Viz Whizz Dogs, Live Life Off-Leash

Welcome to our February newsletter. I have to apologize for not sending out a newsletter these past couple months, it's been so busy. Viz Whizz celebrated its 7th Birthday in January which is crazy how quickly it has gone. It seems like just yesterday it was Ellie, Hengrave and I walking the trails with just two other dogs joining our first ever meet up. Now our Pack Leaders are hosting meet ups all over the US and people are instantly connecting by joining our Viz Whizz Facebook groups.

Last year we re-homed and had 26 dogs adopted, that’s one dog every two weeks. This year hasn't slowed down either and I find myself constantly busy with taking in owner surrenders. We are officially becoming a 501c3 and have partnered with Kimberley Leatherman of Working Dogs Ranch and Jayme Stephens of K9 Mentality to help me run this organization along with many wonderful volunteers. Viz Whizz Dogs Rescue re-homes dogs that are mixed breeds, have a bite history and breed specific rescues just can't take for various reasons. To join our team, see the flyer below.

Sadly also at the end of last year a lot of my time was taken up helping to look for Nina, a mixed breed we rescued from a high kill shelter in San Antonio, Tx. She tragically slipped her leash and ran off, extremely fearful, we had numerous sightings for a few weeks as she covered over 20 miles, however as of the beginning of the year the trail went cold. We've have no sightings this year but we don't stop hoping for a miracle and continue to share her flyer in the local area.

Below I've tried to highlight some of the big things happening in Viz Whizz, most importantly is the launch of our website. This is going to happen in the coming weeks and working on a few things like membership options. Please see the quick survey below, we truly would appreciate your feedback.

Happy Viz Whizzing,

Nicky Monahan

Founder, Viz Whizz Dogs

In January we partnered with TGCVC to host a fun day and want to extend a BIG thank you to everyone that travelled down to join us in Alvin, Tx! Special thanks to Connie Foland and the Texas Gulf Coast Vizsla Club for hosting us and to Carter Forbes of Adaya Vizslas for driving down from Crowley with Agility Champion Dewey & Breezy. We had some off leash fun in the mud, followed by an introduction to birds, (thank you Pam), Agility with Lori Scimeca and Carter and then scent work with Connie. It really was a lots of fun and we are looking forward to hosting more of these types of events across our packs.

We had 27 dogs join us.

This year the Vizsla National Speciality & Companion event is taking place in New England and we are going to be there! Save the Dates 23-27th April, (Boxborough Regency Hotel & Conference centre, MA) and come say hello at our booth and check out our off-leash meet ups we’re hosting! We cant wait to see you!

Remember if you’re showing your dog, you need to get your DNA in order. Tip: if your dog has earned an AKC title, you get a $15 discount! Call 800-252-5545, pin 10000. Your dog’s AKC number will validate the discount!

click here for all the meet up details!

Viz Whizz MA at Callahan State Park, Framingham MA

Viz Whizz MA at Wingaersheek Beach, Gloucester

Viz Whizz at Medfield State Hospital, Medfield, MA

Our website is launching in the coming weeks with a tiered membership program.

Meet ups will always be free! (First tier is FREE).

Listed below are some questions for us to get a better feel for what should be free and what is gated by membership. This doesn't include our Rescue program which remains separate.

A membership program will give us the necessary funding needed to build on our educational programs across 40 States and give back to Pack Leaders and local communities.

https://forms.gle/566PRbSqM8AF3TEb8

1. Training: Ensure your dog has solid basic obedience training, particularly commands like "come," "stay," and "leave it." Consistent training builds trust and allows you to control your dog in various situations.

2. Choose Appropriate Areas: Select off-leash areas that are designated for dogs or have ample space for safe play. Avoid busy streets or areas with potential hazards. Find your local Viz Whizz pack to help with recommendations.

3. Know Your Dog: Be aware of your dog's temperament, behavior, and social skills. Not all dogs are comfortable off-leash, so assess your dog's comfort level and response to various situations.

4. Monitor Interactions: Keep a close eye on your dog's interactions with other dogs and people. Intervene if necessary to prevent conflicts or ensure everyone's safety.

5. Recall Command: Reinforce a strong recall command so your dog returns to you promptly when called. Practice recall in various environments to solidify the behavior. Find a high value reward.

6. Respect Leash Laws: Always adhere to leash laws in public places where they apply. Respect the rules to ensure the safety and comfort of others.

7. Clean Up After Your Dog: Carry waste bags and promptly clean up after your dog. Responsible ownership includes maintaining cleanliness in public spaces.

Remember, being a responsible off-leash owner is about balance – allowing your dog freedom while maintaining control and being considerate of others.

We are excited to kick off another great year on the trails with our local Viz Whizz Communties.

Click here to find your local pack now in 40 States.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/421369148944522/?ref=share_group_link

All our Pack Leaders volunteer their time to host our fun off-leash meet ups. Please keep dogs leashed until the Pack Leaders tell you its safe to release the dogs. For the safety of our pack our Pack Leaders have guidelines to follow and we ask that you listen and respect them.

Owners are all legally liable and responsible for their own dogs at our off-leash meetups.

Please note time zones.

Viz Whizz Dogs works hard to promote responsible breeders and has an extensive list of great breeders across the USA. If you would like more information, please reach out and we can share that with you. We have wonderful relationships with many of the breeders and know their dogs from our meet ups we host on the trails. If you're looking to be owned by a vizsla or fast dog, we encourage you to join a local meet up and come talk to members and see the dogs in action.

Viz Whizz Dogs is a recognized club for the AKC Fit Dog. You're invited to join us for a hike to get additional points! Here is the link to find out more of what is involved and how to participate. https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-family-dog-program/akc-fit-dog/akc-fit-dog-titles/

We've created an Amazon list to share some of ours and members favorite things and have created lists of items we talk about in our webinars. We hope this makes it easier for you to find the things we love and trust and have bought for our own dogs.

Click the image.

Viz Whizz Dogs promotes responsible off-leash hiking and education for Vizslas, Weimaraner, GSPs and other high energy breeds. Across the USA our Pack Leaders help build local communities to support owners and provide a healthy lifestyle for their dogs. We are a recognized breed activity by the Vizsla Club of America and registered club for AKC Fit Dog. We have packs in over 40 states.

If you'd like to be a Pack Leader, Sponsor or have any questions, please reach out.

Email: nicky@vizwhizzdogs.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/vizwhizzdogs
Phone: (339)203-2099