GET THOSE BABY BIRD DAWGS ON WILD BIRDS (PRONTO!)
We’ve had Crush out a few times so far this season.  I forget how much fun it is to watch the babies learn how to use their noses.  Half the time she isn’t really sure what she’s tracking.  All she knows is it smells good!  Most other times, she’s way behind the eight ball.  The adults have already established a point on a holding bird (sometimes she naturally honors their points…other times she runs around oblivious…other times she runs around them with her nose to the ground as she works hard to locate the bird they’re pointing) or they’ve moved on past scent/hotspots.  She’ll come trailing along hitting most of the same spots they’ve oh-so-subtly indicated then moved on.  Sometimes we put her down alone…sometimes with one of the experienced gun dogs.  Sometimes she sees the bird flush…sometimes she sees the shot bird drop…sometimes she runs clear across the field in hopes of finding where the unharmed bird landed.

We’ve watched her push birds too hard causing them to flush…likewise we’ve seen her sometimes apply those lessons and move with caution as she determines the scent is stronger.

We’ve watched her hit some pretty hostile cover while on scent–and make the choice to move through the discomfort.  Pretty cool. <Read More>

HUNTING OVER A "SENIOR" BIRD DOG
…is like savoring a fine wine.  The fullness and subtle complexities are noted and enjoyed.  Each sip is oh-so satisfying.

Years ago a friend commented on how much she preferred hunting over “older” bird dogs.  I never thought to ask her why I just recall finding the comment interesting.  At the time I didn’t have an “older” bird dog to hunt over.  And, because I didn’t grow-up hunting my first exposure to hunting upland game with pointing dogs was in my 20s.  At the time of her comment my own bird dogs, Vizslas, were young–none over 5 years.  I’m not sure why her comment stuck with me all of this time.  But it has.  And occasionally it pops out for me to roll around in my thoughts and consider. <Read More>

THE PHOTOS TELL THE TALE: AN EXAMPLE OF WHY WE TEACH OUR VIZSLAS TO RETRIEVE TO HAND
This is a brief entry.  Primarily, because the photos below tell the story pretty well on their own.  These photos are perfect examples of why we teach our Vizslas to retrieve to hand.  And, why we put the extra work into proofing their retrieves.  The photos illustrate exactly what can and does happen when testing/trialing at the advanced levels (AKC Master Hunter and Gun Dog Stakes).  We’ve seen this very situation happen during tests/trials and because the dog under judgment hasn’t been taught to hold the bird until the release command has been given, the dog can’t receive a qualifying score.  Another common situation is when the handler does give the dog the release command but then fumbles the bird (as pictured below) and the bird lands on the ground…at the handler’s feet.  The requirements of a retrieve in a Gun Dog stake are the same as those in an AKC Master level hunting test: “After the shot, the handler shall not command or signal the dog to retrieve until the dog’s steadiness to wing and shot has been positively demonstrated. The dog must retrieve promptly, tenderly and absolutely to hand in all retrieving stakes.”  (For the AKC’s “official” description of field trials and hunting tests go to their website and download the Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedure for Pointing Breeds Booklet and the Regulations for AKC Hunting Tests for Pointing Breeds.) <Read More>

WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS “FIELD TRIAL” BUSINESS ALL ABOUT ANYWAY? THE BASICS OF AKC FIELD TRIALS
AKC field trials are COMPETITIVE events in which dogs defeat each to win points toward a championship title. In addition to fulfilling specific requirements in Derby and Gun Dog stakes (pointing game birds, proving steadiness, etc.), dogs are also competing against each other in order to in considered for a placement. There are field trials for pointing, retrieving, and flushing breeds.  The abbreviation for a “Field Champion” is FC and AFC for an “Amateur Field Champion”.   Because these are championship titles, they precede the dog’s registered name.  An example is: FC AFC Random’s Best.   As you can see from the example, a dog can be awarded both an FC and an AFC title.  AKC hunting tests are NONCOMPETITIVE events in which dogs are judged against a standard in order to qualify for a title.  Titles obtained in AKC hunting tests are recorded after a dog’s registered name.  There are 3 different levels of AKC hunting tests: Junior, Senior, and Master Hunter.  The titles are recorded as: JH, SH, or MH. An example: Random’s Best JH. <Read More>

WHAT A CORRECT HONOR OR "BACK" LOOKS LIKE (POINTING DOGS) - This post includes a short video clip from a training session over the weekend. It shows what a correct honor looks like. We see so many lousy honors, we were inspired to post a correct, stylish one. <Read More>

PLAYING AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB (AKC) HUNTING TEST GAMES AT THE SENIOR AND MASTER LEVELS - Once upon a time…10 or so years ago, Aaron and I (Fusion Vizslas) attended our first AKC hunting test (pointing). I’ll save that story for a future post but thinking back on how little we knew then still brings a smile to my face. And, a feeling of humility as I think about how much more we have to learn about training gun dogs–Vizslas in particular. We have learned a lot though, over these years.

If someone were to ask me what the biggest differences are between the Junior level and the more advanced Senior/Master levels my simple answer would be:

1. Whoa training
2. Retrieve training
3. Solid recall
<Read More>

DON'T SEND YOUR GUN DOG TO RETRIEVE A LIVE, UNSHOT BIRD - Never send your gun dog to retrieve a live, unshot bird. Never. Never, ever. Never, never, never, never. Let’s repeat this a 100 times and pinky-swear to keep each other honest. <Read More>

TRAINING BABY BIRD DOGS TO HUNT (WORK COVER) - Sounds kind of silly--training a young gun dog to hunt. But, given that many of our bird dogs are city-slickers and from a variety of pedigrees, it's becoming more obvious to me that you need to teach your pup how to hunt--to work cover. That is, if you intend to actually hunt over your bird dog and/or compete in AKC Performance events such as hunting tests and field trials (or the like--NAVHDA, NASTRA).<Read More>

'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. <Read More>

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. <Read More>

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. <Read More>

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! <Read More>

INTERESTED IN A VIZSLA PUPPY? the right way. Please, please, please get your Vizsla puppy from a RESPONSIBLE BREEDER! <Read More>

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... <Read More>

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! <Read More>

TRAINING VIZSLAS - 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. <Read More>

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. <Read More>

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! <Read More>

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!" <Read More>

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! <Read More>