Any vizsla owners out there?

[Jones3A]

ideally who have had them from puppies
After bags of research we still have a couple of pre-purchase questions I'd love to ask, if so
TIA.

I have a vizsla mix atm (a rescue) and have owned a vizsla before. Ask away.

Thank you!

We have a very active household, and are comfortable with the exercise and stimulation needs of the breed being compatible with our lifestyle - as much as we can be at least!
We've spent literally years debating, so we're keen to go into it with our eyes open and realistic expectations.
We've done a lot of desk research, met and spoken with owners a bit, and just trying to ensure we've thought of everything we can before committing. And I appreciate that every dog is different, and we won't ever really know what personality we're going to get.

I'm interested in the difference people find between males and females, I know what the breed info says, be good to hear it from experience. We're considering a female, although remain open-minded.

Also, the puppy stage experience, with regards to expectation-setting for us, working from home alongside the puppy (they will have company all day) - and level of disruption to expect.

And then from puppy onwards, regarding the velcro trait - if well socialized from young, can we reasonably expect to be able to leave the dog with family or friends and gradually be away for increasing periods of time?

There's probably more... Will keep thinking.
And if course anything else you think we should be aware of.

Thanks so much.

We have a girl, she’s four and came home to us as an 8wk puppy. I still fall more in love with her every day - she’s so sweet and affectionate, equal parts goofy and elegant, and super adaptable and up for anything. Loves lots of time outdoors exploring nature and the countryside but is also an amazing city dog - we go to London on a semi-regular basis and she’ll just plop herself down and have a nap in the middle of the tube carriage! She’s energetic but also quite chilled and sleeps a lot; as long as she gets her exercise, she’s never a problem at home. Also fantastic with other dogs, people, and kids.

She’s super Velcro, yes - she is always cuddling up to us, and never runs away on walks, both of which are great for us. But we can leave her with friends or family with absolutely no issues, whether it’s for a few hours or a few weeks - she’s happy as long as she’s with people, and she’s also an easy dog for others to take care of. She warms up to people very easily, so apart from a bit of whining when we first walk out the door, we definitely miss her more than she misses us!

And although we don’t like to leave her alone too often or for too long, on the rare occasion that we need to go away for 4-5 hours, she’s always been absolutely fine.

The only very slight annoyance is that ours is a bit of a whiner and can be needy - sometimes she’ll try and knock my phone out of my hand or demand that she sits on my lap when I’m trying to wfh - but it’s not random or continuous whining, just when she wants something (99.9% of the time it’s food or affection, or to sit at the table with us, because she thinks she’s also a human who deserves a seat). However, I suspect that this is our fault for being too soft with her and enforcing these behaviours. DH and I are also both very physically affectionate, so the only time it’s truly disruptive is if we’re really stressing with an important task/call.

I’d say definitely go for it - she’s the best decision I ever made (sorry DH) - but make sure you have a sofa with replaceable covers as I don’t know anyone with a Vizsla who’s managed to enforce a no-dogs-on-sofas rule!

if you are on Facebook try joining Hungarian Vizsla Uk or Vizsla UK. There are lots of very knowledgeable people on there who can help you with your questions.

@justdontcome sounds like my Weimaraner. The two breeds are very similar

I'll start by saying that they are my favourite breed ever, they're very special, but honestly the first 18 months are usually challenging no matter which breed of dog you get.
I’ve only had boys, and let me tell you: puberty hits them like a hormonal freight train. They turn into a gangly teenage delinquent who forgot his own name, my name, and the entire concept of “sit.” Every bush smelled like forbidden love, and he needed to pee on all of them. If girls are calmer, I’ll never know, but my impression from other owners is: boys are dopes, girls are divas. Take your pick. You need to work on walking the line from the start, they will forget is as a teen, but it'll be easier teaching them again, otherwise you will spend the first 3 years being dragged to every smelly thing on the planet.

I've found WFH with a puppy very challenging. We've managed, obviously (out other dog is now 2 years old and honestly the best), but it's been frustrating. What WFH means with a puppy (no matter which breed) is typing emails with one hand while the other is inside your puppy’s mouth trying to extract your sock before it disappears forever. Being jumped on and bitten in the elbow for attention. Or screaming "no, drop it" on a client call because your dog is chewing a cable. Vizsla puppies scream like velociraptors if ignored. And all puppies have an internal timer that says: “You’ve looked at your laptop for more than 3 minutes? Time to shred a cushion.” Naps happen, but like toddlers, they wake up feral (and need to go pee seconds after waking up). So, invest in baby gates and noise-cancelling headphones. They can obviously be taught to calm down, but you have to actively work on it, and prepare to be catching up on work in the evenings when your dog is finally sleeping.

The “velcro” thing isn’t a myth. Your vizsla will follow you to the bathroom and look offended if you shut the door. And cry you a sad song while waiting. Socialization helps, sure, but their DNA basically says: human is my life support system, do not let them out of sight. That said, with practice, they can stay with friends/family. My boy will sulk for the first hour, stare at the door like I’d died in battle, and then eventually… sigh dramatically, and settle in. It’s a process. My Kooiker, on the other hand, hates being left with anyone else, even if Bert (the vizsla mix) it there with him.

Nobody warns you how much they talk. Vizslas don’t just bark. They groan, whine, yodel, mutter under their breath like grumpy old men. Mine has a whole opera:
“You’re 10 seconds late feeding me” = long suffering sigh, followed by a dramatic whine.
“You’re putting on shoes, are we going out, OMG ARE WE GOING OUT” = banshee shriek.
“You left me alone for 3 minutes” = tragic aria.
"We're stopping at a red light, it's boring, I'm bored, let us go chase squirrels" = a whiiiiiine.
WFH + a vocal Vizsla means your colleagues will eventually just greet your dog by name.

What else is there to know... They’re smart, but “smart” often means “good at creative crime.” Don't let your vizsla get bored. They do need a ton of exercise. But it’s not just running, they need brain work. Tired body + bored mind = zoomies & “I ate the wall.” All dogs I've ever had loved man trailing, but the vizlas seem to really excel at it.

So yes, do it. They're insane, exhausting, and occasionally make you question your sanity — but it's also the funniest, most affectionate, most ridiculously loving chaos you’ll ever live with.

Forgot to add: the biting stuff is mostly just a teething stage. They’re like land-sharks for a few months, exploring the world with their mouths. Once the adult teeth are in, they mostly stop trying to chew you and your skirting boards and move on to more constructive projects (like greeting every passer-by on the road outside). But expect that first half year to feature plenty of “teeth meet skin” moments, especially when they’re overtired and feral. But they learn quickly not to bite too hard.

I had a Vizsla puppy. I wouldn’t do it again and I say that as an experienced dog owner. My girl is hyper, so much so that she can’t contain herself enough to accept affection.

She doesn’t need hours of walking but she does need to run free and have her brain stimulated with games, toys, training etc.

She is amazing but vocal and demanding of attention. She was a chronic jumper for almost 5 years before that calmed down.

Her separation anxiety has proven to be unfixable - ten minutes is the best we can do. She doesn’t settle when we’re not there which is horrible to see and this includes when being left with family members that she loves.

She insists on sleeping under a duvet - preferably mine - and is only cuddly when she’s tired. She has a Vizsla brother now and she’s taught him to be crazy but they burn off so much energy when playing that a second Viz has been a god send.

i love her to bits but she is seriously demanding and I’ve met a few like her. She is a goofball and I wouldn’t be without her but the puppy stage nearly broke me and then the teen stage did - it was a slow burn to loving her but she really is an amazing dog.

Honestly @Blistory , that just sounds like total chaos, but also a warning for OP - if you don’t train and channel your Vizsla from day one, they’ll happily run the household themselves. They’re not a “walk twice a day and job done” breed, they’re high-drive, hyper-social, and if you don’t channel that energy and brainpower from day one, it snowballs. But with consistent training, structure, and lots of outlets (physical + mental), they really do mature into goofy, affectionate shadows. They’re just not for everyone, and that’s okay. With a dog like that, you don't really get "downtime" in the first three years. Your relaxation is training, running, and redirecting chaos. If you don’t enjoy that, this dog will break you. If you do, congratulations, you’ve just adopted a ginger shadow who thinks you’re the center of the universe. If you can laugh through the chaos, you get a best friend for life. If not, stick to Labradors. That’s the Vizsla deal in a nutshell.

I had a girl vizsla, and she was a dream. I'm not sure how she would have coped as a single dog, but I got her to join her brother, a springer spaniel, in our house.

She was inquisitive, fun, full of energy, full of enthusiasm .... wanted cuddles on my lap, even though she was too big, gangly .... and the best dog ever.

When we first brought her home she was one big saggy wrinkle, and I always thought it was sad when she grew and she ironed out.

She did have constant digestive issues and I had to feed her the best food money could buy, and even then she would often get gastroenteritis. She was at the vets a lot. Maybe I just had a duff one 😉But they are hugely loving dogs, a dream to walk, and give the bestest cuddles.

This is all so massively helpful, thank you very, very much for the detail and honest food for thought!! ❤️

I have a 5 month old vizsla girl and oh oh oh I call her the Hungarian velociraptor or Ginger Whinger she’s like a velociraptor crossed with a mad kangaroo. She doesn’t run she bounces.

Her favourite thing is stealing she steals everything, socks, pants, anything that takes her fancy and runs away with it for a chase. Her second favourite thing is jumping closely followed by chewing. She’s also incredibly messy and doesn’t like a tidy toy box preferring to spread her toys and various parts of dead animals (chews) all over the house.

She has recently discovered blankets and whines to sleep under one with her head on my legs. She wants to make friends with every human and dog she meets on a walk. She thinks my face needs washing several times a day! She’s an utter diva.

Now the good stuff 😀 she’s very smart and easy to train. Her recall is coming along great as she needs to be close to me at all times. On walks she will stop and turn back if she thinks she’s too far from me. She’s great at coming when called. She’s very loving and affectionate.

In summary she’s a ginger headcase puppy and I do think “what have I done?” Several times a day and she’s not my first dog (first vizsla BUT I can see with training she will make an excellent pet (in about 4 years) 🤣

I'm an experienced Vizsla owner and dog trainer who has also worked with the breed in that capacity. My thoughts in no particular order

• Personality wise they obviously differ as individuals, but generally I'd say the girls are slightly easier to train, but can be a bit more aloof (although still velcro), the boys can be a bit more challenging especially as teenagers they tend to act first engage brain later - but once you get through it, they will love you more than any dog could possibly love you. I have a boy and would personally always go for a boy again, but the girls are lovely too
• Puppy stage can be incredibly difficult. I also adopted a traumatised rescue with behavioural issues, expecting the worst, and honestly it was a piece of cake compared to my Vizsla puppy. They are sharky, needy, can be destructive, and can have a tendency to howl the place down when left for even the smallest moment (even going for a shower was a challenge). Separation anxiety seems to be a common default
• They can be slow to toilet train - patience required
• A big mistake people make with Vizsla puppies because they are so boisterous is not enough structure and not enough sleep. Yes, they need exercise, play, and brain stimulation - but you do have to teach them to switch off as well and enforce rest time
• Re separation anxiety this can absolutely be overcome - my dog can be left for hours at a time if necessary and be completely chilled - but don't expect that quickly. Working from home is probably a good thing to start with so you can build up time left gradually
• They do have high exercise needs and benefit from having good off lead runs where they can really explore the environment and use that incredible nose of theirs, but they also really need structured training - they were bred to work, and if you don't give them something to do they can quickly become self employed! More than just your basic stuff. This could be scent work, obedience, gundog type activity, agility. Even if it's just a little bit a day, you don't have to go competing or anything serious. They really do thrive when you tap into that work ethic, and you should try and build in regular training from a young age, on every walk etc.
• They can have a high prey drive and you need to be prepared to put a lot of time and effort into recall training especially if you're going anywhere near wildlife. Expect it to go out the window and to have to start from scratch when they become teenagers. Ditto - they can be very interested in other dogs.
• They get a reputation as "nutty" or "neurotic" and I can understand why, but a lot of people seem to excuse this as normal behaviour or just accept bad behaviour. Don't - they're super smart working dogs and very capable of being trained to a high standard. Equally - they're also very capable of training you to a high standard if you're not wise to it
• I do think more recently there seem to be increasing instances of resources guarding, reactivity or bites. In my personal experience this seems to be related to people not putting good training and boundaries in place and not fully understanding that these are high energy working dogs whose needs must be met as such - as soft as they are, they're really not fur babies
• They can be prone to auto immune issues including a horrendous thing called VIP. Have a look at the website vizslahealth.net to find out more especially about finding responsible breeders who don't breed from affected lines (sadly, many still are)
• Considering they were bred to hunt outdoors for hours, many of them seem to think they will melt in the rain. They are a big fan of their creature comforts - they require a big soft bed which they will then likely ignore and try to get in yours instead. They nearly all have a thing about wanting to be under the covers (apparently they were used as hot water bottles by hungarian nobles many moons ago - sure that's made up nonsense but it would explain their obsession with being tucked in). Cave beds tend to be very popular
• Aside from behavioural issues mentioned above, their basic nature does tend to be friendly, soft, fun loving, goofy, and truly velcro. They just love being around their human whatever you're doing, whether it's going on a 10 mile hike or hanging out the washing, they're part of the family and love being included
• They're incredible characters, super smart, almost human like sometimes in how they behave and the level of "empathy" they show to their human companions

I feel like I've given you a lot of negatives here to be aware of, but honestly, I think they are the most incredible dogs. I obviously own and spend time around many dogs, but my personal opinion is that Vizslas are like no other in terms of their personality. If you can give them what you need they will reward you with being the best companion you could possibly hope for.

I have 3 aged 6, 3 and a pup. Ask away! Be warned Velcro is the biggest understatement ever. They will pick their family person and stick to them like chewing gum in your hair. They are so loving and loyal and just the best breed ever with kids. Although they are animals I don’t leave mine alone with young children mainly because of their over excited happy tails. There’s so many rescue places I recommend Vizsla Rescue UK. I have lots of Vizzie friends and contacts. I have also bred a litter myself. I have 3 females. I’d say the main difference is the size and the males that I know including 7 of my own litter are all more inclined to have resource guarding issues but this is something every dog can have. They need hours of mental stimulation not so much walks ours get around 2 hours a day of about 5-10k a walk. Insurance is fair and I’d recommend life time cover. Make sure the mum and dad have been tested in particular their eyes and for epilepsy which is a known and unfortunate trait. Ask to see papers for grandparents and great grandparents if they are KC they will have this info it’s easy to find for no fee. Make sure the Mum was over 3 when she first had a litter and please make sure she’s only had two maximum with at least two seasons inbetween. Happy for you to private message if you need to ask more.