UPDATED FEBRUARY 2010
Considering our "Lil' Pumpkin" Trip (CH Boulder's N Fusion's Power Trip SH), just turned 2 years old, we figured we should update her page--especially considering this amazing young Vizsla girl has been very busy since our last write-up on her!

If you don't care to read all the details below, the short is: Trip’s competition record in AKC events such as conformation shows, hunting tests, and field trials has been very limited and very successful. She won, placed, or qualified in almost every field trial, hunting test, or show she's been entered in to date.

And now the detail...

Because “the hunt” in a Vizsla is so very important to us (competing in AKC field trials, running in AKC hunting tests, and hunting wild birds are our greatest passions), we were eager to dig in with Trip and see what she’s made of. WOW! Early in her bird work, Trip showed she had strong bird desire and was highly trainable. In the wrong (inexperienced or overly harsh) hands, this combination could have been disastrous. Given how much we’ve learned about training bird dogs (Vizslas in particular), for hunting and competition we knew we could help Trip grow into the kind of bird dog we love: intense, independent, stylish, hard-working, and hard-driving but honest. We don’t believe in overworking our young dogs in any area—and certainly not in their bird work. It’s all about BIG FUN for the young and inexperienced Vizslas. And, it's all about the humans losing their egos. Being "ribbon hungry" is a sure-fire way to ruin a young Vizsla.

So, Trip had lots and lots of fun as she learned trying to catch a bird was a fruitless effort. Because she’s so biddable and intelligent, she learned this lesson quickly and became a pointing fool. You bet she still tried taking out a bird or two (this is to be expected) as she learned. But, because we didn’t put too much pressure on her and let her learn on her own (at her own pace!) that she couldn’t catch, she would just get right back to pointing.

OCTOBER 2008
Though still a bit young, we decided to enter her in her first AKC hunting test at the Junior Hunter level just to get her exposed to the world of AKC field events. She wasted no time getting her AKC Junior Hunter title! Going "four for four" Trip, qualified in two weekends (in just four hunt tests) for her Junior Hunter title at the tender age of 8.5 months old. Trip was handled by a very proud papa Aaron.

It was never our intention to have Trip pick up her JH title at such a young age (see our philosophy on training young bird dogs) she has, from the day we brought her home, exceeded our expectations.

While Trip was honing her bird dog/hunting instincts, she was also learning how to be a show dog. AKC conformation (dog shows) is breeder/co-owner Judy Hetkowski of Boulder Vizslas’ passion. Judy has dedicated herself to learning as much as she could about conformation and how to show a dog to his/her best potential. Naturally, this is one of the areas in Trip's training where Judy led the charge. Aaron and I are so lucky to have a mentor like Judy. We would study and learn how Judy taught Trip to go from a wiggly little Vizsla puppy who didn’t know how to keep her feet still to a smooth-moving, free-stacking beauty with all the 'tude intact!

FEBRUARY 2009
After successfully qualifying for her AKC Junior Hunter title in a perfect record of 4 straight passes, we decided to challenge her “dual quality” skills in a different way by entering her in an AKC walking field trial and a Vizsla Specialty show in the same weekend. She had just turned a year old the end of January and was still so much of a puppy but we’re all about having fun and this weekend just seemed like too much fun to pass up! Mel handled her in the Gateway Vizsla Club Specialty show on Friday and she was awarded Best of Opposite in Sweeps! This was a very big win for Mel because she’s also a novice handler in the show ring. Then, on Sunday Mel ran Trip in the Open Puppy stake in the Show Me Vizsla Club's walking field trial. She was running among pups with very strong field-bred pedigrees. She was awarded 4th place! This is Trip's first field trial placement. So cool that she WON in the show ring and took a PLACEMENT in a field competition in the SAME WEEKEND! Her wins reflect exactly our belief that our dogs must be of dual quality (structurally sound enough to show competitively AND talented enough to hunt with passion, drive, and independence!).

JUNE-AUGUST 2009
In June of 2009 breeder/co-owner Judy showed Trip at the Buckhorn Valley Kennel Club, Inc. (BVKC) Dog Show in Loveland, Colorado. Trip took WB and Best of Winners both days but even more impressive were her Best Bred-By (breed) and Best Bred-By Exhibitor Group 1 (12 dogs in the Group) wins!! Trip was handled by Judy.

Trip’s next big adventure was showing in the Texas Gulf Coast Specialty in July 2009. In a tough entry, she took Winners Bitch for a major out of the Bred-By Exhibitor class and went Best Bred-By in Specialty Show under breeder/judge Kathy Rust. Trip was co-breeder/owner handled by Mel. Mel showed their other girl Amante (CH Boulder's Bolder Amante JH) Friday and she took Winners Bitch for the major. The win put Amante at 12 points toward her conformation championship (CH) title. Mel showed “Lil’ Pumpkin” Trip, again on Saturday. Trip took the major from the Bred-By Exhibitor class then went on to take Best of Winners. These girls were HOT (hee hee, pun intended--it really was hot and humid in Houston in July)!

While breeder Judy Hetkowski of Boulder Vizslas wasn't ringside (she was in NY for her daughter's wedding), it's because of her hard work and mentoring that these wins were even possible. From the many hours of pouring over pedigrees and pictures to plan the breedings that produced these gorgeous girls to the caring and training, there is no doubt Judy is a top-notch Vizsla breeder. When the girls were just pups, Judy started teaching them how to free stack, to be hand-stacked, how to move on a loose lead, and worked with Mel to be a decent handler.

In August of 2009, we took the crew to a bonanza field event chock-full of hunting tests and field trials in Montana. Go to our “One Weekend+4 Vizslas=NEW AKC MASTER HUNTER (Kosmo), 1st Place Open Derby Win (all pointing breed) for 2 points (Trip), 4 More Master Hunter Passes (3 for Suede, 1 for Remus), Back-to-Back 3rd Placements in Open Gun Dog Major Retrieving Stakes (Remus). Whew!!” page to read about how well the Vizsla bird dogs did. Suffice it to say they made us PROUD! :-)

It was this field trial run that Trip showed us she’s got what it takes to compete in AKC walking field trials (the only trialing game we play). She was the only Vizsla entered in the walking field trial Open Derby stakes. She ran BIG, hunted with intelligence, pointed oh-so-stylishly, and handled as the 'green-broke' dog we know she is. During her run she honored her bracemate (on her own without a "whoa" command from Mel) and stood steady when he took out her pointed bird (her 4th find of the brace). The judges loved her performance enough to award her the 1st placement BLUE for 2 points toward her Field Championship (FC) title!!

OCTOBER 2009
October was a busy month for Trip. Judy and Aaron took Trip to the 2009 Vizsla Club of America’s National Specialty in North Carolina in October. Handled by Judy, Trip took 2nd Place in the Field Trial Bitch Class! Trip has been shown on a limited basis and taken the points every time in all breed shows except 3 (and she took Reserve to the major two of those 3 times). We weren’t in a rush to finish her AKC conformation championship title in 2009 so we could show her in the Bred-By class at the VCA National Specialty. Oh, and she also picked up TWO AKC Senior Hunter qualifies (handled by Aaron) in October.

With the show, trial, and hunting test season coming to a close we switched from playing the AKC games with Trip to enjoying the pheasant and quail hunting seasons. She joined us on a couple local hunting trips as well as our annual pheasant hunt in southern Illinois. Our baby is growning up! She handled most of her birds with the manners of a "broke" gun dog.

FEBRUARY 2010
The show season in Colorado kicked off for us at the Rocky Mountain Cluster Dog Shows (Plum Creek Kennel Club and Colorado Kennel Club). We had a strong entry with majors all four days. Trip, handled by Judy, took the major out of the Bred-By class Feb. 14th (Valentine's Day--too appropriate for sweet, sweet girl) then went on to take Best of Winners and Best of Opposite! The win from Bred-By FINISHED HER AKC CONFORMATION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE!!

We’re excited to continue watching Trip mature and develop into the dual quality Vizsla we now know (and have proven!) she is. Keep an eye on this girl—she’s sure to continue to impress! And, it bears noting that Trip has been exclusively breeder/owner trained and handled to all wins and qualifies. This mention is important because it reflects our deep commitment to Vizslas and to our breeding programs (Boulder Vizslas and Fusion Vizslas). It isn’t easy putting the many hours of training in and then the many hours and miles of travel to show, trial, and test our Vizslas so as to prove their worthiness. Nor is it an inexpensive game to play! But, it’s a game we’ve chosen and very much enjoy…especially when playing it with a Vizsla as talented as Trip!

There a lot of hopes and dreams riding on this little girl's shoulders. Notice her registered name. If lady luck blesses us, Trip will be the Foundation Bitch for our kennel, Fusion Vizslas.

Trip is one of the "Sueppies" from the Suede X Cappy (CH Boulder's Power of Persuasion RE CD MH VC X 3X BISS CH Sunnyside's Harbor Master JH) breeding. As the planning began for this breeding, Judy and Edj asked if we wanted to be co-breeders on the litter. Surprised and thrilled at the opportunity this presented, we accepted. You can read about how this breeding influenced us on our "Breeding Philosophy" page.

Once the "Sueppies" were evaluated for conformation, Judy decided Trip (the Pink/Purple girl) would be the one to come to our home. And what a PERFECT pick Trip has turned out to be. She is a dream puppy. Sweet, sweet, sweet just doesn't describe HOW sweet Trip is (no, I'm really not exaggerating!). Her laid-back and biddable temperament, and intelligence has made raising her an absolute joy.

Like Amante, Trip gets to live at our home as well as Judy and Edj's. She gets all sorts of wonderful socialization and training in these two very different but equally as loving environments.

Needless to say, we're in love! Stay tuned for updates on how this special pup grows and her many future adventures.