When Lake Las Vegas resident Zoltan David takes his kayak out on the water, chances are his small, scrappy pup named Tacsi is sitting behind him strapped in a life vest and enjoying the ride.
“She loves it. She loves the water,” David said. “She’s always out on the canoe and she’ll just jump right in the water.” Tacsi, a name inspired by David’s Hungarian culture, is a gray and white two-year-old mix of dachshund, chihuahua and Italian greyhound. Tacsi was a gift for David’s nine-year-old daughter, Mia, who wanted a four-legged friend small enough for her to handle on her own.
“She needed a small dog because it was just for her,” David said. “Tacsi is very much her dog. She was begging me for one. She wanted a dog so much.” Though she is small, Tacsi has become the perfect companion for the type of adventures the Davids enjoy around Lake Las Vegas.
Having a dog with a love for the lake was in the cards for the family that practically lives on the water, especially David, who has been competing in sprint kayaking for more than 30 years and has been named a U.S. national champion 14 times. At 44 years old, he has qualified for the U.S. national team this year, making him the oldest member on the team by 20 years.
When he’s not competing, David still spends most of his time on the water running the local Las Vegas SUP Kayak Club as the owner and president. He and his business partner, Bali Kovary, give guided tours on kayaks along the Colorado River and near the Hoover Dam. Mia helps her dad with tours on the weekends when she’s not in school and often insists on bringing Tacsi along to meet the new kayakers.
“Tacsi can be a little more snippy to them – small dog thing,” David said with a laugh. “But once she knows you, she’s over that personality.”
In the rare occasions that the trio is not in the water, David takes Tacsi to local expos and markets to help show off and sell top-grade training gear and dog accessories made by European company Julius K9. While he explains the training potential behind Julius K9’s popular IDC® Powerharness, Tacsi wears her harness proudly and enjoys the endless pets from adoring shoppers.
“She’s very behaved at expos. She’ll just sit there and show the harness,” David said. “It’s great because then people who are interested can see that these are great for small dogs, too.”
Whether they’re spending their days on the lake, showcasing new dog accessories or just relaxing at home, David said they’re happy to live in a community that treats their Tasci like family. No matter where they go, David said Lake Las Vegas has made it so that even their furry friends can enjoy all the community has to offer.
“Lake Las Vegas is perfect for dogs, really. Even the restaurants here are pet friendly,” he said. “You can go anywhere with your dog, pretty much. It’s great for us, and it’s great for anyone who is a pet owner.”