Meet Turner’s Tails
My husband, Andrew, and I live with five amazing sporting dogs. We used to have seven until the two oldest passed away a few years ago. We aren’t entirely sure how we arrived at lucky number seven. We learned there is a tipping point in the number of dogs one can reasonably own, but the memories are forever. Our first puppy was Bailey, a Weimaraner. Her beautiful and kind 13-year-old soul left us in 2020 after fighting melanoma. Our second puppy was Jack, a Vizsla. His regal and handsome soul unexpectedly left us in 2021. Because of Jack, Andrew, and I compete, as a hobby, in American Kennel Club (AKC) performance events, specifically hunt tests, field trials, and conformation and we enjoy wild bird hunting with our canine crew. Bailey started our deep love for dogs, and Jack began our bird dog game hobby and our passion for the outdoors.
Bailey
Jack
Today, we have three Vizsla’s (two are directly related to Jack), a Pointer, and a GSP (German Shorthaired). They have taken us on adventures to places we likely would never have visited and introduced us to interesting people, some of whom have become lifelong friends. Our pack of pups provide humor, inspiration, insanity, and sanity. Because they are an integral part of our lives and will be featured in the blog, please meet them from oldest to youngest.
Patton | Vizsla
Birthday: October 12, 2012
Patton is affectionally nick-named Benjamin Button. He doesn’t seem to age, and those that meet him cannot believe he is 11 years old, going on 12. At a young age, he finished his show championship. He has a few placements in the field, but we joke he was a field trial flunk-out. However, he makes up for it when we take him hunting in Kansas for wild birds. He is light on his feet and naturally quarters the field covering the vast ground, making him an excellent hunting companion. A hint of gray is feathered in the hairs under his chin and paws. The ultimate giver of affection, he often needs to be told to cool it with excessive hugging…I mean smothering. Given the opportunity, he will lay ON you and stare longingly into your eyes. His two favorite activities are hunting in the fields and snuggling with Andrew on the couch for morning coffee.
If Patton had a tagline on Tinder for dogs, it would be, “I hug you with my eyes.”
“I hug you with my eyes.”
Tiki | Vizsla
Birthday: May 5, 2013
Tiki, also a Vizsla, is Jack’s daughter. She is one of the easiest and quietest members of the pack, except when she screams blood curdling cries at the door after spending time outside playing or tending to potty business in the yard. She is ten this year and showing her age with a tiny bit of arthritis in her stifle and plenty of sugar on her sweet feminine face. Tiki adores adventure, even if it’s a trip to the vet. She greets people with such excessive wagging enthusiasm that her back end looks detached from her front; it wiggles so fast. Every spring, she forms an unhealthy obsession with the well-aged Catalpa tree in our yard and the squirrels that live inside. I’m confident they peer out of the large hollow hole snickering and taunting her to come and chase them.
“Always up for a good snuggle, I receive love, I don’t give it.”
Lizzy | Pointer
Birthday: January 20, 2017
Lizzy brings excitement and joy to our lives. We did not need another dog when we got Lizzy. Andrew met her sire and dam, watched them perform in the field, and knew for a long time that if they produced a litter, he wanted a puppy. Lizzy was a challenging adolescent. She pushed all my buttons with her wild antics, lack of listening, and disregard for rules. However, with time, age, and some tough love, Lizzy has matured into a fantastic companion on and off the field. She is the first dog in our house to earn a field champion and amateur field champion title, as well as earn placements at national field events. Lizzy’s personality evolved from aloof to dishing out doggy hugs, snuggling on the couch, and being exceptional in the house. She saves her energy for the field, snapping her long white tail as she glides down every tree edge, hunting for game birds. She makes us smile with her ear flips, her side eye expression, and how she saddles up next to us when we sit down.
“I’m sweet with a sassy side-eye.”
Waylon | Vizsla
Birthday: March 12, 2019
Waylon is Tiki’s son and is named after Waylon Jennings. The litter was themed after the original outlaws of country music, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Charlie Daniels. He was the first puppy to climb out of the whelping box, demonstrating his bold nature. Affectionally called “Way-Way,” he thrives off routine and structure, one of his outstanding qualities. Waylon was easy to crate train, teach how to do a down, and train for game bird hunting. Training a dog to stand through the flush and shot of a game bird and retrieve requires consistency, structure, and repetition, and he learned the basics quickly. Waylon loves to perch on the back of the couch and stare out the window (I’m pretty sure he was a cat in his former spiritual life), stalking anything that moves. Besides running in the fields and hunting for game birds, his next great love is being told he’s a good boy—wiggling and wagging in response.
“My mama loves me.”
Tucker | German Shorthaired Pointer
Birthday: June 22, 2020
Tucker, our GSP, will be three this summer. His Dad, Charlie, was the first GSP to grab my heart, and when the opportunity came to own one of his offspring, I couldn’t pass it up. While he digs holes the size of craters in our yard, rips monkey grass out of the mulch bed, and tears soft toys in five seconds, his heart is enormous. His eyes and features are regal and handsome, and he loves to greet you first thing in the morning with a paw punch to the leg or the eye (if you aren’t careful) for hugs and rubs. He is an old soul in a young body and if you have a phone in your hand, Tucker thinks that is nonsense. All attention should be on him and technology is dumb. He is an impeccable bird dog, blessed with a wonderful nose and huge run. He is early in his field career and has already had several placements.
“Hold on tight, it’s going to be a ride.”
While Andrew and I enjoy competing with our dogs, encouraging their inner athlete, and nourishing their natural talents, they are, first and foremost, our beloved companions. What they remember and love the most is the couch time, the care, and the love we give in return for the unconditional love they provide us. I couldn’t imagine life without a dog.
Stay tuned for more stories sharing canine adventures and personalities.
