Owned by four vizslas: Sitka, V***n, Cinder and Denali.
Vizsla Breeder: We strive to keep the natural bird dog instincts into structurally sound, healthy vizslas with bombproof stereotypical velcro vizsla temperaments. Our dogs are driven in the field, but with an easy to live with off switch in the house. We compete in AKC and American Field Field Trials, AKC Conformation, Hunt Tests, and NAVHDA. We hunt as many species of game bird in the US as we possibly can, both upland and waterfowl. Mackey Bootcamp is a common occurrence for Sitka puppies. Everyone lives inside, is thoroughly spoiled, and sleeps in bed at night.
My dogs: GCH DC AFC Mackey’s Trail Blazing Sitka UTII, CH CK Hideaway’s Little Secret SH, CH Alpine’s Playing with Fire, Alpine’s Name of the Wind JH
Enjoy :)
The long version:
Hi! I'm Jessica Mackey, a Family Medicine Physician introduced to the world of Vizslas by my boy Sitka. I found Sitka my senior year of my Undergraduate education at the University of Virginia after a long hard search for a reputable breeder that would take a 20 year old college student seriously. I could not have found a better fit. I knew Sitka was mine when his breeder called me the day his litter was born. I had pick male from that litter… and there was only one boy. As indecisive as they come, I knew then that the lone boy of the litter was meant to be mine. Sitka is the once and a lifetime dog many dream about. I am lucky to be owned by him.
We began as many new to the breed do -- sloppily. Sitka, to his credit, has been forgiving of all my amateur mistakes. I have hunted all my life, but never behind a pointing dog consistently. Growing up with mostly retrievers, I knew how to get Sitka started in that part of bird work. But when it came to the whole "pointing" part, we were a little lost. Thank God for good mentors! We joined the Conestoga Vizsla Club in Virginia and were connected with a few great teachers. We began bird work, ran in a few Field Trials, and were hooked on the field aspect of the pointing dog game quickly. With a few yellow ribbons in Puppy and Derby stakes, we moved to Colorado as I began on my Medical School journey. And we thrived. Sitka was entered in four Colorado all breed horseback field trials, and won or placed in each one. He made the transition from East to West better than I did. He quickly earned his Puppy/Derby points and learned to love this amazing state. When we weren't competing, we were hunting grouse in the mountains, ducks in the rivers, and pheasants on the plains. He adapted to each new game with enthusiasm and our adventures were my source of stress relief throughout the busy schedule of Medical School. Whenever I had a free moment we were out. We went hiking, went on runs off horseback, swam in alpine lakes, went snow shoeing, took road trips, and enjoyed lazy day snuggle time.
Now, Sitka competes in Gun Dog and Shooting Dog stakes in the hunting off season. He finished his Field Championship with three big major wins in Colorado all breed horseback field trials, and within the same month finished his Amateur Field Championship as a 3 year old. We continue to duck hunt and pheasant/quail hunt all through the Fall and Winter. He's even dabbled in the show ring with success, finishing his conformation Championship within a year of finishing his FC making him the breed's first DC for 2016. He is just as content hanging out on the couch for a day or two when rotations and study schedules keep me too busy to get out for long. Meanwhile, I graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and planned our move to Sioux Falls, SD for Family Medicine Residency. I have been a Board Member of the Rocky Mountain Vizsla Club and help run our Field Trials every year. It's been a fun ride, and I can't wait to see where the next chapter takes us.
Over the last few years, Sitka and I have added a whole mess of redheads to the house... he's responsible for most of them. :) Sitka was followed by Riot -- our loveable, silly, goofy BabyDog. He was shortly followed by my long awaited Sitka son, Cinder Puppy. I was very lucky to be owned by three exceptional velcro vizsla boys, if only for a short time. Sadly, Riot passed away much too young at 18 months old and left yet another gaping hole in our household. In came V***n, a late addition at 2 years old, but a very welcome one. And then... somehow... a fourth found her way into my heart. Miss Denali, my first Sitka daughter. In the midst of all that we have now whelped our first home bred Alpine Vizslas litter -- "the Pathogens" and now enjoy watching our pups excel in their homes.
So, now we are settled in Moses Lake, Washington where we chase birds every evening and still run in trials and compete in shows in the hunting off season. We have a revolving door of visiting redheads that are usually Sitka pups taking advantage of "Mackey Bootcamp". I continue to be a member of the Rocky Mountain Vizsla Club, and am also a member of the Puget Sound Vizsla Club, Hawkeye Vizsla Club, Three Trails Vizsla Club, and Tri-State NAVHDA Club. It keeps me busy! I am lucky to be where I am, doing what I love, and coming home to a house full of velcro vizslas each day!
