Happy 4th Birthday Ralphie!!!

We celebrated Ralphie's 4th birthday this past Thursday, August 4th with hugs, singing, cupcakes, yummy bones, long walk and more hugs.  I can't believe it's already 4 years since my big boy came into my life!!  He is the BEST!!  Ralphie has given me four years of happiness, unconditional love, and many laughs.  There's nothing like hugging  that big 'ol boy.  He just molds right into me with his head on my shoulder.  Love.  I've never had such a special bond with a dog as I do with Ralphie.  I am so blessed to have four wonderful years with him and looking forward to many, many more.

Happy Birthday Ralphie ... My Big Boy!!!

Hot Summers With Vizslas

Well we're in the middle of summer and it is HOT!  It's normal having 95 degree weather with high humidity every day.  Yes, yes Vizslas are supposed to be outdoor sporting dogs that should withstand all weather conditions....well Ralphie and Lucy are quite domesticated.  LOL  

They do enjoy the outdoors but for a very limited time.  After a 2-mile walk they are panting, tongue hanging out, and anxious to get back into the air conditioning.  Dog park outings have been limited due to Lucy's unpredictable behavior, but when we go a couple times a week they only last about 40 minutes.  After that they're ready to go home and get in the air conditioning.  I've been taking them to the park super early around 7am before it gets really hot for the day.  It seems like a lot of people have the same idea to get their pups out early.  Always some dogs there at that time.   I also like taking them to go to the dog park after our daily rain storm that we usually get around 5pm.  Most of the time no one is crazy like us to take their pups to the park with the soaking wet grounds.  But Ralphie and Lucy LOVE puddles.  They have a blast romping and splashing in the puddles.  For them it's well worth a bath later. LOL

Lucy has been enjoying the pool almost every day, trying to tease and lure Ralphie in the pool.  Once in awhile I'll manage to get Ralphie in the pool to chase a ball, but doesn't happen often.

I have to really watch Ralphie and Lucy with the bugs, bees, snakes and frogs that we have this time of the year.  We do have poisonous snakes and frogs in FL.  The other day I saw Ralphie and Lucy pouncing on a snake...luckily it wasn't a poisonous one.   I have seen a Diamondback snake in my front yard last year.  Ralphie always makes me aware of a new wasp nest developing...he'll stand there barking and barking at the nest until I spray the wasps and get rid of the nest.  Lucy chasing the bunnies.  For some reason I don't think Ralphie sees the brown bunnies, they must blend into surrounding where his eyes don't see them.

We've been to the beach a couple of times, but again it's been so hot and I rather wait till it cools some before spending long periods on the beach.  They both love the salt water, fetching a stick or ball.

We are definitely have a blast enjoying summer and looking forward to more summertime fun!

Can you believe the size of this puddle at the dog park after one of our storms?!

Vizslas Got Personality.

Yes, Ralphie and Lucy got personality and quite different, that is.   

Ralphie is here for me to give big hugs to.  I just love hugging Ralphie.  He's big and solid and he just sits there and lets me hug and hug and hug.  Ralphie stares at me across the room as if he's in love with me. LOL He loves to rest his heavy head on me so I can scratch it.  He absolutely gets excited when I sing to him.  But not sure if he likes it or if I'm annoying him.  Probably annoying him... I can't sing a note. LOL  He's very laid back, but still likes to fetch a ball, chase lizards and squirrels. Loves his walks. Almost 4 years old and mellowing out with age.  Ralphie is a real boy...my boy!

Lucy on the other hand is a clinger, but will pull back when I hug her.  She loves to be scratched down her front neck under her chin.  She's my swimmer.  We play in the pool almost every day.  We try to get Ralphie in but that doesn't happen often, unless Ralphie is fetching a ball that's thrown in the pool.  Lucy is silly, she has a lot of different expressions.  She makes me laugh every day. She's only a year and 5 months old, still full of energy, but honestly I think Ralphie was more active at this age than Lucy.  Lucy is my girlie girl with an attitude. LOL

The Traumatized Vizsla

It all began a month ago when Ralphie and Lucy were playing at the dog park when Lucy swung her hip around and hit the park bench.  She cried and cried.  Lucy is physically okay now but not mentally.

Most of the time Lucy refuses to get into my car now.  But when she does, I take them to the dog park to play.  Lucy barely plays anymore.  She'll sit there or sometimes hides under the bench.  She doesn't wrestle with Ralphie anymore.  When Ralphie wants to play, she'll play up to a point and then backs off.  She's become extra snarly these days with the other dogs at the park.  Honestly, I rarely take them to the dog park now.  Lucy seems to prefer her walks instead now.

I know Vizslas need that free-run in a wide open space to stay happy, but it's just not happening these days.  I try to get to the park extra early hoping no other dogs will be there so they can run, but there's always someone there.  My backyard isn't large enough for an open run, however Lucy has been swimming in the pool quite a bit these days.  I know this injury marred her and she's just  a scared little girl.  I really need to research this to see how I can bring her back to the 'ol Lucy.

In the meantime, she is still a very happy pup, very affectionate, maybe more so than ever.  She seems content but I know she has this dog park phobia now which really concerns me.

Lucy's typical behavior at the dog park.

Deciding if she wants to play or not.

Vizsla - Teamwork!

Ralphie and Lucy so amuse me with their intelligence and on top of that make me laugh out loud.

Ralphie does not care for the pool.  Now he'll swim after a ball at the beach, but just not fond of the pool water.  In the past years he would fetch a ball that I throw in the pool, but this year he really doesn't even want to do that.
Lucy on the other hand is pool-crazed.  She loves the pool!  She'll swim and swim back and forth. However I do need to watch how much pool water she consumes as she pounces on the water catching the splash then swallowing the chlorinated water.  If she has too much, she gets a belly ache.

Anyways, it's been really hot here in FL and I wanted Ralphie to cool off yesterday.  I figured I can get him in the pool with a nice bright squeaky ball.  So I brought out two new balls, one for Lucy and one for Ralphie.  I tried so hard to get Ralphie to fetch to ball in the pool.  And this is what happened...

Can we call this "teamwork"?  LOL

Ralphie + Lucy Instagram

So Ralphie and Lucy ganged up on me and said, "Mom, why can't we have Instagram? All the fur kids have it!"

Soooo, Mom gave in and created: vizsla.ralphie.lucy on Instagram.  I'll be posting many, many pics of my fur babies!  Come follow us!

Rough Play = Injured V

Lucy was hurt about a week ago at the dog park.  She was rough playing with Ralphie and she whipped around hitting her hip on the bench.  She shrieked and cried on her back and wouldn't move.  All of the other dogs wanted to see what's going on and she was snarling at them to say, "leave me alone."  She settled down and finally let me touch and comfort her.  She actually walked out of the park with a slight limp.  At home I gave her a half of a pain pill I had from when she was spayed.  That evening she was calm, no whimpering.

This incident happened on a holiday weekend so my vet wasn't open, but nevertheless I wanted to keep an eye on her before going to the vet.  The next morning she seemed normal, no limping and eating well.  By Tuesday when the vet office was open, she was fine and I didn't feel I had the need to take her in.

But now Lucy is afraid of the dog park. -sigh- A couple of days ago I took them to the park and Lucy didn't even want to go in!  She had to be lured in with a treat.  Inside the park she hid under a bench.  Finally she came out from under the bench and ran a few laps with Ralphie, but no rough playing.  She mingled with the other dogs but mingled more with the humans.  Simply said, she wasn't herself.  I'm not so sure if that painful incident damaged her desire for the dog park.  I'm planning to take them today, so we will see...

Lucy did much better at the dog park...see the black pit...Lucy just doesn't like
him and he's so kind and friendly.

Ralphie and Lucy enjoying the pool. Oh oh, the pit is planning to join them...