Web Site Excerpts from the Quarterly Newsletter

February 2000 - Issue 17

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A-Hunting We Will Go! by Becky Smith
Madison Dog Fair by Ginger Tierney
Blood Samples Needed for Lymphosarcoma Study
Support-o-Rama by Penny Honetor
Doesn't Ring a Bell by Becky Smith
Member Interview:  Nancy Schmitt & Obedience by Penny Honetor
Governor Thompson Hunts in Iowa County by Sharon Shea
Breed Rescue Update by Becky Smith
CWVC Member Results - VCA Nationals 1999 by Becky Smith
Model Vizslas by Sue Prim
Parliamentary Cornerstone by Ginger Tierney
True Grit - A Cinderella Story by Debbie Taylor
Member Spotlight
A Life of Crime? by Becky Smith
Bunny Killer by Becky Fortney
Kennel Match Game
Teaching an Old Dog by Steve Prim
What to do about a Gun Shy Vizsla

A-Hunting We Will Go!

by Becky Smith Front Row: Cheryl Brimmer, Mark & Becky Smith, Mark Spurgeon, Kathy Ruhland Back Row: Sharon & Mike Shea, Adrianne Luft, Chuck Ruhland, David Luft Not Pictured: Pam Spurgeon, Kerry Brimmer (photographer) A group of CWVC members got together in Park Falls, WI, "The Grouse Capital of the World" according to the sign outside of town, for a hunt on Saturday, November 6 There were 12 club members who participated in the outing. It was great to see some new faces and make some new friends. After meeting for breakfast, we split up in groups to hunt the wily grouse. Then after the hunt, we met for dinner to swap grouse hunting lies (I mean, stories). Comments heard at dinner from hunters included, "This was the best grouse hunt I've ever been on." There was talk of over 40 flushes from one group and I think every group got in at least some shooting. In my opinion, though, the award for Best Sports has to go to Adrianne and Dave Luft. These two folks had never been hunting before, were going to be getting their new puppy the following week, and had made the several hour drive to see what hunting was all about. In my mind, this is exactly one of the "services" the club can provide--introducing people to new and different adventures with their dogs. Like I mentioned above, Dave and Adrianne were scheduled to get a puppy the following week, and the sire of that litter was our male, Seger. I guess it made sense that they should come with Mark and me to the field. Unfortunately, we REALLY showed them the finer sides of grouse hunting. About 45 minutes into the hunt, with Seger and Jennie on the ground, we heard a growl from the woods. Our first thought was "Uh-oh." A valid thought it was, as seconds later we heard a yelp and Jennie came tearing from the woods with a face full of porcupine quills. The porkie had done a good job as she resembled a German Wirehair more than a Vizsla. Jennie let Mark and I remove about a dozen of the quills, but enough was enough, and she would allow no more. So, on the leash she went and we started back toward the car for a trip to the vet. Our second mishap came as we were making our way to the car. We left Seger down to run as we felt that we would make better time getting to the car, and why struggle with two unhappy dogs. BIG MISTAKE! About halfway back to the car, Seger found some very fresh human feces (yes, human--most animals do not use toilet paper) and he decided it would be the ideal thing to cover his scent with. So, he rolled in it. No correct that, he absolutely covered himself with it. YUCK! Adrianne had one question. "Is the tendency to roll in you-know-what hereditary?" Now we have one dog with about 30 porcupine quills left in her muzzle and another that smells like...Well, you know what he smelled like. And we have to go to town and get the quills removed before we can attend to the other problem. To make a long story short, it was a long, smelly ride back to town. The quills were removed by a vet with the bedside manner of Hannibal Lechter and two baths later for Seger we were back in the woods. The afternoon went a bit better. We got a couple of flushes and a shot or two. The Lufts commented in the evening that it was probably a good thing we showed them the finer sides of grouse hunting so a few years down the road, if something similar happened to them, they couldn't say, "The Smiths never told us about this!" There's bad news and good news to this story. The bad news is I'm not sure our van will ever smell quite the same. The good news is the Lufts got their puppy, are planning on hunting again, and have attended a club meeting or two despite the Smith Welcome Wagon!

Madison Dog Fair

by Ginger Tierney Steve & Pam Wittig & "Corbin" The Madison Pet Fair was held on November 7, 1999, in the Madison Marriott Ballroom. The CWVC was represented by Ginger Tierney with Comet and Sky in the morning, Steve and Pam Wittig with Corbin in the afternoon. Comet is a 3 year old female, Sky is a 4 month old male puppy, and Corbin is a 14 month old male. All are Vizsla's, as one would hope, and excellent representatives of our beloved breed. Comet arrived just in time to be the conformation Vizsla for the "Sporting Group". Comet is working on her Senior Hunter and has never been shown in the conformation ring. She free stacked like a pro. The command "WHOA" came in handy. However, when we moved around the ring, Comet demonstrated the Vizsla breed to its fullest. She didn't trot nicely at my side. She leaped shoulder high. Comet thought the spectators were clapping for her beautiful jumping performance and continued to demonstrate just how enthusiastic our beautiful breed can be. We certainly had fun. There were many spectators that came by our area. Unfortunately, we did not get a proper booth this year and were not able to put out all the literature that we had. Corbin's crate and the Tierney grooming table served as literature displays. Pam and Steve tirelessly answered the millions of questions. Thank you Pam and Steve for a job well done. This was Pam and Steve's first Pet Show. For those of you first time or long-time Vizsla owners, please, think about representing the CWVC at the Pet Fairs. It's a GREAT way to brag, just a little, about our wonderful breed. It is also a terrific opportunity to educate the general public on responsible dog ownership and breeding practices which is part of the mission of the CWVC. Please consider signing up for next year. It is work, yes; but it is even more fun.

Blood Samples Needed for Lymphosarcoma Study

Sharon Shea is pleased to report that Levi is still in remission after having undergone treatment for Lymphosarcoma for 13 months beginning in December 1998. In order to determine if there is a genetic component, blood samples of Vizslas who have had lymphosarcoma are needed for a study conducted by the Therion Corporation. Sharon would like to encourage anyone whose Vizsla has had lymphosarcoma to join her in participating in this study. More details can be found on page 60 of the Nov/Dec 1999 VCA Vizsla News or for forms and additional information, contact Sue Boggs 3275 Eddie Road, Winnebago, IL 61088-8738 (815) 335-3510 - snowridg@aeroinc.net

Support-o-Rama

Doesn't Ring a Bell

Member Interview: Nancy Schmitt & Obedience

by Penny Honetor Click here for an obedience story from Nancy. Click here for Nancy's Recommended Reading. I met up with Nancy Schmitt at the Hound for the Holidays AKC agility trial December 19, 1999. She and her Vizsla Denver ("Denny", CH Classic Rhymes and Reasons SH CDX NA) were working towards their OA (Open Agility) and NAJ (Novice Agility Jumper) titles. However, Nancy is also active in the obedience ring and has some significant obedience accomplishments which you can read about below. We sat down together and talked about what it takes to successfully train and compete in obedience. Nancy Schmitt & "Rookie" Why & when did you get involved in obedience? Nancy:  I grew up riding horses and competed in shows, (Hunter/Jumper & Dressage), for years. Therefore, when I started looking for a breed of dog one of my criteria was that I wanted to do some obedience competition. One of the reasons I chose the Vizsla was because of their reputation for trainability. I also considered Border Collies, but the Vizsla breed stole my heart. I got started in 1992 with my first Vizsla, Rookie. We started out with puppy and group obedience classes. I began taking private lessons in 1994. When I decided to get my second Vizsla, I was interested in lines which were strong in conformation, drive, focus and hunting. I waited 2 years to get a puppy, Denny, out of 4-time BISS CH Cariad’s Classic Mariah ROM AOM, VCA Top Producer x CH Sandyacre Poquito Chile Bean MX MH UDX ROM, VCA Top Producer. In addition to starting Denny out with private obedience lessons as a puppy, I also started him on birds early in preparation for hunting training What are your obedience accomplishments? Nancy: Rookie earned his CD at the 1993 Nationals. He was only a year old and could have been better prepared, but I didn't know any better. I used old school methods to start him out and had to mostly retrain him later on. He has been an angel to put up with my learning curve. We just got his CDX last summer. Though I started obedience training Denny as a puppy, our first trial was when Denny was 3 years old. Denny has competed in 9 trials to earn his CD and CDX, placing in every trial with 5 first places. To earn his CD, he qualified at his first 3 trials with a score of 195 or more, meeting the criteria to earn a "Dog World" award. He earned his CDX three days in a row at the December 1998 Chicago Cluster, beating 144 dogs. In 1998, he was the #2 Vizsla in the VCA Top Ten Obedience List, and was #3 Vizsla in the Delaney System, which counts total dogs defeated. How did you prepare for obedience trials? Nancy: We prepared by taking private lessons and working him at an obedience club. I also read as many books as I can, go to seminars and watch videos. I research not only obedience, but dog behavior theory and general training books as well. I believe that the most important factor in our success was finding an experienced, knowledgeable private instructor. I started taking privates with Linda Koutsky when Rookie was around two years old. Linda helped me set a good foundation on Denny and to retrain Rookie. Now I train with Cindy Siekerke of "Canine Learning Center" in Oshkosh, WI. She is a nationally-reknown top trainer. I belong to K-9 Obedience Training Club in Menomonee Falls, WI where I can work Denver in classes for the distractions and commotion. I also do his agility training at K-9. Do you have any obedience training advice? Nancy:  My strongest recommendation for anyone wishing to compete in trials is to go to a good private instructor. Group lessons are also an essential part of training for socialization and distraction training, but I have found that many times group instructors may not be experienced, and furthermore, may not understand the Vizsla temperament and adjust training techniques appropriately. Therefore, as I learned the hard way with Rookie, group instructors many times teach techniques too harsh for many Vizslas. My personal rule of thumb is if I am being taught something which just doesn't seem right for my dog, I don't do it. And I never allow anyone else to take my dog's leash, especially not to demonstrate a heavy-handed technique - it can do much damage. I would also strongly recommend going to many Fun Matches (also called Correctionals) before entering a trial. A dog may act completely different in unfamiliar surroundings, so needs to be exposed to as many new locations as possible so a new trial location is not upsetting. I also want to stress using positive reinforcement (toys, food, praise) for training - this is how a new behavior is created. Corrections (negative reinforcement) should be used only to eliminate bad behavior. A correction to Denver is usually not much more than a quiet "wrong" followed up with the information that he needs to do the exercise correctly and then immediate praise for the right response. If your dog is not doing what you asked, it is almost always your problem not theirs. I make extensive use of obedience games in training. When my Vizslas see me pull out my Obedience Training bag, they go nuts and can't wait to start. Furthermore, I believe you can train for several venues at the same time (e.g. hunting, obedience, conformation, agility). This is the same philosophy held by Jack Sharkey, the owner/trainer/handler of the Triple Champion Legacy's DeChartey. You may want to focus harder on one thing if you are trialing, but training for all can occur simultaneously. What are your other accomplishments? Nancy:  Rookie has his CH, NA, CDX and JH Titles. Denny has his CH, NA, CDX, and SH Titles. Eden, who is Denny's daughter out of CH Dorratz Stella by Starlight JH, has her JH and is one point from her CH. Denny's special Conformation wins came when he won a 5-point major at the VCOI Specialty Show from the 6-9 Month Puppy Class and when his Dam, Mariah, won the 1996 VCA Nationals Brood Bitch class when shown with Denny and his sister Breeze. What are your future goals? Nancy: Denny is trained through Utility, and we plan on trialing for his UD & UDX starting in Spring 2000. I will also put Eden back in the show ring in 2000 for that last point, as well as working for her SH and CD. Update: Eden took BOS over specials at the Wheaton KC show on Saturday, 01/22/2000 to complete her AKC Championship. Congratulations!

Members on the Move Governor Thompson Hunts in Iowa County

Submitted by Sharon Shea Two CWVC members had the opportunity to rub elbows with the "Gov" while demonstrating the superior hunting ability of their Vizslas. One of them is in the photo below – guess who? Hint: The Vizsla pictured is "Mavrick". To find out, read the article below condensed from the front-page article which appeared in the October 28, 1999 issue of The Dodgeville Chronicle… Approximately 25 hunters and several of Governor Tommy Thompson’s staff were involved in the third annual pheasant hunt on October 20, 199. Local elected officials also attending were Dodgeville Mayor Jim McCaulley, Representative Steve Freese and Senator Dale Schultz. Event organizers were Dave Ladd, Dave Gollon, Dale Schultz and Chuck Thompson. Each hunter is charged $100 to hunt and $5.00 per shot. The money goes to the Iowa County Pheasants Forever and Iowa County Prairie Restoration and Recreation Committee.  Ladd said the group did not get as many pheasants as last year, but it was a good hunt on a beautiful October day. Guiding the group with dogs were Bob Fitsimmons, John O’Brien, Mark Klosterman, Jeff Ladd, Ed James, Pat Collins, Dave Jones, Sharon Shea, Jeff Chapman, Chris Ladd, Carson Culver and Bill Ortiz. Special thanks goes out to all the farmers and landowners who allowed the group to hunt on their land.

Breed Rescue Update

CWVC Member Results - VCA Nationals 1999

by Becky Smith Linda Kelly     Keeper - 3rd - National Championship     Keeper - 4th - National Amateur Championship     Ruby - 2nd in class - Veteran Sweeps Mark & Becky Smith     Seger - 2nd - Novice B 24" Agility     Pearl - 2nd in class - Puppy Sweeps Sherrie Anderson     Arlo - 1st in class - Regular classes     Arlo - 3rd in class - Puppy Sweeps Julie Sjullie     Blue - 2nd in Stud Dog class Kathy & Jeff Engelsman     Ralphie - Made cut for BOB Inge Siggelkow     Emma - 2nd in class - Puppy Sweeps Also in attendance from our club was Wanda Berner (at the field trial). We were "Vizsla Chauffeurs", driving two CWVC members’ Vizslas to California: Emma (her sire's owner showed her) and Kansas (Lyn and Jim Frank's boy who I showed, unfortunately without a lot of success). Julie Sjullie won Tommie Skrintney's quilt at the raffle, the lucky lady! Unfortunately, Seger's obedience entry did not make it in. I was so hoping to have a brag on his finishing his CD. Oh well, it will have to wait for another day I guess. Weather was very hot through the field trial (high 80's to low 90's) but cooled nicely for agility and the conformation show. Entries for all events were much larger than expected for a California Nationals. (The entries are usually lower there because of distance from most places.) As always, it was nice to renew old acquaintances and make new friends. Next year the events are in Connecticut. Hope to see everyone there!

Model Vizslas

by Sue Prim As all good dog show people know, it is mandatory to visit the vendor booths at the shows, especially those with breed-related items. While Joy Sonsalla and I were dutifully checking things out at one of the Christmas Cluster shows last December, we ran across a T-shirt/sweatshirt vendor and of course asked to see the Vizsla. We were immediately struck by how much they looked like my Vizslas Victor & Faye. Then I looked at the vendor, and somehow she looked familiar too. Then it hit me! About three years ago at a show in Minneapolis, a woman asked permission to take some pictures of my dogs and possibly use them as her "Vizsla poster children". I agreed, she sent me copies of the pictures she had taken, and that was the last I heard from her, until that day. These Vizsla representatives not only LOOKED like Victor & Faye, they WERE Victor and Faye! Needless to say, I was quite thrilled to find that she was using my kids as her models and therefore I couldn’t resist spending a little more at that booth than I had originally planned.

Parliamentary Cornerstone

by Ginger Tierney (condensed for the Web Site) Do you sit in a club meeting confused as to when to use motions and when not to? I was, but below I hope to shed a glimmer of light to  "Take the Mystery Out of Motions". Motions and the order of motions were designed to help a group of democratic thinkers move through the business at hand. Robert’s Rules of Order lists several categories of motions, two of which we consider: the main and subsidiary motions. There can be only one "main" motion on the floor at a time. Subsidiary motions are used to amend, drop or delay the main motion or to clarify the rules, whether they be the rules of the club or of a parliamentary nature. Motions have a specific order of rank. The order of making motions is lowest to highest. The order of voting on motions is highest to lowest: Highest Fix the Time Which To Adjourn   Adjourn   Recess   Raise a Questions of Privilege   Call for Orders of the Day   To Lay on the Table   Previous Question   Limit of Extend Limits of Debate   To Postpone to a Certain Time   Refer to a Committee   Amendment 2, And so on   Amendment 1   To Postpone Indefinitely Lowest Main Motion Definitions: Main Motion -  To bring new business to the assembly Postpone Indefinitely - To kill the main motion for the duration of the meeting. Amend - To change the motion; proposed amendments must be germane to the main motion Refer to a Committee - To have a small group investigate a proposal. Postpone to a Certain Time -  To put off or delay a decision. Limit or Extend the Limits of Debate - To limit or extend the time of debate or the number of times a person can speek in debate; or to put a time limit on a particular motion. Previous Question - To stop debate and immediately vote This is the most misunderstood and misused motion in meetings. This motion takes away the right of debate; therefore, it requires a 2/3 vote. It should only be used when a member thinks the debate on the motion has become tedious. To Lay on the Table - To set the main motion aside temporarily in order to take up something of immediate urgency. The intent is not to kill the motion, or even to put it off to the next meeting. This is the second most misunderstood motion. People confuse it with the motion to "table it" or kill the motion. Call for Orders of the Day - Make the assembly conform to the agenda Raise a Question of Privilege - Permits a member to make a request or a main motion relating to the rights and privileges of the assembly, or a member, and to consider it immediately, because of its urgency, while other business is pending. Recess - To take a short intermission and then resume business where the members left off. This is a privileged motion and may be made while other business is in progress. Adjourn - To end the meeting immediately Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn - To set a later time to continue this meeting before the next regular meeting. Motions can become layered. It is up to the presiding chair and the secretary to keep the motions straight and voted upon in the proper order. Anyone who accepts a position of President, Vice President or Secretary should read Robert’s Rules of Order. At this point, you may be thinking to yourself, "I’ve heard a few other types of motions." You are right; but this article is long enough. Next time we’ll define Incidental Motions and Resolutions.

True Grit - A Cinderella Story

by Debbie Taylor It finally happened! Shawnric’s Devil in Disguise, aka "True", is a Champion! WOW! What a ride… This all started 4 years ago. We got our Vizsla puppy, Alex, from Joy Sonsalla. We didn’t know at that time what a Vizsla could do to a person! I took Alex to classes for beginning obedience and then started the conformation classes. Alex and I tried hard but we didn’t get very far. Reserves were the best we did.  I had mentioned to Joy I wanted a female, but wasn’t sure when the right time would be to add another dog to our family. Well, I met True in August of 1996. She had been returned to her breeder, Shaun LaPointe, from her previous owner. She was 17 months old and needed some work and patience.  It took a long time to get to know her. It was very different from when you get a puppy.  True and I went to conformation classes and I started showing her in late September 1996. We had our troubles. She needed more confidence as well as I. We learned together. It seemed that each time I showed her, I learned something new. In May 1997 under Judge Erik Berghishagen, True got her first 2 points. I was so excited! From there I kept showing her and we racked up quite a few points. Then we hit a dry spell and I got so discouraged. I was about to stop for a while and then under Judge William Hixson she got her first major. I thought I was going to have to pinch myself to see if this was real. The day before she got fourth place. After that day, I had to keep on spending money for shows and also for the Hunting Tests. In between shows, True and Alex went to the Hunting Tests and earned their Junior Hunter (JH) titles and then Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificates.  Finally, on May 2, 1998 under Judge Thomas Kloss, True got her second major and she became a finished AKC Champion! I was so excited. I looked out at my friends to see if it was real and they all gave me a thumbs up. There were many ups and downs, but I have met so many people who became friends. We supported each other through it all.   Unfortunately, I have had to move away from the Chicago area. I am now living in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. I’ve been to a few shows around here and have joined the Ft. Wayne Obedience Training Club where I am involved in obedience and agility. True and Alex are now certified Visiting Dogs, so we go to nursing homes and hospitals to visit patients. With this breed, it seems there are many great opportunities to meet people.

Member Spotlight

Since I couldn’t decide who to feature in the Member Spotlight this month, I decided to feature everyone who shared information about themselves on their applications or renewals. You’ll enjoy learning about diversity in occupations, Vizsla interests, geographical areas, other pets, and hobbies. But one theme repeats itself – we all LOVE our Vizslas! Sherrie & Mark Anderson, Lindenhurst, IL Mark is a cabinetmaker by day, musician by night. Sherrie is a business analyst. They have a 15-year-old son, Brad, and in addition to their Vizsla, Arlo, they have a Golden Retriever and a Bernese Mountain Dog. They attended VCA Nationals 1999 in California, and are active in conformation, obedience, agility, and tracking. They hope to learn more about hunting. Lori Beres, Fremont, WI Lori had Vizslas as a teenager. Now that she is married and own their own home, they decided it was time for a family dog, and they chose the Vizsla breed! They live on a farmette with 12 acres of land. The also love cats, and share their home with 4 wonderful, lovable felines. They are excited to get their Vizsla, Hunter, involved in shows as well as other activities. Marilyn Brown, Orlando, FL Owners of two Vizslas, Scorch and Favor, and a Pointer, Marilyn & Jim participate in Conformation, Obedience, Hunt Tests and Field Trials – some of their accomplishments appeared in the August 1999 "That’s My Vizsla". They also belong to a GSP club because "all the serious hunters do and we learn so much from them. It seems that Vizslas are so pretty that lots of owners wouldn’t dare hunt them. But they are good hunting dogs, even great hunters if they’re allowed the chance. Usually they do not make good couch potatoes. There are other breeds that can fill that purpose. At least most Vizsla owners do something with their dogs. The blood pumps...let's go!   After a hard day at work, it’s so nice to go home – it’s sooooo wonderful to feel soooo loved." Marilyn also wrote that she enjoys reading The Paw's Print and viewing the CWVC Web Site (Penny’s Two Cents: Thanks! Photos of Marilyn’s Vizslas currently appear on the Web Site.) Pam Chatterton, Fond du Lac, WI Pam owns one Vizsla, Abbey, and is active in Therapy and Hunting, and is interested in Obedience and Agility. Her occupation is a Disabilities Specialist. Her favorite thing about the Vizsla is the personality of the breed. She also owns 1 cat, and enjoys hiking, auctions, and antiquing. She is a CWVC Vizsla Rescue volunteer. Cathy Cook, Algonquin, IL In addition to two V’s Kiva and Kola, Cathy owns two cats, Socks and Chessie. She heard about the CWVC from Cheryl Peterson and Sherrie Anderson and the Web Site (which she says is friendly!) She has owned Vizslas for one year, and chose this breed because of their temperament, intelligence, beauty and versatility. She loves snuggling with them and their "in-your-face" affection. Though her neighbor’s kids are allergic to dogs, they wait every day for Cathy to come home from her job with United Airlines so they can play with the V’s. Cathy also enjoys gardening, teaching and cooking. Becky & Kyle Fortney, Grafton, WI The Fortney’s busy household consists of 4 children (Sarah-11, Robin-9, Claire-6, and Malachi-2), 1 Vizsla (Teca), 1 Cocker Spaniel, 2 cats, 2 parakeets, and 2 fish. They heard about the CWVC at the Milwaukee Pet Fair a few years ago. They did a lot of research before buying their Vizsla, and some CWVC members were instrumental in their decision. Teca loves to play, and makes a lot of eye contact, and when she rests, loves to be right on top of one of the family members. "She’s definitely a central part of the family." Kyle is a computer consultant and Becky a homemaker and home-schooler. Hobbies include camping, hiking, arts & crafts, woodworking, 4-H, gardening and church activities. Karen Geiger, Milwaukee, WI Having grown up around her aunt, Valerie Piper’s Vizslas, Karen is the proud owner of her own female Vizsla, Gaza. Interested in Obedience and Hunt Tests, she joined the CWVC to get involved in activities and meet other V owners. "I have only had Gaza for 3 weeks, though she is 3½ years old. During this short time, she has persuaded my next door neighbor that she is so wonderful that he just has to watch her during the day when I am at work, plus take her to the local coffee shop for socialization." Karen is an attorney practicing employee benefits law, and prior to law school spent 6 years in the Navy. She loves the "upbeatedness" of the Vizsla, and enjoys reading and cross-stitching in her free time. Bonnie & Bela Jozsi, Dundee, IL Having owned 4 V’s since 1969, they currently own two, Cuki & Mickey. They participate in Hunt Tests and Conformation, and are interested in Tracking. Bela is a Urologist, and Bonnie an OR Nurse. Bela came from Hungary in 1956 during the revolution. They try to spend time in Budapest every two years and eventually will go for at least 1 month every year. They also belong to the VCOI and VCA, and look forward to volunteering for VCA Nationals 2001 which will be held near Mt. Vernon, IL. James Kaszubiski, Madison, WI In addition to their V Jake and a Belgian Tervuren, the Kaszubiskis have two sons, 21-year-old Nathan and 16-year-old Andrew. They participate in Obedience and Hunting, and are interested in learning more about Agility and Flyball. They learned about the CWVC at the Madison Dog Fair, and joined the CWVC to learn more about the Vizsla. Desiring a close-working dog, they chose the Vizsla. Other activities they enjoy include fishing and camping.   Linda Kelly, Burnsville, MN Linda has been a member of the CWVC since 1992. As a member of the VCA and TCVC, she chaired the 1998 VCA Nationals. She also is a member of the Texas Gulf Coast VC and Minnesota River Valley Kennel Club. Linda has owned Vizslas since 1972, and currently shares her home with 4 V’s: Katie, Kota, Keeper and Ruby. She has one son, 31-year-old Tom, and is a nurse anesthetist. In addition to participating in Hunt Tests, Field Trials, Conformation and Breeding, she enjoys spending time at her lake home 60 miles west of the Twin Cities. J.D. & Karrilee Kuehl, Waupun, WI The Kuehl’s have been married for 8 years and have a beautiful 4-year-old daughter, Lexi, who has bonded quite well with their V, Cinder. Their V interests include Hunting, Conformation, and Obedience. Their non-V interests are varied, and include fishing, camping, reading, music and martial arts. J.D. participates in No-Rules Fighting competitions and teaches rape prevention seminars and self defense. J.D. is interested in Field Trials, and the more he learns, the more he feels Cinder is his "mistake dog", meaning she will be the dog he learns his mistakes from (poor girl). Lexi enjoys terrorizing Cinder, and antagonizing mom and dad. Oh yes, and ice cream. Dean & Sue Nelson, Florence, WI Active in breeding, Hunt Tests and Field Trials, the Nelsons own 3 male V’s: Motee, Stryker and Jake. They have two children, Arin (10) and Alex (6). Having recently moved from Michigan, they belong to the VCA, VCOI, NVA, Ionia FTGA, and Vizsla Club of Michigan (for whom they are the Webmasters). They joined the CWVC to support and encourage CWVC’s Field Trials and other bird dog activities. Joy Sonsalla & Bill Quandt, Kenosha, WI "When Bill met me, he knew I loved animals. He just never figured animals would be our love link. Cats and dogs share our home. Our 4 Vizslas share our lives. We’ve met wonderful people through our dogs. We’ve traveled far and wide across the US and outside the US because of our V’s. We have very different interests, jobs, and backgrounds but our dogs bring us closer together, make us talk more and keep us entertained. Our dogs and cats share our home, our life and our love." The 4 V’s Joy mentions are Roxy, Reebok, Rhode and Reesa, who keep her busy with Obedience, Agility, Hunt Tests, Conformation, and breeding. A CWVC member since 1993, Joy also belongs to the VCA, VCOI, and WAG (WI-IL Agility Group). Becky & Mark Smith, Fall River, WI Mark and Becky own 4 V’s, Rosie, Jennie, Pearl and Seger. Members of the CWVC since 1992, they also belong to the VCA, Magyar Vizsla Club, TCVC, and Beaver Dam Dog Training Club. They participate in Obedience, Agility, Hunt Tests, Field Trials, Hunting, Conformation and breeding. They also own a 14-year-old American Water Spaniel, Buster, and two horses, Sandy and Shadow, whom you may have seen at the 1999 Hunt Test. Mark is an engineer and Becky a buyer at John Deere Horicon Works. As you read in the Nov 1999 issue, Becky recently received the "Friend of the CWVC" award for the countless contributions she has made to the CWVC. Carol & Phil Stout, Baton Rouge, LA "We have 3 Vizslas (Brook, Sandor, Thunder) & 2 Min Pins which keep us very busy. This gang has surely shown us what love is! We work with the Vizslas in Conformation, Obedience, Agility and Hunt Tests & the Min Pins are their greatest cheerleaders. When we’re not involved with any specific classes, we enjoy spending time with all the other Vizsla owners here in town. We take the dogs to play together, run in the field or swimming." "Phil works as a computer software specialist and I work for the 911 system as a Paramedic. We also enjoy camping, hiking, and traveling as much as we can! Of course all the dogs travel with us, but we haven’t yet had the opportunity to take them camping. We’re hoping we can arrange for camping during this fall’s Hunt Tests! I am originally from Central Wisconsin and we usually try to visit my home and family once or twice a year. We would certainly enjoy getting involved in the CWVC and greatly look forward to meeting everyone. Best Wishes!" Dave Thomas, Kenosha, WI Having been strong-armed by Penny Honetor and Sue Prim, Dave joined the CWVC in 1999. Dave participates in Obedience, Hunt Tests, Field Trials, Hunting, Conformation, and breeding. He also owns Gordon Setters. Cody has been owner-handled to all titles. Cody’s conformation accomplishments include earning his AKC Championship at 8 months old, was the first puppy to earn an Award of Merit at 9 months old at the 1993 VCA Nationals, was ranked in the Top 5 in Show in 1996, and has 3 BISS wins: VCOI (1996), TCVC (1996), and CWVC (1999). He finished his CD in four shows at 15 months old, earned a Versatility Certificate at the age of 2 years and holds a Master Hunter title. Ginger & John Tierney, Salem, WI "Ginger is interested in the versatility of the Vizsla and keeping the breed true to its original intent and purpose, a close working companion. Ginger is very active in Agility. John prefers flying Cessnas as his hobby." They currently own 3 V’s, Dawn, Comet and Sky, in addition to a Husky mix named Anna. Activities they enjoy are Obedience, Agility, Conformation, and breeding, and want to learn more about hunting and Therapy. Julie & Greg Whitworth, Oconto, WI In addition to 2 cats, Emily and Coco, Julie (a social worker) and Greg (a press operator) own 1 V named Dixie whom they admire for her zest and love of being alive. In addition to hunting, they enjoy fishing, truck rides, walks, gardening, and anything out-of-doors.

A Life of Crime?

by Becky Smith We have more than once had people come to visit who are interested in the Vizslas but have never actually seen one other than in a book or at a dog show. So when a young couple from Columbus decided to come over, we thought it would be a typical visit. The dogs would be wild for about half an hour and then settle down to their usual pestering selves. Pearl was 12 weeks old at the time. As soon as the people came, Pearl adopted the man as her own and curled up in his lap. She was absolutely the sweetest thing you would ever meet. No puppy biting, no clothes grabbing, just cuddling. Finally, after holding her for more than an hour, the gentleman put her on the floor. She pestered for a bit and then laid down like a good girl. About 20 minutes later, I looked down and she was underneath the table chewing on a checkbook. Now how (and when) did she find time to get our checkbook off the kitchen counter? But wait, that checkbook is green and our cover is blue. Pearl had slipped the checkbook out of the man's pocket without him ever feeling a thing! Hmmm. I wonder if we can teach her what a wallet is? FYI, Pearl's thieving ways have continued as she has stolen the earmuffs right off my head and my gloves from my coat pocket. And she has perfected the art-she is smooth!

Bunny Killer

by Becky Fortney I found a small, ratty, chewed-up piece of fur and I asked my kids what our Vizsla, Teca, had chewed up this time. One of the girls suggested her Eskimo Barbie. A short time later, I discovered our 6-year-old’s rabbit fur jacket (a gift from her grandma) missing the whole front panel! I still haven’t told my mother!

Kennel Match Game
Match the CWVC Members on the left to their Kennel Name on the right.
Click here to go to the answers.

CWVC Member

Kennel Name

1)  ___  Wanda Berner	a) Castleglen
2)  ___  Marilyn Brown	b) Daybreak
3)  ___  Jim & Linda Busch	c) Oakridge
4)  ___  Jeff & Kathy Engelsman	d) Vizion
5)  ___  David Jones	e) Priden Joy
6)  ___  Linda Kelly	f) Woods AFire
7)  ___  Steve & Sue Prim	g) Strider
8)  ___  Brian Schumacher	h) Boone Sporting Enterprises
9)  ___  John & Mary Seyer	i)  New Dawn
10) ___  Mark & Becky Smith	j) Oakleaf
11) ___  Joy Sonsalla	k) Sargas
12) ___  Dave Thomas	l)  Remark Kennels
13) ___  Ginger & John Tierney	m) Jnek
14) ___  Larry & Gwen Tomlinson	n) Elver's Creek

Teaching an Old Dog

by Steve Prim For years now Sue has worked as hard training me as she has the dogs. And the area she has stressed the most is the area of commands – she’ll use one or two words, and I’ll use a sentence, sometimes two! I’m sure she feels her training of me is all for naught, but last night she reaped some rewards, I think. After supper, Grace was thinking hard about snooping around the counter to see if any crumbs were left and just as her front feet left the floor, I yelled, "Don’t even think about it, Grace!" She immediately returned her feet to the floor and started to walk away. Knowing that praise was in order, I said, "Good NO-THINK, Grace, Good NO-THINK! Good girl!" So you see, sometimes progress is measured in inches, not miles…

 

What to do About a Gun Shy Vizsla

The following are Emails sent via the CWVC EMail List and published here for the benefit of the entire club. Question (Pam Chatterton - 10/19/99): I have a Vizsla that is almost 4 years old. When she was a puppy, she had no problems with the sound of guns. As she's gotten older and I suspect due to the influence of our other dog who is terrified of the sound of guns and thunder, she has become extremely tense around the sound of guns. We had her out pheasant hunting this weekend and it was the sound of other hunter's gun shots that stressed her. She would walk behind us or between us and did not move ahead until she actually got on the scent of a bird. Then she followed the scent til she found the bird and was extremely hyped up. Our gunshots at the bird did not phase her. Once another gunshot went off in a distance, she was back in the "heel" position. If anyone can offer any desensitization techniques, I'd really appreciate it as she seems to have such a good instinct and love of finding the birds. Answer (Wanda Berner - 10/20/99): You are right that the other dog has trained her. I would suggest 2 things. Find a dog that isn't gun shy to run her with. Get them in a controlled situation where the only shots they hear are yours. First, shoot from far away, only when they are working the birds, since that doesn't bother her. If she shows any fear, just ignore her. Don't assure her its OK. That only teaches her that there is something to fear. Praise the other dog that is not afraid. Make sure there are plenty of birds. Quail and pigeons are cheaper. Spending a little money now will save you thousands in professional fees to fix this. After she sees the other dog not being bothered and they are really interested in finding birds, keep firing from a distance, getting closer. At this point you are still just flushing birds and letting her chase. You can fire more than once during the chase. You may want walkie talkies to signal the person with the gun. A blank pistol with heavy loads is cheaper than shotgun shells, but use what you have. Eventually you will get to the point where you can shoot near her. Try, after many times of bird work, letting her hear a shot when they aren't working a bird. If she ignores it, you are on your way. By the way, if your other dog is really terrified of storms, I would talk to the vet about doggy Prozac. Not a sedative. Two seasons of storms must be gone through before it will be OK. You need to fix the other dog so that it isn't retraining your hunting dog to be afraid. Otherwise all your work will get undone.

Answers to Kennel Match Game

1-g; 2-f; 3-h; 4-m; 5-n; 6-j; 7-b; 8-k; 9-c; 10-l; 11-e; 12-a; 13-i; 14-d

End February 2000 "The Paw's Print" excerpts

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