Who would have thought…

~ Live & Learn
Zeke @ 4 Months & 4 Years

I grew up in a household where “animals” belonged outside or in the barn.  Cats were tolerated because they caught mice and were independent (but in the barn).  No dogs…as they served no commercial purpose…consumed cash…chased farm animals…and defecated on the lawn.

My wife, on the other hand, grew up with dogs (in the house), loved dogs and missed dogs terribly.

I stoutly held my ground for 20 years.  Kanigans don’t have dogs in the house or have dogs at all.  Yet, I continued to be worked over at home and by a friend of mine at work (CP you know who you are).

I caved.  But with rules.  Everyone agreed that Dad would have “nothing” to do with the day-to-day responsibilities with the dog including 2am potty breaks.  In addition, the dog had to have short hair (didn’t want hair in my salad).  And the dog would need to run (for those days when I could pull myself off the couch.)

Zeke, a Hungarian Vizsla arrived at the Kanigan household on February 16th, 2008.  Vizslas were originally bred as bird hunting dogs for Royalty.  We don’t hunt.  We don’t bird watch.  And we certainly don’t live in a Kingdom.

I thought I’d share a few Zeke highlights as we approach our 4 year anniversary:

  • Vizslas  are “velcro” dogs.  He will follow you everywhere.  He’s restless unless you are resting.
  • Vizslas need exercise.  He is walked 1.5 to 2 hours a day.  The kids walk him an average of 0 to 3 minutes per day and that average is moving to zero minutes each day. (So much for the kid’s part of the agreement).  If you don’t plan to exercise your Vizsla be sure that you have enough “leash-free” area where your dog can run and play – – or you will have a real problem on your hands.  I tell everyone who is thinking about a Vizsla, think VERY hard about the responsibility with this breed.  Big time commitment.
  • Vizslas are loyal, gentle and VERY sensitive.  They cower when you yell or raise your voice at them.   When I yell or play-fight with the kids, Zeke attacks only me…I guess he feels that I am the threatening Dominant King in the Household.
  • Zeke has inherited traits from his Dad.  When he’s tired and cranky, you’ll know it.
  • Vizslas are like self-cleaning ovens.  He is CLEAN and without much maintenance from us.
  • A Vizsla’s coat is short, smooth, dense and close lying without a woolly undercoat.  That means Zeke gets cold in the Winter.  So Zeke needs to wear a sweater.  (This was definitely a miss on my part.  A dog wearing a sweater – what possibly could be next…)
  • Vizslas can tell time.  He knows precisely when it is meal time.  Meal time is a chewy at 6am.  Dog food at 6:10.  Peanut butter in a Plastic Kong toy at high noon.  Dog food at 5pm.  Almonds with Dad just before bed time.  (And somehow he is not overweight.  Can’t say the same for me).
  • Most Vizslas sleep on the bed.  No, let me clarify with some precision.  They sleep under the covers.  This would include Zeke.  Summer time, no problem.  Winter time when the house is colder – it becomes a restless night for all.  When he stands up 4x to 5x a night to rotate to get comfortable – cold air rushes in – and then he collapses to fall asleep again. You get the picture.  Zeke is rested and ready to go in the morning.  Dad rolls out of bed a Zombie.
  • Zeke generally doesn’t like to be pet…and certainly not on the head.  Yet, he loves (LOVES) his ear rubs and his neck rubs.
  • Vizslas welcome you by wiggling their entire body and going in and out of your legs.  Unconditional love wiggles.  I look forward to the welcome home from work each day.

So, what’s the epilogue for the man with the long-standing “No Dogs Here” position?

As the Vizsla dog website states, Vizslas are in it 100% and they deserve nothing less from you.  

I AM 100% ALL-IN.  

I LOVE THIS GUY.

46 thoughts on “Who would have thought…”

  2. I remember having a conversation with Susan when I was passing through Chicago while at The Academy. I told her the thing I missed most when away at school was having a dog. She told me she also missed the company of a dog, but that you weren’t in favor of it. I never thought you’d get one, let alone let him in the bed! You’re whipped! We don’t even let the dogs in bed. Good to know you discovered the unconditional love of a dog.

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  5. Dave, I think what this tells me is that there might be room in your house for a Vizla sister for Zeke some day…. Have you started peeking at the Vizla rescue sites? Having a dog in the family (trust me) is the same as having cats in the family, just more kids to love.. glad to hear how much joy he brings you!

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    1. Hi Karen. Thanks for visiting. Gees Karen. Thanks for the GREAT idea. I’m begging you not to give anyone in our household your idea. As it stands now, we are tethered to the house with 1 dog. I can’t imagine the amount of work with two. 🙂 Happy New Year. Dave

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  6. Great post Dave. Zeke is really cute! I’ve a 6 year old Golden Retriever, simply adorable!!! I walk him thrice a day/night…..and yeah I’ve experienced the 2 am walks too! But no complains… I love doing it and as the saying goes.. “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

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  10. I love this blog and I have no problem with animal lovers. I still couldn’t do a dog in the house though. I’m too much of a neat-freak and even a little hair would drive my OCD crazy! Enjoyed the post though.

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  15. A year ago, a 1-year old German Shorthaired Pointer adopted me. Everything you’ve written about your Vizsla is true for my GSP. In fact, I think the German Shorthaired Pointer has Vizsla in him as the breed is a conglomeration of several other hunters. Active? I did not know the true meaning of the word until Jasper moved in with me.

    I like your post and love your bulleted descriptions.

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  18. I’ve always wanted a Vizsla. But after reading all of that, I think an Akbash is more appropriate. I like sleep too much.

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  21. I have worked with hunting dogs, and farming dogs that will herd the sheep. Dogs are good at protecting property and family, they will alert you to intruders, and will tell the intruder to stay away. Dogs are good security systems overall. Dogs help the blind; they can find drugs and bombs; they can sense cancer; they can help children to read; they help autistics and the ill to recover and be calmer, they help viloent prisoners to find their humanity. They are also loyal loving friends.

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  22. How can you not fall in love with a cute, adorable face like that? Long hair, short hair…it doesn’t matter to me. They are just pure, plain, love and way better company than most humans. 🙂

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  25. DK, the love of that dog shines through. great story. wish i had the same feelings for our 4 year old english lab who has “destroyed” our home 🙂 EO

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  26. Great post! We have Vizsla pup that will be a year this month. I was searching for articles on how to sleep with a restless dog and this post came up. I gave in to crate training and my wife has not let me live this down to this day. Our Vizsla tosses and turns all night and it is not uncommon to wake up with a foot in your face or to be stepped on as she turns around and throws her 50lb body down. I was looking for some relief, but it seems like this is the norm. Thanks for sharing!

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  27. Where to start? Our (my wife’s and my) first dog, 1981, a vizsla because our neighbors had one. In my early 30’s, I started running because Kate clearly needed the excercise. The running changed my life. She lived to almost fifteen, she was difficult because she was timid, so my job was to keep her out of trouble. Next dog: a vizsla + black lab mix. He was a lightly built black lab with a lot of stamina and a REALLY good sense of humor, no timidity here. Then a Weimareiner from a friend. Then a German Shorthaired Pointer from the shelter, then another one. Now we’re down to just one GSP. The continental pointers are simply magnificent companion animals. Smart, loving, good with kids, and there are no better friends.

    And yes, they are not for you if someone can’t be with them for most of the day. They have energy and intelligence; that’s a big problem if you can’t be there to amuse and occupy them.

    And yes, they do love to sleep with you.

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