Phoenix

Bio

Phoenix was born 3rd, about 11 minutes after Casey, at 12:17 am on December 17, 2001. 

He grew up with his 4 brothers and 1 sister in the kitchen whelping pen outside of Raleigh, NC.

Right from the beginning, Phoenix was one of the pups we had to watch out for.  He was one of the "big boys" and was one of Maggie's best eaters.  He was also very active, even when his eyes weren't yet open. 

His first collar was blue by chance, but that and his attitude stuck him with the nicknames, "big blue" and "Mack" for Mack-Truck while he was in NC.

Phoenix received a visit in NC from his owners just before Christmas, when he was ONLY 6 DAYS old!  Apparently NC is between the parents and Gainesville, FL (Someone could not wait).  Alison, Phoenix, and Andy bonded quickly as their owner's in-laws met in the background.  As far as we know everything went well.  Anyway, they thought Phoenix was quite the porker and began calling him "The Spud" due to the similarity between chubby puppies and potatoes.  My understanding is that Phoenix still goes by Spud derivatives to this day.

In any case, Alison and Andy also arrived early in Alachua, FL (of course after the 8th week...) to begin life with Phoenix.  Here is the last shot we took, as Andrea was forced to say her first tearful good bye.  But I understand that Alison and Andy are regulars at the Vizsla enclave in Alachua, so Phoenix is growing up with quite a number of extended family members!

Andy, Phoenix, and Alison finally got to go HOME!

We also understand that Phoenix is admittedly coddled in every way but two -- as a Vizsla should be:
    1) he's not allowed on the bed (the poor dog)
    2) and he doesn't get people food unless it's mixed in with his dog food (the poor dog)

Even still, he's only ever had chicken and tuna. So, unfortunately, his gustatory experiences are limited when it comes to mealtime. However, the guy goes NUTS for basted pigs' ears and always wants what the other Vizslas at Valley Hunters are eating, even if it's identical to what's in his own bowl.

He loves just about everyone (human and dog alike), at times to excess. He really LOVES the dog park and the Vizsla ranch (Valley Hunter), especially Jean's dog Chelish and Pat's dog Tanner. However, he's not a big fan of car rides (he occasionally gets carsick), but he's so happy to be doing something with his people that he enthusiastically jumps in the front seat every time Andy and Alison go anywhere. Other than that, he's basically a happy-go-lucky kind of puppy. He also likes the dogs next door (even if they are not Vizslas), a rat terrier named Cole and a pit bull puppy named Sydney. Occasionally a boxer named Missy stays next door, and he loves her too! Sometimes when he is let outside he disappears, only to be found moments later on the neighbor's front porch asking if his friends can come out to play!

Current Photos

Phoenix had the "blanket" shot taken after his last visit to the vet; however, we understand that normally he is much more active.  And, as with many Vizsla's we have known, Phoenix began to explore his fashion sense early in life.  Here we see, he is trying out a classic red bandanna.

Phoenix stacked well...considering it was his first and our first attempts at stacking a 6 wk old puppy ...

Phoenix between 3 and 4 months...

samples his first bone

Phoenix felt a little sleepy after his rabies shot; I could be crazy, but does Phoenix look a little Australian in that bandanna?

Phoenix between 3 and 4 months...

Phoenix is "not begging"

Phoenix in his Chair

Phoenix and his buddies, first with Tanner napping, then I think it is with Tanner again??

Stats

Names:

"Phoenix" most of the time

also, "The Spud" and diminutive derivatives such as:
"Spudly", "Spudenstein", "the Spudster" and my favorite,
"The Great Spudinski"

His official name is "Vlly Hntr Flite of the Fenix."

Learned Commands:

I believe that Phoenix may become our honorary valedictorian.  He apparently knows Fourteen commands at last count. 

Let's see if we can guess them (1-no, 2-sit, 3-come, 4-stay, 5-down, 6-fetch, 7-drop it, 8-heel, 9-speak, 10-roll over, 11-off the couch, 12-no begging, 13-stop squeaking the dog toy, and 14-who's the good dog?)

Phoenix is also busy training his people, although we don't know what new tricks they have learned.

Favorite Foods:

properly basted pigs' ears

whatever the other Vizslas are eating (definately a "grass is greener" personality)

snacks before a car ride so he can eat them over and over again off the car seats

Favorite Team:

Florida Gators

Favorite Things:

Visits to Alachua and the Valley Hunter Vizsla Ranch

his rubber flying pig

his fleece unicorn

his octopus

his squeaky snake (a big hit!)

and cow hooves ... And why not? It's the toy that smells the most repulsive!

Least Favorite Things:

When the Gators loose

flea spray

having his toenails clipped