Skunk 1 - Chloe 0

In a rematch between my two Red Bird Dogs and the local skunk tonight,  RBD is 0 for 2!

http://redbirddog.blogspot.com/2011/08/skunk-1-bailey-0.html

We admit that the skunk that lives in the open space above our house is superior to the two Hungarian Pointers and can bring them to tears on his terms.  

Last year it was Bailey's turn to learn to leave Pepe alone.

  Tonight was Chloe's time to test whether or not a skunk can be messed with.

I guess you can tell by the pictures below how that turned out.

Skunk Juice from Brian's place website:

http://briansplace.ynt1.com/skunk.php

1 Qt 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tsp. liquid soap

"All you need to do is wet down the dog with a hose, mix the ingredients together in a container, and then slowly pour the mixture over the dog while rubbing it into the fur. After the dog has been bathed in this solution rinse it down with the hose and the dog will be odor free. My dog weighed 90 lbs so I doubled the amounts shown above, but if you have a small to medium size animal, the recipe listed should do just fine.

Although the ingredients are not dangerous, care should obviously be taken to keep the solution out of your dog's eyes, ears and mouth. Also remember that hydrogen peroxide can bleach clothing and hair, however, my dog's fur never changed color or even faded.

Credit for this remedy goes to chemist, Paul Krebaum, of Molex Inc. in Lisle, Illinois. The above listed ingredients were published in the August 1995 issue ofPopluar Science." 

Young HSPs (Vizslas) in the Field

There are Vizslas as pets and then there are Vizslas (HSPs) as hunters. 

Bailey and his daughter Belle in the fields

 I enjoyed the company of three Vizsla owner's that wanted to get more "out in the field" and see what their gun dogs could do.

Ashley and Reuben brought out Riley ( Living the Life of Riley Blog ) and Julie brought out Belle.  Belle is one of Bailey's pups from his first litter.  Lynn came out with her senior citizen Vizsla (show champion) for the first part of the training.  She had come out to meet with Ashley and Reuben.

We started the day at eight a.m. by going to the Hastings Island club house and signing in.  I bought three birds and we went out to train in a field about a half mile away.

There were other HSP trainers and owners working their dogs in the field next to us.  At one point we had eight Hungarian Smoothcoat Pointers (Vizslas) in the fields.  Good sign for the breed.

I worked Bailey on the first bird after we parked the trucks and got the gear out.  Bailey and I are preparing for next weekend's Senior Hunt test.  Ashley, Reuben and Lynn followed along at a safe distance back.  Bailey worked the bird flawlessly and even though he had trouble finding the downed bird, did and retrieved straight back to my hand.

The rest of the two hours we worked with the two pups on a bird each and then just let them play.  At one point I had dropped my blank gun in a very large field.  We searched for it using the dogs to help. 

 Riley found it and pointed it out to Reuben who returned it to me.  Good Girl Riley!!!

I am not a trainer but did enjoy working with these pups.  It takes birds to make a bird dog.  Lots of birds.  It takes time to put all the pieces together to bring out the best in a gun dog that loves upland birds.

Four years into this Gun Dog lifestyle and I can't think of much better.

Ashley working with Riley as Belle watches

We had a bit of time at the end so I went and got one more bird for Bailey to work.  He sat in the Jeep as I walked two hundred yards to plant the bird.  My plan was to circle around a bit with Bailey and come into it after about ten minutes.  No luck.  He had watched me and made a beeline for the bird.  He had to stay on point for a few minutes as I walked over to him.  Upon the flush and the bird flew away, I thought I had missed the bird.  It flew about a quarter mile and then dropped to the ground suddenly.  I sent Bailey for the retrieve.  A couple minutes later he arrived back to me with the bird and handed it to me.  Good Boy Bailey.

Belle watches as Riley retrieves a small bird shaped "bumper"

And so goes another Sunday morning out in the fields working with dogs.  The Oakland A's are playing today in Oakland.  In days past I might have made the drive out to the game. Being a baseball and football spectator was part of many weekend activities. 
   Now after Sunday morning in the field it is a good Sunday afternoon nap.

Life's good.

Independence Day 2012

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." Ronald Reagan

40th president of US (1911 - 2004)

First they came…" is a famous statement attributed to pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group. 

"First they came for the Communists,

 and I didn’t speak up,

 because I wasn’t a Communist.

 Then they came for the Jews,

 and I didn’t speak up,

 because I wasn’t a Jew.

 Then they came for the Catholics,

 and I didn’t speak up,

 because I was a Protestant.

 Then they came for me,

 and by that time there was no one

 left to speak up for me."

On my right breast is one tattoo.  The only one I have and I got it three years ago ( Man did it hurt!).  It is a artistic attempt at a ragged green triangle (point down) with the number 2417 above it.

The green triangle represented "A Nazi Party criminal" and the number 2417 was assigned to my grandfather which he wore on his striped concentration camp clothing.  He died of "heart failure" in Dachau 1938.  He was 36 years old.

Freedom has to be defended. 

 The Hungarian Pointer represents how brave people can overcome insufferable hardships to save the dogs that they so truly love.  The history of the Vizsla during the 20th century is incredible.  A story well worth researching as I did.

http://redbirddog.blogspot.com/2010/04/history-of-vizsla.html

Many in society will easily trade security for freedom.  Freedom is not for the faint of heart.  Freedom is not food or water or anything you can touch or feel.  It will not pay your bills or make you smarter or better looking.  What good is it?

Independence Day in the United States of America should be about understanding how freedom can be saved for our children and our grandchildren.  

Rod aka RBD

The Hungarian Pointer in the Minority

The Hungarian Vizsla is a great "family dog" according to some recent articles.  Good with kids and smart.  The ability to learn many things well.

The Hungarian Pointer (same name with different effect) is loosing the battle as a strong ancient hunting dog in my part of the world. 

Here in California, there are hundreds of Vizslas that live out their lives without ever seeing a upland bird or tapping into the talents nature and excellent selective breeding had created over 1,000 years ago.

Those of us that use our dogs as hunters are in the smallest minority.

A small band of misfits (Hungarian Pointer Owners) mingle amongst the more dedicated German Shorthair, German Wirehair, English Pointer, and Britney owners.  The ratio of hunting owners to "pet" owners in those breeds, in relationship to the Hungarian Pointer, seems to be overwhelming in favor of hunters.  Breeders focus on the hunting talent in the lines and not on what would be considered more trivial attributes.

The Vizsla is an amazing hunter.  My wish is for those who come across this post and have ever even considered getting out into the field with your dog, that you make the effort.

  Join your local Vizsla club. Take a Hunter safety course.  Attend some field trials.  Find a trainer.

The breed needs you.  Don't we have enough lap dogs in the world?   HSUS is focusing on California.

Freedom to hunt could be gone along with freedom to carry guns.  Being in a minority is tough but I'm alright with that. 

 Freedom to _________ is much more important

 than Freedom from _______.

"We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States ... We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state."

Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP Humane Society of the US (HSUS)