So being a dog lover & having had a dog for the most part of my life from before i can remember, & not having had a dog for a few years now, its been on my mind for quite some time to get another.
Ive always had German Shephards, as thats what i grew up with & i know their make-up...but ive wanted a hunting dog...always fantasised about getting a good one but affordability is not an option these days with low income & the exorbident extortionist type price tags these kinds of dogs (well most dogs actually) come with...
Ive toyed with the idea of a rescue dog & like the idea, but have "just" missed out on a few of the good sheep/cattle dogs or gun dogs that occasionally come to the pounds.
When COVID hit i rang a local GSP breeder & she had a litter coming that would normally have been pre-sold, but she had no takers, so she offered me a substantial discount on one...i was stoked...!!...i asked her for a confirmation of the price in our discussion, & she assured me she would honour her price to me, & that she would call in the coming weeks to advise me of their coming along & when i could come & see them/choose my new pup.
Well it was around then that all the hype of dog ownership hit the media, & like with toilet paper hype, every fukwit (& his/her dog...
...) had to have a dog didnt they--you know, because people have lost the ability to think for themselves these days...
So as you can already probably gather, the breeder never got back in contact with me, yet again leaving me dogless, & unfortunately for, this was likely to be for an unforseeable time into the future...
Well after then but still earlier this year i met a lady at my local park while i was taking my granddaughter for a walk to the park that she so intently hassled me for...this lady had a couple of Vizsla's...naturally i got talking to her--firstly, Vizsla's can be pretty vocal dogs, or "talkers" as they say, & her dogs are right up there--so when her ball came in my direction, her dogs had no hesitation in telling me to "eff off" when i picked up their ball...
Her doga are both large boys & she was somewhat surprised that i didnt flinch, & that i was keen & open for a pat, as most people shy away from the unknown in large vocal dogs like that--except of course us experienced large dog owners/lovers...
So we got talking & became friendly...she mentioned she had a friend who was a breeder, & that as she was empathetic to my financial plight, she'd mention me to the breeder as a possibility of a decent bloke to maybe take on a rescue/re-home jobby...
Well, i got a message from her a couple weeks back saying there was a couple of options come up for re-home dogs...we chatted for a good while on the phone, then i spent an afternoon with the breeder & her dogs at a dog show.
I met the guy & the dog & he was happy for me to be new owner & agreed to bring him down to me today...but i know how to give an over-excited dog that calming positive reward behavior which it responded to so well, & the owner mentioned he'd never seen anyone calm his dog like i did--no super powers here, its just about knowing dogs...
So when we parted ways, the dog kept pulling at his lead & looking back at me...the owner called out to me from 150 odd yards down the road, so i went back & he asked if id take him now...he said he'd never seen his dog behave like that so wanted to capatilise on the moment...
It was a bit awkward as the guy started to choke up...i reassured him he's most welcome to visit any time, & that id be happy to meet at a beach so his kids can have a play...so we both agreed...he said he couldnt talk--he was about to burst--so i empathised & kindly said then ill make a move off...
His dog looked back at his owner, & the guy looked back at him...for a moment i was worried that'd make him change his mind, but in hindsight maybe it was a good thing for the owner, seeing his dog happy to go, but also looking back...
Well...we're bonding well...
Got a little excited this morning when he saw himself in a big mirror & froze to a pointed stance...!!...
I was too slow to record it with the mobile & only started recording as he broke the pointed pose realising it was himself...
He's a brigh boy & on the large side of size for a Vizsla...very co-dependant at the moment, but all going well that'll ease as he gets some confidence & we bond more...
Im most happy about the fact that he is for the most part a happy dog--although there are given anxieties present--expected with a re-home dog, but over-all im confident of an almost full, if not a full turnaround in this given his promise, happy core nature & only 8/9 month age...
And he is a talker--he's got no hesitation to tell me if he's not happy when i shut the toilet door...
Cant wait to get him up the farm & put him on the scent of a bunny or something to see how he goes & what he does...
Ive never had a pointer/gun dog before, so if any of you guys out there have first hand experience with them, ill be only too grateful to take on any tips in the slow process of desensitising him to sharp sounds & bringing out that pointing instincy in him.
Im also going to re-name him...im not a big fan of his name...
Here he is...
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