the years. *************** The impact of our breedings can be traced in many generations of Alaskan Malamute Kennels and continues to influence pedigrees and the foundation of noted and established breeders including Terry Sewell- Kiwalik-(Ch. Kiwalik's Tigress of J'Len (Tiger Woman), Ch. Kiwalik's Nevada), Joyce Falhsing-J-Len–( Ch. J-Len's Artic Windjammer), Vicky Jones- Vykon-(Ch. Kiwalik's Vykon Indiana Jones CD, ROM), Ron Pohl-Taolan- (Ch. Kiwalik's Taolan Quilleute), Marilyn Curtis-Nomarak (Ch. Nomarak's Snowgoose), Ken Hyatt-Kipnuk, Artic Luv, Snowlion and many others. ************** On an overall percentage basis, Ch. Uyak Buffalo Bill, ROM (his headshot is part of the Uyak logo) is probably one of the most outstanding producers in the history of the breed. At the same time, we also respect and admire longtime colleagues breeding other malamute bloodlines with committment and integrity. |
 Buffalo Barny & Buffalo Bill c. 1971  Uyak 2011 George pups
including Nina and Nelly  Ch. Uyak Indian Inez ROM (DOB 1974) 
Ch. Karohonta Conestoga ("Connie"- DOB 1968)
Uyak Aleut Alex WTD. ROM DOB 1996
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Who has been involved?
We strongly believe in teamwork, education and good sportsmanship. We are proud of having spent many hours in the early years being mentored by Eva “Short” Seeley (Chinook Kotzebue), the important contributor to Bob Zollar's Husky-Pak; our very dear and beloved friend, Bob Spawn of Spawn's Polar Den Kennels (Owner & Breeder of Ch. Spawn's Alaska, Ch. Spawn's Kulak, Ch. Husky-Pak Gazelle and Ch. Spawn's Hot Shot of Roy-El) and Bill Dawson of Kobuk Kennels, Manassas Virginia (Breeder of Kobuk's Dark Beauty). Our first collaboration with Cassandra Becker (Karohonta) resulted in the creation of the first crosses that produced Voodoo Muskie and Voodoo Flame. A planned, parallel step also during this same period of time produced the Uyak Buffalo litter that included breed history great, Ch. Uyak Buffalo Bill ROM. Shortly thereafter, Buffalo Bill's son with Flamer; Skymaster (Jake) was born.
People and teamwork are (and will always will be) important to us. Others including Bob Montheard,Terry Sewell, George Meyers, Rich Harrison, Marilyn Curtis, the late Joyce Fahlsing, Vera Jane Lulkowski, Steve Nash and Ken Hyatt have collaborated on our breedings in various ways and have made diverse and important contributions to this family of genetics. Ben Ogburn's expertise in Alaskan Malamute pedigrees had also been an important resource.
Currently, as we prepare for the next generation of Uyak dogs, moving into the next era, we are planning several new co-breeding collaborations having completed a successful co-breeding project between Kathy Schmidt (Great Grimpen Mire-GGM) (seasoned Breeder, Musher and Owner of noted breed progenator; Ch. Nanuke’s Lockport Louie ROM) as well as a limited number of additional show collaborations in other US geographies.
Expanding the Uyak Family beyond the United States
Based on a single, unhappy experience in placing a puppy during the early 1970's in Brazil, Uyak refused to ship dogs overseas for more than 30 years. That policy is now an outdated relic of the past century thanks to the late Horst Kranz (Artic Luv SA ) of South Africa, who visited our kennel late 1990's and convinced us to trust him with Uyak Icicle Izy. Also, frozen semen sent overseas from Uyak Aleut Alex, WTD, has been influential in the improvement of dogs throughout the UE and Australia. Further, Terry Sewell sent some Kiwalik dogs and Bob Montheard sent some Du Paumanok dogs (carrying the Uyak bloodline) to both France and Italy who laid foundation for Biagiotti (del Biagio). Consequently, a few malamute breeders in Europe and elsewhere had a chance to experience the prepotency and quality of the pure Uyak bloodline.
As always, we rely on direct, personal and in person relationships as well as referrals to be able to consider those who are willing to travel to Long Island, New York as potential candidates for access to our show and breeding stock.
We strongly believe in teamwork, education and good sportsmanship. We are proud of having spent many hours in the early years being mentored by Eva “Short” Seeley (Chinook Kotzebue), the important contributor to Bob Zollar's Husky-Pak; our very dear and beloved friend, Bob Spawn of Spawn's Polar Den Kennels (Owner & Breeder of Ch. Spawn's Alaska, Ch. Spawn's Kulak, Ch. Husky-Pak Gazelle and Ch. Spawn's Hot Shot of Roy-El) and Bill Dawson of Kobuk Kennels, Manassas Virginia (Breeder of Kobuk's Dark Beauty). Our first collaboration with Cassandra Becker (Karohonta) resulted in the creation of the first crosses that produced Voodoo Muskie and Voodoo Flame. A planned, parallel step also during this same period of time produced the Uyak Buffalo litter that included breed history great, Ch. Uyak Buffalo Bill ROM. Shortly thereafter, Buffalo Bill's son with Flamer; Skymaster (Jake) was born.
People and teamwork are (and will always will be) important to us. Others including Bob Montheard,Terry Sewell, George Meyers, Rich Harrison, Marilyn Curtis, the late Joyce Fahlsing, Vera Jane Lulkowski, Steve Nash and Ken Hyatt have collaborated on our breedings in various ways and have made diverse and important contributions to this family of genetics. Ben Ogburn's expertise in Alaskan Malamute pedigrees had also been an important resource.
Currently, as we prepare for the next generation of Uyak dogs, moving into the next era, we are planning several new co-breeding collaborations having completed a successful co-breeding project between Kathy Schmidt (Great Grimpen Mire-GGM) (seasoned Breeder, Musher and Owner of noted breed progenator; Ch. Nanuke’s Lockport Louie ROM) as well as a limited number of additional show collaborations in other US geographies.
Expanding the Uyak Family beyond the United States
Based on a single, unhappy experience in placing a puppy during the early 1970's in Brazil, Uyak refused to ship dogs overseas for more than 30 years. That policy is now an outdated relic of the past century thanks to the late Horst Kranz (Artic Luv SA ) of South Africa, who visited our kennel late 1990's and convinced us to trust him with Uyak Icicle Izy. Also, frozen semen sent overseas from Uyak Aleut Alex, WTD, has been influential in the improvement of dogs throughout the UE and Australia. Further, Terry Sewell sent some Kiwalik dogs and Bob Montheard sent some Du Paumanok dogs (carrying the Uyak bloodline) to both France and Italy who laid foundation for Biagiotti (del Biagio). Consequently, a few malamute breeders in Europe and elsewhere had a chance to experience the prepotency and quality of the pure Uyak bloodline.
As always, we rely on direct, personal and in person relationships as well as referrals to be able to consider those who are willing to travel to Long Island, New York as potential candidates for access to our show and breeding stock.
 Uyak Linebred dogs winning AMCA ME Area Specialty 1987 |