Gettin' Big!

As Winnie approaches the 15 week mark (I think that's right), she's definitely having a bit of a growth spurt. We're shopping for an upgraded crate this weekend, and as you can tell from the photo below, Gromit is getting to be a bit outmatched when it comes to pure size! Good thing he is 475% faster and 1,120% more agile, so he still has the edge there...

World Wide Winnie...

This blog has been a fun way for me to share photos and stories about Winnie to friends and family, but I really find it interesting that people from all over are finding it! The dog shown here is not Winnie, but a relative of hers named Peggy who lives in Scotland! Peggy's owner, Nina, sent me these pictures of her sweet and happy Wire whose grandfather is Harris, Winnie's father.

In addition to Scotland, recent visitors here include Wire fans from England, France, Germany, Hungary and all across the U.S. from Michigan to Texas, Washington, DC to California!

So keep the photos coming in from all over the world. I know there are some HWVs in Australia, we'll have to get a visitor from there next!!

Virginia Overrun with Wirehaired Vizslas!

I was thrilled to find out that Winnie is not the only Wirehaired Vizsla in Virginia! These two beauties are straight from Zoldmali Kennel in Hungary, and live just a few miles from us.

Kifli (Hungarian for croissant) is the one that looks like Winnie, and Krumpli (potato) is the smoother of the two. He will get his beard soon enough! I'm told they are, of course, wonderful pets and they made it through their long journey from Hungary just fine.

Thanks Laura for the pictures, I look forward to meeting Kifli and Krumpli in person real soon!

First mouthful of feathers...

I visited a nearby trainer today, I wanted to talk to the guy and see his facility. Pretty impressive setup, he raises birds, trains dogs, teaches obedience and also does boarding.

Winnie was with me, so he wanted to just see what she'd do with a bird. He got a quail, pulled the flight feathers and did that thing where he puts it to sleep in the grass. I didn't get to watch that because I was holding Winnie some distance away. Then he walked her near it, sure enough she found it and pointed it. It wasn't particularly stylish or even convincing, for that matter, but when the bird woke up she seemed to have some fun following it around.

Then the guy killed the quail and, after getting her a little excited about it, threw it for her to retrieve. She wasn't sure at first, but then she retrieved it no problem!

I don't know what my next steps are, but if they include getting more birds and letting her just get excited about them, it's good to know I can get birds - as well as advice and guidance - so close to home.

Poof Goatee

I was talking to Winnie's breeder, Peg, about Winnie's beard. How it seems just recently that the end of her snout is developing this great tennis ball sized ball of beard. She knew what I was talking about, and called it a 'Poof Goatee.' Irresistable.

And speaking of irresistable, while trying to get a snout picture, I clicked this impossibly cute cartoon sad face. I'm sorry but come on. Nobody's that cute.