Canine good neighbour

Our Tyro became our newest Canine Good Neighbour (CGN) today at a test held by the Vizsla Society of Ontario at their annual Fun Day. Despite the pouring rain drumming down on the fibreglass roof of the training centre and the swallow or swift doing flight circuits indoors and driving many dogs crazy, Tyro gave me great focus on the heeling pattern, did a fantastic recall & sit stay, showed no fear or excitement walking through a crowd of strangers with buggies, crutches, hats, etc. In other words, he aced all the tests with the exception of one - during the 3 minute stay with me out of sight, he got up from his down position and started to wonder where I was. However, this still qualified as a pass and now Tyro can add the letters CGN to his official registered name. Woo hoo Tyro! Great work.

Lucky 7 for 10!

Happy 7th Birthday to the 10 puppies from our 2003 litter born June 26, 2003. 

Here's to Amber, Hudson, Katya, Miska, Noble, Rachel, Ruby1, Shandy, Vadasz and Zsofi who turn 7 years old today. Barks & wags to all of you! The wonderful parents of this litter were our treasured Sasha (BPG Am/Can CH Varazs Kiraly Sassy Sasha Am/Can CD, Am/Can CDX, FDJ, RN, RA, RE, RAE, TT, CGC, CGN) and our beloved Nova (CH Ferngold Varazs Innovation Can/Am CD FDJ, JH, Am/Can RA, Am RE, Am RAE, CGN).

Last Sunday, all 3 Birthday dogs in our house celebrated their birthdays with a long walk in the woods with Gunner, Miska's son. He couldn't stay for cake but enjoyed the outing before his 'tutoring' surgery the following day. Diva and Miska wore bling & Tyro sported his finest tie for the cake. Here's a photo of the doggie cake (melting in the blazing sun).  That's supposed to be a heart on top. :-)
 

Today, Miska will celebrate her big day by attending the Vizsla Fun Day sponsored by the Vizsla Society of Ontario.  I don't know how much fun she'll have since major rain is in the  forecast.

On Vancouver Island, Shandy will also celebrating with a big cake and a pool party.  Here she is, salivating over her cake.

Puppies turn 4!

Happy 4th Birthday to Lloyd, Lucy 1, Lucy 2, Nika, Ruby, Tessie, Tucker (formerly Chili) and Tyro from our Hudson-Nova litter born June 17, 2006. 

Nova was bred to Am/Can CH Kizmar Touch of Evil JH RN ("Hudson). This was our Nova's second and final litter. There were 8 puppies in this litter, 4 girls and 4 boys. I'm happy all the puppies from that litter are celebrating a birthday. Woo-hoo!!!

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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.

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Tyro visits Tessie

Since I was in New York state for a hunt test on Sunday June 13 (nothing positive to report about that!), I was only about an hour's drive away from where Tessie (CH Varazs Nyar The Contessa) lives. Tessie is a littermate to our Tyro. I hadn't seen Tessie and her humans for about 2 years so it was wonderful to see everyone and especially wonderful to be able to give Tessie some early birthday kisses & hugs.

 Tessie (L) with brother Tyro

L - R Miska, Diva, Tyro & Tessie

2010 AAC Regionals

I'm absolutely chuffed to write that Mila (M-OTCH Szuni's Shooting Star CD CDX UD FDJ FD FDX TD AGN AGI AGDC AADC CGC) sired by our Sasha (Am/Cdn CH Varazs Kiraly Sassy Sasha Am/Cdn CDX, Am RAE, FDJ, CGC, CGN (Sasha), ended up in 5th in her group at the Agility Association of Canada's regional competition in British Columbia on June 12-13, 2010.  (Detailed results still to be posted at the time of this post.) That means Mila and her breeder/owner Susan Scobie of Vancouver made the podium!  Two years ago, they placed 9th overall at the regionals when Mila was two years younger.  This year's improved accomplishment is even sweeter because Mila is almost 11 years young! Let's hear it for Mila and Sue!!!!!  We - and Sasha - are SOOOO proud of you!

The following pics were taken in 2008 at the Regionals where Mila showed her great style.

Happy 8th Birthday

Our Charlie-Tasha litter born June 13, 2002 turns 8 years old today! How time flies. Pictured below in a photo taken a few years ago are littermates (L - R) Lola (BPIG CH Varazs Vidam Lolamae), Milo (Varazs Mokany Ficko FDJ, Am/Can CD, Am/Can RN, RA, RAE AgNJ, AGN,  RACL (CARO), SSGDC, SADC, CL1-R, CGN) and his list of titles is by no means complete, and Kati (CH Varazs HPR Kata of Blackbullet FDJ).  Hugs, kisses, pats, butt scratches and special treats to all of you.

And sadly gone but never forgotten is Jupiter (below)
(CH Varazs Jupiter Red Moon Rising).

Our beautiful Nova

CH Ferngold Varazs Innovation 

Can/Am CD FDJ, JH, Am/Can RA, Am RE, Am RAE, CGN

June 6, 1999 - June 8, 2009

This is a very very difficult day for me.  One year ago, June 8th, just 3 days after her 10th birthday, we had to say goodbye to our beautiful Nova. My grief is still very strong and lots of tears are being shed right now.

Nova was such a fun loving, playful and humorous Vizsla (a lot like her dad Drum in that regard) and it was such a pleasure to share her company. She drove us crazy with her bed humping and bed dragging but then those behaviours became the very ones we miss the most because now it means she's no longer with us. Dogs like Nova always leave a huge hole in my heart and Nova's absence is strongly felt. I'm so grateful that I have hundreds of photos of her and many memories of all the things we did together. Nova is still profoundly missed.

Nova (R) with her daughter Miska; looks like she's chewing bubble gum

 Miska (L) and Nova (R), June 2009

Farewell Nova. I wish goodbye had not been so soon.

In memory of Nekah

In loving memory of Am/Can CH Maritza of Kezdet Nekah Am/Can CD, CGC, "Nekah", our first Vizsla puppy, first female Vizsla, and our foundation bitch whom we lost June 7, 1999 - 11 years ago today.  Nekah made such a huge impact on my life and changed it in so many ways for which I am eternally grateful.

Nekah - gone, still greatly loved, and missed and never forgotten. 

The month of June

June is always a happy / sad month in my world.  It's happy because several of our litters were born this month but it's also a sad time because several important Vizslas that played a big part of my life also died in June.  I'll be writing about many of them over the next 30 days.