Thorny issue

Diva's walk was cut short yesterday when she came up lame on her L front leg about 15 minutes into our jaunt through the deep woods. I checked her paws and didn't see anything but it was obvious she was in considerable pain because she limped badly. Fortunately we hadn't gone very far or it would have been a very long trek back to the car.  Later in the evening, on closer examination Michael spotted a very tiny mark on her pad, like a minuscule pin head. The head of it was far too tiny for needle nosed pliers so I decided to soak her paw in Epsom salts first. Then I used my regular eyebrow tweezers and finally managed to get a hold of it & pulled.  Out came a 1 cm. thorn! It had gone straight into her paw. Boy, did she feel a whole lot better without that in her foot!

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.

Alarm bark

As we sat outdoors yesterday evening, eating our dinner on our balcony, Diva started to bark and growl. Then Miska & Tyro chimed in. Diva, however, kept it up and wouldn't stop. We couldn't figure out what she was vocalizing at but she was clearly perturbed about something. We did hear the snap, crackle of some creature going through the woods and Michael figured it was probably a squirrel. But I didn't think so as our dogs don't react like that to the sound of a squirrel. It was something else but we didn't know what so Michael disappeared to check things out. I thought he was going into the woods but instead, he went to the DVD player to which we have hooked up an infrared camera located by the fox/coyote dens. Well, well, well! He saw a coyote passing through. So our little Diva, whom we still think of a puppy, is now grown up enough to be a real watch dog. Diva was right to get worked up and give us a warning.

Diva taken May 2010

And on the subject of coyotes, I just learned today that Diva's brother, Quest, was attacked from the rear by a coyote about a week ago.  He had several puncture wounds, especially around his tail and likely sustained when he was trying to flee.  It was around 4 pm when this happened, in North Toronto.

Almost!!

Yesterday I ran Miska in an FDX (Field Dog Excellent) at the VSO field tests. I only entered her in the one day because:

• She hadn't been on birds or done any field training for the past 8 months due to our lengthy sojourn in AZ
• I didn't know if she would be in good enough physical condition given that the main form of her exercise for most of the past 6 months while in AZ was very brisk leash walks
• I wan't familiar with the grounds having found the venue at other field test locations far too small for FDX level.

I thought that perhaps her lengthy absence from the field might deliver some positive results (wishful thinking, eh?).  Well, I didn't really expect Miska to pass although I was hopeful.  She started off well, covering a lot of ground quickly. Then she honored (backed) her GSP brace without me commanding her.

Miska backing her bracemate

Miska holding her honor position

Miska stayed in position throughout the flush, shot and retrieve of the GSP's bird.  I saw Miska flinch when the bird flushed and knew she was desperate to retrieve the other dog's bird but although she re-positioned herself (well, she just moved a tiny bit) she otherwise stayed pit.  At that point, my hopes really started to rise because remaining steady through the shot & retrieve of another dog's bird has been her nemesis.

Then Miska found a bird & went on point, exhibiting a beautiful style. We had to wait quite a while for the GSP to be rounded up so he could display his backing skills. The GSP either saw Miska on point and ignored her or looked right through her because he needed a command from his handler to whoa.  Finally he backed Miska. 

Miska pointing her Chukar

The Chukar was right in that grassy mound so it was easy for me to spot. I told Miska to whoa while I flushed it. As soon as it took flight, she broke her point and started to chase it (aaarrrgh!).  All hopes were dashed at that moment because it meant a FAIL.  Why did she break her own point but held it on the honor?  Who knows?

Despite the 'Fail',  I was still very very pleased with many aspects of Miska performance. She covered a lot of ground; she scored a 9/10 for desire; 8/10 for style of running; 15/15 for pointing and a 10/10 for her honor.  I can't possibly fault her for what she didn't do or did. I realized afterwards that this was my first time handling at this level in Canada as Miska's field trainer, Mike Wilshire, had always handled her. So I probably made some mistakes or failed to take action when I should have.  But Miska came out of the field very tired and happy because she did was she loves to do and I was very happy with her honoring.

Sasha, you made my day!

It's been more than 2 years now that we lost our beloved Sasha. But today, he was very much in my thoughts because of the surprise I found. I've been purging closets, drawers, cupboards, etc. disposing, donating, moving stuff to reduce clutter. I came across a couple of old Vizsla Club of America national events catalogues in my bedroom and decided to move them to another room where more of my dog stuff is stored. The catalogues dated back to 2002 and 2003. I just happen to open the 2003 catalogue from Charlotte, NC which then brought back lots of memories:  

• An entire garment bag got left behind at home so I had nothing to wear into the show ring and to rush around shopping for new outfits after our arrival in Charlotte; of course I didn't discover this until we arrived at the hotel, 780 miles from home. I was not a happy camper especially because it was still very hot at the end of October and the only clothes the stores were selling were for winter.  I couldn't find anything cool to buy!
• There was a fire alarm in the hotel and every one had to vacate their rooms. Fortunately Michael was in the room  with the dogs at the time and was able to get them out but other dogs were trapped in their rooms while most people were at a VCA welcome reception; fortunately there was no fire but it was a scary moment for all Vizsla owners.
• Keira earned her first leg in AKC Novice A, Jumpers with Weaves in the agility trial with a clean run, score of 100 & 2nd place; I got happy.
• Keira and Tasha came second in the Brace class. I was very happy.
• Sasha took 4th place in the Veteran Sweepstakes, 12 yr & older. I was thrilled. 

Well, the surprise was finding the envelope containing Sasha's sweepstakes win, still sealed after almost 7 years! So today (May 27, 2010), I finally opened it.  Inside was his $15 (US) cash win. Thanks Sasha! You made my day. I love you and still miss you so much. And Keira and Tasha are still missed and loved.

 

Sasha sporting his Parade of 

Champions rosette from the 2003 Nationals

Goodbye new neighbours??

Well, perhaps the presence of our 3 Vizslas has been enough to give the coyote family the heebie-jeebies.  We saw the coyotes on camera (we have an infra-red outdoor camera that is set up close to the den entrances and we can record activity as desired on our DVD player), trying to herd their 3 youngsters into the woods one night.  It was a challenge for the parents as the kids weren't co-operating so finally mom and dad finally picked the uncooperative urchins up by the scruff and carted them off to another location.  So far, we haven't seen the family back.  Yippee! 

That's not to say they aren't very far away however as it's likely they found another home somewhere on our adjacent neighbour's 40 acre plot which is mainly wooded, like our land is. What we did see however, not long after their disappearance, visits from a fox and a very large male coyote (or perhaps wolf-coyote cross) but not 'our' coyotes.  This big male sniffed around the den entrance and then marked his scent but didn't enter the den.  A neighbour a few miles away told me about wolf-coyote hybrids (coywolf) being in the area. This male that paid us a visit sure was big, like a wolf although seeing something on a large screen TV can be deceiving. Anyway, we do watch our dogs more closely now when they are outdoors and pray we will have no Vizsla Coyote encounters.      

Finally!

Our Diva (Varazs Kedves Quickstep FDJ) born 2008 from our Ozzie-Miska litter, finally took her first show point in Canada today. I had focused on showing three of her littermates (Piper, Gunner & Quest) last year in Canada so Diva had to sit home while her littermates had fun in the ring instead. This was Diva's first conformation show in Canada in 2010 after being away in AZ for 6 months. Finally on Monday we had another female whom Diva was competing against and Diva took one point under judge David Kelland of Conception Bay South, NL.

Unwelcome new neighbours

While we were away in AZ for the winter, we acquired some new and close neighbours who are NOT welcome at all. They are quiet, keep to themselves BUT - they are coyotes (canis latrans) and Mr & Mrs Wil E. Coyote have 3 kids! We are definitely not happy about these new neighbours. Last year coyotes virtually drove away the red foxes which had been occupying dens on our property for several years. We enjoyed and welcomed the foxes and looked forward to their kits but don't feel the same love and friendship towards the coyotes. These dens are only about 20 feet from our driveway and about 200 feet from our house. Very close indeed! Just when we thought our dogs could enjoy their off-leash freedom, instead, they are being very closely supervised while outdoors and not being let at all unattended, which means they must be kept indoors much of the day except for walks. Not at all what I and they were expecting on our return home. Boo, hoo!

Happy Campers!

We just returned to Ontario after a 6-month stint wintering in Arizona. Our welcome home was inhospitable: rain, sleet, ice pellets, very chilly temperatures, and strong winds. Quite a dramatic change after the mild winter and early warm spring I was told this province had.

After 4 days of traveling in the van from Arizona to Ontario, our dogs had to endure yet another 2 days being cooped up in our Ontario home due to the foul weather.  But better safe than sorry as a few new trees came down during the wind storm so I was thankful I didn't venture out into the woods.  Finally, the winds subsided and it warmed up ever so slightly on Sunday.  I went to get their blaze orange collars and bells and from that point, the dogs just got so excited! They remembered what this meant. Walkies!!  Actually, "runnies", not walkies.

Apart from several trips to the dog park in Arizona, our dogs' main exercise has been brisk, long leash walks - for some very important reasons.

1. Dangers of cactus everywhere and I mean everywhere! (at least where we live)
2. Very strict leash laws in Maricopa County
3. Huge fines and court appearances if charged for being off leash
4. Potential dangers of coyotes, javalinas, bobcats, and rattlesnakes depending on the time of year and location of our walks.

So imagine their excitement at the prospect of going for a run off leash!  Let's go, let's go, let's GO mom!  Admittedly, I was rather nervous even though I've taken them for runs in our woods for years and years.  I guess I was worried they would be so smitten with being free, that they would quickly disappear into the woods onto fresh scents they hadn't smelled in months.  At least when I walk them on leash, I always have them under control.

To ease my feelings, I did a lot of short recalls while they were in close proximity and this helped.  However, Diva, now almost 2, disappeared twice. The second time she disappeared in the same area and didn't return right away when I blew the whistle and called her name. I called and called. Note to self - work harder on her recalls!!!  Finally she emerged carrying a deer leg in her mouth.  Well, what a coincidence! Miska did exactly the same thing - found a deer leg the first day after our return from Arizona last year! (See http://varazsvizslas.blogspot.com/2009/02/miskas-trophy.html) Like mother, like daughter!  At least I know Diva has a good nose and has already proven herself to to be a good hunter.  Now Diva has to prove herself on her recalls.

Proud Diva with her deer leg treasure

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.

AZ Diaries

From our home in Ontario to our home in Arizona is about 3,594 km or 2,233 miles (one way).  If we were to drive non-stop, it would take us 35 hours.  Of course, that’s impossible for humans and canines to do in one stretch, so the first time we made the trip, we did it in four days.  Why ‘so long’ you might ask?  Not that we are a ‘little older’, we humans find sitting for 9 to 10 hours produces a lot of stiffness so we set that timeframe as our maximum target per day.  And, once outside of Indiana, there are huge stretches of "nothingness" so planning our itinerary was dependent on locating a pet-friendly hotel that didn’t tack on huge surcharges for dogs and somewhere decent to eat.

Our Vizslas have generally always been good travellers.  Over the past 30 years that we’ve been owned by this breed, only one Vizsla, "Buster", was initially a terrible traveller even though he actually loved being in a car.  Buster suffered badly from motion sickness when we acquired him at the age of 16 months, to the point where just sitting in a car without any motion was enough to produce buckets of drool.  However, with the help of Gravol (an anti-nausea drug), it took about two years to desensitize him so that he wouldn’t drool or vomit on any trips. Eventually, he didn’t need any Gravol whatsoever. Of the six puppies Buster sired, a daughter developed similar symptoms but the owners chose to not deal with it and so she never became accustomed to travelling. But since I compete with our dogs in a variety of venues, they ‘have’ to like going in a car and as puppies, I always introduce them to the car in a gradual way.  So it was a bit of a novel development in our current brood that one dog has developed a car anxiety. "Tyro" had been a good traveller for the first year of his life until our 15-year old Vizsla, "Sasha", passed away. Twice a week up to that point, the two of them would accompany each other on a 25 minute trip for their swims at a hydrotherapy spa in Georgetown, ON.  The car never bothered Tyro but soon after Sasha crossed the Rainbow Bridge, I noticed that Tyro would start to pant after only about 5 minutes in a moving vehicle. There was no drool or vomiting, just panting.  Putting him in the front seat made it even worse.  After discussion with my vet, we tried a drug to see whether he was actually feeling nauseous as opposed to anxious, but the drug had no effect on him. 

So the prospect of taking a dog with a car anxiety on a 3,600 Km road trip was very daunting, especially for him.  But being a dog and not a human, he didn’t know what lay in store and couldn’t fret about it beforehand. However, I seriously considered leaving Tyro behind for our two-month stay with a good friend of mine but in the end, decided that a few days of discomfort would hopefully be more than offset by the prospect of being with his people and getting away from the cold, snowy, and icy Canadian winter for two months.  But, what could I do to make Tyro feel less anxious in a moving car?  Since I shape my dogs’ behaviour and use positive reinforcement, I tried ways of making the car positive.  All the methods I used were only successful when the car was not moving.  As soon as it started to move, Tyro would not accept any treats. 

Then I read about the calming properties of lavender oil in Dogs In Canada magazine and decided to try it on Tyro.  Well, I was surprised and delighted to see it actually had a positive effect!  Sprinkling 3 or 4 drops onto his bedding in the car helped him so much that travelling for 25 minutes back and forth for his hydrotherapy sessions almost became non-eventful.  But how would he fare over the course of 3,600 Km., in a moving vehicle for 9 to 10 hours per day?  Given how much time dogs spend sleeping, I was certain he would not be able to stay awake for an entire day and would eventually fall asleep.

Well, we just had to bite the bullet and hope that the lavender oil would do the trick.  And it did for about three to four hours before needing more.  It definitely helped to reduce Tyro’s anxiety but it never completely eliminated it because during the time we were in motion, Tyro never slept. The girls would be passed out in their crates for most of the daily journey, but Tyro always had his head up, eyes half-open for the entire time in the car.  I tried putting a Bowsers Donut Bed in Tyro’s crate, hoping that he might at least rest his head. He came close several times but never chilled out enough to drop off to sleep. So, it was never very long after we checked into a hotel each night that Tyro would pass out cold for the night.

While in the US, I was able to purchase two spray bottles of DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) which has some scientific basis as a calming agent in canines.  I hoped this might be the panacea for Tyro but it wasn’t as successful at reducing his anxiety as the lavender oil. (DAP is available in Canada but only through a veterinarian.) In the end, I hope Tyro agrees that the discomfort of being in a car for the long journey to our winter home in Arizona is worth the four-day drive to be with his people and to experience mild winters!

Below: Diva getting acclimatized to her new home in AZ.

No human furniture yet but the dogs,
Tyro & Diva, have their Bowser's Beds to sleep on.

Diva  (below) exploring the new dog park.

Phoenix Dog Shows & Rally Trials

From Thursday, Feb. 4 to Monday Feb. 8, I spent 5 days with my dogs participating in conformation and rally trials in Phoenix. There were 2 specialty shows hosted by the Sporting Dog Association and the Rio Salado Vizsla Club in addition to 4 all-breed shows.  And there were also 4 days of rally trials. All in all, it was great weekend for rally. Tyro earned his AKC Rally Excellent title so is now known as CH Varazs Napkelte Tyrone Am/Can RN, Am RA, Am RE. It was exactly one year to the date when he earned his AKC Rally Novice title at the same show along with his mother Nova who finished her RAE title (see photo  below of Tyro (L) and Nova (R). (More memories of Nova.)

Tyro's scores weren't great because we hadn't spent enough time practicing certain exercises like the 3-step backing up and moving stand so he lost a lot of points for those exercises which most judges like to put in. 

Miska also did well and earned 4 more RAE legs.  RAE means she has to pass both the Advanced and Excellent rally classes at the same trial. So each day she was doing 2 trials - and passing. She earned several placements (3rds and 4ths) but should have done better as she was hit with several 1 pt losses for being out of position. And one time I didn't run fast enough by the jump and she nicked it which cost her 3 pts. Without that deduction, she would have had a 99/100.  More practice, practice, practice!

And Diva was not to the judges' liking except for the very last day (Monday, Feb. 8). Several people had gone home and so there was no major in Vizslas (a major is a show with enough dogs of the same gender to make it a 3-pt win or higher).  However, when judge Robert Salsbury of Waterloo Iowa said to me as he examined Diva, "Congratulations on breeding a dog with a front!", I thought me might like her as none of the other dogs, including his Winners Dog, had a decent front. There were a lot of Vizslas there with straight shoulders. Anyway, he gave her Winners Bitch and then pulled Diva out first (and here I was thinking Best of Breed!! how exciting) but then he pulled a male champion out ahead of us. However, he did also award Diva Best of Winners of the Winners Dog. This didn't give her any more points (she ended up with 2) but at least it said he preferred her over the Dog.  So that finally gave Diva her first 2 points and ended out disappointing losses from the rest of the show weekend.  As the saying goes, "A different day, a different judge." which is sometimes a very good thing.

Memories of Nova

I'll start off by writing that I'm a very sentimental and pretty emotional person.  I tear up even when singing the national anthem which is low on my emotional scale. So I knew that the shows and rally obedience trials in Phoenix AZ were going to be rough for me because they were the last that my beloved Nova participated in before she passed away.  She finished her AKC Rally Advanced-Excellent (RAE) title one year ago in Phoenix and was Best of Opposite Sex in the Veteran Sweepstakes and only female Veteran in the Rio Salado Vizsla Specialty Show. Little did I know that these would be the very last shows & trials that she would ever participate in.

When I returned to the same show site this year, I wasn't able to enter the building where I had crated the dogs for rally obedience. The memories of Nova are still too strong. I was glad that this year's rally ring was at the opposite end of the building so it felt different.   The Specialty Show, however, was in the same ring as last. So I tried to keep busy, staving off thoughts of her by volunteering to help the Vizsla club set up. That really helped.

But I guess the worst part was visiting the dog park where I took our four dogs last year. I thought I was ready and initially felt OK to go there.  After Sunday's shows & rally trials, I took Miska, Tyro & Diva for an outing because they needed to let off steam. I still have vivid memories and photos of Nova there.

Nova, 9.5 years old

 

Below: Nova (L) with Tyro (R rear) & Miska at the dog park

 

thought I could deal with being in the park although I have vivid memories and photos of Nova there.  Initially I was fine.  There was a 6-month old Vizsla there for my dogs to play with and talking to the owners took my mind off Nova. It wasn't until I got home that I broke down.  Then all the tears began.  Oh Nova, how I miss you sweetie!

Groundhog Day litter turns 12!

I've never referred to the birth of our 4th litter as the Groundhog Day litter before now but it did happen that day, 12 years ago! Four puppies were born February 2, 1998 to our "Nekah" (Am/Can CH Maritza of Kezdet Nekah CD CGC), sired by "Rowdy" (Am CH Legacy's Rhythm N Blues). It was Nekah's last litter. Of those 4 puppies, three have outlived both parents and reached the age of 12 years today: Amber ( BPG CH Varazs On Point at Blackbullet), Bartok (Varazs Bartok Bluebeardscastle), and Otis (Varazs Betyar Otis).

Happy 12th Birthday!!

Dreaming of Nova

Last night I had a very vivid dream about our Nova (CH Ferngold Varazs Innovation Can/Am CD FDJ, JH, Am/Can RA, Am RE, CGN). I dreamt that she was still alive and with her breeder, Eileen Wilks (formerly Wright). I was overjoyed to see Nova. Did she come to 'speak' to me? I don't know. I am very close to my dogs who are like my 'kids', albeit four-legged but I don't often have dreams about them. Recently both Sasha and Nova have been in my dreams but they have been on my mind so perhaps it's nothing more than a transference of daytime thoughts to night-time dreams. Regardless, it's wonderful for me to have contact with dogs that I love and miss very dearly. You may think I'm cuckoo but so be it.

Relatively speaking

This week, I receive an email from a woman who just found my website and discovered that we have Vizslas in common!  She happened to have owned the brother of our Buster (Am/Can CH Kezdet's Adrian Buster Am/Can CD CGC)!!! And surprisingly and amazingly, "Bert" aka Kezdet's Adrian Albert lived so close to us but neither Bert's owner nor I knew of each other until just now, several years after both dogs had died.  If I had only known, I would have loved to have visited and seen Buster's brother.  It turns out that Bert was imported into Canada from New York state to the same person in Toronto from whom we acquired Buster.  Bert apparently developed an overbite by 6 months of age and so was placed elsewhere.  Our Buster was a replacement for Bert but the importer decided to sell Buster at 16 months of age because he was rather tall - although not outside the Canadian standard - and that's when we entered the scene and adopted Buster into our household. From there, Buster went on to finish his Canadian and American Championship titles, American and Canadian obedience titles, and was # 3 Vizsla in Canada in 1992 and sired one litter that resulted in our wonderful Sasha and Jazz.

Bert's forever home was with his loving owner Anne Freeman and her family.  She acquired Bert at 6 months of age in 1989.  "Up to the age of 12.5 he was extremely healthy and we only saw our vet for yearly vaccinations. The last six months he began to lose weight, had a decreased appetite and lost muscle tone in the hind quarters. We had runners everywhere to ensure he didn't fall because he certainly never slowed down!! The last week he became disorientated at times, had difficulty with mobility in his hind legs, seemed weak, confused and would wander and just stare at walls. So pitiful to see, but the discomfort was ours not his. We finally had to make a decision based on quality of life. I still grieve at times when I see his pictures as he was truly a beloved friend and such a spirited character. Once you've been adopted by a Vizsla, no other breed will do."

I am so glad to learn of another relative that has lived a long and healthy life.  Anne and her family said goodbye to Bert on August 28 and the very next day, we said farewell to Buster on the 29th.  I just learned of this fact tonight and can't believe they both crossed the Rainbow Bridge within a day of each other.  RIP brothers.  You are both still greatly missed.

Anne doesn't have an digital photos of Bert but wrote that he looks just like Buster. Here are some photos of Buster to remind me of what they looked like.

Buster below, August 28, 2001 one day before he was euthanized. We love you and still miss you.

Rochne

Gingersnap Rochne

June 17, 1997 - December 24, 2009

Sire: BPG Am/Can CH Varazs Kiraly Sassy Sasha Am/Can CDX FDJ CGC TT (Sasha)

Dam: CH Gingersnap Dunmore's Pride (Cindy)

I recently received sad news that Rochne passed away on Christmas Eve, 2009 at almost  12.5 years of age. Rochne was bred by Joanne Baxter of Medicine Hat, Alberta and sired by our beloved Sasha.  Even as a young dog, Rochne became a spitting image of our Sasha, both of whom had beautiful heads.

Sometime ago, Rochne's owner, Carol Snedden wrote to tell me that "Rochne takes my husband for at least one walk a day and sometimes two. That keeps them both in good shape! Rochne loves going in the canoe fishing with us but doesn't like water or
swimming! He loves chairs, beds and sitting as close as possible to anybody."  For Carol and Jack Snedden, there will never be another breed as wonderful as the Vizsla.  If Rochne took after his dad in temperament, then I know how exceptional a dog he was even though I never had the opportunity to meet Rochne or his family.  My deepest sympathies to the Sneddens on the loss of Rochne.  Here are some photos of Rochne supplied by the Sneddens.

Sasha, In Memoriam

In loving memory of our wonderful Sasha
(BPG Am/Can CH Varazs Kiraly Sassy Sasha Am/Can CDX, FDJ, RE, RAE, TT, CGC, CGN).

December 31, 1992 - January 22, 2008

"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;

Its loveliness increases; it will never

Pass into nothingness; but still will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing."

from "A Thing of Beauty" - John Keats (1795 - 1821)

Sasha is still sorely missed. Fortunately his beauty, spirit, talents, and exceptional temperament live on in many of his offspring.

Sasha (green collar, R rear), 3 months old  with his littermates Jazz (L rear) and Marco (front)

8 months old

14 years old