Gunnar, Birdy and sister Abbie were all shown at the Fort Worth shows this weekend. Even though the girls didn’t get any points, they both showed wonderfully for me! I couldn’t have asked for anything more from them! There were 12 girls entered this weekend and competition was tough!!
Gunnar showed wonderfully for me, as usual! He went Best of Opposite on Saturday. We were also the best Amateur Owner Handler team, so we got to go on to AOH groups where he picked up a Group 3!! On Sunday, he stepped it up a notch and went Best of Breed over top ranked specials! We went into groups knowing we needed to move very nicely for this judge. She appreciated Gunnar’s movement and awarded him a Sporting Group 3!! This is our first group placement and I’m still not sure it has sunk in yet!! It was a very good weekend with my boy!!
We traveled down to Houston for the Texas Gulf Coast Vizsla Club Specialty. The entries were large – 10 class boys, 21 class girls and 5 male specials and 6 female specials. I had Birdy as a class girl and Gunnar was one of the specials. We started off with Birdy and she won her class (Amateur Owner Handler). We then went back in after the judge scrutinized over the Open class. As we all lined up, we did our down and back again and stood back in line. As the judge went down the line again, she points at me and Birdy!! I thought she was making a cut and we were going to move again, but the judge kept walking toward the table where the ribbons were! It then him me, Birdy had WON!! This win was a five point major!! I’ve never had a dog have a 5 point win and it was a bit overwhelming! I’m so proud of this girl!!
Not to be completely outdone, Gunnar was shown by a wonderful professional while I also had Birdy back in the ring for Best of Breed. He looked great and was able to earn Select Dog for more points toward the Gold level in Grand Championship points!!
Here’s Birdy’s win photo!
Shawn and I traveled down to the SLVC Field Trial to run Gabi and Birdy in a couple of stakes. Birdy was up first in Amateur Derby with 10 dogs in the stake. Several of these dogs have had a lot more experience in the field trial world, so we were coming down to support the club and have a little fun. Lo and behold, Birdy came in SECOND!!
The next day, Birdy got to run again in Open Derby competing against the same 10 dogs. This time she WON for TWO points!!
Not to be outdone by her little sister, Gabi showed off with Shawn handling and finished 2nd in Amateur Gun Dog Retrieving Stake and earned her first FT point!!! It was a great weekend!!
Back at the end of January, I took Abbie and Birdy to South Louisiana for a dog show. Abbie showed amazing for me and ended up taking Best of Winners for her second major!!!
Then on Saturday, I showed the girls in Brace competition and they took BEST IN SHOW!!!
Here it is!
Gunnar, Birdy and I made the long journey down to South Louisiana for a hunt test this past weekend while Shawn and Gabi were in Kansas pheasant hunting. Although the trip is long, I love going down to this test every year. It is held by the South Louisiana Vizsla Club and these grounds hold a lot of great memories for me and my dogs. This was the first place Gabi ever saw a quail at a fun day, and this is what started me on the path of doing hunt tests, field trials and hunting with my dogs. Gabi showed me what the true passion of a Vizsla is and now it is one of mine as well.
Gunnar decided that he would add some great memories of his own! Saturday, he had a great run with two finds on course. He had a call back for an honor through the retrieve and he NAILED it with a perfect score!! So we got a pass and just needed one more to finish up his Master Hunter title! Sunday started off a little warm at 68 degrees and fog. This didn’t slow him down one bit! Another great run with 2 finds and a stop to flush…another call back for an honor through the retrieve. He goes in and honors the dog….I walk up to him and he is on my left. The other handler goes to flush the bird, it gets up, flies right towards me and lands about 6 feet behind me off my right shoulder. Gunnar turned his front feet to mark the bird that is a little too close for my comfort! So then the gunners toss a dead bird for the other dog to retrieve after the “shot”. Gunnar stands through all of this and gets his final pass!!!
Needless to say, I am SUPER proud of this boy!! He has come a long way and he keeps impressing me! He has accomplished so much and all before his fourth birthday next month!! I am one lucky lady that now has TWO Master Hunters!!! No pressure Birdy! 
Gunnar is now over half way towards earning his Master Hunter title! He ran in the TVWC hunt test and didn’t do so good on Saturday, but bounced back and passed on Sunday! LOTS of birdwork on course, but we managed to make it through with a pass – AND a perfect score for his retrieve!! I’m proud of my boy!
We went up to Yoder, KS for our first hunt test of the season. It was put on by two different clubs, so Gunnar got to run four times in one weekend. We have only gotten to train with him twice before these tests since it’s been so hot, but he performed very well! He came home with TWO Master Hunter passes!!! I’m VERY pleased with him and we have three more weekends in a row of hunt tests! Hopefully he’ll do just as well and get this title done!
I had a car load of girls with me for the four day conformation show and three day agility trial in Belton! Birdy, Abbie and Gabi all came with me…Birdy and Abbie for conformation and Gabi for agility. Birdy picked up a win for two more points one day and went reserve another. Gabi double Q’d one day to finish her Novice Agility Jumpers title and got her first leg toward her Open Standard title!!
Here’s Gabi’s winnings:
I took Birdy and Abbie to the Canton show in mid-October. This show was going to be a challenge for me since I somehow tore my cornea the previous Wednesday and had blurry vision in one eye and had to wear my glasses. The glasses seemed to be a good luck charm, however, since Birdy took WB on Saturday and Abbie took WB/BOW on Sunday!! Go girls go!!
