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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[cece]

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

[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

[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.

[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.

[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