Our goal is a very modest $100 to start. If you would like to support this great cause and support Ralphie on his first walkathon, please visit:
http://guidedogswalkathon.org/vizslaralphie
Friday, February 21, 2014
Ralphie's First Fundraiser Walkathon
Ralphie and I are participating in our first fundraiser walkathon on March 1 to support a cause very dear to both our hearts...Southeastern Guide Dogs. We are so excited for this opportunity to support such a great organization. The short video below says it all.
Our goal is a very modest $100 to start. If you would like to support this great cause and support Ralphie on his first walkathon, please visit:
http://guidedogswalkathon.org/vizslaralphie
Our goal is a very modest $100 to start. If you would like to support this great cause and support Ralphie on his first walkathon, please visit:
http://guidedogswalkathon.org/vizslaralphie
Sunday, February 9, 2014
The Frisbee Vizsla
I've always wanted a Frisbee dog. I think there's just a special bond between owner and dog in a good game of Frisbee. Perhaps it's that slow floating disc in the sky and watching your pup run, looking up at the Frisbee, jumping off the ground, to see him catch the round disc. It's that look a dog gives his owner as to say proudly, "I did it!" Ohhh, to have a Frisbee dog!
Just recently the past few days Ralphie and I have been playing around with the Frisbee at the dog park. I'm not the best Frisbee thrower with my weak arm from my pulled rotator cuff. And Ralphie had a hard time catching it and was more interested in chewing the disc and playing keep away. It's been a challenge for the both of us.
Today was a different ... my arm seemed a little stronger and I was able to somewhat throw it decently and Ralphie was right on. We played and played, catch after catch. He played hard and loved it! He was so proud after each catch and I was even more proud to see him jump in air and land each Frisbee flight!
By golly... I have a Frisbee dog that I've always dreamed of! I'm one lucky girl!
Just recently the past few days Ralphie and I have been playing around with the Frisbee at the dog park. I'm not the best Frisbee thrower with my weak arm from my pulled rotator cuff. And Ralphie had a hard time catching it and was more interested in chewing the disc and playing keep away. It's been a challenge for the both of us.
Today was a different ... my arm seemed a little stronger and I was able to somewhat throw it decently and Ralphie was right on. We played and played, catch after catch. He played hard and loved it! He was so proud after each catch and I was even more proud to see him jump in air and land each Frisbee flight!
By golly... I have a Frisbee dog that I've always dreamed of! I'm one lucky girl!
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| Run Ralphie Run!! |
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| "I got it! I got it." |
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| Woohoo...it's a catch! |
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| Jump, Jump ... "It's another catch!" |
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| All tired out! |
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Had To Share...
After writing my last post this morning, I went into my Facebook and saw this ... had to share....
What Would You Do?
The other evening Ralphie and I were driving home from the dog park. It was a cold day by Florida standards, about 45-50 degrees. As we were driving down the street, from a distance I see my neighbor all bundled up walking her rescue dog. It made me so happy to know this dog is in a good, loving home and her owner caring for her so much to the extent of walking her in the not-so-nice weather...until what I witnessed.
It appeared my neighbor tripped on the dog or the leash or could of simply been a crack in the sidewalk. She didn't fall, it was a simple stumble. I saw my neighbor's expression turned into anger, actually I would say a very mean look. Then she kicked her dog, once, twice, three times, yelling at this innocent dog that had no idea what she did wrong. I remember her telling me one time if her dog doesn't start behaving she's going to take her back to the shelter! To me, her dog sounds very disposable.
Needless to say I was in distraught the whole evening...thinking, what should I do? I called my son to talk about it. We both agreed she must care for this dog somewhat by taking her for a walk in the cold and I see her walking the dog in the early morning hours before going to work and I see her at the dog park exercising her dog. But why kick your dog? Maybe she was having a bad day? Sometimes I think this lady has a personality flaw...happy sometimes and total opposite other times. Whatever the reasoning may be, the question is, "why take it out on your dog, why kick your innocent dog?" Now every time I pass her house when walking Ralphie and Ollie, I wonder what's happening to this dog behind closed doors?
So, what should I do? Mind my own business? Leave her a note? Address it face-to-face? I'm just not too sure. This has been on my mind for days now. I just can't let it go. I now know I need to talk to her. So I do have a plan then next opportunity I'm talking to her. I will tell her the story of what I've seen, but I will not accuse her of the act. I'll simply say I saw a lady...blah, blah, blah... She'll know exactly who I'm talking about and maybe she'll be nicer to her dog knowing there are people watching her.
Now it's time to give my Ralphie and Ollie a BIG hug.
It appeared my neighbor tripped on the dog or the leash or could of simply been a crack in the sidewalk. She didn't fall, it was a simple stumble. I saw my neighbor's expression turned into anger, actually I would say a very mean look. Then she kicked her dog, once, twice, three times, yelling at this innocent dog that had no idea what she did wrong. I remember her telling me one time if her dog doesn't start behaving she's going to take her back to the shelter! To me, her dog sounds very disposable.
Needless to say I was in distraught the whole evening...thinking, what should I do? I called my son to talk about it. We both agreed she must care for this dog somewhat by taking her for a walk in the cold and I see her walking the dog in the early morning hours before going to work and I see her at the dog park exercising her dog. But why kick your dog? Maybe she was having a bad day? Sometimes I think this lady has a personality flaw...happy sometimes and total opposite other times. Whatever the reasoning may be, the question is, "why take it out on your dog, why kick your innocent dog?" Now every time I pass her house when walking Ralphie and Ollie, I wonder what's happening to this dog behind closed doors?
So, what should I do? Mind my own business? Leave her a note? Address it face-to-face? I'm just not too sure. This has been on my mind for days now. I just can't let it go. I now know I need to talk to her. So I do have a plan then next opportunity I'm talking to her. I will tell her the story of what I've seen, but I will not accuse her of the act. I'll simply say I saw a lady...blah, blah, blah... She'll know exactly who I'm talking about and maybe she'll be nicer to her dog knowing there are people watching her.
Now it's time to give my Ralphie and Ollie a BIG hug.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Property Laws of a Vizsla
I saw this on Facebook. This can't be more true and Ralphie abides by these laws 100% of the time! LOL
It's almost embarrassing to see him snag the other dog's toys at the dog park and then that toy is HIS! Ralphie loves to be chased with HIS toy dangling from his mouth. Yep, he is a little thief...but that's a Vizsla and I LOVE him for that. :)
Monday, January 13, 2014
Happy Birthday Ollie!!
Happy Birthday Ollie!!
Today is Ralphie's older little brother's birthday!! Ollie is 14 years old, that's 72 years old in human years! I can honestly say that Ralphie brought life into Ollie when he became a part of our family. Before Ralphie, Ollie was slow and anti-social. Ralphie's puppy antics put a spark in Ollie and now he's back to his feisty little self. I see many more years with our 'lil 'ol man. LOVE.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Humping Vizsla
Ralphie is about 1 year, 5 months old now. How time flies! Seems just like yesterday I was blogging about his life as a puppy. Obviously puppies go through good and bad stages as they grow into an adult. Today's concern with Ralphie ... he's beginning to 'hump' some of the dogs at the dog park.
I began googling to see if I really need to be concerned about this behavior and what I should do about it. I come to find out this is normal; it can be a dominance sign or just a playful antic. Some dogs have an extreme 'humping' behavior where they're on top of your leg, pillows, toys, or whatever they can hump. Ralphie is not like that, luckily. He gets focused only on a couple of dogs at the dog park and then begins his dominance, playful humping. He really loves Bailey, the Australian Shepard mix and Princess, the Boxer.
Should I be concerned? A little. I really don't want Ralphie to have a reputation and many pet owners do not want their dogs humped...which I don't blame them. What I've read is pretty much what I'm doing. Distract him. Pull him away to let him know this is not acceptable behavior. Get him to another area of the dog park and play with him. Does this work? Sometimes and sometimes not. Ralphie gets focused on one dog and it's very hard to distract him at times plus he's a 60 pound strong dog which is a challenge to pull him away. But I'm working on it. I also read you can use a squirt bottle of water and squirt him when he's in his humping mode. That may be something I try if he doesn't snap out of this behavior soon.
Needless to say, it's harmless, Ralphie is neutered so he won't be making any puppies. LOL But as a responsible dog owner, I will try my best to deter this humping behavior.
I began googling to see if I really need to be concerned about this behavior and what I should do about it. I come to find out this is normal; it can be a dominance sign or just a playful antic. Some dogs have an extreme 'humping' behavior where they're on top of your leg, pillows, toys, or whatever they can hump. Ralphie is not like that, luckily. He gets focused only on a couple of dogs at the dog park and then begins his dominance, playful humping. He really loves Bailey, the Australian Shepard mix and Princess, the Boxer.
Should I be concerned? A little. I really don't want Ralphie to have a reputation and many pet owners do not want their dogs humped...which I don't blame them. What I've read is pretty much what I'm doing. Distract him. Pull him away to let him know this is not acceptable behavior. Get him to another area of the dog park and play with him. Does this work? Sometimes and sometimes not. Ralphie gets focused on one dog and it's very hard to distract him at times plus he's a 60 pound strong dog which is a challenge to pull him away. But I'm working on it. I also read you can use a squirt bottle of water and squirt him when he's in his humping mode. That may be something I try if he doesn't snap out of this behavior soon.
Needless to say, it's harmless, Ralphie is neutered so he won't be making any puppies. LOL But as a responsible dog owner, I will try my best to deter this humping behavior.
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