Zuzu and Tootie experienced Canine Country last August when we met up with Val and Susan and their vizslas. Canine Country is a facility that is tantamount to an amusement park for dogs. With over 200 acres of farmland divided into fenced sections, members can let their dogs run and run and run, or they can practice retrieving in the lake, or hone their agility skills on the agility course. To learn more, check out their website at http://www.caninecountrykennel.com
During this recent trip to St. Louis, we once again met Val and Susan at Canine Country. Val brought her three vizslas and Susan and Paul brought their three. Our girls joined the group along with a half a dozen more vizslas already there. It was quite the sight; red dogs running everywhere.
Zuzu and Tootie enjoy running and exploring. They eagerly leapt out of the car to sniff along the fence line ignoring the vizsla party happening down by the pond. After realizing that we left them to join the other group, they came bounding down the hillside towards the gang. Dash, one of Susan and Paul's dogs, loves Tootie. In fact, he may be obsessed with her. Captivated by her beauty he followed Tootie everywhere repeatedly trying to demonstrate his admiration of her. Tootie was polite and patient with Dash (Zuzu not so much) as she relied on us to put a halt to the amorous advances.
Down by the pond, the vizsla pack was enjoying the water chasing the retrieving dummies.
After a brief swim and some play, we gathered the group and headed up towards the upper fenced in pasture for some serious running.
Once inside, the boys were running circles around everyone. Tootie found comfort and protection in Wayne's arms as Zolt? Dash? Ready? Not sure which one ran behind.
The boys were in constant motion. To grab your attention, they would occasionally body slam you, running into you at full force and then dash off in the opposite direction. Zuzu kept her own pace sniffing and checking out the tree line while Tootie hung close to us.
A vizsla puppy arrived and was eager to say hello to Tootie. She was a sweetheart full of puppy energy.
We continued our walk around the perimeter of the pasture. Here, Zuzu and Tootie are sticking close to Wayne while one of the boys was running by.
I think Zuzu and Tootie missed out on learning how to be a dog while in the puppy mill. They certainly weren't socialized at a young age and have just recently developed a stronger trust of people. Experiences such as these are great opportunities for them to observe dogs at play.
It was a picture perfect spring day albeit a bit on the warm side. Zuzu and Tootie, having just come from the southern tip of Florida, were accustomed to the heat and paced themselves. The warmer than usual temps, however, quickly caught up with the other vizslas all running to and fro during our walk around the upper pasture. They eagerly ran down towards the pond to cool off.
Dash wouldn't give up on Tootie.
The gang jumped in the water and chased the retrieving dummies for a while. One of Val's dogs was more interested in the goose nest on the island, and then began swimming after the goose in the water. It was a futile attempt catching the goose as it repeatedly flew and landed ahead of the swimming pursuer never in harm's way.
The dogs were slowing down after running and swimming. Val's dog, Ready, was giving Wayne a little love.
"Do we have them all?" someone shouted and we began counting dogs.
Tootie saddled up to Wayne, Zuzu wasn't far, we had our girls and they were ready to take a nap.
It was a great morning at Canine Country. Zuzu and Tootie are looking forward to their next visit!
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