The Vizsla is a dog breed originating in Hungary, and is part of the HPR (Hunt, Point, Retrieve) group. The Hungarian or Magyar Vizsla is a sporting dog and a loyal companion.
The Vizsla is a natural hunter, endowed with an excellent nose and high trainability. Although they are lively, gentle mannered and demonstrably affectionate, they are also extremely sensitive and suffer easily from separation anxiety, which means they are not suitable for full-time working households.
Versatile
Vizslas are an extremely versatile breed. Their history and makeup make them excellent HPR (Hunt, Point, Retrieve) working dogs, but they are also fast and agile and therefore do extremely well at agility. Many now are pets in homes, and as long as they are given plenty of mental and physical exercise (and a warm sofa) this life suits them too.
Intelligent
Vizslas are extremely intelligent and love to learn new things. They thrive on positive training methods and brain games. Where they are very clever, this does lead to boredom, so if you don’t want a noisy, disruptive dog, training and the correct exercise is vital.
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Vizslas love to run, run and run some more! They require plenty of exercise to keep them fit and healthy but also to engage their active brains. A tired Vizsla is a happy Vizsla.
Sensitive
Vizslas are extremely sensitive; they require calm, positive training. Patience is also key: a Vizsla goes through several phases while maturing and often these can be overwhelming for some owners. Some of these phases are mouthing, chewing through furniture and other household items, lack of recall, separation anxiety and fear. If these phases are not trained and dealt with correctly, these behaviours can imprint on a dog for its adult life, causing distress to the dog and owner.
Loyal
Vizslas are loyal and loving. They will follow you continuously, never leaving your side, not even for a moment. They love human interaction and want to be as close to you as possible: on sofas, in your bed… some will even shower with you! Therefore early education to ensure confident separation on their own, away from you, is essential.
Appealing
Although all of the above sounds manageable and the thought of a ginger shadow is great, they are not the perfect dog for everyone and every family.
If you would like to talk to us in more detail, please get in touch.