Hungarian Vizsla anyone had experience?

[madeyemoodysmum]

My husband is keen on this breed as a first dog since childhood.

I have reservations as I read they are not keen on being left for long.

I work from home except one day I'm out for 9 hours but kids would be in after school.

Fridays I'm often out 5 hours in one stretch. Other wise someone would always be around.

Also what are the exercise requirements. We live in a village with great walks but husband works till 7 most days.

I'd rather a border terrier or Norfolk terrier or a wire haired cross breed.

[Funf]

Not having a cat I do wonder if its a good idea to have a dog with two cats?
Dandie Dinmont or Glen of Imal are two non shedding rare breeds that are a good temperament but I doubt they would tolerate the cats. Look at some of the Pure UK breeds as there are several no shedders, the problem with Crosses is some breeders are just puppy factories and breed any thing to get cash.
uk.pedigree.com/getting-a-dog/breed-selector/dandie-dinmont-terrier
dogtime.com/dog-breeds/glen-of-imaal-terrier#/slide/1

[madeyemoodysmum]

Thanks for the input Cavey

We are definitely not going for the vizsla.

It's a long term project as we are waiting to move house. Then we have to settle the cats in the new home.

Finally then we can start looking for a dog this is about 6:9 months away at least and to find the right dog probably longer.

Im keener on a nice wirehaired shaggy crossbreed not too big

It's only one day a week I'm out for 9 hours and the teen kids will be in from 3.30 so any dog will only be alone for 6 hours not 9 but regardless I appreciated thats still a fairly long stretch for a doggy.

The rest of the week I'm home and can take the dog with me or will only be out for a few hours at a time.

DH has also agreed that if we get a pup he will work from home on my 9 hour day until the pup is properly settled. He will also need to do that if we get a rescue until that settles too.

My priorities are a dog that will tolerate and live with cats and a low shedder and one that isn't too anxious so if you can recommend any breeds like that I'd love to hear your ideas.

[CaveyWavey]

A bit late to the thread but had to reply as I have two Vizslas. I feel a bit sad reading the comments "have never met a calm V", "friend has one and they are struggling" etc. I had never owned a dog before but did a huge amount of research and was prepared for the work and a V suited our lifestyle. We run, I don't work and have the time and desire to do lots of training etc. IMO a nutty V is either bad breeding (they are getting more popular so I expect this could happen) or/and the owners were just not prepared for the amount of work they needed to put in and picked the wrong breed for them. My 4 year old is very calm as her needs are met, the puppy is a work in progress . They are an amazing breed and you get back what you put in but that's the same as any dog. OP I wouldn't get a dog in your situation. You say that you don't really want one. You will be doing it all! my DH works long hours and the dogs are pretty much my job 99% of the time, even though it was his idea in the first place. I think you could grow to resent having the dog in that situation. Any breed needs lots of time especially in the first year if not two years. The cuddles are so worth the work though . Just want to quickly add that a V would struggle to be left for more than 3/4 hours and you would need to work up to that. If we want to go out for the whole day I have someone that looks after them. That can be a huge tie.

[LazyDaisey]

There’s a lovely UK charity called Vislamentes.com who rescue Hungarian vislas and rehome them in UK. Sometimes they have older boys and girls whose owners die or are taken into assisted accommodations and have to rehome their doggo. You could think about getting an older one who loves naps and doesn’t need as much exercise as a young dog and your husband would still get his dream?

I totally share his dream too... but we aren’t an outdoorsy family so I’m waiting til I retire to adopt an older boy or girl so we both have company in our retirement

[cece]

My friend has one. He's hard work; full of energy, lots of exercise, very clingy and needy. I wouldn't get one.

[Funf]

I would have good look at cross breeds and consider why they are crossed some are better than others.
As mentioned above consider any working dog in the ones you look at, its a mine field but if a dogs for you they are fantastic.
We have had terriers and two Lhasa Apsos that the kids grew up with, they are fantastic little dogs.
Currently have a Dandie Dinmont Terrier she is fab but stubborn

[adaline]

If you don't want a dog though, why are you considering getting one?

Dogs need input every single day. You can't just put some food down and ignore them in the same way you can a cat.

As puppies they need training - where and when to toilet, how to walk on a leash, not to jump up, how to sit, stay, lie down. They often need crate training, they need training on how to behave in the house, out in public and more.

When they're adults they need daily walks - no matter how shit you feel, your dog needs to go out. They need letting out to the toilet. You can't leave them alone for longer than 3-4 hours at a time. You can't leave them alone all day. Forget trips to the zoo or a theme park or days out unless you have someone who can have the dog for you.

They chew, they have accidents, they eat things they shouldn't and they need pretty much constant supervision when they're young unless they're crated.

You can't leave a dog for five hours at a time, let alone nine hours. If your DH won't be home until 7pm then the responsibility of walking the dog, letting it out to the toilet and feeding it will be down to you. You can't just not let the dog out because you're tired or busy or have other things to do - if the dog needs to pee and can't get out, it'll just go on the floor. A bit like a toddler who's being toilet trained!

If you can't give the dog what it needs, don't get one. It's not fair.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

Funf, I get your point. I think though that some breeds of working dog are more biddable and easily trained than others. The odds are, for example, that you will have an easier time training a Labrador than a Springer spaniel.

OP, if you are going to look at cross-breds, please be aware that many of them are churned out in puppy farms in appalling conditions. There is lots of advice available about how to spot puppies that are being sold from backgrounds like this.

[madeyemoodysmum]

Thanks again all. I think I have convinced dh to forget the vizsla

We are going too look at Cross breeds Won't be for ages as we need to move house and let our cats settle in first. That will be at least 6 months.

[Funf]

My point is a working dog has a long history of working so the working aspect has to be considered if it's going to be a pet and not worked. I think that would apply to any working dog?
I feel its all about taking your time, finding a good breeder and fully understanding what you are letting your self in for.
A dog should be an integral part of the family and should be able to go 90% of the places the family go

[FFSFFSFFS]

In the nicest possible way, this is a massive red flag. You don’t really want a dog and your DH has no time to care for one

This. Dogs are a HUGE amount of work and cost. No dog will cope well with 9 hours alone one day a week.

If your DH wants the dog but won't be there to look after it - the massive responsibility will fall to you!

[Veterinari]

Remember if a working dog smells prey it will be after it, it cant be trained out in our life time.
@Funf you might want to expand your understanding of working dogs beyond terriers

[GlitteryGracie]

Thank you for the advise. I do feel the breed it's too much for us. I don't particularly even want a dog myself If we do get one I need it to be a happy chilled relaxed type not a stressed unhappy one that will tie us down too much.

Can I suggest that you stop worrying so much about the breed, this suggests you are after a puppy and that WILL be hard work and a massive tie for the first few years. Instead please talk through the realities of dog ownership and make sure you can really give a dog a good home, then look around some reputable rescues. A golden oldie may suit you and your lifestyle better. Rescues aren't necessarily "problem" dogs, I got a lovely black lab from a couple who had split and neither were in a position to take it, other friends have taken dogs where their owners got Ill or needed residential care. Please look into this, puppies look cute but they sound like more work than you're prepared for just now.

[BiteyShark]

Remember if a working dog smells prey it will be after it, it cant be trained out in our life time.

I had about 6-8 months of hell with my working cocker but now he will stick with me off lead walking close to deer and next to a rabbit holes as we walk in the countryside. That's because we haven't trained him to ignore prey but we have focused his instinct onto us so he knows it's more fun to hunt and chase 'with us' rather than doing his own thing. Was bloody hard work (we focused on this over most training that people do e.g. no trick training until he was an adult) but it has paid off.

[Funf]

I agree but it can take a lot of work and be difficult so its another consideration

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

Remember if a working dog smells prey it will be after it, it cant be trained out in our life time.
It can't be trained out, but it can be controlled. I have a high drive working-bred dog. I know when she's found scent, and I keep a very close eye on her. She flushed a pheasant this afternoon, but she stopped on command. I've stopped her even starting to chase a running deer. I've called her away from a deer she flushed. You have to work at it, but you can get a decent level of control.

[Funf]

Unless you are all 100% on wanting a dog I wouldn't get one.
All dogs take at least a few hours a day walking, cleaning feeding.
Do your research you need to know everything warts and all about the breed, I am cautious of any dog with children and also bringing a working dog in to a non working environment.
We have had dogs for 30 odd years, we have had good experience in the past with small kids and Lhasa Apso's, easy to maintain good sleepers so if crated can be left.
We currently have working Terrier, but she is bread for being quiet so not yappy, but coat is higher maintenance than some, she travels well and can be crated so she goes where we go, if she cant come in a shop we dont go it.
Remember if a working dog smells prey it will be after it, it cant be trained out in our life time.
How are the cats with dogs?
Make certain the breeder will take it back if it doesn't work out

[adaline]

I have never ever met a calm vizsla!

A neighbour of ours got one at the same time we got our beagle. They're almost two years now and the vizsla is still absolutely mental. She gallops everywhere, is massively high energy and extremely clingy. She's also quite an aggressive dog and will go for dogs she doesn't like. Although that's not necessarily the breed.

I wouldn't recommend one as a first-time owner. They need a lot of work and wouldn't manage being alone for five hours at a time.

[TeacupRex]

Someone I know has just gotten a Vizsla puppy, I can tell it's a very sweet dog but totally insane and nervy. They are really having a difficult time with it. Definitely not helped by it being completely the wrong fit for their lifestyle (don't think it's walked often and not off-lead) and isn't being socialised with other dogs. They need a hell of a lot of daily exercise - they are working dogs. You'd probably be better off with a terrier if you just want a family pet. Or better still, rehome an older adult dog with a calmer temperament - puppies are really hard work!

[BiteyShark]

If you don't want a dog and have a stipulation that it needs to be a happy chilled type I would say don't get a dog.

I am coming to the conclusion that there is always something about any dog that is a bit of a pain, even if that doesn't bother you. If you don't really want a dog and it needs to be like those in adverts that sits by the fire iykwim then you are taking a risk. I know dogs that have been 'easy' compared to mine but drives their owners potty with yapping all the time. Others that have resource guarding issues, recall challenges, chewing etc.

I love the looks of a vizla but discounted them as they didn't fit with my lifestyle. If you still go ahead with getting a dog despite not really wanting one for yourself then look at the breeds 'worst' traits and ask yourself whether you want to manage them.

[Puppywithattitude]

We have one.
I say don't do it as a first time dog. They are massively high energy, our gets approx 2 hours of exercise a day, much of that needs to be off lead. They also need a lot of mental stimulation, they mature late, are stubborn, I could go on.
Our first two years have been such hard work and despite his loveliness if I could go back in time In not sure I could do it again.

[opinionatedfreak]

My friend had a vizla.

Lovely dog but very high maintenance. Needed loads of input as a puppy and for much longer than other breeds.

Super-anxious and not keen on small children. He was well trained though and used to remove himself from their presence. Visiting parents were always quite surprised to be told the stair gate on the study door wasn’t to protect the children from him but him from the children!

He was intended to be a gun dog but didn’t manage to finish training as found the bangs too upsetting.

He was very loyal and loving. I knew him from puppyhood and my best memory is of being ill in their house while visiting and lying on the sofa and him deciding I needed some TLC. Huge massive adult vizla lying on you is a bit overwhelming! Even into his later years when I only saw him infrequently due to geography he was always delighted to see me and used to cunningly place “his” demand for time around their children.

[Sweetdisposition91]

Love vizslas - my auntie has one and an ex boyfriend had one. In general Velcro dogs and fairly easy to train but they are absolutely NUTS and have endless stamina and energy. I was going to get one but I decided on 2 ridgebacks instead (which are even more hard work but not as nuts ☺️)

[Veterinari]

I don't particularly even want a dog myself If we do get one I need it to be a happy chilled relaxed type not a stressed unhappy one that will tie us down too much.

In the nicest possible way, this is a massive red flag. You don’t really want a dog and your DH has no time to care for one. No dog is guaranteed to be relaxed and chilled and almost all are hard work for the first 2-4 years depending on breed and individual quirks. Are you really able to cheerfully commit to the hard work training, walking and expense of a dog - even when it’s acting like a Dick? Because it will

Perhaps read some of the puppy survival threads in the Doghouse and think about whether you REALLY want a 10-15 year commitment of training, walking (even in sleet and rain), vet care, dog-walkers, kennelling etc.

[madeyemoodysmum]

Thank you for the advise. I do feel the breed it's too much for us. I don't particularly even want a dog myself If we do get one I need it to be a happy chilled relaxed type not a stressed unhappy one that will tie us down too much.

( I do realise all dogs are a tie)
And we also own two cats but obv cats are easier pets.