A Vizsla Health Issue

Since Radio's (Szinarany Apollo - click on this link to see 5 generation pedigree) death we had conversations with many people involved in the breed, and have found that there is still a lack of understanding as to what Radio died from.

Radio's case was not an isolated one. Jasper, Radio's close relative, (Vizslanya Lantos - click to see 5 generation pedigree) had the same illness, and Harvey (Oneandall Chough), another close relative, produced one litter only because 2 of his pups died of the same illness.

There are many more dogs affected, but sadly people fear to come forward. And understandably so, as some breeders in the UK still claim that this problem has nothing to do with breeding but is caused by flea or cat bites.....and just keep on breeding with shutters over their eyes.

We Vizsla pet owners took responsibility and said NO to breeding from these dogs, NO to breeding from any dog that has either produced progeny that died from what vets suspect may be a genetic illness, or carry the illness themselves - if one believes a disease has a genetic basis (may not be the whole cause, but a contributing factor), the most prudent thing to do until more information is known, is to not breed from affected dogs. The breed is healthy compared to many others, and in order to make sure that this will continue to be the case, we can only say YES to breeding from healthy dogs. How many more dogs will be born carrying this gene before breeders take responsibility?

It would be senseless to vilify anyone, or any lines per se (because of the history of the Vizsla lines are all mixed up with each other), and the intention is the opposite - to ask for more transparency and debate. Anyone who breeds pedigree dogs will have a problem at one point, that is unavoidable (and all respect to those who are open about these). Still, everyone who breeds must take responsibility as a dog is for life, not just for showing...

A website containing all the articles and research on this illness is http://www.vizslahealth.net/

Please see what this illness does to dogs on: http://vizslamyositis.blogspot.com/
and read more about it here: http://vetneuromuscular.ucsd.edu/cases/2007/Sept07.html
and in a few simple steps you can cross check any Vizsla's (and other breeds') pedigree lineage on: http://www.worldpedigrees.com/

Radio causes havoc elsewhere now (we hope)

this is my favorite picture of lasse and radio from a year ago.... today was the day when radio's body gave up on him. that he got to be three was a miracle in any case, but makes this not an inch easier. we so miss him, terribly. otto misses him as well, see the video below.
as a final word to end this blog we would urge everyone who ever considers breeding their dogs to do it responsibly, and with the best for the dogs in mind. please make sure to keep blood lines healthy. below is a link to research about radio's illness, and features radio and his half brother/cousin jasper. http://vetneuromuscular.ucsd.edu/cases/2007/Sept07.html

it must be love.....?

There has been a little bit of confusion of late. Radio thinks he's a puppy, and Hamish is happy because hanging out with Radio is so much fun, more play, more smells, someone to curl up with on the sofa... whereas the Redgirls think that ladies have hormonal surges that make it acceptable to behave in an irrational and confused manner (well, with no manners actually!!!!!!!), boy dogs go through similar episodes, but they just appear in a different shape...(but then women never understand what goes on in boys bodies anyway)

So, when Hamish looks to Radio for guidance...exploring the fish only visible in the winter when the grass is cut and which Radio met when he was a wee pup....it means learning all that his more experienced best friend does, copying every little bit







and Radio, more than double Hamish's age, and full of experience, loves the role of teacher, guiding Hamish into adulthood....






and has a habit .....











you guessed it.....










of peeing on Hamish's head.








Radio is a good teacher...
and now Hamish is learning how to pee on Radio's too













....?....

end of year - Richmond Viz Whizz

somehow, not quite sure how, there is always someone who just jumps out of frame as the picture is taken (see the lady in the grey coat on the right, and what's more, her Viz following the trend?)...what a funny habit to have, but who are we to judge?there were: ajax, monty, jane, oskar, jeff, kubrik, paul, leksi, penny, ros, steven, lasse, anna, ziggie, radio, hamish, milo, .... and many more as you can see, including three wires who missed this line up. oh, and there was me!

Fox-zlsa and his favourite place: the pub

since radio is not genetically correct, he decided that its about time to go all the way. he had always fancied himself a bit of a fox, and now he's behaving like one too....(i.e. can see those squirrels and ducks much better from up there) its a hard life being a Foxszla so Radio deserved a well cosy evening at the George, copying Hamish's robot eyes (has become a bit of a trend among the vizsla community of late), Radio charmed an entire pub into cuddles ...well, they did have a few beers...

IBD trial camera up the bum - Myositis return....

this is a classic example of take your dog to the vet and come home without one. we took radio to have his examination at the specialist hospital because he's been off all drugs now.

and they kept him in to put a camera up his bottom and throat and to cut a little piece out from each to see the cellular changes inside of him. he is now enrolled on a research programme and they will do genetic tests and more.....

during all the tests they confirmed that his polymyositis has returned, and he'll be on medication again, and will have to be withdrawn from the trial.

i can collect him today or tomorrow, and he won't have eaten for 4 whole days and will be like charlie morph i imagine. should they find abnormailities then perhaps we found a possible connection between his other illness and IBD. but since the polymyositis is back it looks as if its all part of a compromised immune system, and more of a "was the egg before the hen" kind a thing.

home feels empty without him.

Happy 3rd Birthday!!!!

Old English....Vizsla Dog
not a sheep

1st ever Vizsla sheep-dog winner

the whole thing begun while reading a book about London's Hyde Park. 1956 sadly saw the end of the annual sheep dog trials in the middle of this park, which was a shame, because it was visited by lots and lots of people from all over the world.....
we thought that sheep dogs need to be collies, not vizslas, because vizslas are gundogs and not herders. but anyone who knows radio knows that he always fancied himself a bit of an all rounder, so he started training towards fulfilling his olymic dream and the training went well and he got lots and lots of compliments for getting to be an increasingly capable sheep dog, both enthusiast and stalker, so we simply gave it a go and entered this years regional trials in the lakes....to start off, radio had to fulfill a (well, not so) simple 'round up' and 'seperate the flock into two' task. once he completed this in near record time, he progressed to a much more difficult task...this involved needing to first flank, then bring the flock in towards the handler in a straight line, do a superfast turnaround and hold them there... (our nerves were quite chittery as we only just started to see success with this these last days and lasse forgot to take pictures in all the excitement)...BUT: he did it - and, to our (and everyone else's) utter amazement, won 1st prize!!!!! as far as we know this is the first time a Vizsla has been awarded in such a category, we are well proud, well done super radio!!! we'll get pics from the awards ceremony sent soon and will add them to this post then...(thanks Andrew!)

Hackney gundog whizz (with a few additions to the group)

Today was our first Hackney gundog (and dog in general) walk. Vizslas showed their anarchic side, so now everyone wants a Weimaraner or Ridgeback or Boxer instead.....(what happened to their reputation?). Basically, Hamish felt quite amorous with Cassy and Radio with Angel. Hamish and Radio tried to be gentlemen, which was mostly successful but not on one occasion when both Cassy and Angel fell into the canal...while Ruby thought she was boss of the pack (and perhaps pushed Cassy into the canal)...so all three had to be reminded of their good canine citizens training. Else they all got on like a house on fire.from left: Tilly the Yorkie, Maya the Ridgeback-Staffie, Cassie's boxer bum, Angel the Weim , Jake the most georgeous and well mannered Weim ever, Ruccie Weim pup, Radio, Hamish, then a Mastiff girl whose name i have forgotten (we grabbed her and her owner for the photo op because she is super beautiful), to the right is Dina Weim....Ruby's owners overslept so she missed this part of the line up...we left vikki park along the canal towards the marshes, cross the football field and voila: river lea...


Joe and Morgan Down to the mud-bath...Ruby is a better swimmer than Hamish or even Radio, which is why the three will enter the jetty dog competition next year...

Tilly needed a little help from Carol (short legs....)




and heading back home....

happy days

the zoo is complete. radio and franz and otto are in love, at times also with us.franz, as mentioned earlier in a post, has taken to lick people like crazy, but since recently radio and otto get the treatment too.lucky radio got to spend some dog time with hamish in dungeness.
this really is dog food: predigested soy protein and some vegetables. not fair i guess as franz and otto at least get some oat grass + proper food.....

Name in need:

here is our new kitten. he is a mewmew and his given name is mewmew hamish (like radio's is szinarany apollo and otto's is jo). although his temperament is supposed to be (according to the breed description) independent, easily trainable, not a lapcat...of course none of this is true. he is a licking purr machine. he has been with us for three days and thus far he licked my whole hair (needed a wash) and lasse's face (several times), our hands, feet, radio's paws, whatever living being with skin and fur comes near him gets a wash. furthermore, one only needs to look at him and he purrs. needles to say, we adore him.
otto absolutely is smitten with him, though hamish is taking a little more time with her, he started as a dog's kitten, but is beginning to follow her around.
the problem is that he got given the very name of radio's best friend, hamish pup. so we need to find a new name. any ideas?

dog-kitten-fight nr. 299909039087986986

our friend Adam came to stay from LA, and he of course got an appropriate wake up call....(and a new job as referee)...except that radio simply fell asleep, kitten still attached.

one lucky Radio...

First of all, this morning as i was brushing my teeth, i came back into the room, and hey, a threesome in bed with radio getting a kitten hug...(this radio is not allowed in bed but he always seems to manage somehow). but then lasse got the payback: being woken up by vizslittens kisses...actually the reason why radio was allowed in the bed because he was really quite ill these last days. he is recovering now but he gave us a huge scare, throwing up all over the place, not eating...just the same when he had a major relapse last time....but miracuously (with some help of antibiotics) he was fine almost overnight. our lovely friend eiko made him a plaque and just now brought it as a get better gift to mr. radio...thanks eiko!
.

a Hungarian from Wales

this is Artanella (well, what you can see of her hidden behind Vizsla kisses). Artanella is Hungarian and from Budapest. This is Morris, Artanella's 7 months old Hungarian Vizsla pup, and Morris is from Wales.

Holidays

well, unfortunately not our own...Hamish has swapped with Flo (the owners went on holiday...why not me?) and i noticed that Hamish has become a bit of a poser:here with Daisy guarding Lasse's stall (but purtly keen on catching the lens...)
here at the marshes...again, see the almost incidental glance at the camera, head ever so slightly tilted...
Well, for those who know that Radio has a bit of a love for sheep, he again confirmed, contrary to all other opinion, that it is the look that attracts him, not the smell: meet Tony, the too cute for true old english (not a sheep) dog we met in Vikky Park (Hamish is of course following Radio's advice and got rather attracted to Tony himself)

dognosis (from hypnosis)

this is basil. basil of course is a herb, just as a radio is something that noise comes out of...this basil and this radio are neither herb nor transmitter/receiver...in any case, basil cheered radio up immensly today because today we got a bit of a fright when radio's test results from the vet came back. his pancreas is not perfect and although this could be related to the rest of his disease, if it is a seperate condition it is not very good (when compared to similar cases). so we not only had a big dinner for him but are hypnotising him so that he'll get better. michael is the master at this art as you can see, and we all are astonished at the effects. radio's ears all pricked up.

Radio teaches Hamish to climb mudd banks

today at the marshes Radio and Hamish jumped down a deep slope. whereas Radio could get out by taking a sprint through the water and then jumping onto the undercut bank, Hamish, who did not yet know that trick kept on sliding back down. i feared that i had to bite the mudd and jump down to rescue Hamish pup. but Radio simply kept on repeating the jump for about 5 minutes, nudging Hamish until he copied him and did the sprint-jump. Hamish was so happy after that he wanted to jump right back in to repeat....

a great Sunday

9am














11am











5pm (Dan visiting from Chicago)

fabulous Ladies (no other than Ruby and Jo) and their gentlemen....

I was told there is an older gentleman who feeds the ravens in Vikky Park. Perhaps we were too early, or perhaps he was a little late, or perhaps the carcass came not from the man but was left by a fox....whatever happened before we came we will never know. So we (that is radio's new palesse ruby and her truly lovely people) were walking in the park, and there was this lady screaming at her poodle. she threw her lead in its direction and it kept running around her, and we thought that that is a bit funny but mad looking, treating a small mini poodle in that way (or poodle treating its owner as such). As we walked over we saw that the poodle had a carcass in its mouth. poodle drops carcass, Ruby picks it up and claims it her own. now there are 2 more people running after a dog looking all a little mad, just as the lady with the poodle did. before long, but not too shortly after, carcass was secured and yuk! radio of course, being a boy, didn't get a mouthfull in. this leads to the next example of girls being the top of the food chain. Jo kitten, another fab lady: Jo kitten at breakfast time: how could i make the mistake and leave the room? for a moment i thought i had not given the dogs their command to eat but when i came to check.....Jo had taken on the job of food tastrix...she has developed a habit of this lately, seemingly loves dog food more than her own, i know its not good for cats, so i will have watch it from now on.

police and thieves and vizslas

as a pup Radio always used to go on about becoming a police dog, now things seem to have changed...

Radio, Hamish & Jo

The day started off with Radio giving Jeff from downstairs his daily Vizz lick attack. We then collected Hamish pup to go to the marshes (where both devils managed to eat some puke in the bushes and then run to me to lick me...that was amongst the worst ever!!!).

Back at home it all went a little mad when little crazy Jo confirmed that she thinks she's a dog. She chased and wrestled and ate from their food bowels. Hamish wants his very own kitten we think.

2 redheads (1 furry one)

not only does Radio share Otti's haircolour, he also wants a share of her toys.....Otti doesnt mind, luckily. But whereas Otti will grow up and have long locks this Radio will be stuck with what he's got (though plenty that is, all over his body).

dogs fever with a statue of kimono (sleepy version)

Hamish and Radio are big fans of the truly fabulous Eiko Yoshida. This bag with a designer bone is from her secret canine line, only some here in Hackney have it, and only those whose birthday it was a few months back, and that is only because some are her very special friends. She actually makes beautiful jewellery for humans....

a handsome couple dining

working trial (work...?)

As You can see from the proud faces of David (a real catholic priest), Lynn, Sally's partner (ups, name please!), Ross, Steven and Lasse, today we went to the HVC working trials. Being from Hackney, Radio immediately started to look for the job center but, knowing how to run both from criminals and the police, he won 1st price at the scurry (each place develops its own talents). Great fun!

tug of war round 1: kitten looses

kitten gains strength by the minute and soon: round 2

muddzslak in guiness book of records

Radio has been training and training in order to join the canine swimathon. and recently, swimming has been supplemented with jumping as high as possible into the water which is why this sunday Radio and Hamish went to allaboutdogs (www.allaboutdogs.org.uk) to show off radio's jumping into the water skills at the jetty. the rain rained so very hard and full that there seemed to be no point in getting any wetter. Radio appeared to be confused as to why the pool water should be any different from the deep-ish puddles in the grass (after all, they reached up to the elbows) - still, he wanted to jump, but the jetty closed early, so he kept leaping into puddles, which changed his russet gold to brown and brakkish.

looking like brown dalmations (muddaltions or muddzslak) Radio and Hamish took part in the world's largest recall (will be in the guiness book of records, that is, if indeed they succeeded number wise...when we left they were still counting)

the camera gave in due to tropical downpour so there are not many pics of during the day. radio though took home a trophy, which is a buoy like charly morph's (but instead of the beach this one is found in the seas of essex...how it got there i have no idea)

back in London Radio couldn't resist to pose for a family portrait....any opportunity...

Crafts

People go to Crufts not only to show off their dogs...

a weird creature (eatable?)

now that mrs j has finally moved in radio has become mother substitute. mrs j is a 6 week young kitten from a feral cat. 6 weeks however is no problem for mrs j, indeed, she's now eating solids (with a little additional kittenformula from a syringe once a day) and behaving like a mad little cat she surely will grow even more to become. initially we intended to do all the seperating and slow intro etc but mrs j is an escapee and went in search for radio after only 10 minutes in her new home. she has not left his side since. radio was smitten from minute 1: a little creature that loves and admires him and follows him around and climbs on top of him and bites his ears. looks as if mrs j will be more dog than cat.

caught again!

nothing i could add to this, no? (apart from, of course, that i was not in it)

Helvellyn

this is radio's 3rd big peak discounting climbing the occasional towerblock and this time he effortlessly managed a ridge climb along the striding edge (would have made a good SARS dog). it's a little chilly being on top of the world. but this radio only started to shiver once back on earth, so he got my red jacket (and straight away became a tourist attraction - any pics please send them...:-).

Scottish Radio

Radio was very much taken aback by the rather georgeous redgirls. after an initial bout of gentldog behaviour he became increasingly confident and by the end of the day fancied himself the king of scotland....

Easter Richmond Viz Whizz

Where's my Hamish?

the pictures speak for themselves: the fun started when radio went to meet the cutest puppy (which of course is no other than hamish), to play play play play drop for a few minutes play play dribble on floor (because puppys need to pee more often, something this owner has nearly forgotten) play play play, by now even radio is getting tired (momentarily) play play....hamish tired (momentarily) play play play.

hamish is now officially this radio's favourite canine pal (never mind that hamish's owners are quite amazing cooks and hosts and well, have a big garden and really nice friends and don't laugh at our blog).

Disappearing Hackney

thanks to the Olymics (not everyone wanted them you know, only this Vizsla did against the advice of his owners, but he changed his mind because he'll be too old then and knows it) a whole area is made confusing for a Vizsla who can no longer find his way to his favourite alottment at Manor Alottments. Olymic Village bla bla. What about the local population, never mind the other creatures in this hood????? We remember the Dome not long ago......help!

Happy Birthday!

today is Radio's 2nd year, 4th month and 28th day Birthday. But then, it is also John's 60th!

Hmmm...?

Getting up at 7am, brushing me teeth, coming back to find a sneaky red monster has taken my place...?
Whereas pup Charlie Morph goes to silver and gold 'citizens' classes to learn where 'bed' is, this Radio knew this well before he ever went to dog training. For the record, this Radio is not allowed in the bed but attempts to master the art of sneaking in undetected (Lasse is a heavy sleeper so doesn't notice, not such luck with me)

Schlaraffenland or just another crazy day?

Today Radio went to see his friend Flo in Regents Park, a far far way from Victoria Park in Hackney. Then, as expected in a posh part of town, food rained from the sky: a nearly dead pigeon fell from a tree right in front of us (Yuk). Without warning, 2 years of training him to ignore the feathered creatures of London's parks gone in a split second: Radio grabs pigeon and kills it. One could call it mercy killing (or food grabbing) since the pigeon was nearly dead (hence food), else it would not have fallen from the tree the way it did. But a passing lady started to cry 'save the pigeon from that dog', at which point Radio duly let go of the pigeon and sat and looked at her sheepishly. Needless to say, lady was mortified and for the pigeon it was too late. Schlaraffenland was too good to be true.

And then, just before we were about to go home on the tube, Radio had even more fun when he found the most atrocious smelling poo and rolled in it, which demanded immediate action, i.e. a swim in a freezing pond. This time passers bye had no need to cry, instead they thought Radio brave to retrieve sticks from a pond in this weather and cheered him on (but well, smell stayed, which was amplified by the warmth in the tube, and we blamed it on Flo because she had some mud on her - it worked).

Radio does Parkour

Wikipedia says about Parkour: (sometimes abbreviated to PK) or art du déplacement is a physical art of French origin, the aim of which is to move from point A to point B as efficiently and quickly as possible, using only the possibilities of the human and canine body. It is meant to help one overcome obstacles, which can be anything in the surrounding environment — from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls — so parkour can be practiced anywhere and anytime. Male parkour practitioners are recognized as traceurs and female as traceuses, canine ones as caceurs.
Radio refuses to do anything that is called 'agility' since that is a dog's sport and instead he insists on only training proper diciplines such as navigating human hurdles and balancing on top of them.

Guerilla Gardening

As an act of support with Manor gardens Allotment being eradicated by the Olympic Village Radio has decided to take up the art of gardening. Radio has always had an interest in 'radical' politics. at this moment it is 'direct action' that is the focus of his attention. http://www.lifeisland.org/

Vizslobatics

A very new puppy has joined Radio on his Olympic journey (and better still, Hamish may not be too old when the Olympics actually happen....)
But for now, Hamish and Radio aim to perfect their breakdancing skills.

Fashion Victim

as predicted: the boot thing really took off, even accross the pond. but there they even add a few extra things to look even more special (radio gets the point, americans are competitive...)
http://urbanmutt.blogspot.com/2007/01/houdini.html

Too big for (t)his boot?

Radio insists that this will be the new spring street fashion in Hackney...? If the purpose of fashion is to provoke attention, pity and cuddles then it is truly a success. We even begin to suspect that he voluntarily got a thorn stuck in his paw in order to motivate this dress code.

Eco living

Radio's lates flare: the eco house. after having followed the debate on global warming and reading Thoreau's Walden he can't get enough of wooden huts.

SWW Viz Whizz x-mas -2006: Radio's 1st Rabbit

Going to his first Viz Whizz, Radio was amazed at all the other dogs that day looking just like him. But then, after being lost with his drivers on the way to lunch he almost missed his chance to win a raffle prize...(Radio of course would never have gotten lost in such a small place as Wales). We all made it (finally) and Radio did win a large fluffy rabbit! This rabbit has proven to be undestructable, and, when it is not play-killed, shares Radio's bed, sits next to his food bowl and lands (disgustingly slobby) on Radio's owners heads when it is time to wake up in the morning.

Radio in Parliament!

This Radio did not come with a volume control: it is always full blast... therefore, we thought he would do well in parliament and we have put him into a class where he can learn rhetoric, both vocal and bodylanguage. In these images you can see Radio stating an argument for increased food rations.

Rad-lion also known as Radio the Lion Vizsla

Radio is preparing for this year's international tree climbing day on March 25th...so...having almost reached the crown of the tree this Lion Vizsla takes a breather to relax after a hard day climbing trees and to observe the vast planes of Victoria Park, Hackney. Tree climbing day is held in Hampstead heath and Hackney Marshes (and some other places too far to go to)

2012 OLYMPICS

great shame that they'll be oldies in 2012...(but this Radio and Dobergirl don't care at all)

Kayle's Balloon

a versatile Vizsla: both sportsman and engineer ...

... trying to solve the mysteries of aerodynamics...(may take some time)

Big Creatures of Dartmoor

this Radio is from the city, and this Radio has no idea what these creatures in the back are, as you can see on this Radio's neck the smell is good enough to roll in alright, but, what kind of creatures ...???

VERTIGO

oh loard, must she always climb this high up?

Radio free climbing

This 2 year old Radio is training to be the first Vizsla free-climbing champion.

HIGH JUMP

we are beginning to invent new challenges for these athletes in Hackney, with our eyes on the Olympics 2012


synchronisation is all...still working on that head-line though

FISH PARK

unlike the other breeds of Olympic athletes our competitors need a bit of stimulous of the mind, and since Radio just read about Jonah being swallowed by a whale he was trying his best to find out more (except that these are no whales....will tell him later...)

Radio Birthday number 2!

this was a time well before the one you see on this picture decided to be the world's first free-tree-pose-climbing Vizsla. It's Radio's birthday today!

Hunter-Squirreler

this Doberlady clearly saw the benefits of high altitude observation and adaptation, in particular it confuses squirrels a lot...

Canine Ballet

step step right...step step left...this Radio leads the local ballet class

Guilty!

ok...the fur is too thin, the air is too cold. but mostly and mainly, the rain is simply too wet and this Vizsla can't swim in it. this Vizsla likes wearing this coat (I'm of a different opinion of course).

Strong Radio vs Armstrong

A 14 month old and literally shrinking Radio.



just like Lance Radio got back on his feet from a serious and life threatening illness on count 9. and just like Armstrong he needed potent medication to get back on track. at the moment things look bright, and Radio is a strong candidate for 2012 olympics in London.

fingers crossed for this Radio's full recovery...
there is now some initial research assembled into what may cause this devastating disease on

http://vizslamyositis.blogspot.com

Radio's 1st Birthday!!!!

Health and Safety drilled Vizsla

6 months old Radio waiting for his walk at the Fire Exit.

Snoozing mum Csella and sister Inca

whereas Radio has become sporty, his mum and sister snooze all day....as does their owner...

Cosmic Constellation

WILL TO POWER

this 4.5 month old Radio did train a bit too much with the bigger boy...and had to be carried home by an even bigger one

Vizslat or Cat Vizsla

first steps towards the first Vizsla free-climber, mimiking the cat of course.

'Baby' Vizsla

sporty Radio preparing for much later on!

a Vizsla in a Bag

on the way to tapdancing:

sporty Radio in sporty bag....?

The Beginning

think the left one is Radio, but not sure...

in any case, this Radio was born November 7th, 2004. Radio's previous name was Szinarany Apollo (still used to sign the occasional form...)