Some questions don’t have to be asked twice-I’m going to visit Vic’s breeder and he has a litter
A basket of puppies. Life is good.
of Vizslas; “Would you like to come with?” Heck, I don’t remember hearing an answer but the Jeep had both the grandkids sitting in it ready to go. Clearly, those kids had puppy fever which was betrayed by all their quivering as we drove the 200 some miles to Lone Oak Vizslas in Hutchinson Minnesota.
I have to admit this trip could have turn out to be “dangerous” for me, Vizsla puppies, particularly those from a strong hunting line are very, very tempting to a man with an empty
Please get off me!
place in his heart. However, I am not known as a fellow who would pass on an adventurous trip due to any type of challenge being involved. Besides, the main reason for this trip was to talk to Marc about breeding Vic. We had planned to do this a few years ago but Mrs. elk’s cancer put those plans on hold.
Vic will be seven years old in December 2017, it’s getting time for him to work with an apprentice. Turkey dogging requires a dog to learn a specialized skill set and to know the difference between turkey hunting versus other upland birds. For example, Vic knows he must range out 200 to 400 yards to find a flock of turkeys then charge in to scatter those birds rather than point them. If I have heard the turkeys scatter Vic finds me and leads me back for a setup. While on setup during the call back he needs to be still and hold steady at the gun as the turkeys come into range. On command, he goes out to hold the bird in place rather than retrieve as he does with the traditional upland game birds. As regular readers of this blog know when Vic and I are hunting the upland birds like grouse, pheasant, and woodcock he works the traditional pointing style hunt. That is he finds the bird, points holds steady to the gun and retrieves to hand. Assuming I have done my part in that equation, if not, I become the recipient of “the look.”
Vic chatting it up with the ladies.
All that is easy to write and with the right bloodline in the dog, training in all those different skills is achievable. With Vic, it was remarkably easier than I had anticipated. Marc is a good breeder who loves his dogs who have good hunting pedigrees.
As of a couple of weeks ago, there were a few puppies not spoken for from this litter so if you have an interest you can contact Marc or Kerri at Lone Oak Vizslas. Also, there was another litter born last week with some puppies not spoken for yet.
We plan to breed Vic late October – early November, so his puppies will be born in December and ready for pickup early February 2018. There is never a guarantee, hopefully, Vic’s offspring will continue his hunting pedigree. To say I am excited about training up another hunting companion is an understatement.
Enjoy all the pictures.
Papa to be Vic.
Am I cool or what?
What you want now?
Super heroes are boring.
Take me home with you?
I can point.
Seriously? I know I can hunt.
N.C.L.W. says
This is indubitably THE single cutest post in the history of CharlieElk.com!!! Adorable, truly.
While I am not (Very difficult to type the “not” there, as you know, it was!) currently seeking a pupperz/doggo I am curious how the Vizlas handle cold weather? Think down to -31F probably wouldn’t be exposed to much colder than that. I see the skill-set variety is present in spades in the best examples of the breed, such as Vic so I presume waterfowl duties would present no issue?
I presume they handle the heat/intermediary weather as well as anyone else? My current Doggo of choice of I were to be looking would be a Chesapeake Bay Retriever or Clumber Spaniel (provided I could actually find it).
Beauty post Sir, looks to have surely been a most excellent time had by all. Cheers!
Charlie says
Vic and I have hunted pheasants and grouse at -10 F. Turkey hunting requires sitting still for the callback and that is tough on him, zero and up are better. The coldest I have hunted and killed turkeys is -25 F, That story is here https://www.charlieelk.com/2014/01/06/25-below-zero-turkey-hunting/
Vizslas are not noted as good waterfowlers, they don’t like to jump into the frigid water. Before the water becomes frigid no problem with the proper training.
There are some Texans and Kentuckians who use Vizslas for boar hunting. In Wisconsin, I know of two hunters who use them for bear hunting. Surprisingly, these same dogs hunt upland birds when not chasing those big furry things. Those dogs caused me to get Vic.
Totally agree this post is indubitably the cutest ever.
N.C.L.W. says
Thanks Charlie. I appreciate the Vizsla wisdom!
I now recall reading the article you’ve linked. I’ve been through the entire site and have read it all. Did most of my reading of posts created before I discovered yourself and this site while you were taking time off to deal with the drastic change that happened to your Family this past January.
Despite their cuteness and versatility, I don’t figure the Vizsla breed to be the right one for me when it’s Dog time. I do appreciate them and am always reevaluating my needs, so should circumstances change perhaps this breed would be warranted at some time in the future! Very easy to understand their appeal.
Jcarlin says
Man. Even I feel like Vic’s first Turkey was just yesterday.
Charlie says
Yeah, I know how you feel. I’ve always maintained it’s other people’s kids that make me feel old and dogs are kids with fur.
Wonder if OL still has all those threads about Vic? I haven’t been there since they upgraded the site.
Blast from the past; Here’s the post of Vic’s first turkey https://www.charlieelk.com/2011/09/20/vics-first-turkey/
Vic was born Dec 15, 2010, he was 9 months old on his first hunt.
FirstBubba says
This post popped up in my email the day Charlie posted it.
No, I’m not looking for a puppy…yet! LOL!
Kudos to you charlie, if you can walk away from that wriggling mass of puppydom!
It’s tough!
Charlie says
Having made the arrangement to breed Vic this fall helped me stay strong enough to walk away—- this time.
Off topic alert; I read that OK is the number one quail state. Do you hunt quail?
FirstBubba says
Boy! Am I slow! LOL!
Well, yes and no.
A buddy down the road raises and trains bird dogs. He’s invited me hunting a couple of times, I just haven’t gone.
I only have 80 acres, but there is at least two covey’ s if not three.
Since 2015, we’ve had awesome weather and ALL game species are on a mind boggling “rebound” after a devastating 2010 thru 2014.
The quail hatched twice this summer.
Literally, there are quail everywhere!
I sit and watch them feed across my yard!
huntfishtrap says
I’m not even a dog person, and I have to admit, those are some cute puppies.