Zigana - The life of a hungarian vizsla

NEW BLOG

2010-01-10T12:48:00.001Z

My new blog:

http://www.clickercomments.blogspot.com

Want to learn more about how to train your dog? Want to learn about clicker training? If so come and visit my new blog.

Lots of practical step by step guides for you to follow.

Pass it on ... :)

Goodbye

2009-11-29T16:52:00.002Z

Time for me to say goodbye. I won't be blogging any more on this blog. Thanks to everyone who commented and followed Ziggi's adventures.

I am hoping to perhaps start a clicker training blog or something about training dogs to aid the disabled.

Again thanks

All the best

Anna and Ziggi

Goodbye Tuesday

2009-07-18T16:39:00.000+01:00

Tuesday flew to freedom 3 days ago. Very sad but happy also. Miss him loads.

7 weeks 5 days

2009-06-24T13:57:00.007+01:00

Tuesday I am almost certain is a boy. He has still got a very yellow beak and it is turning slightly green which my duck book says indicates that the bird is a male. He is really growing his feathers on his wings now and is beginning to flap around but still not getting very far.

We got him a big crate as a pond and he loves it. This is his routine ...

"I know this water is around here somewhere"

"Aha, there it is"

Hup

Contented

Dip

Dive

Water cape to clean his feathers

Shake

Groom:

Get out:

Flying practice:

5 Weeks 6 days

2009-06-11T22:17:00.003+01:00

In the flowers:

Very messy after eating a snail:

Long neck:

Shaking off water:

5 Weeks 2 days

2009-06-10T21:12:00.005+01:00

Enjoying one of his first snails. If you have a snail problem then a duck is your solution :)

He is a bit of a camera flirt which doesn't help me get good ones:

Uni Officially Finished

2009-06-01T12:36:00.000+01:00

Not much to say except ...

PHEW and WOOP WOOP

Contortionist

2009-05-30T19:47:00.007+01:00

Tuesday has decided that dancing is not for him. Instead he wants to be a contortionist.

Always important to do a good cardiovascular warm up before doing any stretches:

The Easy Ones:

For the intermediate contortionist:

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME:

And to finish shake it all out:

On a side note, look at his feathers:

Dancing

2009-05-28T20:47:00.004+01:00

You put your left foot it:

Your left foot out:

In, out, in, out and shake it all about.

You put your right foot in:

Your right foot out:

In, out, in, out and shake it all about.

Now, just all confused:

Standing:

Nearly 4 weeks

2009-05-25T21:09:00.004+01:00

Really getting feathers now. Suddenly getting his proper feathers through which you can see in the following photos. They are the brown ones near his wings. They are also coming through on his tail and under his wings but they are not visible at the moment.

Feathers

Standing:

Portraits:

Grooming:

Stretching:

Nearly got him flying but missed (just):

Clicker training Spin

2009-05-24T21:02:00.002+01:00

3rd Session. Orange ball is a cue to spin because I have no idea if ducks are able to hear human voices or differentiate the sounds. I can't use a hand signal because he tries to eat it!

He now does up to 3 spins for one click and treat. He is just amazingly quick at this and has a suprisingly long attention span. Don't tell Ziggi but she is considerably slower to train than Tuesday.

Feathers are itchy and first clicker session

2009-05-22T19:44:00.006+01:00

Tuesday's feathers are really starting to come through now. I tried to get a picture of his most impressive ones on his tail but not very successfully.

Poor thing. Feathers are obviously very itchy.

I've got an itch here:

And here:

And another one here:

And there are just loads around here, I don't know which to go for:

First clicker session - spin in a circle

Flying Tuesday

2009-05-21T19:57:00.001+01:00

3 weeks

2009-05-19T17:39:00.004+01:00

2 weeks 4 days ish

2009-05-16T19:46:00.003+01:00

2 weeks 3 days ish

2009-05-15T22:56:00.003+01:00

Tuesday is doing well still. I can't be bothered to constantly write He/she so from now until I know for certain Tuesday will be a he.

He is still gaining more and more character. He likes to blow bubbles in his water and is grooming loads. He does some really cute things like stretch his legs right back and about 10 times he has attempted to fly! Really unsuccessfully of course but it looks so sweet.

For all those asking Ziggi is doing well with him. She stays on her mat away from the cage when asked. She is definitely interested but not over the top focused that I need to worry constantly.

Tuesday is not able to go swimming until all his feathers come through due to him lacking oils to keep him from getting drenched to the skin. In the wild they get these from their mother as they rub against her.

Waiting for my book on raising ducks as I am a bit at sea still.

More pictures. You can't see much growth but he most definitely has.

Standing:

Portraits:

Wondering what I am doing:

This one just makes me laugh:

2 Weeks 1 Day ish

2009-05-13T20:51:00.003+01:00

Little update. Tuesday is doing well. Still noisy and definitely growing by the day. I suddenly have a look at him/her and do a double take because s/he looks so different.

S/he is relaxing with me and will now go to sleep with me looking at him/her.

Not sure if these photos will show how much s/he has grown.

Hiding up his/her teddy's jumper :)

Having Cuddles with his/her 'mum':

Standing (probably the most noticeable to see growth):

1 week 5 days ish

2009-05-10T21:51:00.003+01:00

Update - Tuesday is doing really well. Eating and drinking (and poohing) loads. Growing by the day. Literally, I wake up and he is so much bigger than what he was when I went to sleep.

He is helping my revision greatly! Waking me up at 6am is giving me a couple extra hours in the morning which I find is very productive!

He is recovering from any little stressor much quicker than previously. He has also got a new cage which is much bigger and he enjoys the freedom.

Now for the cuteness ...

Duckling Update

2009-05-07T18:14:00.003+01:00

Little video of me cheeping and Tuesday cheeping back!
Sorry about the quality again but I didn't want to scare him/her with a huge camera lens.

R.I.P little May

2009-05-06T18:58:00.002+01:00

One of the little ones passed on today :( very sad.

I will keep you updated

Duckling Rescue

2009-05-05T19:50:00.005+01:00

Today was eventful.

Rescued 2 little ducklings. Their little friend had already passed away.

So now I have two little ducklings in a cardboard box (until I can be sure they will survive and then I will get them a more substantial cage.

I have left them be with water, food and a hot water bottle but couldn't resist a quick picture.

This is Tuesday and May (Can you guess why!!!)

Keep your fingers crossed for the two little fighters. I hope I will be able to get some better pics once they have habituated to me.

Am I boring you yet?

2009-04-28T20:05:00.002+01:00

More pictures!

I know most of Ziggi are cropped in weird ways and the reasoning behind that is that my room at uni is not the most helpful at gaining good pictures. So I need to ensure that I get very little background when taking them so they look half decent.

Anyway Ziggi goes crazy every once in a while with a toy. Usually she can't be bothered with them but with a little reverse psychology (telling her to leave and then giving a release cue) I am beginning to get really enthusiastic play (which is accompanied by me going completely crazy with her). It is working and her motivation to pick up toys is increasing by the day. She has even worked out that what ever I am doing, if she picks up a toy she gets my full attention. It is becoming her new attention seeking method (better than whining in my books so I indulge her).

Its mine, all MINE:

I feel this picture really shows what she is like when playing. Ideally I would have liked her eye to have been slightly more in focus but it was the best I got.

Resting with her "Roo":

Photo Fun Continued

2009-04-26T18:52:00.005+01:00

Had a lovely day out taking photos of the new ducklings that are on Chester's canal. They are so gorgeous. Unfortunately I couldn't find the mother who has 13 with 2 which are yellow. Even cuter than 'normal' ones!

Also like this picture of the resident male swan. At the moment his mate is on a nest but it is really interesting to see them interact. Today he was pulling grass off the bank and putting it in the water which was taking it towards the nest so his mate didn't need to get off the eggs to eat. He also takes it in turns to incubate the eggs.

Here are some more pictures of Ziggi. Just messing about really but I quite like them. Pretty similar to yesterdays.

I love the detail of dogs' paws. I love all the directions that the hair grows and also the detail of the pads.

These are pictures that I have taken previously but they are my favorite ever ever ever. I have a real thing for getting pictures of animals yawning. I have not yet succeeded with my dogs but cats seem to be easier. I love again the detail that you get to see on the tongue.

Uno: I particularly like the framing of her in the bushes

Izzy: I love his whiskers - they look even bigger in real life!

Photo Fun

2009-04-25T20:39:00.002+01:00

Dad lent me his digital SLR and I have been having great fun with it. They aren't great but I think they show Ziggi's character.

Some funny ones that I just like:

Never take good health for granted

2009-04-13T20:20:00.002+01:00

Ziggi is just recovering from a bad hip episode where she must have damaged the soft tissue somehow. We thought it was going great, she is back on full walks, has loads of bounce and is just back to her normal self which she hasn't been for a while.

That is the good news :)

Bad news however is worrying :(

She had some sort of fit. It wasn't the juddering round on the floor kind but still scared me like never before (well apart from the time she was covered in hives (twice) and the time she got sceptacemia (twice) and the time when she stopped walking due to her hips and the time when she started having nose bleeds!).

Her fit started out of nowhere. No signs whatsoever. She was lifting up her right front paw like she was a puppet. I thought she had broken her leg or something but then the left started going. Then it moved to her back legs and it really was like she was a puppet her legs were going up and down and she hand no control. Her back then arched and she sort of sat down but on the top of her haunches and her legs were still going.

Felt like ages that this was going on but couldn't have been more than 2 minutes. Her eyes were all glased over and she wasn't really there :(

She recovered fairly quickly (within 5 minutes) and was back to her old self.

Very odd. No more since Saturday but keeping a close eye on her.

Hopefully no more will happen

Makes me laugh

2009-03-21T17:38:00.002Z

Ok so I am mean but it does make me laugh. Peanut butter on the nose and then get the camera.

I can smell something:

First lick:

Longest tongue competition:

Just funny:

A curious incident between a dog and a mouse

2009-03-18T17:26:00.001Z

Me and Ziggi were walking along the canal on a lovely sunny afternoon.

Ziggi was infront and some bikes were coming so I called her so she didn't get run over.

Just as she turned round a mouse/vole ran across her path. I have never seen a dog move so quickly!

She jumped out of her skin and bolted off. Promptly running full speed into a lamp post with her hip.

Finally managed to calm her down but she avoided that area on the way back. Well until peanut butter magically appeared on the lamp post.

It was so funny to watch.

Happy 5th Birthday Ziggi

2009-02-25T19:32:00.010Z

Ziggi was 5 today. I really can't believe how old she is now. It seems like I only got her like a year ago!

We have great fun today. She got two kongs this morning and then we went on her favorite walk and took lots of pictures.

Got home and again lots of pictures. Then another walk and finally for supper she had the biggest supper ever! It was a whole turkey leg. Far too much for one vizsla so it will be a few lighter meals in the next day or two! She had great fun with it and took her around 15 minutes to finish. She has never had such a big piece of meat so at first was a bit puzzled at how to get into it. She doesn't like using her paws so was trying to eat it with only a few crunches as she does her chicken wings.

Any how lots of pictures from today. Enjoy.

Birthday portraits:

Please can I have the food (you have been waving at me) now?:

Bored of photos now can I chase those bunnies instead:

Or better still can I be a bunny:

Post photoshoot zoomies:

Ziggi loves sticks so much:

They make her go goofy:

Happy after the walk (arty farty ish!!!):

Birthday meal:
Please can I start?:

This isn't a birthday this is torture:

What do you mean I can't eat it whole?:

Finally got the hang of it:

Shortening own nails

2009-02-06T20:42:00.002Z

The dremel takes ages to do lol! So I still have that in reserve if I can't get her to do her back feet but this method is great and sooooooo easy. (thanks to Shirley Chong for this method http://www.shirleychong.com )

Anyway here is Ziggi doing her own nails:

Little bit of snow

2009-02-05T15:13:00.003Z

We have had a small amount of snow up here in Chester. No where near as much as London which really annoys me because where ever I am always gets the less snow. If I am in London, Chester gets the heavy snow and visa versa :( Not fair!

Anyway had a lovely walk with Ziggi this morning. For about 50% of the walk no one else had made any foot prints except

ME:

ZIGGI:

AND THESE CRITTERS:
2 types of birds:

Rabbit:

Possibly rabbit possibly another creature?!?!?!:

Here is a pic of Ziggi in the snow:

Her coat is ripped from yet another accident. I am sure Ziggi is the most clumsey dog but somehow manages never to get hurt (touch wood, touch wood, touch wood ...).
The latest accident was that she was running in the snow and tripped over some wood and did some kind of tail over head manauver to land on her side. At which she got up and came over to me for a short cuddle and then off she went as if nothing had happened.
Previous accidents have included:
1: chasing a squirrel which went through the playground fence. Ziggi decided slowing down was for wusses so went full speed head on into the metal fencing - no injuries!
2. Zoomies round and around. Our park has (dog) chest height fences around flower beds which Ziggi thought would be ace to crash into - injuries = winded but nothing more!
3. Recall back to me. Needed to jump a fence she decided not to go over the top wooden slat nor to go through the top slat and the middle slat but just to head butt it at full speed. - injuries = slightly swollen eye but nothing more!

Don't ask me how she does it but I am forever greatful that she doesn't do huge damage

Video of training

2009-01-18T16:45:00.002Z

Most of these except sit, down, paw and twist have been taught in the last 6 months. I know they aren't the most important things to learn but they keep me and Ziggi having fun. It improves my training skills too as a lot are unnatural things for Ziggi to do (retrieving included for her lol!)

Enjoy.

Beach fun time

2009-01-17T22:14:00.005Z

Had a nice walk today on the beach with Ziggi and my friends dog Dino.

Confident Zig:

Wet dog Dino (aren't I glad that Ziggi is short haired!):

Mr Crazy Eyes:

Fun and Games:

What you looking at?

SMILE!!!

2009-01-15T21:20:00.002Z

Ziggi gets her lips stuck between her canine teeth quite often. It always makes me laugh - I hope it will make you smile too.

Captions welcome :)

Dogs ARE Carnivores

2009-01-10T19:55:00.003Z

I feed Ziggi (and Pesto when I am home and the cats if mum would let me!) a prey model diet. This means she eats meat meat and more meat! Well its not quite like that but it is based on the prey they would eat in the wild so Ziggi gets muscle meat (80%), bone (10%) and offal (10%). Thats it apart from the occasional egg. Variety includes lamb, beef, chicken and fish (I would love to get more variety but I am unable to source it).

Anyway you may be wondering why I am feeding this when your vets suggest that you give your dogs this prepacked food. Dogs are CARNIVORES. Pre packed food, which if you have looked has a large proportion of rice/maize/corn in it. Why is this when dogs are infact carnivores???

The problem is that vets have very little education in nutrition (not their fault they are just more concentrating on treating disease - as they should be) and the education they do get comes from pet food manufacturers who have been telling us dogs are omnivores and so require this grain and vegetable that comes in the food.

You may be thinking why on earth I would be debating what pet food manufacturers and vets say. Have a look below at a few questions and answers and I will discuss more at the end of this post.

Q1. What do your dogs back teeth look like?
Q2. What direction can your dogs' jaw move in?
Q3. Is your dog's gastrointestinal track long or relatively short (may not know this one)?
Q4. How many times does your dog swallow its food (think cows who regurgitate!!!)?
Q5. How long ago did pet food manufacture start?

Now here are some answers and a little bit of information to get you thinking!

A1. They should be pointed and sharp - like cats, wolves, lions etc... If dogs were meant to digest plant material (grains included) why don't they have flat teeth to enable them to grind it down to make it more digestable???

A2. Up and down. Thats it. They are not capable of moving their jaws from side to side. How are they then meant to grind up that plant material when all they can do is chop down on it? What food is meant to be chopped down on? Yup meat!

A3. Its short - compare it to a dog sized cow and it would be much shorter! Why is this? Because there is no need for a long one because the food they are designed to eat is easy to digest unlike vegetation.

A4. This was easy. ONCE. Again because the food they are designed to eat is easy to digest so doesn't need to go through the intestinal track more than once. Unlike the vegetation that cows eat.

A5. Its about 60 years. What did dogs eat before that? Many would just hunt for them selves or they were used for hunting with humans so were given bones to knaw on from what ever kill.

Anyway. I am not saying that everyone should feed their dogs raw as many dogs do do well on kibble but it is just something to think about. Would you eat or feed your children biscuits every day of their life with no variety?

Want to know more of what I actually feed? Read on...

The main thing to remember is to base what ever you are feeding on a the percentage in a prey animal (rabbit, squirrel, mouse, rat, ... you can think larger but for me I find that hard because the meals are not as large as say a cow so I find it hard to judge percentage).

Get variety in to the diet. To do this on my student budget is to give chicken bones, lamb offal and beef/turkey/rabbit mince.

Amounts as said about it is around 80% muscle meat (includes general meat as well as tripe, heart, tongue ...), 10% offal (liver, kidneys ...), 10% bone (this is usually within meat remember so include that in your calculations).

You may be thinking that is hard work. Not really. It takes me maybe a minute longer to do it.

To give you an idea on portion sizes Ziggi (22kg active neutered vizsla) has:
Morning: 1/2 meat block (prize choice which can be brought in pets at home) about 200g + a little liver or kidney or 1 egg.
Evening: 4 chicken wings about 400g

Done and dusted. No more expensive than arden grange kibble and much cheaper than natures menu/diet/harvest. Look out for reduced stuff in the supermarket. See if any farms around you kill rabbits/squirrels which you could have - generally free or very low price. Check out your butchers - much of the stuff you feed your dog gets thrown away by butchers so you can get it cheap.

Best of all though is watching your dog eat - they think they have gone to heaven :) (plus you won't need to clean your dogs teeth or have them eventually cleaned by the vet)

Very Proud

2008-12-12T19:53:00.002Z

I am so proud of Ziggi this last week. My friend has a border collie puppy (5 months old) and has just got a placement at Chester Zoo. This meant that this little pup would be alone for 10 hours a day for a period of 1 month. Me and my other friends said we would all help out by taking the pup in our houses for one day a week. As I live in London over the hols I said I would do 3 days this week to make up for the time I couldn't do whilst I was at home.

Any way as most of you know Ziggi has fear aggression issues which I have been working on for what seems like ages! But she has made me so so so proud over the last week. No she wasn't perfect but I never expected her to ever be able to be in the same room as a puppy and it gives me hope that I may in the future be able to get another vizsla pup when I have a stable job (Don't worry mum - not even considering one for another 2 years minimum!)

Lots of management went on with pup in crate and ziggi muzzled etc etc... but on the walks none of this was necessary. They even played!!!!!!!!!

By today both dogs were off lead in the house and were perfectly happy with each other's presence. Lola (the pup) is very sumissive to other dogs so works well for Ziggi. Just one minor altercation today where Ziggi had become settled in a very tight space however all she did was make noise and air snap at the pup - all other times Ziggi just walked away when unsettled.

I am one PROUD owner.

Here is a rather long video of them which I did for Lola's owner. (Don't feel you have to watch it)

Roll Over

2008-11-28T20:10:00.003Z

I had 'Chill' on cue and I have always loved when Ziggi rolls over so I continued to shape her chill behaviour into a roll over.

Hoping that it won't become her default when going to lie on her side but don't think it will if I practice both enough.

Any way I think she looks funny when she does it because she is all legs!!! Not like the border collies you see doing it!

Further dremel update

2008-11-21T13:20:00.001Z

Haven't had much time for training as had so much uni work to do.

Little video on dremel training so far.

Time in Chester

2008-11-20T17:27:00.005Z

It has taken a while for Ziggi to get used to being in Chester.

About 5 weeks in and she is finally getting used to crazy cat Nyx:

Peek a boo:

I can see you!

Becoming friends:

FIRST EVER PICTURE OF ZIGGI ON POINT!!!

Ziggi having Zoomies and singing to me cos I am up a tree (sorry for the bad quality it is a phone video):

Video promised

2008-11-19T22:32:00.002Z

It is pretty rubbish sorry.

Day 7 - One week on

2008-11-16T18:13:00.002Z

Dremel training is going well. She can now go into the "chill" position on cue (although I found out last night that she has no clue of the cue if I put a nice comfy bed for her to do it on - doesn't bother me if she is happy to lie on the floor!).

We have worked up to touching one nail for a C/T. Using really great treats for this. I have soft food either in a kong or small jar which takes her a long time to get it out. Each click she gets given the jar for a little while.

I can occasionally do two nails for a C/T but three is too much for her.

I do each foot at least once and then I turn off the dremel and let her finish the kong or jar to keep up the good associations of the position.

Throughout the day I am also just asking for it but not using the dremel.

Again video will be coming hopefully end of next week.

Bye for now

Crazy Cat

2008-11-15T18:41:00.002Z

Photo Shoot and Update

2008-11-14T20:16:00.002Z

First a little update on Ziggi's training.
Doing well but she isn't great with "chilling" on cue. Need to work on that. She is very good with letting me touch her feet so tomorrow hoping that I will start with the dremel for just one touch.

Photos. Just went for a walk and wanted to get a few photos of Ziggi in Chester but she is really hard to photograph as she is either ahead of me so all I get is her bum or she is behind but as soon as I crouch down she comes too me.

You Called:

Sit:

Portrait:

Day 3 progress

2008-11-11T15:07:00.006Z

So day three and Ziggi is doing well.

Working on the "chill" position:

I was slightly late in my timing so was actually telling Ziggi that she was correct in sliding onto her hip and then back up to normal down position.

Had to change this so clicked earlier and was able to then get a prolonged shift onto her hip.

We eventually got to her shifting on to her elbow as well (with a little help from a fan heater and a training technique called capturing). I guess you are wondering a) what on earth has a fan heater got to do with dog training and b) what is capturing.

Capturing is the training process where you C/T (click and treat) for a behaviour the dog performs on their own accord. You C/T when ever you see it. To learn more on the dog friendly ways of getting the behaivour you want see Melissa Alexander's Blog here

The fan heater: well I know that my Ziggi is a heat hogging dog and performs the flat position I want when the fan heater is pointed at her. So I used it to my advantage and was able to capture the full behaviour.

I turned the fan heater off and went back to free shaping but because she had been heavily rewarded in that position she was now willing to offer it. Bingo. C/T C/T C/T C/T.

Ziggi was now offering the behaviour loads but it wasn't relaxed so I shaped her into placing her head on the ground and resting her back legs.

Before she learnt the relaxed position:

After she learnt the relaxed position:

Now I am adding the cue "chill" by adding it just as I see her moving into the position to associate the word with the action. I will gradually say it earlier and earlier until I can say it and she reacts by performing the behaviour.

Working on tolerance of feet touching:

Ziggi as I thought was already fairly use to me fiddling with her feet so wasn't bad but I want her to be completely still when I use the dremel so I started with her just on my bed and only C/T when she remained as still as possible with me touching her feet.

I started small with just my hand resting on her front foot and then progressed to touching toes and finally to fiddling with individual toys on that one foot.

I then changed feet and started the process again for that foot.

The back feet are her most ticklish so I needed to go slower with these.

You may be wondering why I didn't do this with her in the chill position. The reason is I don't want a newly learnt behaviour to have any bad associations. So I need to build the chill position into a really great behaviour to do before I add the nail trimming of any kind.

So I have started massaging her in the chill position and just running my hands down her legs and clicking as they reach her feet. As this is something new I didn't worry about absolute stillness but will soon once I have upped the duration she spends in her chill position without needing to be C/T.

All videoed ready for publishing but still 1 and 1/2 weeks till I can get it onto the computer.

To anyone who wants to know how long this has taken it is about an hours worth of training but in 5-10 minute sessions.

2 day nail trimming progress

2008-11-10T17:14:00.002Z

So two days into the desensitisation program.

Have worked on two steps at separate times.

1. Chilling out on her side.
I was thinking I could lure her into this as the easiest way to obtain this behaviour however Ziggi had other ideas. I have been working on so much free shaping with her (the behaviour is broken down in to tiny approximations and each step is worked on for a while until the dog is fluent and then the criteria is upped. The dog basically thinks they are training you - GREAT FUN) and also leaving of treats that she no longer wants to follow a lure.

So we have started to free shape this and are now able to get her to shift all her weight onto one hip but with her front half still in a standard down position. Not long I don't think until we are getting the full behaviour.

2. Investigating the dremel. This is as I thought no trouble for Ziggi. She happily nose touches the dremel both on and off and is fine around it.

Over the next few days I will work more on her chilling position and also when she is relaxed I am going to work on touching her feet and holding her toes whilst she stays absolutely still.

To do this I will start with a gentle touch to one paw. If she doesn't move then click and treat if she does then I will just ignore and try again. If again she flinches then I will take the criteria she must meet to obtain the click and treat back to me just hovering over her paws.

Again I am not expecting much trouble with this as I have handled her feet alot.

I am videoing it all and once I am at home I will edit it and put a little video up of the process.

Thanks for listening

New Toy

2008-11-09T10:09:00.004Z

Well my new toy anyway not really Ziggi's.

This is a pet nail grinder. The reason I have chosen to get one is because both Pesto and Ziggi hate their nails being cut. When cutting nails (expecially with black nails like Pesto's) it is hard if not impossible to know where the quick is. If you cut too far you undoubtably cut the quick and this hurts. With the nail grinder you are able to see the change in nail layers as you grind which enables you to stop just before reaching the quick. Getting closer to the quick also causes it to recess up the nail and over time you can get shorter nails - Very useful for a vizsla household.

So over the next few days (weeks if that is what it takes) I will be posting about getting Ziggi used to the nail grinder so that she will happily lie and let me grind each of her nails.

The process I will be working through has these steps however depending on Ziggi I may need to train it in smaller parts.

1. Train her to lie on her side and chill out on cue.

2. Allow her to investigate the dremel off and then on. Encourage her to touch it - this should be easy for Zig as she already knows touch to lots of items and has no problem with noises.

3. Chill whilst the dremel is on.

4. Allow me to touch each of her nails whilst relaxed and the dremel is wiring in the background.

5. Allow me to touch one nail with the dremel (no grinding just a touch)

6. Progress to a touch on all nails.

7. Tiny grind of one nail followed by a touch on all other nails.

8. Build up the grinding time and number of nails.

The grinder should only be on each nail for a max of 3 seconds or else it gets too hot and hurts the dog. So if the nails need a lot of grinding the paws should be done once and then redone if neccessary.

I was going to post videos as we go but my lap top doesn't have a firewire hole (you can see how technical I am!) so I will have to wait until I go home to put the video's up. I will attempt to get some pictures but with just me training and taking pictures I can't see that being very easy.

Fireworks

2008-11-02T17:39:00.002Z

Hey guys,

How are you all doing with the firework season commencing.
I don't really care about them to be honest. Mum keeps oowing and uuuring about some bright lights in the sky. I don't think those are fireworks because they are kinda pretty yet Pesto is phobic of them. How can a dog be phobic of pretty lights. Apparently Pesto says they also make big loud noises which is the bit she doesn't like.

She also says however that if you are scared of fireworks you get two long weeks of privelages like sleeping on granny and grandpa's bed. She also tells me that she gets lots of pasta in the evening and a nice pill that makes her all sleepy. All of this makes her more relaxed in the evenings when the fireworks go off.

I don't get to speak much to her at the moment as I am in Chester with my mum. Its great up here with loads of ducks and squirrels to chase. Only thing I don't like is there is a scary cat here called Nyx. She makes me shake and shiver because she chases me and then rubs against me and makes this funny buzzing noise.

Any way new tip learnt from Pesto - to get extra privelages pretend to be scared of the loud bangs and pretty lights. The best technique she has found is to pant shiver and shake. Though she isn't doing so much this year due to the diazapam that makes her sleep through it all.

Best of luck getting on those beds

Licks
Zig

Eye Contact Breakthrough

2008-10-28T15:07:00.001Z

Wooohoooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ziggi has surpassed my expectations. 30 seconds of solid eye contact from her!!!

These little sessions are working much better than the longer ones.

Roll on level 3

Variable rewards

2008-10-21T19:19:00.002+01:00

Ziggi is progressing nicely. We had a slight set back with her eye contact work where she got really nice 10seconds and then all of a sudden she dropped down to only being able to do 2 seconds. I am hoping working it up again will make it stronger this time round.

I gave her a few days off and today she is back to 6 seconds and it is really strong too. I am really pleased with this as she is very shy of eye contact (loves her food more obviously!)

I am working on varying her rewards and stopping myself from giving small praise for her lazy performances!

I am trying to find rewards that she enjoys other than food. So far I have got the following:
Chasing me
Ripping up tissues
Bum scratches
Gentle play on the floor
Hiding of my face for her to try and bury to me!
Cuddles

I find it really hard sometimes to motivate her as she has no interest in toys (except slightly now I have taught her using food!) She is overly sensitive and dislikes over the top praise or ruff and tumble.

She is a dog who shys away from expectation too. Any cue given which is overly expectant on her performance and she goes to pieces. I have to make sure everything is a game. This is fairly draining on me!

Anyway not much progress to say but we had a good day with her meeting and walking with 3 dogs with not so much as a glimmer of her issues. I was so pleased with her. Had a good romp in the park playing. I was climbing trees and she was singing to get me down!!! When I get out of the tree she gets zoomies because she is so happy. So funny.

Not that interesting but hey it may interest some of you.

Now fully fledged level 2

2008-09-25T15:59:00.002+01:00

You may know that I have been working Ziggi using Sue Ailsby's Training Levels. They are really wonderful and when at level 7 your dog is meant to be 3 weeks away from competing in any dog sport and they just generally build your dog into a confident and well adapted dog who can deal with almost anything that you throw at them!

I am really enjoying it as it is giving me lots of structure in my training sessions with her and it is all done using positive reinforcement and clicker training.

Ziggi has been coming on really well and it doesn't sound much but she has just passed her level 2. We were stuck on eye contact (watch) as she can get uncomfortable with it. I tested her today and she passed it with flying colours. We have already been working on level 3 so hopefully it shouldn't be too long before she passes that.

I am starting to video our training sessions so hopefully soon will be able to put some videos up of her doing her thing.

Here is a graph (taken from the training levels tracker) to show her progress.

Summer Holiday

2008-09-13T20:08:00.004+01:00

I have just got back from a brill holiday in the highlands of Scottyland. It was fantastic there were loads of rabbits and squirrels and deer and sheep and cows and ... there were just too many animals for me to remember. I loved it.

I went with my granny and grandpa.

Here is me showing grandpa where the rabbits are:

Me showing the grandparents how to get over stiles - none of this silly steps for me!

Grandpa told me I had to enjoy the scenery:

I told him it was BORING:

Me and granny having a picnic - WHERE WAS ALL THE FOOD THOUGH?

"You actually want me to go in the water? What do you think I am ... STUPID this is scotland and the water is FREEZING"

"You want me to come into this 3000 year old grave? No thanks I will keep an eye on you from here" (She wouldn't go any further)

Sitting at Nairn beach it was very windy:

And a nice pic to finish:

I had loads of walks about 3hrs a day and we had lots of trips out to new places.

I am exhausted now. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Training, Bus Rides, New Friends and Parties

2008-09-02T09:52:00.004+01:00

Parties:

It was my great granny's 93rd Birthday Party a few weeks ago. There was lots of people and party poppers. Everyone dressed up nicely so I found a glittery star and made myself look a bit smarter. What do you think? Do I look prettier?

Bus Rides:

Due to mum's poorly thumb we haven't been able to go to Richmond Park. However yesterday was ultra special. We went to Richmond but not in the car, on the bus instead. It was my first ever bus ride and I was very good.

When we got there I met a new friend Maggie.

I had lots of cuddles when we stopped by the pond. I got to look at all of the duckies but they all disappeared after a few seconds. I don't know why!

My first walk of the day had been in the boring park. Yesterday however turned out to be a very nice walk. Mum met up with some friends who were having breakfast in the park cafe. They were having cooked breakfast. The silly waitress had put bacon on the vegetarian's plate. He he. Guess who got it? Yup ME. I do hope the waitress is silly again tomorrow, and the next day and the next day and ...

Training:

Training was going very well but mum is finding it hard at the moment due to her bad hand. I have started on this training plan called the training levels as mum is hoping to get back to competitive obedience and agility with me. I love my training and can't wait to get back to it. If you would like to read more on the training levels see the clicker training links on the right.

Bye for now

Holiday

2008-08-14T15:04:00.003+01:00

I was on holiday from Saturday to Tuesday with Hamish. It was good fun but a little stressful as there were lots of dogs I didn't know. I learnt to track sausages! Well I was meant to be tracking a person but they dragged sausage behind them so they were easier to find!

Hamish was great too. We went for loads of walks together and we got on brilliantly. He taught me that not all dogs are mean and scary. Also how to play and made me practice my judo moves (see Hamish's blogs as there may be a video).

The most important thing he taught me was how to spread my scent after peeing. He is such a pro but I am now practicing every time and I think I am getting the kick just right.

Mum didn't have such a good time as she had crushed her thumb the tuesday before in a trampoline. She had it all plastered so had to do everything one handed. She had had an op on the Wednesday to repair the bones and tendon. Eww.

No pictures as mum was not capable of holding lead, bag and camera but Ross kindly took some so hopefully they will come up on Hamish's blog soon.

Bye for now

Happy 21st Mum

2008-07-28T08:46:00.002+01:00

Mum's birthday yesterday...

.

.

.

.

.

.

And look at all the presents I got!!!

Ventlock - keeps us ventilated if the need arises for us to stay in the car.
Leo interactive toys - these are brill and better than any other dry treat dispenser - lasts us about 50 x longer
Books - The games books looked good from the description however closer inspection revealed that they weren't so good. These are going to be swapped for different dog books.
Muksak - Brilliant for where there arn't any bins!
Hurtta harness - to match my collar. Really comfy and fits brilliantly

A L L C L E A R

2008-07-24T18:30:00.002+01:00

Nothing can describe how I am feeling :) :) :)

A pic of Ziggi on her first walk after being given the all clear

Thanks for all your positive thoughts - they were obviously successful!

Anna

Great Capital Run

2008-07-20T17:02:00.003+01:00

Mum and her sis did the 10k great capital run for Help a London Child. I helped mum train for it by making her run faster and faster.

I don't have the official time but I think they did it in 1hr which isn't bad. They dressed up all funny in cat and mouse costumes to help raise more money and together got around £400.

Here are some pics of the day. I was very upset that I wasn't allowed to run with them. I thought a dog chasing a cat chasing a mouse would have looked rather good.

Before:

Afterwards:

On the bladder front I have an ultra sound on Thursday (I have to live with the embarrassment of a shaved tummy again) to see what is happening. If that area is still very odd then there will me another cystoscopy and biopsies. Positive thoughts please for it all to be better.

Hugs and licks
Ziggi x

Home at last

2008-07-01T20:52:00.003+01:00

Ziggi is home and a bit skinny but other than that she is good.

She is very clingy but that is to be expected. I have a bit more detail on her condition. Her bladder is a very odd shape it has thickened walls expecially in one part. This could be because she has had the infection or it could be that the very odd bit is a tumor as this is an area where if there is a tumor it will most probably be there.

If she is well from now on then she will go and have another scan to check on the funny area and thick walls. If all fine then she is clear but if it is still like that then they will operate as it may be cancer. If the biopsies come back odd then she will be back there earlier or if she goes down hill again.

I am just so relieved to have her back.

Thanks again to all who have wished her well.

Anna

COMING HOME

2008-06-30T21:44:00.002+01:00

TOMORROW

The MRI came back all clear.

She is going to have a repeat ultra sound of her bladder in a couple of weeks because it had a thickened wall.

Biopsies of her nose and bladder were taken so just waiting for the results.

Apparently one leg is normal and the other is nearly.

I am just so happy.

Thanks for all the support.

Thank goodness for insurance! (Just hope they pay considering they havn't found anything)

Thanks

Visit

2008-06-30T08:21:00.001+01:00

I visited Ziggi yesterday and she is so much brighter however I was dismayed to see that her back legs are not back to normal :(

She is having her MRI today and also a rhinoscopy so will update when I hear more.

Many thanks

Anna

Some News

2008-06-27T20:13:00.000+01:00

Hi All,

Thanks for all your well wishes. It is really kind of you all.

There has been some news today. She has a really bad urine infection where there is loads of blood in her bladder and it is extremely inflamed. They are not sure if this is the only cause due to the slight concern neurologically.

I feel slightly better at the moment but also slightly stupid if this is just a urine infection.

Apparently she is going out for lots of pees and has eaten and is barking until she gets attention. Hopefully it signifies her getting better.

She is on antibiotics and anti inflammatories as well as the pain medication.

I am going to see her either Saturday or Sunday.

Thanks again

From a rather embarrassed Anna

Not good news

2008-06-26T20:17:00.003+01:00

UPDATE ON POST BELOW

It has been a very long couple of days. I got a call from the vet this morning saying I had an appointment at the Animal Health Trust at 12pm and it would take me around 2 hours to get there. This was at 10am so not much time to get myself together. I had to pick Ziggi up from Wimbledon then get to my vets to collect the notes and consent form etc... and then get on my way.

Ziggi was really really ill. Was very weak and didn't want to stand up. She was whinging moaning all the time she was standing and would only settle if she was lying down. She looked in a huge amount of pain and I felt so sorry for her.

The vet at AHT was WONDERFUL and so so so good with Ziggi. Ziggi lay on my lap for the whole time except for examination as she was just so sore in her bladder.

The examination was very scary for me as so things cropped up that I hadn't thought of. 1 thing that was very concerning was that they do this test where they turn each individual foot over so that the top is resting on the floor. The dog should turn their foot back over immediately. Ziggi didn't at all which could indicate a neurological disorder. Her bladder was extremely tender and she was obviously in pain when her back was manipulated.

She has to stay there until they have worked out what is wrong. She was to have an ultra sound of her bladder this afternoon but she was too sore so is going to be having an anaesthetic tomorrow to do it instead.

Her coagulation is normal which has ruled out a coagulation disorder which is a relief as I was worried about her under anaesthetic if it was that.

Tomorrow she will be having a range of tests (depending on what is necessary and if they get a diagnosis). They include:
Chest and abnominal xrays
Abnominal ultra sound and contrast study (chemical that shows up on xray)
Possibly cystoscopy
Urine samples
Neurological examination

She is then having a rest over the weekend when we can see her.
Then Monday she will be having:
MRI
Rhinoscopy (endoscopy up her nose)

I feel at such a loss and so scared of what they will find. I just hope she will bounce back.

Update soon when I know more

Anna

Yet another illness

2008-06-26T08:39:00.004+01:00

Ziggi isn't well enough to write but thought I would update you all.

Ziggi became ill once again on Tuesday with blood in her urine. We went to the vets and they needed to send it off to be cultured so on Wednesday Ziggi went into the vets for a urine sample from her bladder. She also had blood tests because she had the abnormal prothrombin time a little while back. She left the vets at 2pm after a short stay there to ensure there was enough urine. We went for a walk where she started to seem a little odd and wouldn't sit properly.

Got her home and she started to stand very subdued in the middle of the room and started to shake. This brought back memories of her before she got septacemia (sp?). It was so alike that I rushed her to the vets to ensure she didn't become as ill as last time.

During the 15mins at the vets she just got worse exactly the same as before. She was put on a drip and I rushed her to the overnight vets where she still is.

Last time she was at the overnight vet for septacemia she had blood in her urine so it looks like the same thing.

Today or tomorrow she will be going to the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket for further investigations as they are worried about what is causing this extreme reaction.

Ziggi has had so much wrong with her.

Ziggi has had so much wrong with her and she is only 4.
She had kennel cough turn into pneumonia at 4 months
Suspect lumps immediately after that.
3 cases of severe hives where her whole face and body was covered and swelled up.
Sceptacemia x2
Nose bleeds
Joint problems

I feel sick at the moment because I am just hoping that nothing is seriously wrong.

If anyone has any clues about what it could be they would be welcome.

Thanks
From a very lonely and sad Anna (and Pesto!)

Feeling much better

2008-06-15T19:37:00.002+01:00

Would just like to say thankyou to all of you who sent me your get well wishes. They have certainly worked.

I am feeling almost like my normal self now although I keep trying to do some whining to let mum know that I still want all the attention I got. Unfortunately it is hit with "Ziggi, quiet". Which isn't very fair considering she put me through all of this.

The results are all back with everything normal. Xray showed no tumour, nothing stuck up my nose and no funny illnesses of my blood or otherwise so all is good.

The next step apparently is to see if the nose bleeds re start. If they do the vets think it will be due to me irritating my nose. I don't think this is a very fair statement considering it is my nose that irritates me and therefore I need to scratch it.

If it is due to an irritation then I may have an allergy or some skin problem which will need looking into further.

The only thing that is feeling odd now is where they corterised (not sure how to spell this but basically burn the blood vessels so they don't bleed) my nose where it was bleeding from. I keep trying to blow the scabbies out whilst I am asleep which makes a really funny noise. Apparently it keeps mum awake which I think is the least she deserves after putting me through an op.

Any comments on how to further make her feel bad would be much appreciated.

Swollen, sore but home at least

2008-06-12T18:14:00.003+01:00

I came up to uni with mum and had a couple of absolutely brilliant days with loads of walks and walks and walks. Only thing that happened was that I had some more nose bleeds.

Mum and Gran decided enough was enough and they needed to be sorted so I went into the Chester vets. Now usually vets visits are ok but mum left me. How dare she I thought but soon those thoughts turned to sheep and I had a nice deep sleep for a while.

Apparently I have had blood tests, x rays and an endoscopy.

The good news - IT ISN'T A TUMOUR thank goodness. (Mum is very relieved).

The bloods haven't come back yet but hopefully they will by tomorrow.

The bad news I have a swollen right side of my face. I am cold and shivery and am feeling very sorry for myself.

Happy Birthday Pesto

2008-06-08T22:43:00.001+01:00

I want to wish my pal Pesto a very Happy Birthday for today 08.06.08.

She got some brill stuff so pop onto her blog if you want to see.

xxx

Keep out ... NO FISHING

2008-06-03T15:50:00.003+01:00

Saw this whilst on my walk and wanted to share

Nose bleed update:
21 day course of panacur and then see if any more nose bleeds occur. Lungworm is apparently very hard to get rid of. If nose bleeds still happening after that then I will have to have an xray and wash out of my nose.

Please keep all your paws crossed for the panacur working.

Trust

2008-06-01T18:17:00.004+01:00

Trust is a funny thing.
I trust my mum to hold me like this:

However there are certain things that I don't trust my mum about.
1) That she will remember my breakfast - this I remind her by whining from 08:00 until 08:29. This period of time is needed incase she didn't hear me.

2)That she will remember my supper - again whining is needed but this time from 17:30 until 17:59. Again for anyone wanting to try this the length of time is of great importance as humans can be very forgetful.

3) That she will leave me access to her at all times - they have a gate across the kitchen door which she is always forgetting to leave open when she leaves. I have had to learn how to nudge this open because she always forgets that vizslak are velcro dogs and do not enjoy being left alone. On other occasions she is even more forgetful because she puts the latch down on the gate and however much I try I just can't get the damn door open.

4) That she will remember that I like 2 walks a day - for this I use the pacing + whining technique for full effect from a couple of hours after my first walk until she takes me - for those of you who enjoy putting dirty articles in your mouths I have heard that retrieving your lead is also a great way to remind your owner that vizslak require 2 walks a day.

5) That I like to sleep on the sofa/bed and not on the floor - this I feel I have perfected as this technique is no longer necessary but for those of you less fortunate here is my technique:
a) jump onto the sofa
b) get off the sofa when owner asks and go and lie on your dog bed to recieve your treat.
c )whilst on your dog bed fidget and make as much noise as possible (this is improved when the said owner is trying to watch TV.
d) after 1 minute of fidgeting jump back onto the sofa and wedge your head under their hand.
e) enjoy the couple of seconds of inadvertant head rubbing that your owner gives you.
f) repeat process from step b) for a couple of weeks until you are success fully staying on the sofa/bed.

6) That I am infact a lap dog - plain and simple task needed to ensure she remembers this - jump onto her lap and assume a comfortable possition. If that position can be cute as well - even better.

Anyone else find their owners are hugely forgetful???

NOSEBLEED UPDATE:
Unfortunately they have returned. I had another one today whilst out on my walk. Mum says I have to go to the vets again (I don't really mind because I get lots of treats yum yum). Update soon

Bits and Bobs

2008-05-27T21:35:00.004+01:00

Nothing special about this post just a few things that I have noticed and an update on my nose bleeds.

HOW TO GET ATTENTION: (sorry about the quality of the picture mum had to take it quickly on her phone)

ANYONE NOTICED HOW SIMILAR OWNERS AND THEIR DOGS CAN LOOK LIKE: (My gran and me)

LUNGWORM UPDATE:
Had another 2 nosebleeds with one quite bad. I went to the vet to have more bloods (mum said that I am so good it is a shame I am not 3kg heavier because I could then be a blood donor - I am going to starve for a few days just to make sure. Mum has to get another faecal sample (well 3 over a day to make sure if there are any worms they are found). I also have to have panacur for 21 days in a row :(

Edit on Wednesday 28/05/08:

Vet has just rung to say that I don't have abnormal clotting anymore which means that I don't have to have the panacur course - yay. If I have more nose bleeds however then they will have to relook at what is causing them. I still have a runny nose most of the time so mum thinks I may still have something up there. I am hoping that I don't but will just have to wait and see.

Lots of Updates

2008-05-25T18:38:00.004+01:00

Hey,

This is going to be a really random blog post but there are just a few little things that have gone on which I feel I should tell you.

1. NOT LUNGWORM
The first thing is that I have had another nose bleed so it seems like it wasn't lungworm after all. At least with all that wormer any of the little wormies that there might have been will definitely be gonners!

I will be going back to the vets this week to see what we do next. Considering my thrombin (indicates clotting time) in my blood was 180 when it should be around 15 my mum is slightly anxious.

I will probably have to have the op and xrays to check for any debris up my nose + a injection of vit K to sort out the clotting.

Will update after the vets appointment.

2. MUM'S FINISHED HER PLACEMENT

Mum is back from her placement at Canine Partners and is putting all she has learnt to test on me and Pesto. Pesto is learning how to open the washing machine and I am learning to hold things in my mouth (doesn't sound hard to you but I dislike anything but food in my mouth so I am only just excepting it if I get something yummy after I take one of her toys in my mouth).

She had a great time and has fallen in love with another dog (called Dora apparently) who she trained the most whilst there because Dora is very fearful and Mum has experience with fearful dogs (not mentioning any names... cough cough PESTO!).

Here are some pictures of her time there:
Mum and Dora:

Pesto was a Canine Partner for 2 seconds!!!:

Flying Dodger:

Drummer in his Jacket:

Eno Rolling in the Grass:

There were loads of other pictures but just too many to post.

Think that is everything.

x

Nose Bleeds

2008-05-10T21:13:00.002+01:00

Hey,

Sorry I haven't been able to post much recently. Mum's been too busy to help me with the typing (doesn't she realise that I have a social life too???)

Well it has been an eventful few weeks. And not good ones at that :(

I have been having nose bleeds - 4 in total now. Granny took me to the vet when it was realised that they weren't just a one off. I had to have a blood test at the vets to check it wasn't cancer (yippee it isn't). I was also booked in for a anesthetic to flush out my nose and have xrays to ensure I didn't have anything stuck up there.

My blood tests came back and I had a slow clotting time :( and luckily there was a locum vet in who had seen many cases of lungworm in this area recently and slow clotting time is one of the first signs of it (the worms stop clotting so that they are better able to spread around the body :( ).

I had to have another blood test to check the clotting time, and a faecal sample to check for the wormies.

Second blood test came back the same as the first so started on treatment for lungworm (yay this means that I don't need the operation). The treatment was 4 days of Panacur and I am now on the 10 days rest before I have to have another 4 days of Panacur. The reason the 10 day rest is needed is because the wormies come in harvests so we have to make sure they all die.

Hoping that this treatment sorts it because if not then it may not be lungworm and an operation may still be needed.

Update soon (hopefully if mum gets her bum in gear)

Piccy time

2008-04-26T20:01:00.004+01:00

It was such a nice day that we went for another walk. Mum decided to take her camera to try and get some good pictures.

I had different ideas as it was very hot that I needed a cool down in a puddle (unfortunately it just happened to be a mud bath instead!):

Mums Home

2008-04-17T22:11:00.003+01:00

Well she is home for now anyway.

On Monday she is off on her work placement to Canine Partners.

Don't know if it is me or Pesto going with her though.

Heres some pics of me:
Before my second walk:

And afterwards (very tired!):

So today I have had 3 hours of walk and am now going to sleep very soundly.

Easter Viz Wiz

2008-03-23T13:24:00.006Z

It was very cold, wet, snowy, hailing, cloudy day but still around 18 vizslas came to join in the Richmond Viz Wiz. Me and Olga (5 month old pup) were the only sensible ones wearing coats so about an hour into the walk when everyone else was cold and some a bit miserable we were still happy and warm.

I had a great time and was even tolerant of Olga licking at my face (I hate puppies!) and a weimeraner sniffing me (I hate weimaraners!)

There was no group picture and several vizslas were sorely missed. The collection at the end looked like it was going well so hopefully it will aid more research into myositis (£155 just found out).

Here are some pictures of the day (mum says sorry she didn't take many but after 5 mins of holding the camera her fingers were like icicles!)

Me and my dad:

Weimaraner joins the group:

Friends I met:

Camouflage:

Stick throwing:

As group photos as I could get:

Hello!:

Boxing:

Mum's home and she comes laden with gifts

2008-03-10T18:11:00.004Z

Mum has just come home and I have had a brilliant walk with her. Although it did start raining really hard towards the end so I decided it was time to go home as I didn't have my coat on.

Mum has brought lots of free food home from crufts along with a collar which matches Pesto's only blue.

It is really comfy as it is super thick and wide on the neck so if I pull it spreads the weight (although I am trying to be good and walk to heel but there is so much interesting stuff out there for me to see).

It is a half check collar but mum just wants to say that she never buys collars that actually choke us. She buys half checks because it gives us more information down the lead when we are walking to heel and when we are pulling - even though the collar never actually gets tighter than a standard buckle collar.

Here are some pictures of me in my new collar and my new coat (which I have had for a while but as mum hasn't been home she hasn't been able to get a picture of me in it.

Heres a video that my mum took ages ago on her phone. It is really bad quality and not the right way up (stupid phone and computer) but I think it is quite funny. It is of me pointing at Uno who is staring at the gerbils.

Visiting Mum

2008-02-08T21:51:00.000Z

Wow I am so so so happy. I have been brought up to see my mum and get to stay here until Sunday.

Mum gave me a brilliant walk today. It was the bestest walk ever. I got to go to a lovely huge meadow area and then mum and her friend went to feed loads of squirrels. These squirrels are the most friendliest squirrels ever and they were coming right up to mum and taking the monkey nuts out of her hand. They were even trying to come up to me for a nut but mum wouldn't let me great them. I thought they would have been a nice tasty snack for me but mum said I wasn't allowed.

Here are some pics from the walk and me greating Nyx the little kitten.

Pretty Pictures of me:

Squirrels:

Finally got my ROBODOG eyes:

Pointing:

How to bagsie a sofa

2008-01-17T18:43:00.000Z

1. Jump on next to your owner.

2. Wait until owner gets off the sofa for some reason.

3. Roll around looking very cute.

4. Make your self as long as possible.

5. Pick a funny pose that your owners won't want to disturb.

Hey Presto a whole sofa to your self:

Copy Cat:

Vizsla Walk Christmas 2007

2007-12-30T14:25:00.000Z

I had a great day today I was on the Richmond Park Vizsla walk and there were about 21 vizslas and later on joined 3 wires. I didn't even have to wear my muzzle as I have been so good recently.
Enjoy the pictures:
All in a line:

Getting ready for the line up:

Carried by mum (but the only way I could be seen):

Off we go:

One deciding whether to go in and one not being alowed out!:

Spot the odd one out - our honoury vizsla:

Throwing of sticks:

Me being a wus, handsom 1o yr old being brave and a girly still not being alowed out by another handsom boy:

This is me relaxing at home after the walk:

I met Radio and Hamish and Ajax and Monty and Lexi and oh I can't remember them all there were just too many of us
Bye x

R.I.P my little Mouse

2007-12-13T19:35:00.000Z

This is a little tribute to my gerbil Mouse.

He has gone over the bridge today and just want to say how much I will miss him.

He was my little helper through my first year in uni when he and Gerbil lived in my cuboard illegally!!!

He was such a little character and will be missed very much.

Sleep well

I'm Back

2007-11-28T18:51:00.000Z

Hey all. Sorry for not being around.
A few little updates. Pesto has been gone now for 2 months. I see her every now and again on some weekends but it isn't the same. She has got a new friend who I met last week end. I am so jealous I just wanted to point and point and point and point and ............................... at her but the kitty told me off again and again and again and again and again and again .............................................

Here is a pic of Pesto and Nyx:

A few bits of bad news but not so bad.
I got sceptacemia (sp?) or more commonly known as blood poisoning. I had a bite or sting on my foot that got infected and then I got really ill with a temp of 105.1. My breathing went really fast and even though I had a temperature I was really cold.
Mum took me into hospital and I had to stay there for nearly 2 days :( I am all better now though and back to my normal naughtyness. Mum says I have forgotten all I have been talk as her mum and dad are too relaxed with me (hehehe!!!)

Pesto has been ill today and the last few days. She has been to the vets who is treating with antibiotics for gastroenteritis. If she isn't better tomorrow then we will have to check her for a blockage (She is following your suit Charlie!!!)

Nice to get back online.

New Toy Made From An Old Toy!

2007-09-06T12:06:00.000+01:00

Mum made me a new toy to keep me busy and not attention seeking ... she wishes anyway.

It is just a kong, on a rope, hanging from a tree. The puzzle is that you can't use the normal techniques to get the stuff out because it moves about and is upside down !!! CONFUSED.

I actually had to think about what I was doing and work out how to get the little carrot pieces from it. It was really hard but I kept going at it for nearly an hour (before Pesto came along and stole it from me)

At first it was hanging in mid air but then mum thought that was too hard so lowered it to the ground to make it slightly easier.

The Hanging Kong:

Puzzled Zig:

Working It Out:

Getting Better:

Perfecting The Technique:

Bank Holiday Weekend

2007-08-28T23:30:00.000+01:00

Didn't do much except have some nice walks in the sunny weather for a change. Mum got a new camera and took lots of pictures of me and pesto for The Kennel Clubs Photographer of the Year competition. Her Dad who also loves photography took some too of me with mum.

Here they are:

Not aloud to do this again unfortunately as it probably won't do my legs any good! Shame cos i loved to jump:

Pesto the Sniffer Dog!

2007-08-25T09:06:00.000+01:00

Pesto has been refusing to walk again
She is so boring

Mum has been having to try and keep her occupied so she doesn't get too bored. She has found a game that Pesto loves and is becoming really good at. Pesto stays in the sitting room whilst mum hides her toy in the house. Pesto then finds it but with no help from mum. You can see her just using her nose the whole time to find it. Mum is now hinding it in much harder places that makes Pesto use her nose more and more but Pesto is just too good.

The hard places are when it is hidden above Pesto's head height as it isn't natural for us dogs to look up but nothing fools Pesto.

Mum thinks Pesto would be a good sniffer dog or sar dog - but there is no way she would beable to resist sheep so that is out of the question maybe we should train her to sniff out drugs instead!

Sometimes I join in but most of the time I just watch from the top of the stairs.

Luxating Patellas :(

2007-08-17T17:25:00.000+01:00

Well I have just been to the vet (AGAIN!) and have been diagnosed with grade 2 luxating patellas on both hind legs - Apparently it means my patellas in my knees go out of place.

It all started about a year ago and has been getting progressively worse. I suddenly become lame on a walk and hold my leg right up and won't put any weight on on but this only lasts about a minute and then I am back to normal (confusing or what!).

Mum always thought that I might have gotten a thorn stuck in a foot or something but since this has been becoming more frequent (twice already this week :() she thought she better investigate it on the internet and came up with the diagnosis of luxating patellas - confirmed today by the vet. I have also been becoming rather clumsey - or so mum thought - when I run at full speed. Sometimes a fast turn becomes a fall and slide just wish mum had realised earlier that I was getting pangs of pain in my knee that was making me fall (I wasn't being a clown - honest!).

So the nasty vet fiddled with my knees, causing me pain and then to add insult to injury said I should not do so much exersise! Apparently it is lead walks only :(. She did say swimming would be good (Charlie if your listening could you tell me where you did your hydrotherapy and how much it cost (if you don't mind of course)) I think mum is going to take me to a swimming pool first so that I get my confidence and then perhaps move it to the ponds of richmond or wimbledon. No surgery is needed at the moment but if it continues to get worse it might be needed :(.

1st - Any Variety Gundog

2007-08-14T15:41:00.000+01:00

I came 1st in the AV Gundog class of the Chertsey Show on Sunday 12th August.
It was great fun and mum gave me so many yummy treats and then I got to go into the Best of Show class though unfortunately didn't come anywhere. Got beaten by a dobermann and a whippet :( Doesn't matter though because I heard the judge say that I was a brilliant vizsla :).

There are some videos which I will put on at a later date after I have compressed them. Shouldn't be too hard - I think a good vizsla bounce should be sufficient.

I was so good to around all the dogs and didn't get upset at all.

Here are some more of Pesto pictures of the holiday:

Jack the Beagle in his mini (I am well envious):

Group Photos:

Smudge and Willow:

View from the top of Malvern Hills:

Mum left me for a week :(

2007-08-11T22:29:00.000+01:00

Mum and Pesto left me last week and all I have heard from Pesto since she got back yesterday was how brilliant the week was.

I am very upset but can see why mum could only take one of us as it would have been too much work for her to take us both on holiday.

They went on a holiday called Dogs For Life on an activity week and Pesto met loads of friends. On Monday they did some obedience training, Tuesday was a whole day of agility, Wednesday was a swim in a river and flyball in the morning, Thursday was a walk in the Malvern Hills and Friday was a bike ride in the Forest of Dean.

Pesto has come back so tired as they were busy all day everyday and she got to meet loads of new friends.

There was Shorty (corgi cross) owned by Pat
Flynn (collie cross) owned by Jane
Smudge (golden retriever cross lab) owned by another Jane
Willow (mongrel) owned by Mirja
Tad (norweign buhund) owned by Sarah
Biddy (NB) owned by Bert and Christa
Rudi (weimaraner) owned by Kathy
Millie (W) owned by Cathy
Zoe (collie) and Holly (mongrel) owned by Rodger and Helen
Frodo (golden cross lab) owned by Rachel

They were all so nice. I only have a few pics at the moment but will post some more later

Shorty and Flynn with Pat:

Holly:

Millie (left) and Rudi (right):

Tad (sitting) and Biddy:

Yummy Yummy Yummy Bones

2007-07-22T23:19:00.000+01:00

Friday was one of the most interesting days I have had. Spent 40 mins up on Wimbledon Common getting drenched in the thunder storm.

I had a brilliant time but mum got scared of the lightning so we came home early. Pesto luckily wasn't out with us I think we would have lost her other wise.

In the afternoon however it became lovely and sunny so me, mum and her mum walked all the way to this great place which smelt delicious - it is apparently called a butchers. Mum came out with a bag of yummy smelling stuff and we took it home. I loved the smell so much mum was impressed by how I could actually walk to heal if I really really wanted to!!!

Got home after a really annoying walk - mum didn't let me get what was in the bag but once home she took out these bones. Aparently called knuckle bones and we actually were given them. Usually our bones take a matter of seconds to destroy but these were much harder. We were occupied for 1.5hrs with them and even I couldn't finish mine in that time. Pesto could though but mum said that was because she had a different type of bone to me.

Anyways hear are some pics of me and pesto enjoying our treat.

Vizsla Activity Day

2007-07-15T15:24:00.000+01:00

The day started with a walk - there were 18 of us beautiful creatures. I was very worried to begin with but the walk was great.

I met everyone and whilst walking I wasn't worried about anyone as they had all said hello to everyone so I was able to just wander along without being too hassled.

We finished our walk at 10.30 and my stress levels just rocketed! Everyone was running around greating each other again so I started to get worked up. Mum got embarressed about my behaviour and to be honest was slightly upset. She thought everyone would forget how good I was on the walk and think how naughty I was.

Mum left at about 11 because she felt everyone should be able to rest and not worry about what dog theirs was going to see and she didn't want the puppies to have bad experiences with dogs.

Ziggi really liked Hamish, Radio and Ruby just not when they weren't walking but next time mum will know this and just take me on the walks because she says it is good socialisation!

Journey to The Viz Wiz:

Sitting at Heel:

Puppy Dog (with) Tails - Ziggi would love to have a tail:

Agility:

Mud Bath -Fun Fun Fun!:

Carry Me:

Spot the Odd One Out:

Greetings:

An Afternoon in the Park

2007-07-13T15:27:00.001+01:00

Mum took me to the park this afternoon and as it was such nice weather we sat down for a bit.
I think mum actually thought I would sit down on the grass ... no way!
Why sit on the grass when you can sit on mum!

Thunder - Pesto's Nightmare

2007-06-23T19:04:00.001+01:00

Thunder came today so Pesto's den came out for her to feel secure in:

I'm too big for it though to keep her company and reassure her:

|
V

|
V

|
V

|
V

Or Maybe Not!!!!!!

Mum Remembered Her Camara

2007-06-19T12:15:00.000+01:00

Last night I was asleep on the sofa when all of a sudden there were loads of flashes. I thought it was thunder and lightning to start off with but then I looked at and saw that mum had the big "eye". She said I looked cute so I stayed where I was and let the photo shoot commence.

What Big Paws I Have!

My Big Head :)

We went to Richmond Park this morning where it started off as a great walk for all three of us - mum, me and Pesto but then I found a baby deer and it was just so cute that I had to follow it as did Pesto. Mum got very stressed and shouted and shouted which we finally responded to when the nasty big deer came along and tried to tread on us. We were only trying to play. Mum has now said that only one of us is allowed of the lead at a time as we wind each other up. We are going to be on an extendible for 10 mins then swap round. Mum keeps saying if there is one piece of advise she would give any dog owner it is - DON'T GET TWO DOGS SO CLOSE IN AGE. I am only 8 months younger than Pesto so we lead each other a stray. ooops. Pesto is going with mum to uni next term so although I will miss her I think it will work out better in the long run.

Mum remembered her camara today!!!

What smells good Pesto?

Were coming mum

Tug of war - Pesto always wins!

Typical Vizsla bounces

Worn out!

Sorry It Has Taken So Long - RESULTS

2007-06-18T20:09:00.000+01:00

Sorry for not posting the results sooner.
We got the results a while back and they were slightly abnormal but as I show no symptoms of being in kidney failure or anything sinister I just have to go back in 1 month with a urine sample and 3 months for another blood test.
I am now on Incurin which is supposed to stop me leaking and so far so good mum says I haven't leeked since being on it. This may be coincidence as I don't always leek so may just be having a good week.
My walks have been both relaxing, fun and boring all at the same time which is very hard to deal with as it doesn't half confuse me.
They have been relaxed because Pesto isn't walking with me (she doesn't like humid weather as she thinks it means thunder so refuses to walk - wierd girley I know) so I don't get dive bombed by her (teeth, noise, and a very fast flash is usually all I know about and then bam shes trying to get me to play). I know she is only having fun when she does it but it goes over the top sometimes and it does scare me a bit. Mum calls me and Pesto calms down eventually.
Its been boring cos I havn't run as much because I am not as confident without Pesto but fun because mum and Alison stood 100m away from each other and I got to run between them chomping on my lead (until I lost it that is!!!)

Pesto walked again today though and we went to Pen ponds for a swim - I don't swim but Pesto does and when she is on the way in I run out and try and squash her - great fun I think but apparently I am not allowed ... something about drowning as Pesto's feet don't touch the floor!

Sorry about the long post again. I don't get up to anything as exciting as Hamish, Radio and Red girls I am always envious. Also mum always forgets her camara so don't get many pictures of me except in the house or garden.

Brave Girly

2007-06-12T15:46:00.000+01:00

Had to go back to the vets today. I went about 1 week ago because I keep weeing without realising it - so I am told cos I can never work out that it was me. Well they took a urine test then and my mum got the results back today. Something was too low on them so I had to go in this morning to have a blood test to check my kidney function.

I was told I was so brave and that I should be a blood donor. Mum told them that she had thought about it but that I was 3 kg to light. I told mum I would quite happily put on weight if she gave me lots and lots of bones and pigs ears. Unfortunately I don't think that will happen as mum said it would be unhealthy for me. Oh well!

We should find out the results on Thursday - I have to say I am a bit nervous about getting them.

Yesterday was great though I went on 3 hours of walks and was so tired last night that I didn't even have the energy to point at the cat!!! Don't think I was really going to have that long but it just happened. Mum had to take the car in for a service so I got to walk without Pesto in the park - she is noise phobic so won't walk when there are cars around. Mum met up with all her old friends from the park - she is now back from uni for the whole summer. So we ended up staying down there for 1 hr 45mins. The mum got a phone call from the garage to say she could pick up the car so I went on the tube and train with her then we walked to the garage so that was at least another 30mins. We drove home and because Pesto hadn't been out mum then took us to Wimbledon Common for 1hr. I had a great time. Hope we do it again soon.

All the best

Ziggi

Oopsy Not In Peoples' Good Books

2007-06-02T10:09:00.000+01:00

Hello. It has been great hearing from all of you other vizslas out there. Didn't realise there were so many of you and all so friendly.

Apparently me and Pesto have been getting naughty in the garden. We are only allowed on the patio as our business ruins the grass and mum's parents are fussy about thier garden being redesigned. They put up these fences to keep us out (but ssssssshhh don't tell anyone I can jump them!).

Well anyway there is this annoying yappy dog on the other side of the main fence (about 10m from where we are) and it really puts Pesto's nose out of joint so she barks as ferociously as she can back to shut it up. Never works though so I jump over to try and talk some sense to it. But then Pesto decides she wants to be part of the action and goes under the fence and barks and barks and barks. I come immediately when I am called but Pesto she is a bit of a terror and runs around cos the garden is fun. Brilliant fun for us but our mum's get a bit huffy.

Well Alison phone Mum and she has given her some tips to calm us down. Pesto has to wear this funny light lead which I like to grap and pull her around with and if she barks Alison just walks out and takes the end and brings her indoors. I think it is supposed to teach her that bark = inside. At the moment we are not allowed out together until Pesto has learnt this.

Its not bad though as once we have done our business we are sometimes allowed in the fun garden as a treat plus we have great walks.

This is Pesto's bed which is just about big enough for just her but we squash in. I do it to show that I am not big really and surely if we can fit in this bed a lap is not much harder.

Pesto usually gets out after a little while - she likes her own space.

Hey and Welcome

2007-06-01T11:35:00.001+01:00

Hey and welcome to you all.

My name is Ziggi and I am a 3 year old Hungarian Vizsla.

This is going to be my blog where I will tell you all what I am up to and how much fun I am having.

I own 4 humans: Mum (Anna) my main carer (who unfortunately is away at uni at the moment boo hoo) and she will be typing for me as my paws seem to bash several keys at once, Alison and Steve (Anna's mum and dad) who are looking after me at the moment whilst Anna is away and then Claire - Anna's sister. Claire doesn't like dogs so you won't hear much about her on this blog (I don't think she will mind).

I have my bestest friend Pesto who also lives with me. She is very bossy and I have to make sure I don't try and be top dog above her or else she gets cross. But I don't mind cos we get on really well. Although she is bossy she is very scared as well. She has noise phobia so when there are noises I have to stay really calm to show her that there is nothing to be worried about. She doesn't listen much but mum says that I am good anyway. If we are on a walk and she starts to get worried we get linked together by a special lead and then she comes with me. If mum puts her on the lead she just freezes and trys to run home but with me she walks - thinks she knows that I will protect her.

This is Pesto and my mum on the left having a cuddle. Pesto is allowed on laps but I am not - I just can't understand it I fit perfectly well.

I am also owner of 2 cats - Izzy and Uno. Izzy is a big fluffy cat who doesn't like me very much - not sure why I only want to taste him - so I don't get to see him much. Then Uno is a black and white meany. If I try to play with her she hisses and scratches my nose so I leave her right alone.

This is me practising my pointing - usually I get praised but with Izzy I get taken away. Hmm these humans are strange.

This is uno she is no fun what so ever. Never mind.

Then there are the two gerbils. They are great fun to watch but if I knock on thier cage they hide and mum takes me away - I was only trying to say hi.

This is mouse - named as mum thought she would get mice but they didn't have any at the pet shop so she got a gerbil.

And this is Gerbil - named because mouse was called mouse so as mum went to get a gerbil to keep mouse company she named him Gerbil. Confusing I know and I have known this for 6months. Again humans are confusing.

Any way speak soon.

Your friend forever Ziggi