The story of the Vizsla's at Nearly Heaven .

I have been breeding gundogs for over thirty years,I fell in love with the Hunter Pointer Retreiver dogs when I was in my twenties.

I was lucky to have a famous gundog breeder and judge living not too far from me.I went to ask her advice and to see if she may have a puppy for sale.The breed of dog that I was interested in was the German Short Haired pointer.

                 

Upon meeting Louise Petrie Hay at her famous Waidman kennels she advised me that she did not have any litters expected but to come and see her dogs.
I was enchanted with these beautiful noble dogs and wanted to learn as much about them and their history as I could.
Mrs. Petrie Hay became my mentor for many years, She advised me which strain of pedigree was the best, and when I wanted to breed from my bitch "Anna" I used the Waidman stud dogs.
Louise kept two puppies from my litters and they went on to be excellent gun dogs,winning many prizes in the show ring and field trials.

Sadly "Anna" died at the age of twelve years and I could not bring myself to replace her, it was time for a change of breed.

Many years after our initial meeting, I had seen my first Vizsla at the Waidman kennels and I was bowled over by this beautiful breed.So now I once again arrived to find out about the Hungarian Vizsla dogs.
I was pointed in the direction of George and Barbara Shepherd who had brought her bitch from America and had mated her to a top British sire.my new puppy was called Bargeo's Chilli Pepper" .

I fell in love with her immediately, she was so loyal and very intelligent, I was surprised at how quickly she learned new things, she became my shadow for four wonderful years, until sadly here in France,she stepped on an Aspic Viper (of Cleopatra fame) and despite the best veterinary care, she died at the age of four and a half.
Thankfully, prior to my emigration to France, Louise had arranged "Chilli's" mating with Gay Gottlieb's handsome "Russettmantle Fisher",this mating was a last minute affair, performed the week before I left for France.
I arrived at my new home at the end of October 2002 with one pregnant bitch. She produced ten puppies on New Years Day 2003.

Two of Chilli's offspring "Visions of Success" and "Whispered Promises" became the foundation stock of my Nearlyheaven kennel.
more about that in a later post.