Akác, Virtus’s daughter and our chosen pup from the litter, is a sweet, gentle girl with exceptional hunting instincts and a beautiful style on the field. She adores water and could swim endlessly.
While intelligent, stubborn, and always up for a challenge during hunts, Akác transforms indoors into a cuddly companion, content to snuggle in my lap or under a blanket.
She was on track to complete her Junior Hunt Title and NAVHDA NA at just eight months old. I’m relieved she finished NAVHDA the weekend before her AKC Junior Hunt Test because during her third double hunt test run, a terrifying incident occurred. Our brace mate, unaware of Akác backing his dog, pointed his starter pistol and fired it directly into her face. Akác collapsed initially, then ran to me in fear. Despite my efforts to maintain a positive atmosphere and finish the run, she was understandably shaken. Although we didn’t pass, I was surprised when she returned for her fourth run and secured her third pass. However, the trauma of the event prevented her from receiving her title that weekend.
Upon returning home, the severity of the incident’s impact became clear. Akác would run back to the house at the sight of a bird on the field and tremble uncontrollably at the sound of distant gunshots.
It took a year of dedicated work, with the help of a few individuals, to overcome her gun shyness and return to hunting. Akác eventually earned her Junior Hunt Title a year later, and while she is enjoying hunting seasons with us, we’ve begun preparing for her Senior Hunt Title and NAVHDA UT.
While the incident initially felt like a crushing blow to our goals, Akác’s resilience has taught me valuable lessons in gun dog training. Our goals remain achievable; the path to reaching them may simply be a bit longer.
