A New Story Begins...

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Morning walk Lake Davis

Beautiful morning Lake Tahoe

So. Much. Fun!

Blowing off steam after the rain!

Lily takes the plunge!

Lundy Canyon

Dogs at Dillon Beach, Lily in wildflowers Lake Tahoe. Below Rosie Donner Lake.

The perfect rose for my Rose

Looking lovely by my favorite Japanese Maple

We love our winter running spot!

Brown's Ravine

Santa Barbara

Posted by mareandrose at 10:10 AM

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Baby Benjamin

Baby Lily

Baby Rosie

Baby Annie

Handsome Ben

Ben is my first boy. He's such a sweet lovable guy and so much fun. He's living up to his registered name Ever Ready! He's already accomplished a lot for his young age. I can't wait to see what we will do in the future together.

Lovely ball obsessed Lily

Lily was so special and I'm so proud of what we accomplished together. She was willing to try a lot of activities with me but anything using her nose was what she loved most. She finished her conformation championship with 4 majors including a Specialty winners bitch and 32 titles in many venues. She was one trial short of NW3 Elite which she so deserved but Covid got in the way and trials were not offered. We went through so much together. She was a trooper and oh so sweet. Love you Lily, to the moon and back.

Regal Rosie

Rosie was such a fun girl and gave her all to everything she did. She had a big personality and had the fastest happy tail in town. She loved her toys and blankets carrying them around with her. She was intense in the field where she showed instinct and drive. She brought so much joy to my life and is greatly missed. She was the best big sister to Lily and paved the way for her in many ways. Love you always Rose!

Annie with a big smile

Annie introduced me to the breed. She was fun loving, a wonderful traveler, and fantastic companion for me. Friends joked she'd been more places than they'd been. She had her own page "Out and About with Annie" detailing our travels. I loved her dearly and have her to thank for the Vizslas that followed her. Love you and miss you Annie!

My dogs and their events & training

My dogs love being on the go like I do and visiting different places. In between those times Rosie, Lily, Ben and I have participated in conformation, companion, and performance events. It's another way to have fun and spend time together.

Sept 21st Ben gets 3 new titles: NW3 NW3-C NW3-E! NW3 element titles are finished!

Since we were in Oregon on vacation I decided to enter Ben in the Sunriver trial. I'm so glad I did!

7/4/25 Two new titles for Ben SIM and overall Scent Work Master title SWM!

Ben finished up his Master element titles and got his Scent Work Master title in Monterey with Del Monte Kennel Club. He got compliments from the judges and even some giggles for his happy dances! This makes 52 titles for Ben.

New title FITG (Fit Dog Gold)

We accomplished this by doing 6 mo of recorded walking, the last 4 mo at least 150 min a week, submitting swimming videos, and by using 3 performance titles BCAT, JH, DJ. We finished during the Paris Olympics :-)

5/24 Two new NACSW element titles L1C L1I

In Watsonville Ben placed first in containers and second in interior. Good boy. They have to start at level 1 when doing these trials and he is in level 3 at the regular trials. I'm glad he did so well.

4/28/24 New UKC title NN (Novice Nose Work)

At our first UKC trials Ben got the 4 element titles earning him the NN and had two 1st place, a 2nd, and a fourth. Though he trials in higher levels at other organizations you always have to start at the bottom when trying a new one. He got a 3rd first place time but I got a fault for rewarding too close to the hide so he didn't get the placement. That's one of the differences between UKC and AKC and NACSW. You have to reward 2 feet from the hide. Live and learn!

4/7/24 Two new titles NW3-I NW3-V in Merced

He passed 5 of the 6 searches finding 11 out of 12 hides. So close but at least we got two element titles in Interior and vehicle and a NW3 leg. NW3 is always a challenge!

3/30 New title UL-1 (Urban Locating)

Ben has fun searching in Urban Locating and gets his title in 3 searches because of placements!

New title SCM, Scent Work Container Master 3/24

Ben finished master container with a 1st, a 4th, and another 1st place. The last search was done outside in the wind and he found 3 hides in 32 seconds. Good boy!

#1 BOB Vizsla in NASDA's Lost Item Recovery Level 1 in 2023

This was a nice surprise

1/24 New titles Scent Work Interior Excellent, SIE, and overall excellent title SWE

Jan 27 at the Donner Trail Kennel Club Ben finished up his excellent titles by getting his last Q needed in interior and got a Master Container Q both in 1st place. These are his excellent level title ribbons and placements. Way to go buddy!

First NASDA title LI-1 (Lost Item Recovery)

9/16/23 Searching for owner scented items in 3 searches Ben gets two 1st places, a 2nd place, and High In Trial in all three. He finished his title in 4 searches but we did 6. It was fun!

New title SEE Scent Work Exterior Excellent March 3/23

He got second place in interiors and buried. He just needs one more interior to finish his excellent level title.

Two new titles in Scent Work Excellent SCE SBE March 2023

He also got a first place in containers!

High in trial Scent Work Excellent 2/12/23!

New level Title SWA Dec 2022

Ben finished his element titles by getting his SIA, advanced interior, in Yuba City Dec 17. He got the 3 other needed the week end before so now has his level title Scent Work Advanced.

Ben and his Advanced Scent Work titles, qualifying ribbons, and placements.

I'm just a little proud of him. He also qualified in 3 excellent searches getting a 1st place in containers and 3rd place in exteriors at his first excellent trial!

New titles CGC CGCA CGCU TKA Oct 2022

Look at this fancy ribbon he got!

New title NW2 Sept 4 2022

Ben kept it together in triple digit temps and got 4th place overall out of 31 dogs. The pass rate was 45%. We were pronounced in 3 out of 5 searches. I'm so thrilled!

New Barn Hunt title RATN June 2022

He has so much fun hunting for the rat!

New scent work level title SWN May 2022 (includes element titles SCN SBN SIN SEN)

Ben completed his element searches, Interior, Exterior, Container, and Buried a total of 12 searches and got some placements too. He now has his SWN title. Way to go Ben!

Ben earns his BCAT title May 2022

We had fun trying Fast Cat, basically a 100 yd dash for dogs. I'm not sure he cared about the lure, a shredded piece of plastic, but he sure loved running to me. Regardless he was fast and fun. I love my momma's boy!

New NW1 title Feb 2022

Ben gets a new title and 2nd place out of 48 dogs in his container search. Good boy Bennie!

VSWE title Dec 2021

Ben earns his VSWE title, AKC Virtual Scent Work Experienced

Ben's ribbons on the road to his GCH. Group placing Ben!

Good job young man! 8 BOB, 1 Select, and a Group 4! I made the bottom one with his BOB ribbons if it looks amateurish :-)

New GCH at just under 2 years old. Oct 2021

He got 5 GCH majors in his 9 shows and finished with BOB at the Gavilan KC Show over top specials. Thank you to judge Dr. Karen M. Ericson and Elizabeth Jordan-Nelson his handler who not only trained him but brought him to the finish line! It was his lucky day and a great way to finish his GCH!

Between shows Ben added a couple virtual titles to his name.

VSWB and VSWI Virtual scent work beginner and intermediate. Soon we'll send in Experienced. He loves any type of scent work!

Ben taking BOB and Group 4 in Montana Sept 2021

Thank you judge Dr Steve Keating for this honor and thank you Laurie Fenner!

New Champion Ben Mt Bachelor KC supported entry Oregon July 2021

So proud of you Bennie and many thanks to handler Elizabeth Jordan- Nelson for training and showing him and judge Patricia E Robinson for this win. When he was ready Liz got his points fast!

3rd major for Ben!

Ben got his 3rd major win at the Yellowstone Kennel Club 3 points and BOW. He has 13 points now! Thank you to judge Terry M DePietro!

BOB from the classes for a second 5 pt major Yellowstone KC Montana

Thank you judge Patricia V Trotter for recognizing Ben. It's such an honor we appreciate!

Liz's notification of his second win, BOB!!

Ben gets his first win and a 5 pt major! WD, BOS over specials.

Thank you Dr. Steve Keating for this special win.

Show practice with Liz

During the Covid shutdown Ben practiced for show with his handler Elizabeth Jordan Nelson.

New Junior Hunter April 11th 2021

Ben did a great job at his hunt tests after only having been in the field once in the last 9 months! I am so proud of him and thankful to our club members/friends who invited us out to train!

New dock diving title DJ (Dock Junior) Aug 2020

Trial in Ione. Ben just turning 10 months.

Ben's second title while SIP, TKI. Good boy! June 2020

Trick Dog Intermediate with 10 new tricks. Here he's doing a teter, turning on a push light, high five, go to your place, get in a box, shell game, and a jump (hmm think that was from novice)!

Ben's first puppy title TKN at 6 mo (trick novice) June 2020

Here he's walking a beginning teter, sniffing out a hide, getting all 4 feet on a platform and then sitting with a hand signal. He had to do 10 because it's impossible to get a CGC with SIP due to Covid 19.

Dane helps us prepare for hunt tests Aug 2020 9 mo old

Pointing his bird with Steve at 8 mo

4th time out at Hastings

Ben finds his bird.

3rd time out in the field. Thanks Dane and Theresa!

Bob working with Ben and his bird his second time out.

Unfortunately due to shelter in place for the Corona Virus training has been put on hold.

Pam working with Ben his first time in the field

His first bird

Lily's shows and trials

Learning how to stand for show

Lily's first show at 6 months.

She was Winner's Bitch for 4 points. She's back in the ring here with Erin for Best of Winners. I've always loved watching her in motion.

Best in Sweepstakes

Jan 2012 Kennel Club of Palm Springs

Vizsla Club of No Cal Specialty Winners Bitch 2012

Lily was shown to her CH in BBE by her breeder Susan. She got specialty WB with judge Britt Jung. What an honor! She finished her Championship at the Supported Entry in Carmel with her 4th major and 5 points.

Vizsla Nationals 2014 in San Jose

Lily was shown just in maturity by Jenna. She's 2nd in line and got first in her class. Good girlie.

Carmel Show shown by Erin

This was Lily's last show. She let it be known she was ready to move on to the fun stuff but looked pretty here with Erin Percy!

JH March 2014

Lily and her prize. She has loved to retrieve since a baby bird dog!

RN and RA. (Rally Novice and Advanced) Aug 2013 and April 2015

Dock Diving Practice Ione

DN (Dock Novice) title at Fidolettes Sept 2015

She also had one junior jump

SDS Advanced Title SDS-A (Sniffing Dog Sports) March 2017

Lily's first nose work trial. I didn't think we were ready for advanced but entered for practice because it was so close to home.

NW1 title (NACSW) June 2017

Good girlie! She was 4th in the exterior search in difficult conditions.

TKN and TKI titles (Novice and Intermediate Trick) July 2017

Lily adds a few new tricks to what she already knows and gets her TKN and TKI titles. Pushing a button that said YES was a crowd pleaser!

SWN title (Scent Work Novice) Feb 2018

Lily gets her novice element titles (SCN SBN SIN SEN) to earn the AKC level title SWN.

NW2 title June 2018 (NACSW)

NACSW Reno Trial

Lily gets her AKC level title SWA (scent work advanced) November 2018

This is after earning the element titles SIA SBA SEA SCA

RATO March 2019

Lily had fun in Barn Hunt again and got a new title RATO and a 1st and 2nd place and high in class.

Rat!!

If you wonder why a bird dog is doing Barn Hunt there's a one word answer, FUN!

NW3 trial placements April 2019

In her first NW3 trial Lily just missed passing due to a mistake I made. Long story but judge made it clear I made the mistake not her. I was kicking myself, especially because the trials are so hard to get into. In spite of that she got two great placements, 1st in containers and 3rd in exterior!!

Lodi Scent Work Excellent trial May 2019 SEE SCE and High in Trial!

Lily gets her SWE (Scent Work Excellent) level title June 2019

She got her SBE and SIE element titles so has all the elements for the SWE. She got first place in buried (in the ground)!

2nd NW3 trial Pronounced in all searches!

Lily found all the hides but I timed out in the 3rd interior search so we didn't title. 6 dogs passed and she came in 7th. She was pronounced in all searches which is something to be really proud of! Per the rule book, "The judges may ‘Pronounce’ handler/dog teams demonstrating exceptional technique and/or teamwork at each NW1, NW2, NW3, Elite, and Summit League trials. This is not part of the title, but rather an acknowledgement of exceptional teamwork on that particular trial day."

October 2019 new titles: NW3-C NW3-V Prounced in containers!

We had a fun few days at the beach in Cambria then made the trek to Apple Valley for NW3. Lily did great and got 2 element titles. Unfortunately there were 25 mph swirling winds and she missed an exterior hide. So close! Great job Lily!

New NW3 and NW3-E and pronounced in vehicles! November 2, 2019.

Trial in Grass Valley. I'm so happy and proud of Lily!

NW3 number 2, NW3-I, first place containers, 3rd place overall, and pronounced in interiors.

Trial in Guerneville. The funny part is we didn't get into the trial until 5:45 am the day of the trial. I almost didn't go. I guess it was meant to be!

Rosie's training and titles. Nov 12 JH!

Rosie goes 4 for 4 in her hunt tests earning her Junior Hunter title. She made it easy for me!

Training in the field

Working with Steve at Blue Ridge Kennels

She's a natural!

VCNC fun field day.

Rosie retrieves her bird

Rosie is very intense when hunting and fun to watch. Photo by Aimee.

CGC June 2010

RN (Rally Novice) Nov 2010

Rosie gets her RN title with 1st place at her last trial! Way to go Rose! Lesson learned, she's a hunting dog and trialing inside kept her focused. I'm so proud of her!

The girls did Barn Hunt together Nov 2015. They had so much fun getting their novice titles, RATN!

Rosie cheering for Lily in dock diving

She wanted nothing to do with dock diving herself. That's ok!

NW1 NACSW trial Dec 2018

Weimar nose work trial. Rosie came in 2nd overall with 45 dogs! She placed 1st in Exterior and 3rd in Interior. I'm so proud of her, especially at age 10!

NW2 April 2019

At the Wheatland trial Rosie comes in 4th place out of 37! Way to go Rosie!

Why title a dog?

...A title says your dog was intelligent and adaptable, and good-natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed.

And a title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with it because it was a good dog, that you believed in it enough to give it yet another chance when it failed, and that, in the end, your faith was justified.

A title proves that your dog inspired you to that special relationship enjoyed by so few; that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return...

-Sandra Mowery

Fun with family and friends

Our Vizsla (and Lab) family and the friends we play with.

Ben and his great niece Demi

Ben's a puppy magnet!

Ben and niece Suri

Ben loves his playdates with cousins Ella and Avery

The Labrador cousins we spend a lot of time with, Harley, Murphy, Maddie, and Luke.

The pack together

Training with friends. Dogs are related, though not siblings.

Dogs Eden, Skylar, & Ben

Bennie and his sister Drew at 12 weeks

Ben and Drew at 18 weeks

Auntie Lily the referee with her niece and nephew

Ben and his cousin Eden on a play date

Half brother Havoc comes to visit. July 2019

Lily needed some company after losing Rosie so I borrowed her half brother Havoc. He's so sweet! Just what she needed!

Our frequent visitor Lily's brother Beckett.

3 peas in a pod

Rosie, Lily, Beck together again Sept 2016.

Mom Q and Beckett vacation with us Sept 2017

August 2018 visit

All the kids have gray now! Beckett and Lily are 7 and Rosie is 9

Lily and Beckett August 2019

Getting a bit more gray at 8 1/2

Lily and sister Zola playing before the show in Palm Springs 2012

Zola got Best Puppy and Puppy Group 2 and Lily got Best in Sweepstakes. Way to go girls!

Sisters hanging out

3 1/2 years old at Zola's house. We took care of puppies from her first litter for a few days.

Sibs at the VCNC fun field day 2012

Zola, Beckett, Lily at Hastings Island. Can't we just go find birds?

Q and daughter Lily at Hastings Island looking a lot alike!

I love this special one, Lily 6 1/2 yrs and Q almost 12.

More of Lily's family. L to R Beckett, Q, Diamond, Lily, and Finley in back

Hunting with Q and Beckett & the Vizsla bird man Steve.

Hunting pheasant with half brother Havoc and his daughter Envy.

Lily with two of her half sisters, Ella (purple) and Piper (orange)

(Storey x Skoda) River Run Vizslas

Piper and Lily when Piper came to swim.

Rosie's family who live in Michigan, Alberta, and Ontario

Top left her mom Silken with dad Dezso below. Top right grandpa Toldi, # 1 Vizsla in Canada in 2000 and 2001. Bottom sister Jas (with Sophie), sister Kahili, and brother Orion.