Quantcast
Channel: redbirddog - a hungarian pointer (vizsla) blog
Viewing all 218 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

A First time Pheasant Hunt

December 31, 2013, 6:15 pm
$
0
0
Ok, here is my attempt to capture my thoughts on today's experience.  - Ryan
My New Favorite Sport
Today I had the privilege of observing Bailey in action.  Rod was kind enough to invite me along on a pheasant hunt.   I wasn't sure what to expect,
I have heard Rod's tales of Bailey's numerous hunting excursions and seen the multitude of ribbons marking his accomplishments, but hearing and seeing are two very different things.
 
 
  Now, I have seen Bailey race through the woods on hikes and play with my daughter at Rod's house, but watching him hunt through the tall grass, go on point, and then retrieve a bird was special.
 The only thing I can equate it to is watching a professional athlete.  Much like a great athlete, you are first captivated by their agility and strength. 

 Then you come to admire the skill and discipline it takes to master a craft.
  It was thrilling to suddenly see Bailey on point, still as a statue, waiting, waiting, until the bird is flushed, shot, waiting, until Rod gives the signal and then boom, like a rocket he races through the grass and comes bounding back with a bird between his teeth.
 
  I would definitely buy a ticket to watch that again.  
↧
Search

Canada Geese and Vizslas in Tahoe

January 25, 2014, 2:13 pm
$
0
0

Early January 2014 found us in South Lake Tahoe in a very nice rented five-bedroom house in the Tahoe Meadows. A long-established gated community just one half mile from the casinos.  Being the second week in January, it was almost deserted because of the lack of snow at the ski resorts.
Hooking Bailey and Chloe to my mountain bike, via "the Springer," with them wearing their mushing harnesses, we headed for the short ride to the lake shore.

There we found two flocks of Canada
 Geese relaxing along the water's edge this cold January morning.
 The mountains to the west had snow cover and the sun came out and lit up the eastern slopes before the sun hit the lake.
Since this was a "on-leash" complex, I followed the letter of the law and left the two dogs leashed up together in their mushing harnesses and lead.
After sending the birds drifting out into the lake, Bailey spotted the second flock to the east. 

Of course, they had to send these birds away from the shore also.  Chloe thought for a second to try out the water, but it was COLD!
↧
↧

Hidden Treasures - Tahoe Meadows

January 26, 2014, 7:55 am
$
0
0
In South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Meadows has been around since 1924.   Very dog friendly and safe area.  You enter the area through one gate with a pass code.  Once inside the area, there is maybe a hundred acres to enjoy.  As we walked the dogs a couple came up and said they lived in Tahoe Meadows and owned their own two Vizslas.   We exchanged information and said we should try to get together this summer.  Sounds fun.
 
 
For four days Joanie and I hosted a family gathering in a VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owners)  pet-friendly house we had reserved six months ago. Each day the dogs and I would head out for some exercise in the gated community.
 
The area has seen SO LITTLE snow this year that the cover is very light.  Three years ago the lake had ice about 100 feet into the late from the shore.  This year there was no ice on the lake at all.
 
On the third day the clouds came in and the snow finally came down for all of two hours.  It was very light and didn't stick. 
 
The next morning the snow and clouds had passed by and left the sky blue and the air crisp.  The dogs enjoyed a run through a few meadows.  This is a "dogs on leash," area but there was no one there so I let Chloe and Bailey do some running.  They loved the smells on all the bushes and followed scents from bush to bush.
 

From the house the dogs looked out and watched squirrels darting from tree to tree. 
This was a wonderful vacation with dogs and kids and grandchildren.
↧

Quartzsite Mountain Hike

January 26, 2014, 8:20 am
$
0
0
Lazy Daze, Honda Trail 90 and mountain bike ready for use.

Quartzsite, Arizona, January 15, 2014.  After 659 miles on the road, we arrived at our camping area where Bailey, Chloe, and I would boondock with other RV owners for the next eight days.
The next morning, we watched from the motor home as the full moon set over the tallest peak overlooking Quartzsite. 
 
 
 

This peak was going to be our first desert hike.  This was going to be about a nine-mile round trip.  I made sure my Camelback was full of water.
 
For the first few miles, we could follow ATV and off-road tracks, but as we got up into the actual mountain area, there was no trail to follow.
 
 
The vistas of the surrounding desert were fantastic. 
 
Down below were thousands upon thousands of folks enjoying the desert in their motorhomes.
 
 
 
This was a tough hike on loose shale and rock.  Great way to start our vacation in the desert.

↧

Vizsla Hunting in the Arizona Desert

January 29, 2014, 6:50 pm
$
0
0
Another wonderful sunrise over the Lazy Daze group camping area in Quartzsite, Arizona in mid-January.
 
The full moon was setting as we got ready for our morning desert hike.
 
The dogs had slept well in their crates, had a good breakfast and were ready to go.
 
The cover was perfect for birds.  We came across many dove, and a few quail.
 At one point Chloe, my gun shy bird dog, went on a perfect point facing into a big bramble of a bush.  As she was on point, Bailey came around and honored her point!  Both those things were a first.  As I watched, a group of quail ran from the back side of the bush and then 10 more took to the air.
 A little later in the hike it was Bailey's turn and went on point on another bush. Out popped six more quail.  I made a loud clapping sound as I carried no gun in this part of the desert.  The area was much too close to motor homes.
 
The dogs ran from bush to bush watching and smelling the air.  At one point a cottontail rabbit popped up and Bailey and Chloe took off at full tilt.  
 They were so happy in the desert.  The smells are everywhere and the air is fresh and clean.
 
We did this type of hike each and every morning.  All three of us loved it.  We plan to do it again next year.

↧
↧

Football Evening in the Arizona Desert

January 29, 2014, 7:05 pm
$
0
0
Sunday's NFL play-off game between San Francisco and Seattle was exciting.  A group of about 20 of us gathered around and watched the game on a 32 inch big screen outside one of our groups motor homes.
 
 Then the sun started to set and nature sure had a way of showing up the best show on TV.  This program was the only TV or radio I watched or listened to during the whole eight days I was in Quartzsite (my choice to disconnect from all electronic media).
 

" Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

 
San Francisco 49ers had lost the game (bummer) in the last minute, and the Seattle Seahawks had won the game.  But, for the thousands of RVers out in the desert this warm January evening,  I am sure we all felt that we had the best seats in the world.
↧

Vizslas in a Little Nevada Town

January 30, 2014, 6:01 pm
$
0
0
 Sunrise looking over the hills east of Beatty, Nevada  (120 miles northwest of Las Vegas). 
 Population: 1,010 hearty souls.
Wikipedia on Beatty

Beatty is one of the "big" little towns on Hwy 95.  Interstate 95 runs north and south through all of western Arizona and Nevada.  Here we laid over for the night after 280 miles and 6 hours from Quartzsite.  Next town, Tonopah, was 90 miles further north.  Final stop was Boomtown just west of Reno before heading west on Hwy 80 and home.
 A cool January morning as I walked past the visitor center to the only breakfast place in town.  Mel's Diner.

"The Space Station" was right along the highway.  Warm shower and hook ups.  First hook-ups I had used since I had left home 11 days earlier.  Dinner and drinks at "The Sourdough" with Jim and Pam that had headed north with me out of Quartzsite in their Lazy Daze. Met some interesting "locals" in the bar.  Had some ribs with cold slaw and beans.  First meal I didn't cook since I left home.


Bailey looks down and in the distance is our Lazy Daze at "the Space Station"



Four pictures of Bailey and Chloe overlooking the town of Beatty.  Not much to see and actually less to do.
What 98% of Hwy 95 looks like through the front windshield of the motor home as we headed north.  Glad I took this route.  A slice of America not seen my many people.
↧

Bailey Gets a Bigger Ruff Tough Kennel

February 8, 2014, 2:18 pm
$
0
0
 
Well I did it. I went and ordered and got Bailey the Ruff Tough Kennels Large unit.  Bailey is a big and well built male Vizsla.  He "fit" into the intermediate crate (shown on the left) but it was tight.

 
After taking some measurements of the Jeep, I determined I could get a large in with an intermediate crate side by side.  Chloe is fine in hers, but the large is actually too big, but there is no in between.
 
Need to work on a modified tie-down system now since I have two different size crates.  Next project.

Picture of how Chloe and Bailey fit before.

Previous post done June 2013:

↧
Search

A Walk in the Rain - Finally!

February 8, 2014, 2:58 pm
$
0
0
Wanting to actually hike in the rain? 
You bet!  Living in Northern California right now means living through the worst drought in our state's history. 
 
"To put the lack of rain in context, San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco all have received between 2 and 3 inches of rain since July 1. That puts them at about 25 percent of normal for this time of year. Even if this weekend's powerful storms double that total, which is a real possibility, Bay Area cities will still be just 50 percent of normal."  - Contra Costa Times
 
 The dogs had a great time.  The rain didn't slow them down a bit! 

 
 

It could rain like this for a month and it would be fine with me. 
 
 Maybe our ponds that are dry will have water in them by the end of the weekend.  That would be fantastic.

↧
↧

Oil Painting of Bailey's Pheasant Hunt

February 10, 2014, 2:12 pm
$
0
0
This wonder oil painting will be framed and placed in a special place in our house for guests and family to enjoy.



Original Classical Oil Painting by Linda Jacobus

Linda's Witness in Art
"What I paint God has created
I just copy His works


Gift from my long time friend Tommy Sparacino

Picture taken from a December 30, 2013 hunt at Bird's Landing



Tommy is next to me. Second one in from the left

↧

Swim and Drink in Coyote Country

February 22, 2014, 7:05 pm
$
0
0
 During a wonderful new hike into the Black Diamond Mines Regional Park, we came across this lone coyote.
 The coyote was never in fear of my dogs catching him.  They are faster than domestic dogs.
Coyote in full song
About five minutes before seeing this coyote on this bluff, Bailey and Chloe took off into the hills  up ahead of me chasing something.

After about a half mile run into the surrounding hillsides, the dogs returned and wanted a good drink and slash in the cattle trough.

Was it the coyote they had chased or something the coyote had been stocking that the dogs scared off?  Don't know but my dogs came back happy and hot from their run and the coyote was none too happy to share his hills with these red devils.
↧

Hidden Treasure - Black Diamond Mines

February 22, 2014, 7:45 pm
$
0
0
 
A $5.00 entrance fee plus $2.00 per dog got me into this East Bay Regional park, where 100 years ago there was an active coal mine that served the SF Bay Area with coal.
www.ebparks.org
 
Off of Highway 4, south of Antioch, is the entrance to this great little park.  Take the Somersville Road exit and head south until you get to the kiosk and pay your entry fee.  This is maybe 7 miles from the highway.
 
From there it is another one mile up a winding road to the general parking lot and trail heads.
 We first took the Stewardville Road trail into the hills.
The Homestead Trail Loop is a wonderful way to experience the east side of the Diablo Range.
Just south of the staging area of the "Somersville Townsite",
 we completely enjoyed a great off-leash set of three trails:
 The Ridge Trail, runs into Chaparral Trail, and then finally meets up with the Black Diamond Trail.
 
 
 
A mountain lion trap northeast of the Somersville Townsite
 
 Great nine mile hikes over three hours on a morning with temperatures in the low 70's.


Good time of year to explore this Hidden Treasure.

↧

Great Idea I Didn't Think About

February 27, 2014, 3:34 pm
$
0
0


Don't know much about it but the concept is fantastic!

As a grandfather, I am very aware of how my big dogs might harm small ones accidentally. 

 At the same time what a wonderful thing growing up around dogs can be.
↧
↧

Wirehairs Are Growning On Me

February 28, 2014, 11:32 am
$
0
0

AKC will acknowledge the Wirehaired Vizsla this year as an official breed.

If a smooth-coat Vizsla is like a three season dog. 
 The wirehair would be the four season dog.
They are growing on me more every time I see one.
↧

Vizsla Fun Field Day One Month Away

March 10, 2014, 8:18 pm
$
0
0
Come see what Bailey and Chloe have enjoyed going to over the years.  I'll be planting birds for young Vizslas to experience why they are who they are. 

How to Register for the Vizsla Fun Day
 


SATURDAY APRIL 12, 2014

VCNC FUN FIELD DAY!

Come and see what field work is all about
and your Vizsla will love you even more!

 
The VCNC Fun Field Day is a great opportunity to expose your Vizsla to the joys of hunting game birds in the field.
 
 It is geared towards “all ages and skill levels” of
dogs and owners.
 
 You are given a unique
opportunity to participate in a day of training
runs and instruction on hunting game birds in
the field. Get advice and mentoring from our
seasoned club members, soak up the
atmosphere and enjoy the day with many other
Vizslas and their families.
 
 
 $25 for 2 birds or $15
for a single bird with puppy training
 
Hamburgers/Hot Dogs, chips and soda
will be available for purchase ($5)
 
Deadline for reservations is
Monday April 7, 2014

 The link to the Vizsla Fun Field Day 2012
 2012 Vizsla Fun Field Day Post
↧
Search

Morro Bay from Black Hill

March 11, 2014, 7:37 pm
$
0
0
From Morro Bay State Park, where we parked our Lazy Daze motor home during a RV get-together, we headed up the hill.

 Bailey and Chloe joined me to hike the peak of Black Hill. 
 At 1,661 feet, the pinnacle allowed us a view over Morro Bay and the surrounding valleys were spectacular.
Breathtaking.
 

 
The dogs enjoyed it.  I loved it!
 
At one point a couple small rabbits crossed the trail as we hiked up the rocky trail.
 
I just glad my arm is still attached to my shoulder.
They are hunting dogs after all.  
↧

Bailey and The Little Hunter

March 14, 2014, 7:49 pm
$
0
0
This is one of my favorite pictures of Bailey on point

Great mid March day out at Birds Landing

Happy boy in his element



4-year-old Courtney and Bailey in the hunting fileds

Courtney with her pheasant brought to her by Bailey

↧
↧

A Better Stakeout?

March 15, 2014, 6:47 am
$
0
0
We tried out a new product on our RV trip last weekend.
The SUREswivel stake out.

In the country during a field trial or out hunting, you can stake out your dog to what is available.

At RV parks and state park camp grounds, stakeouts are looked down on or not permitted at all.  But what if the stakeout was almost hidden and was not a tripping hazard?

The above picture has Bailey staked out to a traditional swivel stake driven into the ground with a small 4 pound anvil hammer.  Chloe is staked out to the SUREswivel using the six smaller stakes and a 12 oz claw hammer.
The normal stake can be a safety
problem at night in a camp ground that is dark.
 But how strong is it?
 How about a 70 pound Malinois (Belgium Shepherd) pulling to try and get a hot dog? 

Finally, the dog's owner, that I enlisted to do this test, tried to pull it out and couldn't. 
 He got his friend to help.  With both of them pulling, they were able to pull it free from the grassy soil.

So I am adding this stake out to my supplies in the motorhome.  I'll purchase a bright orange coated 3/32" cable with snap hooks to join the swivel to the collar and find a small zippered pouch to keep it all in.
 Finding good quality products made here in California is a rare treat.  Good job to the folks up in Yuba City, California. You make a nice tool for my dog's safety and that of fellow campers.

HuntinDawg product link to SureSwivel
↧

A Classic Glass - Vizsla design

March 31, 2014, 4:07 pm
$
0
0

Really liked this design by Jim Pearson on this classic 16 oz. drinking glass with a good looking early 20th century European style art work of our favorite breed. 
 Now just have to find a great Hungarian beer to go in it.

I get nothing out of this but if you use promo code 40sips you save 40%.  


Find more entertaining& unique gifts at CafePress


↧

The Saving of Walnut Creek Open Space (+playlist)

April 4, 2014, 2:15 pm
$
0
0




My little city of Walnut Creek is very dog friendly and has some wonderful open spaces and Bailey, Chloe and I take full advantage of them.  Forward thinking people creating a safe and healthy environment.



"Did you know that Walnut Creek has more public open space per capita than any other city in California? If you love the open space that surrounds our fair city, find someone who was here in the '70s and thank them. That's when a determined group of residents banded together to lead the effort to permanently protect our hillsides."

Thank you!
↧
Viewing all 218 articles
Browse latest View live
Search