Merry Christmas!

I can't believe it is Christmas Day already! Amazing how quickly you lose track of time with a litter of nine energetic puppies at home. Joey, Dixie, Dylan and Sara are off to "winter camp" in Georgia now. Phoebe and Misty are helping me keep watch over Dixie's brood. This week puppies start going to new homes. It will be quiet around here once again before long.

As if taking care of a litter isn't enough work, we hosted our club's (Old Dominion Vizsla Club) fall field trial this month. It was a lot of work, but with some help from everyone at the trial, we pulled it off. And our "team" brought home some ribbons, too. Dave took third in the Open All Age stake with Mason. He won the Open Limited Gun Dog stake with Colonel. Daisy, Dave's pointer, won the Open Gun Dog stake, and Sara won the Open Derby. I brought home third in Amateur Limited Gun Dog with Colonel, and Dylan won the Amateur Walking Derby stake.

Puppy update

Pups are now 4 weeks old. They are growing fast, eating well, playing with each other, and starting to show their individual personalities. Mama Dixie developed a rather nasty case of mastitis (infection in the mammary gland), so pups were weaned a bit earlier than normal to allow Dixie to heal. She is doing much better now.

Fall trialing

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone! It's been a busy fall season with the big trip out to Iowa and Nebraska, followed by the arrival of Dixie's puppies. But we have managed to get to some east coast trials as well. The first weekend of November was the Pointer Associates of New England field trial. Dave did well in the Open Limited Gun Dog stake, taking first, second, and fourth with Specter, Pete, and Moxie, respectively. Sara got a placement in Open Derby , and Colonel and I won the Amateur Limited Gun Dog stake.

Dave went from the P.A.N.E. trial to the Pointer Nationals at Wye Island the next weekend. He ran Pete and Daisy in the National Championship, winning it with Daisy. Pete's owner Judith earned a placement with Pete in the National Amateur Championship.

The third weekend in November was the Southern Maryland English Setter Club trial. It was another successful weekend for Dave and me. Colonel won the Open Limited Gun Dog stake and was third in Amateur Limited Gun Dog. Sara won the Open Derby stake. Moxie won the Open Gun Dog stake, with Zeke second. I also got in lots of ride time with Buddy. He's coming around nicely.

We may be going to the Delaware Valley German Wirehaired Pointer trial next weekend. Then we'll be busy hosting the Old Dominion Vizsla Club trial December 14-16.

Puppies are here!

Today Dixie whelped nine puppies - five males and four females. Mother and babies are all doing well. The stats of the whelping go as follows:

8:20 am Male 16 oz. (Black collar)
8:44 am Female 14 oz. (Pink collar)
9:06 am Female 15 oz. (Yellow collar)
9:38 am Male 17 oz. (Purple collar)
9:55 am Female 13 oz. (White collar)
10:32 am Male 15 oz. (Orange collar)
11:25 am Female 13 oz. (Green collar)
11:50 am Male 15 oz. (Blue collar)
1:03 pm Male 16 oz. (Red collar)

Friday they will go in for tail docking / dew claw removal.

Trip to Iowa and Nebraska

I'm back from my two plus week trip to the midwest to attend a couple of Vizsla field trials (Show Me Vizsla Club and Hawkeye Vizsla Club), the NVA Quail Classic, and the VCA National field trial. The Show Me and Hawkeye trials were held at grounds near Thayer, Iowa. These are beautiful grounds. Dylan and Sara both ran in the derby at Show Me. Dylan unfortunately went birdless and Sara took a 4th place even though she had a mishap tripping over a log that then popped up and whacked her on the chest, leaving quite an abrasion and a big knot. The Hawkeye trial was cut short due to terrible thunderstorms, and the Open Limited Gun Dog and Derby stakes were canceled. On to the Hickman Ranch we went, a few miles south of the Thayer grounds. This was the site for the NVA Quail Classic. Dave ran a few dogs in the Open Shooting Dog stake and brought home the Winner and Runner-Up awards with Mason and Colonel. Sara and Dylan both ran in the derby stake and did well, but did not place.

From the Hickman Ranch, we caravaned to the VCA National field trial at Branched Oak in Nebraska. Mason, Colonel and Moxie all did well in the National Championship, with Mason and Colonel making the second series. Dylan ran a beautiful race in the Derby, but alas went birdless once again. Sara had one find but was a bit too busy at times during her run. I ran Colonel in the National Amateur Championship and we made the second series, where he demonstrated just how much of a bird dog he is with one find after another. Unfortunately, he was not called back for a retrieve and our bid for a championship title ended. I was proud of his effort though and received many compliments from other participants.

Dixie and Dylan came home with me from the Nationals. Dixie is due to whelp in about a week or so. She is huge now. Dylan is just getting a little break and some "mommy time".

Loss of a Friend

Today is a sad day. My friend and first Vizsla mentor, Carol Wynn, passed away this morning. Ten years ago Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she did not let it take her down. This summer she wasn't feeling well, and found out that her platelet count was quite low. For two months she went in twice a week for a "fill-up". Last Friday she was checked into the hospital with low blood pressure and failing kidneys and liver. Today her friends and family must wish her farewell on her journey to Our Lord. She will rejoin with Samantha and Blue, her first two Vizslas, and hopefully will be watching over my Ricochet and Angel, both of whom passed on this past year.

I got my first two Vizslas, Ricochet and a couple of years later Phoebe, from Carol. She was there to help when Ricochet had her first litter. She always welcomed us into her home when we would come south for a visit or to go to the Greenville shows. It didn't matter how many dogs were in tow - everyone was welcome. There were many fun times around Carol's dining room table. What a wonderful, generous, giving person. I will remember her fondly.

First Fall Trial

Got back from the first field trial for us this fall, and have one brag... I won the Amateur Limited Gun Dog stake with Colonel. He is such a fun dog to run. Dave ran Colonel in the Open Limited Gun Dog, but about half way he disappeared and neither Dave nor I could find him. We knew that he had to be on point somewhere. When Dave pulled the Tracker out, sure enough it indicated that he was on point. It took us some time to pin-point exactly where he was. We rode by him at least twice. He was buried pretty deep in some thick cover.

Dylan and Sara ran in the Open Derby stake that had a very large entry. Both did a nice job, but neither placed.

Pasture in Place... Now the Wait

I can only imagine how waiting for grass to grow is going to test my patience. The pasture has been disked earlier this week, and lime, fertilizer and seed spread today. I wish it would be like those Chia-pets and start to grow immediately. Somehow, I think it will be spring before I see much of anything.

I asked Dave how Dixie was looking. His response was "buff". I know it's only been a couple of weeks, but she is obviously not showing signs of pregnancy yet. Usually it's five weeks or more before the plumpness set in.

The Last Burn Pile

Today I set ablaze the last burn pile of the sticks and logs that I have gathered in the future pasture. Yesterday we had some rain after several weeks of dry weather. This will make disking the ground much easier. Hopefully next week I can get the truck out to spread the lime, fertilizer and seed. Could there be a pasture in our future?

I had planned to take Buddy to a Brittany trial up at Sumerduck this weekend to ride and watch, but the trial was canceled due to lack of entries. So instead, I started yet another project at home this weekend - painting the window and door trim / sills on the exterior of the house. I won't finish the project this weekend, but I hope to get a good start on it. This is all in an attempt to stay ahead of any more rotting around the windows... already had some repair work done this summer.

I can't wait for field trial season to get here. Today's cooler weather sure did get me in the mood for it. Puppies on the way will cut my fall season short a bit, but it'll be fun having wee ones in the house again.

A Third Time?

If we don't have puppies this fall, I will be shocked. Dave put Joey and Dixie together again on Saturday, just to be sure that the breeding window has been covered. Once again, we had another tie. I'll be heading out to Iowa in mid-October to join up with Dave for some field trials there. Then we'll head over to Nebraska for the Vizsla Club of America National field trial. Dixie should be quite rotund by then. She'll come home with me after Nationals.

Second Breeding Attempt

Thursday Dave put Dixie and Joey together again and had a good long tie. Dave was whining because he didn't have a chair nearby to sit in while he held the two during the tie. Been there, done that! I once had a pair tied for about 45 minutes in the middle of my backyard and had nothing to sit on except the wet ground. I think I finally gave in and just sat on the wet ground. Breeding these two has probably interrupted their individual progresses in the breaking process. Joey has only one thing on his mind right now. Next week things should be getting back to normal for him. The whole complexion of the fall season has changed for Dixie, however. Hopefully, she is successfully bred and that motherhood suits her. She can then resume training as a gun dog next spring.

Dixie and Joey - First Breeding

Dave informs me that Joey and Dixie successfully tied yesterday. He will put them together again tomorrow for another breeding attempt. Perhaps we will be blessed with puppies in about 9 weeks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The Future Pasture and Buddy

It's Labor Day weekend, and today (Saturday), Misty and I worked a bit this afternoon picking up and piling up sticks and logs in what will someday be the horse pasture. This project started back in January when I decided to clear a few acres for pasture. I think the guys who did the clearing worked more on their machinery than on the property. It was May before they got what is cleared now - about three and a half acres - and the wood burned or hauled off. By then, it was too late in the spring to plant, so all summer I've been staring at what looks like a baren waste land. As it turns out, the burn piles were just scattered out, so now I am picking up the bigger pieces to try to burn them again. This fall my neighbor will disk the ground and I'll have the lime, fertilizer and seed spread. It won't be soon enough when I can finally get Buddy (my Tennessee Walker) over here. But there is so much yet to do before then... the pasture, a run-in shed, the fencing.

Buddy is the newest "member of the family" around here. I saw him at a field trial in Georgia last December, and fell in love with him. And I felt a bit sorry for him. The gentleman who owned him had just recently acquired him, but didn't seem at all comfortable with him. And I thought that he was a little bit too much fellow for Buddy, who is a lighter built horse. The headstall that he was using was way too big for Buddy, so Buddy kept getting his tongue over the bit. I bought a more appropriately sized bridle for him with a walking horse (leverage) bit. But he still manages to get his tongue over it, so I am researching what alternatives I should try. Boy, there are a lot of bits out there!

Breeding Plans

Dave has informed me that Dixie is in season. Day 1 was August 24. I've decided to breed her to Joey.... well, Dave will have to officiate the mating. The scary thing is that if the breeding is successful, puppies will be ready to go to new homes right around Christmas. I'll have to make sure people aren't wanting to buy a puppy for a Christmas gift, especially for someone who may not be so committed to new puppy ownership. Raising a litter in winter is not as easy as a spring or summer litter, either. I like to give pups exposure to the great outdoors, but if it's nasty weather or too cold, can't do that. First we have to see if the two will breed....

Introduction

While the rest of the kids are at "summer camp" in North Dakota, Misty and I decided it was time to create a blog for Ricochet Vizslas. So who are we? I am Grace Anne, leader of the pack. Next is Misty, currently 9 years of age, retired from show and field competition. The other four at camp are Joey, who will be 3 this fall, Dixie, 2 years old, and Dylan and Sara, 1 year old littermates. They are out there with their best buddy (and mine too) Dave. We miss them, but know they are having a blast.