Tappancs Vizslas

11/03/2025

This weekend we tried (again) something new - Barn Hunt! I believe that when you start a new dog sport, you are not there for the Q ribbons (although getting one or two doesn't hurt 😊), but for the learning. Even if you attended many training sessions, continued training at home, the trial environment is much different, and you can very quickly learn about your weaknesses. This was definitely true for us this weekend. I know that I made quite a few handling errors, and most likely even more that I didn't realize. In spite of my handling errors, both Kajla and Amelia earned their first qualifying barn hunt ribbons! Kajla even got first place; she went through the tunnel, climbed on the straw bales and found a rat in 36.62 seconds! Amelia was a bit slower, but she still got second place. I also entered both girls in the Crazy 8 trial, where they had 2 minutes to find 8 rats, plus go through the tunnel and climb on the straw bales. Kajla collected 120 points, and Amelia 50 points.
There was also a raffle, where we won not one, but two prizes!
It was a great experience, we are hooked! Thank you Barn Hunt Casa Grande for the great trial and everyone who gave us advice and encouraged us!

10/15/2025

10/13/2025

Vizsla conformation in Europe. The vizslas have long tails, the handlers are casually dressed.

10/08/2025

Yup....

09/29/2025

September in Arizona means the start of every dogsport you can imagine. I spent the last weekend in Prescott Valley, at the Prescott Arizona Kennel Club's shows with Bator (Tappancs Bátor) and Merész (Somlóhegyi Artemisz). Bator went Select Dog on Saturday and got his Grand Championship title! Pending AKC approval, he is now GCH Tappancs Bator BN RA ACT1 CGC ATT. There was no love for Merész in the show ring, but on Sunday she earned her third qualifying leg and 3rd place with 86 points in Rally and earned her Rally Novice title. Now she is Somlóhegyi Artemisz RN.
This weekend I was on Mount Lemmon with Kajla (Pitypang Ilka) and Amelia (Tappancs Amelia) at the scentwork trial organized by Sonoran Desert Scent Work Club. We had mud, rain, lots of slick pine cones, squirrels and all kinds of other distractions, but the girls had a great time there. Amelia got her final qualifying run and a 1st place in Novice Exterior, earning her Novice Exterior and Overall Novice Scent Work titles. After this trial her official AKC name will be Tappancs Amelia CD BN RA JH SWN SHDN CGCA TKI. She also qualified in Advanced Handler Discrimination with a 2nd place. Kajla had her 3rd qualifying run and 1st place in Advanced Interior, earning her the Advanced Interiors title. She needs one more qualifying run in Advanced Exteriors to earn her Overall Advanced title. She also started running in Excellent searches and got her first qualifying ribbon (and 3rd place) in Excellent Buried! Her official AKC title will be Pitypang Ilka CD BN RA SH ACT2 SWN SCA SBA SIA SHDN DN CGCA TKI.

08/13/2025

Canine distemper warning:

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeing an increase in canine distemper among coyotes in residential areas, parks and green spaces. The affected areas include east Mesa, Apache Junction and central Phoenix.

Canine distemper is a highly contagious, often fatal virus that affects both domestic and wild animals. It spreads through direct contact, airborne droplets and shared food or water sources.

While distemper can’t infect humans, it does pose a serious risk to unvaccinated dogs. Game and Fish is recommending pet owners fully vaccinate their animals, keep dogs on a leash and avoid contact with wildlife.

Infected coyotes and foxes may display unusual behavior including a lack of fear toward humans, stumbling, seizures or discharge from the eyes and nose. The public is asked to report any potential sightings to Game and Fish.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department recommends:

Keeping pets up to date on vaccinations.
Avoiding feeding or handling wildlife.
Supervising pets outdoors, especially near areas with wildlife.

07/30/2025

Happy 5th Birthday to our Bátor and his littermates, the "B" litter: Mr. Blue: Bikfic/Bizzy, Miss Brown: Bóbita, Mr. Green: Betyár/Bourbon, Miss Grey: Bogyó/Red, Miss Orange: Buksi/Nala, Mr. Purple: Bátor, Mr. Red: Bodri, and Mr Yellow: Bogáncs/Cooper!
If you have a B-day picture of your 5-year-old pup, please post it in the comments. We would love to see each one!

07/18/2025

Preventing unwanted litters is a goal we all share—but it's time to rethink the surgical approach. Hysterectomies and vasectomies, which preserve hormonal balance, can safely be performed as early as 8 weeks of age, making dogs sterile without disrupting their natural hormones.

In this study, researchers looked at whether the age at which dogs were spayed or neutered, meaning how long they were exposed to their natural s*x hormones, affected how healthy they were in old age. They studied a group of long-lived pet dogs to learn what helps dogs live longer, healthier lives. Dogs with the fewest age-related health problems were considered the most “robust.”

The results showed that both male and female dogs who kept their hormones longer (i.e., were spayed or neutered later) were 3 to 10 times more likely to be healthy in old age compared to those altered earlier. Once hormone exposure and age were taken into account, there was no difference in old-age health between males and females.

This study highlights how important s*x hormones may be for staying healthy later in life and shows that early-life decisions—like when to spay or neuter—can have long-term effects on health.