SUCCEEDING IN AKC HUNTING TESTS AND WALKING FIELD TRIALS - Coming soon!

'WHOA' AND THE CITY - Thoughts about how to get creative with your bird dog training if you're a desk jockey or live in the city. Remember, the 'whoa' command is one of the most important commands a bird dog needs to know.

BIRD DOG TRAINING SUPPLIES - The 'tried and true' list from Fusion Vizslas. We've spent many years (and many a pretty penny) acquiring this vital bird dog gear.

A VIZSLA TO HUNT WITH - We believe deeply in helping others learn about Vizslas and about why it is so important to get a Vizsla from a responsible breeder. Vizslas are hunting dogs. Because they were originally bred to hunt upland and small game, they have a high level of energy and intelligence. Because they were also originally bred to be a "gentleman's hunting companion", Vizslas have a hunting style that should be of a moderate range so as to handle nicely from foot. This piece gives you the scoop on getting a Vizsla to hunt with (in Colorado). VERY IMPORTANT POINT: Vizslas are slower to mature than most of the other pointing breeds. If you aren't a patient person, a Vizsla might not be the right hunting companion for you.

SNOWSHOEING WITH VIZSLAS - Get off your duff and take your Vizsla snowshoeing! The beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado provide the perfect trails to snowshoe with Vizslas--and the Vizslas LOVE it. With a little extra protection, they can safely join you on your snowshoe adventures. Remember, don't keep them out too long though. Especially if they're bounding through the snow. They'll get cold and tired much quicker than you!

INTERESTED IN A VIZSLA PUPPY? - Want a Vizsla puppy? Bring a Vizsla puppy into your family the right way. Please, please, please get your Vizsla puppy from a RESPONSIBLE BREEDER!

WHY HEALTH TESTS (ON VIZSLAS TO BE BRED) ARE IMPORTANT - Vizslas are a relatively healthy breed, especially compared to many other popular breeds. Those of us who love this breed work very hard to maintain it's overall good health. Doing so isn't easy. It requires us to spend resources (time and money) doing various health tests throughout the life of our Vizslas and dedicating untold hours to researching pedigrees to understand health issues within specific lines. There is no such thing as a perfectly healthy pedigree. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying...

UNDERSTANDING PEDIGREES - Take a few minutes to read our insights about pedigrees and why you should care. Healthy, proven, well-cared for Vizsla pedigrees are a critical piece of the overall puzzle and will help you find the Vizsla of your dreams. Well-nutured pedigrees aren't just for the snobs!

TRAINING - Read about our philosophy on training Vizslas for field competitions (such as AKC hunting tests and field trials) and hunting. Our philosophy on field training has only matured over the past few years as we've gleaned pieces and parts from a variety of sources. Perhaps the most important part of our training philosophy is not putting too much pressure on a dog when training. While it requires a tremendous amount of patience, asking a dog to learn only that which s/he is mature enough to learn ensures long-term success. VERY IMPORTANT POINT: Vizslas are slower to mature than most of the other pointing breeds. If you aren't a patient person, a Vizsla might not be the right hunting/performance companion for you.

BREEDING RESPONSIBLY - Read how we feel about responsible breeding of Vizslas (and really any other pure-bred dog). Breeding responsibly takes a tremendous amount time (way before a breeding even happens!), resources, knowledge, and energy. Breeding should never be taken lightly or done just because someone believes they have the sweetest, smartest, best dog ever. Responsible breeders do not let their pups end up in shelters or rescue, strive to breed healthy dogs with sounds temperaments, and maintain contact with their puppy homes for the life of the dog. Responsible breeders TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for the dogs they've bred. This may mean taking a dog back (regardless of age/health) or rehoming a dog they've bred if the need arises (lifestyle changes such as divorce, human children, relocation). Your responsible breeder should be THE FIRST to call when you have questions about your dog--behavior issues, health concerns, performance questions, nutrition/diet questions, etc.

COMPETING--KEEP THE RIGHT 'TUDE! - Read about our philosophy on competing with the Vizslas. It's taken some level of maturity to learn that because we spend most of the vacation time we accrue, lots of our precious pennies to train for and to enter these games, enjoying the journey has to be more important than bringing the ribbons home. After all, the ribbons are for our own egos--our dogs certainly don't know whether they get a ribbon or not. If we play the games with the right attitude, all they ever know is that they're doing something they love and spending time with their humans. We also believe strongly in treating our Vizslas, other competitors/exhibitors, and judges with respect. Sportsmanlike conduct is NOT to be compromised!

THE IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION: What We Feed The Vizslas And Why - We feed our dogs a completely balanced raw diet, specifically the AFS Raw Meat Diet. This decision came from very careful consideration and was driven from the fact our dogs weren't thriving on the kibble we were feeding. The decision to switch our dogs to a raw diet was a gradual one. Those who see our crew always comment on how healthy they look and act. They have nice shiny coats, teeth, excellent muscle toning, endurance, bright eyes--they just scream "VIBRANCE!"

VIZSLAS!! - General Vizsla Information with lots of links. Is the Vizsla the right breed for you? Learn more about this sweet, high-energy, intelligent, gentle upland hunting dog through the multitude of Internet resources. You'll find links to the Rocky Mountain Vizsla Club: The Specialty Vizsla Club of Colorado, the Vizsla Club of America, publications we recommend about general trainin and bird dog training, and more!