Texas Hill Country and dogs

Joanie and I took a long weekend and enjoyed Austin, Texas and the surrounding hill country.

Texas Hill Country

  Miles and miles of open country.  Land made for upland bird dogs. 

 Talked to a couple of the locals about bird hunting. Quail and dove hunts seem to be the favorite hunts west of San Antonio and Austin. 

 The hills and rivers fill the landscape covered by the big sky.

In "small town" Texas, hunting dogs still ride in the back of the Ford F-150s and the shotguns lay in the gun rack behind the seat.
We noticed in these small towns that some of the biggest buildings, after the churches and schools,

are the veterinarian hospitals.

Texans love their dogs.

With temperatures over 100 degrees during the afternoon, the only place to be was on the water.

Thousands of Texans found relief in the lakes and rivers.

I saw only one Vizsla on the trip.  Max was leaving the South Congress Ave., Austin Pet Rescue area with his owner.  They had come to look for a home companion dog for Max.  

Austin is an extremely dog friendly city with several off-leach dog areas. 
 We walked in Red Bud Isle park where dozens of dogs played happily among the trees and swam in Lady Bird Lake. 
 Joggers with their well mannered dogs ran along the river water front in the early morning before the heat drove them inside.

In San Antonio along their River Walk, well behaved dogs are allowed on leash.  In the extreme summer heat, the sunken River Walk is a good 20 degrees cooler.