Birthday walk and swim

What better way for Miska to spend her 6th birthday - a very hot day at that - than a run through the cool(er) woods and a swim in the lake with her daughter, Diva? Happy Birthday "Miska-Monkers". We love you!!!

Above L-R Diva, Miska

6 years old!

Our biggest and best litter has turned 6 years old today. Happy Birthday to: Amber, Hudson, Katya, Miska, Noble, Rachel, Ruby, Shandy, Vadasz and Zsofi. This was a wonderful litter as exemplified by their looks, temperament, intelligence and accomplishments. I absolutely adored the parents: my Sasha (BPIG Am/Can CH Varazs Kiraly Sassy Sasha Am/Can CD, Am/Can CDX, FDJ, RN, RA, RE, RAE, TT, CGC, CGN) was the dad and my Nova (CH Ferngold Varazs Innovation Can/Am CD FDJ, JH, Am/Can RA, Am RE, CGN)was the mom - both phenomenal Vizslas.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The unexpected and untimely death of Nova, their mother, at age 10 just speaks for the need to cherish and treasure every day with your dogs. Sasha lived into this 16th year, and I hope his longevity genes have been passed on to all of his kids. I know they have certainly inherited the good looks and lovely personalities of both parents and for that, I am so grateful.

So kids! Live it up, have a blast, go for a long walk with your humans, have some special treats but above all, be loved every day.

Much love from your breeder mom, Sylvia.

Final resting place

Photos of Nova (2007) courtesy of Corrine Sellars

My dear, sweet Nova returned home to her final resting place on June 19. Of course, she didn't return in the state and form I wanted her in - alive, healthy and bouncy. Instead, her ashes are in an engraved cedar chest, next to my bed and her purple collar will lay there too. Memories of Nova, her love and the joy she brought me will be buried in my heart forever. Fortunately I have so many wonderful photos and videos of Nova over the years that I will be able to relive our wonderful years together.

My friend Chrissie Diron, who owned Shandy, Nova's daughter, sent me the following. I can't read it with sobbing but it hits home how fragile and fleeting a dog's (or person's) time is on this earth. Nova is somewhere where I can't see or hear her but I hope we will be reunited one day. Nova, I love you and miss you so much. Rest in peace.

"I'll lend you, for a little while, a dog of mine," HE said.

"For you to love while she lives, and mourn when she is dead.

It may be but two or three years, or maybe twenty-three,

But will you, till I call her back, take care of her for me?

She'll bring her charms to gladden you, and shall her stay be brief,

You'll have her lovely memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise she will stay, as all from earth return,

But there are lessons taught down there I want this dog to learn.

I've looked the whole world over in my search for teachers true,

And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes, I have selected you.

Now will you give her all your love - not think this labor vain,

Nor hate me when I come to call, to take her back again?"

I fancied that I heard them say, Dear Lord, thy will be done.'

For all the joys this dog shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shower her with tenderness and love her while we may,

And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay.

And should the angels call for her much sooner than we planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.

"If by your love, you've managed, my wishes to achieve,

In memory of Nova that you've loved, be thankful, do not grieve."

"I will lend you a dog", God said, "and teach you all you have to do.

And when I call her back to Heaven, you will know she loved you too."

Cherish every moment of your furry charges. They fill your home with barks of joy.

Let not Nova's passing take from you those memories to enjoy...............

Thank you Chrissie.

Another achievement for Milo!

Last Saturday (June 13) was the Swansea Dog Obedience Club's awards dinner in Toronto, Ontario and Milo received the "CKC Novice Agility Trophy" for 2008. How fitting because it was also his birthday!!!! Congratulations to owner/handler Corrine Sellars and Milo for having just a phenomenal year of achievements in both agility, obedience, and rally! As Milo's breeder, I'm so proud of both of you!! Thank you for giving Milo an incredibly stimulating, fun and interesting life and also for taking such great care of his body and mind.

Milo with all of his rosettes and ribbons for his Rally Advanced-Excellent title

Courtesy of C. Sellars

Nova-Hudson litter celebrates 3 yrs

As I wrote earlier, June is a big birthday month in our household (with more still to come). Today we celebrate the 3rd birthday of our Nova-Hudson litter consisting of 8 Vizsla puppies born June 17, 2006. Nova = CH Ferngold Varazs Innovation Can/Am CD FDJ, JH, Am/Can RA, Am RE, CGN and Hudson = Am/Can/Int CH Kizmar Touch of Evil JH CD RA Evil. This was Nova's second and last litter. Sadly, she is no longer with us. We kept one male puppy, named Tyro, from this breeding and he is a joy to live with. He just has a wonderful, fun-loving, gentle and loving personality - just like his mom Nova. Seven out of the 8 puppies earned their Cdn Championship titles. Tyro has completed his AKC Rally Novice title and has 1 leg towards his CKC rally novice. Tucker earned his FDJ and has 1 Rally Novice leg while living with his breeder.

Happy 3rd Birthday to:
Ruby, Lloyd, Lucy1, Lucy2, Nika, Tessie, Tucker (previously Chili) and Tyro.

About 5 weeks old

With mom (Nova) - about 6 weeks old

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.

Tasha-Charlie litter turns 7

Happy 7th Birthday to our Tasha-Charlie litter (Milo, Kati, Lola) born June 13, 2002.

One of the puppies, Milo, celebrated his 7th birthday by earning his 7th title since January of this year! His human, Corrine Sellars, wrote me the following:

"In honour of Nova, Milo earned High in Class with a 95 in Excellent then Q'd in [Rally] Advanced to complete his RAE [Rally Advanced-Excellent title]. March 7th to June 13th = 29 consecutive CKC Rally Qs for 4 titles! Reached "our" goal (set in January) of completing 7 new titles by Milo's 7th Birthday.

AKC: CD
CKC: CD, RN, RA, RE, RAE
CARO: RXCL"

Corrine will soon run out of room in her house for all of Milo's ribbons and rosettes! What an incredible birthday!

Milo with all of his recent rally software and some hardware

Fovever Young

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

...by Dylan Thomas

Nova
CH Ferngold Varazs Innovation Can/Am CD, FDJ, JH, Can RA, Am RE, Am RAE, CGN

June 5, 1999 to June 8, 2009

Sadly, we had to say good-bye to our beloved and beautiful Nova so soon after she turned 10 years old. Cancer robbed her and us of enjoying her senior years. We are profoundly saddened and heartbroken by her death. Nova was loved by everyone who met her, but none more than us who miss her terribly.

Donations in Nova's memory to fight canine cancer can be made at:

https://www.uoguelph.ca/alumni/cgi-bin/pet_trust_donation.pl

Nova turns 10 today

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Dearest and Cherished Nova,

Where did the time go? It doesn't seem like 10 years ago that you were born and almost that long ago when you entered our lives, thanks to your breeder, Eileen Wilkes (Wright). You were named Nova to represent new blood and new lines in my Vizsla breeding program. But how the passage of time flies by so quickly. Now you're turning 10 years old today. What happened to the past decade?

You are barely showing your age in your face and you're still as beautiful as ever. We love you so dearly and know that you love us too. I hope we've given you a good and happy life. You have made many friends over the years and have been a wonderful mom to 16 kids in 2 litters and grandmother to 6 more. Your legacy will always live on in your offspring and your grand-kids and perhaps great-grand-kids one day. Your field trainer, Mike Wilshire of Ruffwood Brittanies had this comment for me about you. "Nova has a real problem. She's too %@*^~ friendly." Well, this certainly was a compliment about you because you loved people!!

Photo by Corrine Sellars

During this short time (really, a decade seems to fly by so fast), you and I trained, competed for and earned 12 titles. I feel like we've barely scratched the surface and wish we had done more. It's difficult to believe that a decade has already passed. Just 3 months ago, you finally completed your American Rally Adv-Exc (RAE) title and competed in a Vizsla specialty show in Phoenix, earning Best of Opposite Sex in the Veteran Sweepstakes and last fall, you earned your American Jr Hunter title. I'm so glad we did all this and more because I know you had so much fun.

Today we salute you Nova (CH Ferngold Varazs Innovation Can/Am CD FDJ, JH, Am/Can RA, Am RE, CGN)and celebrate your life, your loving personality, and your fun-loving nature. Thank you so much Eileen for entrusting Nova to me. I know we've done you proud and I will always be grateful and cherish the the photo shoot we had at your house last fall and am so glad that Nova graces the cover of your 2009 Bowser's catalogue. Thank you for all those exceptional photos of Nova, Miska, and Diva.

Photo by Bowsers

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY NOVA!!

Love always,
Sylvia & Michael

2 more JH legs for Diva

On May 30 - 31, 2009, Diva (Varazs Kedves Quickstep) earned two more legs toward her AKC Jr Hunter (JH) title. Just needs 1 more leg for her title.