Tell us how you stumbled into the bird dog world—what’s the story behind the “accidental” part of Accidental Bird Dog?

My husband originally wanted to get a vizsla to be a running partner. Neither of us had grown up hunting or had any interest in it. Even though Zara came from hunting/field trial lines, she didn't show any desire for birds at eight weeks old, so she was placed with us. She lived a very active life with us for the first two years, just being a companion.

After she turned two, her breeder suggested we try an AKC Junior Hunting Test, which is a beginner-level test that mostly looks at the natural ability of the dog. To everyone's surprise, she did amazing and earned maximum scores. After seeing her perform at that test, I realized that I had something special on my hands and I wanted to help Zara reach her full potential. Even though I knew nothing about bird dog training, I decided to try to train her for more advanced tests. That began a long journey with many ups and downs. Now, almost ten years later, I'm pretty much "all in" on bird dog events and hunting! There is really nothing else I'd rather be doing.

Can you tell us about your current dogs? What are their names, what are their personalities, where are they in their training journeys, what do you love about them the most—and have they earned any titles or accolades you're especially proud of?

Zara

I currently have three dogs. Zara is my 11-year-old "accidental bird dog" Vizsla. She is a very busy and high-energy dog. I think we gave her too much attention when she was younger because she doesn't have a good off-switch. She's very sweet and loves to work for food. She's reaching the end of her competition career, but as she has taught me, age doesn't really matter. I just ran her in some retriever hunt tests this month, which are brand new to her. We are also going to start competing in scentwork this summer and I may run her in a few more field trials this fall. Zara's registered name is VC Trailside's Tzar of Fairlington MH THDN DJ CGCA TKN. The NAVHDA Versatile Champion (VC) title is pretty special to me because it took a lot of time and effort to achieve it. She was the oldest vizsla to earn one at 9 years, 11 months. 

Colombo

Colombo is my eight-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback. He is kind of the opposite of Zara. He is pretty lazy and loves to sunbathe and hang out on the couch. He has participated in conformation and lure coursing and his registered name is Adriatic's King Colombo of North Ridge CA BCAT CGC TKN. I will also be competing in scentwork with him this summer. He searches slower than Zara but is very methodical, so he will sometimes identify scent quicker since she misses it when she's zooming by. 

Lanka

Lastly, Lanka is my one-year-old Vizsla puppy. She is related to Zara but has a very different personality. She is so calm in the house! Her registered name is Trailside's Queen of Ceylon NA3. She competed in several field trials this spring and began learning the game. I've started teaching her how to retrieve and be steady in the field, which will be necessary for upper level tests and trials. I've learned a lot about training since I started with Zara, so I'm doing many things differently with Lanka.

For people who have never been part of the sporting dog or trial scene, how would you describe it?

It's a pretty small world and people tend to like to do lots of things with their dogs. It's very common for me to go to a hunt test, and a month later, see a few of the same people at say, a Fast CAT lure coursing event. I have found people to be very welcoming for the most part. Most people really enjoy spending time with their dogs and want their dogs to have fun. They will go to great lengths to make that happen – such as driving hours to an event where the dog runs for 15 minutes. 

What do you love most about the lifestyle that comes with owning and training sporting dogs, and how has it impacted your day-to-day life?

I have always loved being outside and being active (I used to participate in triathlons), and having these types of dogs keeps me very active! I spend a lot of time exercising them, so they keep me in shape, too. They keep me accountable. Before I had dogs, I could easily skip a run or hike if I didn't feel like it or was being lazy. These dogs don't really let that happen, haha.

You’ve gotten into dog trials—what’s that like, and how can someone get involved without feeling totally overwhelmed?

I participate in hunt tests and field trials with my vizslas. Hunt tests are noncompetitive events and are judged against a standard. If every dog does well, every dog can pass. Field trials are competitive events and the dogs are being judged against each other (and they also have to meet a certain standard as well). I have a podcast called the Accidental Bird Dog Podcast, which is about hunting events for pointing breeds. I produce educational episodes about different testing organizations and help people learn about the various events. I've also started featuring people who have "accidental" bird dogs like me – who are fairly new and got into this world through their dogs. I think it's inspiring to hear their stories and learn from their mistakes. I also offer virtual coaching to people looking to get involved in tests or trials. You can find more information on my website (accidentalbirddog.com). It can be intimidating when you first start, so I help guide people along. If you're interested, look at spectating an event in your area. It can be a great way to experience what an event is like before dedicating any time to it.

What advice do you have for someone who is curious about getting their first sporting breed pup but doesn’t know where to start—especially when considering different breeds for different types of sporting events?

Research is so important. These dogs are much more of a lifestyle than a breed. They're typically not content with a walk around the block once a day and they can be downright rambunctious and destructive if not properly trained and stimulated. Finding a good breeder is important. Your breeder should be doing the recommended health testing for the breed, to minimize the chance that the puppies will have conditions like hip dysplasia or hypothyroidism. There's a wealth of knowledge out there to help you get some idea of where to start – podcasts, magazine articles, and websites. You should also meet adult dogs of different breeds and talk to their owners so you can get an idea of what the lifestyle will be like. 

How has your relationship with your dogs evolved through training and working with them in the field?

I definitely have a deeper bond with Zara after training her for hunting events. When you spend time with your dog and successfully train them to do something that takes time and effort – such as how to retrieve, or even how to do a complicated trick, you feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in your dog that you were able to do this together. I feel the most connected to Zara when I am running in a field trial or simulating one in training. When she's running off-leash ahead of me, purposefully searching for birds, she will often glance over her shoulder at me to check in. There's also moments when she'll run by and have a little extra spring in her step and I can tell she's so happy to be out there. We're working toward something together. I trust her and she trusts me. It's a little hard to describe. She's much more fulfilled after getting to compete or go hunting. That is when she's the calmest! 

What has your feeding journey with your dogs looked like, and what have you learned along the way about feeding active sporting breeds?

Before I got Zara, I had read about feeding a fresh food or raw diet. It appealed to me, because I like to eat healthy, unprocessed foods, but it felt too overwhelming at the time. She ate kibble until she was two-and-a-half, but started having health issues that seemed to be tied to her diet. I decided to switch her to a raw diet and that made a huge difference in her health. I really think that her diet has helped her stay so active and healthy, even as a senior dog. As an athlete myself, I feel better when I'm exercising after eating healthy food. I can only imagine it's the same for dogs.

You’ve been using Elevate Pet Provisions with your own dogs—what do you like about feeding Elevate?

The first thing that caught my eye about Elevate is the clean ingredient list. The food uses all recognizable ingredients and there aren't any extra carbohydrates, which is important to me. It's similar to ingredients used in a raw diet, but it is easier to store and travel with. I also like how versatile it is – it can be fed by itself or as part of a raw or kibble diet. I've had my puppy, Lanka, on kibble for her first year and I mix Elevate with her food. Even though she's eating a high-quality kibble, I like adding this type of fresher food because I think it's better for her overall health.

Do you have any trials, events or specific training milestones coming up that you’re excited about?

I was approved as an AKC Pointing Breed Hunt Test Judge this spring. I'm judging my first hunt test in October and I'm looking forward to that. I feel a little bit intimidated, but I'll be paired with an experienced judge, so it should be fine! I love to watch dogs work in the field, and as a judge, you have a front row seat to that. You also get to encourage handlers. I am also looking forward to running Lanka in field trial Gun Dog stakes at some point this season.