We're so VERY PROUD to announce our NEW AKC MASTER HUNTER, Kosmo (CH Derby's Read Em And Weep MH)! Kosmo, a Vizsla, followed in his Papa Cassidy’s (BISS CH Rivercity's Quenton Cassidy MH ROM) pawprints and finished his AKC Master Hunter (MH) title with his fifth and final pass this past weekend at the Montana German Shorthaired Club Hunting Test in Three Forks. Kosmo qualified in 5 of his last 7 Master level hunting tests. MH tests are tough with so many things that can and do go wrong. In his final test, he handled a very difficult situation when his bracemante stole his point. Kosmo had already been standing his bird for several minutes while the judges let the other handler work his dog in for an honor. The dog failed to honor and instead busted in and stole point. Kos stood for at least another minute while his bracemate was leashed up and heeled away. We weren't sure he would be able to hold it together after that kind of pressure but he stood like a statue until released to fetch the downed bird. His pass rate exemplifies his exceptional natural abilities as a bird dog and his high level of trainability. Training and hunting over Kosmo is an absolute joy. He loves to work and is always so eager to prove he can do it best! He reminds us of the kid in the classroom hopping up and down in his chair whispering "ooo...pick me, pick me!" under his breath. As he's matured and gained confidence, he's developed a 'high' pointing style we absolutely love. We also love his rock-solid-ain't-no-doubt-about-it honor. As soon as he sets his eyes on a pointing dog, he hits the brakes and stands with style until we release him to move on.

Our almost 9 year old once-in-a-lifetime Vizsla boy, Remus (CH Shakin' My Booty Rezzamatazz CGC SH) wow'ed those watching with his consistently intense and steady performances. And his smile...you can't miss it when you watch him working, and you can't help but smile along with him! His first time testing at the Master level, he qualified easily then went on to give us two more back-to-back master level performances in the Open Gun Dog retrieving stakes. Both of the stakes were majors and Remus was awarded 3rd place in each. He handled some very tough conditions in one day but held it together and ran clean. In his first stake, the gunners were shooting every bird pointed in the bird field. Well, they were supposed to be shooting every bird pointed in the bird field. After shooting at and missing Remus' first three finds, the gunners finally downed his fourth. Those who know Remus should be reading that last sentence with their mouths agape. Remus' biggest challenge is standing through the shot. In field trial gun dog stakes, there is absolutely no delayed chasing. You bet Aaron's mind was crystal clear as he handled Remus through dangerous waters. After the stake, Remus was one of the dogs to get a call back. He handled the callback beautifully and the gallery clapped as he retrieved the shot bird to Aaron's hand. Remus has been trialed on a limited basis and has taken a placement in every stake he's ran clean in!

Mama Suede (CH Boulder's Power of Persuasion CD RE MH VC), and her pups Trip (CH Boulder's N Fusion's Power Trip SH, or here for Trip's page on Boulder Vizslas) and Peak (Boulder's Power of the Rockies JH) put on quite a show in Montana as well. Suede and Trip traveled with us while Peak road-tripped it with his guardians Jim and Cindy Mueller.

Suede was entered in all 4 of the Master Hunter tests and qualified easily in the first 3 tests. After each performance, and throughout the course of the weekend, she was paid many compliments by the judges, gunners, seasoned and experienced hunters, and novice exhibitors. One of the judges liked Suede so much she gave her an average score of 9.5!! We were told repeatedly by others they "would love to take that Vizsla home" with them and how much they enjoyed Suede's well-mannered but still exciting performances. She hunted enthusiastically in each brace despite the 90+ temperatures. Her retrieves were textbook Master Hunter level ("deliver promptly, tenderly and absolutely to hand") and snappy as she bolted back to Mel with her tail wagging happily. Even though she didn't qualify her fourth and last test, the judge exclaimed "Now that's a damn shame!" when she broke a couple of seconds after the shot (and before Mel released her to retrieve). When Mel thanked the judge and leashed Suede up to heel her out of the field, the judge told Mel, "No, thank you for showing this exceptional Vizsla to me." Yep, Suede and Mel both got goose bumps from such a compliment! :-)

Not wanting to let his Mama Suede outshine him, Peak qualified for 3 Junior Hunter legs in a row. Mel and Aaron watched with BIG smiles as Peak showed off his BIG run and intelligence in hunting objectives during his tests. Though Jim is a novice handler, he has dedicated many hours learning how to train Peak for field work and how to handle him in the tests. All of their hard work is paying off with the repeated high scores and compliments Peak and Jim get from the judges. One more leg to go and Peak will be the second "Sueppie" (Suede X Cappy) pup to add a Junior Hunter (JH) title to his registered name.

It was Trip's turn to 'turn it on' and boy did she ever! 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)!!

What an awesome weekend showing off the natural abilities and trainability of Suede, Peak, and Trip (Kosmo and Remus too!). Though both hunting tests and field trial games simulate hunting, they are judged differently. A dog who qualifies in a hunting test will not necessarily have the run and style to win a field trial placement—in fact, many don’t. Likewise, a dog who wins a field trial placement may not have the trainability to handle successfully in a hunting test (thus, not qualifying). To have a dam and her two pups qualify in hunting tests AND win a first place field trial placement in the same weekend speaks volumes about the "power of genetics!"

To say we're "pleased" with how Kosmo, Remus, Suede, Trip, and Peak tested/trialed is an understatement. We qualified in 5 of the 7 Master Hunter tests, 3 of the 4 Junior Hunter tests, picked up a 1st place Open Derby win, and two 3rd placements in Open Gun Dog retrieving stakes we entered this weekend. We're all still ON CLOUD NINE and beaming with pride!!