22nd March 2011 - carnage in Bournemouth!

When I looked outside this morning, I couldn't work out what the mess was on the back lawn (more mess than usual that is!!):

Feathers...!!

What I hadn't noticed at first was this Sparrowhawk eating his breakfast!!

Oh dear...poor Blackbird!

Rio soon saw the Sparrowhawk off & then worked on getting feathers up his nose!!

Monday 21st March 2011 - a walk in Ramsdown Forest

It was such a lovely day yesterday (REALLY spring like) that our afternoon walk just HAD to be in a forest. This time I chose Ramsdown which isn't too far from home so easy to get to. Here are a few photos & short videos for you to enjoy!

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What do I do with a turkey neck...?!

Lovely sunny day today so it was out in the garden with the lunchtime bones! For a change the boys had a turkey neck each...are they huge or what?!!! It was Rio's first time to sample this particular delight &, at first, he wasn't quite sure what to do with it so had to watch Radar for a while until he got the idea...

Ummm...what's this? It doesn't look or smell like a chicken wing or a lamb rib!

I'll just nip across & see what Radar's doing with his!

Can't quite see...let's get closer...

Out the way Radar...I could share yours now that you've got it started...!

Just some pictures...

Who's that sitting in the drivers seat...?!

Oh it's Radar...what a clever boy he is!!

Vizsla bookends...!!

The door Sphinx (aka Radar!) & his ceremonial rope!!

Sunday, 21st March 2011 - Radar's First Show!!

Guess what Radar did yesterday...after all this time I finally plucked up the courage to enter him in a dog show (why should Rio have all the fun!) - it was the Hungarian Vizsla Club Open Show.

Here's my boy "standing" so nicely!

My clever, precious boy did so well...he came 3rd in the Novice Class. I was so proud of him...he got lots of extra treats & cuddles!

Nail Clippings & Filings

As you may remember, one of my recent posts contained a plea for everyone to contact Di Addicott (01576 202258) to ascertain whether a SALIVA SAMPLE from your dog(s) would be useful for the Polymyositis research – thanks again to everyone who’s been in touch…keep those phone calls & offers coming!!!

Now I have another request…!

We also believe that, with ever advancing Technology, TOE NAIL CLIPPINGS or FILINGS will prove to be useful for future research into any inheritable illness(es). Currently, extracting DNA from things such as toe nails or hair is laborious so will not be done routinely, however, the plan is to build up a library that could be called on should any of its participants prove to be “key”.

Please could we have your dog(s) Nail Clippings or Filings!

It’s really simple…next time you give your red boys & girls a manicure, pop the clippings into a dry paper envelope that’s been clearly labelled with the:

• Vizsla’s Kennel Club registered (Pedigree) name
• Owners name, phone number & email address

Then put it into another envelope addressed to Di Addicott, Murrayfield, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, DG11 2PJ. If you’d find it easier, I have a supply of both types of envelopes that are ready prepared…if you’d like some let me know your address & I’ll get them to you.

This is a project to which we hope all Vizsla owners will be prepared to contribute.

Hope you & your red boys & girls are all well…keep watching this space as I’ll be trying to organise another whizz very soon…promise!

9th, 10th & 11th March 2011...busy three days...phew!!

Wednesday 9th March started REALLY early...5 a.m. - I don't think Radar & Rio knew what hit them particularly when I took them out for their morning walk at 6 a.m....they were NOT impressed!!! Mind you, they probably knew that something was up because the night before I'd been packing up the car with a mulitude of stuff! So why the early start...well, it was Crufts week, so we were heading north so that Rio could compete at Crufts for the very first time.

We took a "slight" detour first...as Radar wasn't allow to go to Crufts (you have to be "invited"!!), he was going to stay with our good friend (& his number 2 Mum) Vicky Martin for two nights. Vicky runs this incredible kennel called To The Manor Bourne which is in a village called Dyke, just north of Peterborough. To call it a "kennel" is really totally inaccurate...it's a real home-from-home & Vicky loves & cares for all her "clients" as if they were her own, so we knew that Radar would be well looked after & would have an amazing time. After a four hour journey, we arrived at Vicky's at about 11 a.m. just in time for Radar to join her & her own dogs & "clients" for a fun swim at a local Hydrotherapy pool (Newborough Dogs Hydro Pool). Here's a very short video of him & Vicky in action...he looks a bit confused at having to wear a buoyancy aid...bless him!!!

After dropping Radar off, Rio & I headed west to a lovely village called Wyre Piddle, near Evesham...this time we were off to our friends Lynn & Roy (Rio's two-legged Grannie & Grandad) where we were going to stay the night. It was another long journey (about 3 hours...I think every tractor, caravan & learner driver were on the road at the same time as us!!) but we eventually arrived at about 3 p.m. We had a lovely relaxing afternoon & evening with Lynn & Roy & their 4 gorgeous vizzies - Digby (Rio's dad), Ali, Easle & Tango...Rio thought he was in seventh heaven with all those red dogs to play with!

Thursday morning was another early start (up at 6 a.m. & on the road at 7!)...this time Lynn was with us as she was going to handle Rio for me...yes, I know I'm a whimp...but I wanted Rio to enjoy himself & not have to deal with a quivering wreck!!! We arrived at Crufts(which is held at the NEC in Birmingham) at just before 8 a.m. so we had plenty of time to find our bench & relax a bit before judging began at 9 a.m. Rio's class (Special Puppy Dog) was second up (after Veteran Dog) & all too soon it was his turn!

You know what...I was just SO proud of my little boy...he trotted beautifully round the ring &, when necessary, stood like a rock (though his tail was wagging so fast it looked like a helicopter blade!!). Here's a few pictures/videos of him "in action":



Rio "standing" with Lynn holding on to his tail to keep it still!!





Rio being examined by judge Peter Upton.



Then came the moment of truth...would Rio get placed? YES...my precious pup was awarded SECOND place (which, apparently, qualifies him for Crufts 2012!)...wow...I was so proud of him (& of Lynn too!). Here's a picture of him in final line up - again standing beautifully while the judge did his critique:

From left to right: 1st - HIGHFORCE MIDNIGHT FLYER (with Elaine Cannon); 2nd - ADOLPHUSTOWN ACORN (Rio, with Lynn Eales); 3rd - RANCHSTAR HENRY GRUBSTICK (with Pam Joyce)

And another photo...

Rio with his rosette & certificate...& handled by me...but I'm hiding!!

If you'd like to see the full results for Hungarian Vizslas go to this link: http://crufts.fossedata.co.uk/Breed.asp?ShowYear=2011&GroupID=GUN&ScheduleID=8

And so our exciting day at Crufts ended...unfortunately it was too late (& too longer drive) to collect Radar, so he spent Thursday night with Mum Vicky...here he is having an explore:

Our exciting 3 days ended with me leaving Roy & Lynn's (thank you both so much for looking after us!) first thing Friday morning...then it was back to Vicky's (thank you for taking such good care of our precious boy!) to collect Radar & finally home...arriving back at about 6 p.m....phew...exhausted!! Radar & Rio didn't seem particularly tired though as witnessed by this video...no peace for the wicked eh!!?



7th March 2011...Spring is here...

...or at least it is today!! Radar & Rio took advantage of the lovely sunshine to top up their suntans...

Togetherness! In case you're not sure...Radar's on the left & Rio's on the right!

Bright sun = squinty eyes!!!

This picture was taken on 15th March 2010...it doesn't seem possible that
Rio's been with us for a year now...& is slightly bigger!