Six for Six!

We have 3 birthdays in June!  Today one litter has a birthday and tomorrow, another does. And then in 10 more days, our 2003 litter turns 11.

Six for Six!

Happy 6th Birthday to our 2008 litter born June 16th.  The 6 puppies turning 6 - hence 6 for 6 are:  Andras, Blaze, our Diva, Gunner, Quest and Piper. They are out of Ch Hubertus Quality Control FDj (Ozzie) imported from Australia and our Miska (Ch Varazs Kiralyi Kedvesem etc etc etc.) 

My Diva (taken in May 2013)

Blaze taken earlier this spring - in Monument Valley, Utah

Diva & brother Quest taken in May 2013 (age 5)

Diva hanging loose (taken just before her 6th birthday)

Happy Doggie Daddy Day & Happy Birthday!

Happy Doggie Daddy Day 

to the sires of three of our litters 

which are also celebrating birthdays today and tomorrow!

Happy Doggie Daddy Day to:

Ozzie: CH Hubertus Quality Control FDJ who is the father of our 2008 litter with Miska.

and to

Hudson: CH Kizmar Touch of Evil RA JH who is dad of our 2006 litter with Nova

and to our beloved

Sasha: Am/Can CH Varazs Kiraly Sassy Sasha Am/Can CDX, FDJ, Am RE, Am RAE, TT, CGC, CGN who sired three litters, including our 2003 litter with Nova which produced our wonderful Miska.

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY!

Celebrating their fifth birthdays today, June 16, are:

Piper

Photo of Piper courtesy of C. Nielson

 Diva and Quest

Diva and Quest

 Blaze who himself is a daddy too.

Blaze - photo courtesy of B. Tanko

Andras who has sired two litters and is a daddy.

and Gunner (I don't have a current photo of Gunner.  This was taken in 2010.)

2012 in review

In addition to the great year I had with my 3 Vizslas, several of my puppy buyers did very well with their dogs too in 2012.  I want to thank them and acknowledge their dogs here.  Congratulations on your Vizsla's many accomplishments!!  This first dog listed is Miska's sister and the rest are a few of Miska's puppies from her 2008 and 2011 litters).

• CH Varazs Artemis Vizsandy CD AGN AGI RE, "Shandy", earned her Rally Excellent title and was #3 Vizsla in Rally Obedience in Canada for 2012

• CH Varazs Kedves Quasar NAVHDA NA Prize III, CD "Blaze" - new Companion Dog (CD) title

• BIS (UKC), CKC/UKC CH Varazs Mokany Kiralyi Orban FDJ JH URO1 CGN NAVHDA NA PZ I "Bodi" - 7 new titles & Best in Show - CKC & UKC Champion, Field Dog Jr., Jr Hunter, NAVHDA Natural Ability, Canine Good Citizen, plus several 'tricks titles' and that prestigious Best in Show!

• Varazs Kedvesem Final Dance PCD, CGN, CKC & CARO RN "Stella" - 4 new titles!  Pre-Companion Dog, Canine Good Neighbour, CKC & CARO Rally Novice

• Varazs Kedvesem Grand Finale "Elsie"- 6 CKC Champion points and was Best of Opposite Sex in Puppy Sweeps at the Vizsla Society of Ontario's 2012 Specialty Show

• Varazs Kedvesem Final Frontier "Charlie" - 6 CKC Champion points

All reputable and caring Vizsla breeders strive to do is produce talented, intelligent, good looking Vizsla puppies which perpetuate the qualities they were originally bred for, and more.  They then turn the puppy over to the new owner with the hope the new owner will devote lots of time and attention to the dog's physical AND mental well-being.

The Vizsla was bred to be a versatile hunting dog and while many/most people don't hunt with their Vizslas, the hunting (i.e., working) instinct is still very strong in this breed and they will hunt on their own when given any chance. Like all working breeds and intelligent beings, Vizslas thrive when they have a 'job' to do.  Jobs these days are training and competing for titles in a variety of organizations which can put their brains and talents to work.  A working dog is a happier and often healthier dog.  Studies have shown, just like in people, that dogs who continually learn new behaviours stave off canine cognitive dysfunction (i.e., Alzheimer's disease).  I love the following and while it's published on my website, I think it's appropriate to repeat it here.

 What is a Title Really?

    "Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores; a title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honour the dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory, for about as long as anything in this world can remain.

    And though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

    A title says your dog was intelligent, adaptable, and good-natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed.

    In addition, a title says that you love your dog. That you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed and in the end your faith was justified.

    A title proves that your dog inspired you to that special relationship enjoyed by so few; that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return.

    And when that dear short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend. Volumes of praise in one small set of initials after the name.

    A title is nothing less that the true love and respect, given and received and recorded permanently."

    Author Unknown

Back to back birthdays

We have two litters with back-to-back birthdays this month.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

On June 16th, we celebrate the fourth birthday of our Miska-Ozzie litter - 2 girls and 4 boys born June 16, 2008.  They include: Diva, Piper, Andras, Blaze, Gunner and Quest. 

On June 17 2006, our litter of 8 puppies was born to our beloved Nova and sired by Ch. Kizmar Touch of Evil (Hudson).  They turn six today.  Here's a photo of the puppies at 43 days of age.  The pups are: Nika, Lucy 1 and Lucy 2, Ruby, Lloyd, Tessie, Tucker and Tyro.

 

What a great finish!

This past weekend in Camrose Alberta, Blaze earned his last point for his Canadian Championship title.  Blaze was Mr Blue in our June 2008 litter between our Miska (BIS (Veteran) Am/Cdn/Int'l/UKC CH Varazs Kiralyi Kedvesem FDJ, FD, NAVHDA NA Prize III, JH, Am/Cdn CD, Am/Cdn RE, Am RAE, CGN) and an Australian import named Ozzie (CH Hubertus Quality Control FDJ). Not only that, Blaze also took a Group 4th placement in the Sporting Group under Puerto Rican Judge, Roberto Velaz-Pico!  Taking a group placement is like having icing on a cake.  It was a great way to finish a championship weekend! Congratulations to Blaze's owners and to Blaze.

Varazs Family Blogs

Stella is the latest Vizsla that we've bred or is related to our dogs to have her own Blog.  Here's a list of Blogs and websites featuring Varazs-bred or sired dogs.

The Dreaded 9!

Blaze, a beautiful male Vizsla out of our Miska-Ozzie breeding in 2008, has been sitting on 5 champion points for the past year.  He needs a total of 10 points to earn his Canadian champion title.  While that might sound easy, unfortunately, there are very few Vizslas being shown in conformation in Alberta where Blaze resides so it can be really tough to pick up points in that part of the country without other Vizslas to beat.

The relatives

Recently Blaze (a 3-year-old male out of my 2008 litter between Miska and Ozzie) met up with 3 of his offspring - Sam, Ridley and Sydney born Dec. 15, 2010 and bred by Sherryanne Farr and Wes Daniels of Blackbullets Vizslas - at a NAVHDA test in Alberta.  Sam, Ridely and Sydney (F) are Miska's grandkids and great-grandkids of our beloved Sasha and Nova.

Buh-bye Bentley

11 week old Bentley (Mr Green) out of our Miska-Brick puppies born May 31, 2011 departed yesterday on a jet plane along with his new family to live in Calgary Alberta. Bentley was a real sweetie, just a typical lover-boy Vizsla. The longer I had Bentley, the more I fell in love with him and it was mutual.  While it was sad to say farewell, I know he's going to a wonderful home with 3 children and another Vizsla named Jasper who is 10 years old and also related to Bentley. Jaspar is out of our Rex (owned by Sherryanne Farr and Wes Daniels of Alberta, Canada) who was whelped in 1997. As it turns out, two of Bentley's bigger, older brothers, Blaze and Gunner from Miska's first litter in 2008, also live in Calgary so he has canine family there. It's a small world in Vizslas.

These photos of Bentley were taken in the last few days he was with us.

Bentley, Bodi (Mr Blue), Tunder (Mr Black) with Tyro (foregrd), Miska and Diva (top)

Bentley with his muzzle in Tyro's mouth

Bentley absolutely loves being in a crate

Tyro and Bentley

Bentley (green), Bodi (orange collar) and Tunder (black)

3 brothers sharing a Bowser Bed

Bentley with his new mom, Leah Messenger

Beautiful Blaze

Blaze (Varazs Kedves Quasar) is from my 2008 litter. His mother is Miska who just whelped her second (and last) litter in May 2011. I used a stud dog imported from Australia, CH Hubertus Quality Control FDJ, to produce Blaze. I happen to love Blaze and think he is a gorgeous Vizsla with lovely conformation: a lot of substance, good bone, good chest & forechest, a nice head and topline. Of course, maybe I have 'kennel blindness' and am biased since I am his breeder; however, I think I  have a good eye for a Vizsla and I can be, and have been, critical of my own dogs.  He is one that would definitely turn my head in a breed line-up.

Blaze being stacked by handler, Larry Clark; photo by B. Tanko

Blaze hasn't finished his Championship title yet but he is extremely deserving of this title. He is sitting on 6 points and needs 4 more in Canada. All of his littermates finished their championship titles very quickly. One reason why Blaze hasn't finished is that there are virtually no other Vizslas being shown in Calgary and to earn points, a dog has to beat members of its own breed or take a placement in the group (Sporting dog group in this case). From what I've been told, the show ring is very competitive in Calgary/Edmonton although the same can be said of cities in Ontario. However, we have a lot more dog shows and a lot more Vizslas being shown in Ontario which is why his 4 other littermates finished their titles (the fifth is in California) because I showed all of them in Ontario. Unfortunately, the dog show ring can be 'political' and sometimes it's the two-legged creature at the other end of the lead that gets noticed more by the judges than the 4-legged one.  Recently Blaze's owners hired a very expensive professional handler (wow, I couldn't believe how expensive this guy is!) and Blaze did 'make the cut' in the Sporting Group but didn't get a placement.  Anyway, I just wanted to brag about this dog because I think he is a terrific looking Vizsla and is deserving to be labeled a Champion and one day, I know he will finish that title.

Please visit this link to see other photos of Blaze as he has his own Blog.

Blaze the Vizsla: Few photos from the latest dogshow

Hitting 3!

We have sooo many doggie birthdays in June that I plum forgot my own dog, Diva's 3rd birthday TODAY! Diva and her littermates: Andras, Blaze, Gunner, Quest and Piper turned 3 today! This was our litter between Ch Hubertus Quality Control FDJ (Ozzie) and our Miska born June 16, 2008.

Here's a link to a lovely photo of beautiful 3-year-old Blaze on his Blog!

Diva, 1 day old

Diva as a young Vizsla

Diva at 3 years of age

Miska is a Grandmother!

Miska is a new Grandmother to 5 girls and 3 boys born December 15/10 to Jewel, the mom (Ch. Blackbullet Varazs Legacy NAVHDA Natural Ability Prize ll) bred by Sherryanne Farr and Wes Daniels of Blackbullet Reg'd kennel in Alberta, Canada. The father is "Blaze" (Varazs Kedves Quasar NAVHDA Natural Ability Prize III) who is Miska's son born June 16, 2008.

Pups have been doing well although Jewel has been having a very rough time after the whelping.  There are always risks to the mom (dam) of any litter as well as to the new whelps and it's easy to forget this sometimes. Our biggest hope is that Jewel stays on the road to a full recovery and good health. In the meantime, they have been getting a lot of extra care and tube feeding by breeders Sherryanne and Wes.  Thanks to Sherryanne for the photos of Miska's grand-kids.

Jewel with her babies on Dec. 17

2 weeks old, Dec. 29/10

Miska-Ozzie puppies turn 2!

Happy 2nd Birthday to our Miska-Ozzie puppies born June 16, 2008. 

This was a breeding between Ch Hubertus Quality Control FDJ (Ozzie) an Australian import into Canada and our beloved Miska (Am/Can CH Varazs Kiralyi Kedvesem FDJ, FD, NAVHDA NA Prize III, JH, Am/Can CD, Am/Can RN, Am/Can RA, Am/Can RE, CGN).  It produced 6 puppies, two females: Piper and Diva and four males: Andras, Blaze, Gunner and Quest and all are titled in conformation or field.

This greeting created with Smilebox

Poster Dog

Blaze (Varazs Kedves Quasar NAVHDA NA Prize III) is the poster dog for the month of April in the Vizsla Society of Ontario's 2010 Rescue Calendar. Below is the winning photo taken by Blaze's owner, Barna Tanko of Alberta.  Blaze is (IMO), a very handsome boy.

Gunner's a Champ!

Gunner is the 4th dog from our June 2008 litter between Ozzie (Ch Hubertus Quality Control FDK) and Miska (Am/Can CH Varazs Kiralyi Kedvesem FDJ, FD, NAVHDA NA Prize III, JH, Am/Can CD, Am/Can RN, Am/Can RA, Am/Can RE, CGN) to earn his Championship title. He took four Best of Breeds and finished his championship title by going Best of Breed over another male champion for a 3-point win at the Credit Valley dog show on December 12, 2009. Gunner is now officially known as CH Varazs Kedves Quincy. Gunner is owned and loved by Donna Hildebrant and her son Scott. Gunner is now the 6th dog out of 6 puppies in this litter to earn a title. Andras, Piper, Quest, and Gunner all have their championship titles. Diva and Blaze have earned hunting/field titles and Blaze also has several points towards his Cdn championship.

Great August weekend for Ozzie-Miska puppies

What a weekend for our Ozzie-Miska puppies born June 16, 2008! Three earned new titles!

Piper completed her CKC Championship title on Friday August 28 at the Markham Kennel Club in Richmond Hill, Ontario by taking Winners Bitch and Best of Winners for her final two points. The judge was Deborah Graffman of Kilbride, Ontario. Piper's official name is now CH Varazs Kedves Quinn. Congratulations to Piper's family!!! What a sweetie she is. We really enjoyed having her stay with us for the weekend while she was in shows. She's a delight to have around and everyone misses her now that she's gone home.
Blaze was entered in a NAHVDA Natural Ability test in Alberta on Saturday August 29 and scored a Prize III. He's now known as Varazs Kedves Quasar NAVHDA NA Pz III. Well done to his human, Iulia, for handling him. This was her very first time handling a dog in NAVHDA. According to his owners, "although his water and field work were good, he had a little trouble at the tracking with the very high wind. He picked up the scent a little late and he trailed off a little. He showed a good field search despite the dense fog, low temperature ( 5 C) and extremely wet high grass at 7 AM. The water work was the easiest for him as he is really going for the water lately. " His owners felt he should have done better but experienced field people know that even seasoned hunting dogs may not perform well under such variable and challenging weather conditions. Great job!

Blaze on point, courtesy of B. Tanko

Quest was entered all four days at Markham Kennel Club and took Winners Dog each day, earning a total of 8 points this weekend to complete his CKC Championship title on Sunday August 30. Way to go Quest! He's now CH Varazs Kedves Quester. Quest is shown below with Judge Michel Chaloux of Quebec.
The Markham Kennel Club show was where these puppies' maternal grand-dad, Sasha, also finished his Championship and took a Best Puppy in Group as well as Best of Breed from the 6 to 9-month old class over Specials (champions) at a Vizsla Society of Ontario Booster Show so this venue has very special meaning for me. How nice that Piper and Quest also earned their champion titles here.

So, what a fantastic weekend for these Ozzie-Miska puppies and also what a wonderful month because earlier another littermate, Andras, completed his American Championship. I am thrilled with the accomplishments of these puppies to date and know that more achievements are forthcoming. Congratulations to their owners for their love, dedication, hard work in training, laying the groundwork, and for taking such great care of our puppies. And well done to Ozzie (CH Hubertus Quality Control FDJ) and my Miska (Am/Can CH Varazs Kiralyi Kedvesem FDJ, FD, NAVHDA NA Prize III, JH, Am/Can CD, Am/Can RN, Am/Can RA, Am RE, CGN) for producing such talented and gorgeous puppies!

First points for Blaze

Blaze (Varazs Kedves Quasar) (above, Right) did very well this weekend at dog shows in Alberta, picking up his first 4 points! And he was owner-handled which is another nice achievement. Congratulations to Blaze and Iulia!!

Blaze has really matured and filled out a lot in the past couple of months and his family has also become more confident and experienced at show handling. And it has paid off! Woo-hoo Blaze! For more photos from his show weekend, click here.

Miska-Ozzie litter turns 1

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY to Andras, Blaze, Diva, Gunner, Piper and Quest.

Puppies with great-grandma Bree (L) and grandma Nova (R) and Erin & Connor Wilkes

June is a big birthday month for our litters. Our Miska-Ozzie puppies, born June 16, 2008, turn one year old today. (Miska = Am/Can CH Varazs Kiralyi Kedvesem FDJ, FD, NAVHDA NA Prize III, JH, Am/Can CD, Am/Can RN, Am/Can RA, Am RE, CGN and Ozzie = CH Hubertus Quality Control FDJ).

Andras has earned 4 majors in the US and is 2 pts short of earning his American Champion title. Diva has earned 3 AKC Jr. Hunter legs and 2 CKC Field Dog Jr. legs towards 2 hunting titles. Gunner, Piper and Quest have all earned CKC championship points. All before the age of 12 months. Thank you Miska and Ozzie for producing such talented and beautiful puppies.

Blaze & Piper update

Blaze (Varazs Kedves Quasar) was in his second weekend of shows recently. IMO from the photos that his humans sent me, he looks stunning & moves well, even though he wasn't awarded Winners Dog; he took Reserve Winners (runner up) instead. Aaah, the joys of showing dogs.

From Blaze, Calgary show

And pretty Piper (Varazs Kedves Quinn) and her young human, increasingly pretty Rae Brynn, recently graduated from their third set of puppy obedience classes. They make a great team! Rae Brynn shows cows at agricultural shows as one of her hobbies. I'm hoping to encourage Rae to show Piper in conformation since handling a dog is a whole lot easier than handling an ornery cow! Here are some photos of Rae & Piper together.

From Piper graduates Puppy 3

Blaze's first show

On January 31, Blaze (Varazs Kedves Quasar) who was out of our Ozzie-Miska litter born June 16, 2008 participated in his first conformation show in Calgary, Alberta. He was 7 months old and was the only male entered. His owners used a professional handler whose job was made easy because of the training that his owners have been doing to get him ready for the show scene. He didn't beat the other females but earned his first ribbons and was selected as Best of Opposite Sex to the female Best of Breed. Of course, I'm rather biased and think he's the best looking Vizsla there and should have won Best of Breed and Best of Winners. Nevertheless, the important things were that he had fun and behaved well!