Mid-summer blahs

OMG! I can't believe that it's the middle of July already! It seemed like just yesterday that all the "kids" came home, and now they are headed out to North Dakota with trainer Dave as I type. I think they were ready to go though... they were getting rather bored around here. Going to summer camp, as I call it, means ample time for running and working on birds. And summer in North Dakota is much cooler than summer in Virginia. Chase, the pup I was boarding for a few months while his owner was on temporary assignment, as rejoined his "mommy" now. They are in the DC area now, soon to relocate to Texas.

I have spent much of my time this summer learning first hand about pasture management. I divided my pasture into two parcels with temporary electric fencing. The key word there is TEMPORARY, because it seems like the horses, deer or goblins end up taking down the dividing fence every time we have a good thunderstorm. What amazes me is just how far the insulators will fly off the fiberglass posts when the fence is plowed down. Anyhow, my intent is to rotate the horses from one side to the other on a regular frequency to allow the grass on each side time without horses on it to build back up. We'll see how well this works.

Dog Days of Summer

Summer has definitely hit Virginia this week. I believe the temp reached 100 degrees today in Richmond. I started off the day by bringing Buddy and Komanche over to my newly fenced in pasture. They seem to be happy enough with their new home. They found the mud road along the back that connects the two pastures, and spent a good part of the afternoon hanging out there in the shade. The dogs haven't quite gotten used to the idea of horses being on the other side of the fence. Misty was the first to spot them, sounding off in her "intruder!" bark.

There won't be the sound of any new little feet around here, unfortunately. The breeding that was attempted this spring was not successful. Very disappointing.

A Little Bit of Everything Going On

Heading home this past weekend, I chuckled to myself at the thought of my minivan as being a mobile geriatric ward, daycare, nursury and brothel. That's because I was carrying my two older girls, my 5-month old tenant, two females in season and a stud dog to breed to one, and I just picked up Zoe and her four babies to keep while Kelley is away on a business trip. Somehow we managed to fit in a short weekend at a field trial. Don't have any field trial brags from the weekend, but perhaps with so much going on, I haven't exactly been focused on just the trialing.

The breedings have been done, and hopefully I'll be announcing an upcoming litter soon. Stay tuned....

Spring trialing

Our spring trial season started down in Georgia this year in late February. Dave went down to Leesburg, GA, for a weekend trial, followed by the NVA Eastern Championship. Then he headed up to Norwood, GA, for the VCA National Gun Dog Championship. I was able to join him for the VCA event. The following weekend was our club's weekend trial, which means a boat load of work for me the week prior and after, as well as during the three days of the trial. We had a very large entry, as usual. And to add insult to injury, it rained two of the three days, turning our trial into a virtual mudfest. Now it's my turn to go to everyone else's trials and enjoy myself - I have done my part to contribute to the sport this spring.

Joey has made his debut as a gun dog. He hasn't come home with any ribbons yet, but I am confident that he is on the right track.

Zoe's puppies

Wow... where did the time go? It seems like it was just yesterday when Zoe was bred. Now she is the mother of one week old puppies - three females and one male. Mother and babies are all doing well.

Just when it got quiet around here...

Dixie's puppies all left for new homes. My youngsters (Joey, Dixie, Sara, and Dylan) are with Dave preparing for the Spring field trial season. It was just me and the "old girls" (Misty and Phoebe) here holding down the fort. Then I get the news that the owner of Chase, one of Dixie's pups, was required to pack up and move for a five month training assignment in the Norfolk area. Unfortunately, she is not allowed to have any pets in her temporary living accommodations, so Chase has come back here for the spring. He is the sweetest boy, quite smart, and fairly bold for his age. Even though it's only early February, the past couple of days have been quite spring-like, and Chase and I have enjoyed some long walks. Today I even swatted a mosquito! But I know that cold weather is returning before too long. I guess we will enjoy it while we can.

More Puppies on the Way!

Springtime will bring more Ricochet Vizsla pups! Kelley has bred her girl Zoe (CH Ricochet Misty & Col's Pride JH) to Cutter (DC AFC Bitteroot Semper Fi Cutter). If all goes as planned, puppies will arrive in mid-March. Puppies should show great field potential, as well as be wonderful companions in the home. You couldn't ask for sweeter temperaments than Zoe's and Cutter's.

Quiet Again

It is quiet around here once again. Today, the last of Dixie's puppies left for his new home. I was sad to see him leave, but I know he will have a wonderful and loving home. He also has a full time playmate - a one year old Vizsla "sister".