• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Dog's Best Life

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Is a Vizsla the right dog for you?

Posted August 14, 2020

 

 
Vizsla puppy on white background. Start training your Vizsla as a puppy. These active, intelligent dogs are curious and can be manipulative.
Start training your Vizsla as a puppy. These active, intelligent dogs are curious and can be manipulative.

The Vizsla is an affectionate and gentle gun dog with plenty of energy.

This athletic breed has the power to spend long days in the field. Males range from 22 to 24 inches high and weigh 55 to 60 pounds, while females range from 21 to 23 inches tall and weigh 44 to 55 pounds.

The dog has a lean body with a golden-rust coat, long ears, and lots of drive and endurance. If you are looking for a longer life expectancy for a dog, you will find that with a Vizsla, as they live 12 to 14 years.

Coat colors, markings, and care

The breed’s coat is short. He doesn’t have an undercoat, but he does shed.

The most common color is golden-rust, but the Vizsla’s colors could include golden, red, red golden, rust, rust golden and sandy yellow. He also has white markings.

Because the breed does not have an undercoat, care is easy. This breed requires occasional brushing – you should use a rubber grooming brush.

Frequently check the ears for wax build-up, dirt, or any other signs of irritation and regularly brush your dog’s teeth with dog toothpaste.

Activity

Because the Vizsla is a hunting dog, it needs plenty of mental and physical exercise. If you have this breed as a pet, you should have a large, fenced-in yard and be prepared to take him on plenty of walks and games such as fetch.

Because the breed can chase down game, provide opportunities for the Vizsla to run off-leash.

While some of those opportunities should include running hard, the Vizsla also makes a great jogging companion. However, because the dog’s growth plates do not fully close until 18 to 24 months, you should not let this breed run hard he is that age — preferably 24 months.

You should also be prepared to provide toys like puzzle toys that give the dog plenty of stimulating mental exercise, including constant training. Other mental and physical exercises that are fun for both the dog owner and the dog include field trials, agility, conformation, hunting tests, dock diving, tracking, scent work, lure coursing, and barn hunts.

Vizsla training

Pair of Vizsla dogs. The Vizsla is a high energy dog. You have to give this breed a “job” to do every day. That should include training and at least a half-hour per day of activity such as fetch or jogging.
The Vizsla is a high energy dog. You have to give this breed a “job” to do every day. That should include training and at least a half-hour per day of activity such as fetch or jogging.

Starting while the Vizsla is a puppy, provide consistent, positive training. Because this breed is very active and intelligent, your puppy is curious and can be manipulative.

Teaching good behavior and establishing reliable communication at a young age will make this active breed easier to handle. An untrained dog will get into all kinds of trouble.

In short, you have to give this breed a “job” to do every day. That should include training and at least a half-hour per day of activity such as fetch or jogging.

Because the Vizsla is a sensitive breed, you will also have to provide socialization throughout the dog’s life. Playdates with other dogs are an excellent way to provide not only socialization with other dogs, but it allows your dog to use up some of that excess energy.

Health

This breed has few health concerns. Like with all breeds, cancer is a concern. You can mitigate the risk of cancer by feeding an all-natural diet and making sure you get a well-bred puppy.

Other health issues you might find with this breed include hip dysplasia, seasonal allergies, ear infections, eye disorders, and epilepsy. A careful breeder always screens his or her stock for these problems and removes dogs that show a propensity for these issues from his or her breeding program.

When purchasing a Vizsla, have a veterinarian do hip, thyroid, and ophthalmologist evaluations in addition to a general checkup.

If your Vizsla develops epilepsy, you have options to treat the condition. A study done by researchers at Colorado State University veterinary science school shows using CBD oil for dogs can reduce the number of seizures. 

Breed clubs and rescues

You can find AKC breed clubs in every state, The Vizsla Club of America, Inc., and over 450 AKC rescue networks groups throughout the country, including:

  • Northeast: CT Valle Vizsla Club Rescue and Long Island Vizsla Rescue
  • Mid Atlantic: Conestoga Vizsla Club
  • South Central: Midwest Vizsla Rescue
  • Southeast: Tampa Bay Vizsla Club
  • North Central: Iowa Nebraska Vizsla Rescue, Miami Valley Vizsla Club (Ohio), Buckeye Vizsla Rescue, Vizsla Club of Michigan and Twin Cities Vizsla Club
  • Northwest: UT/ID Vizsla Rescue
  • Southwest: Santa Barbara Vizsla Lovers Rescue, Vizsla Rescue Southern California, Colorado – Wyoming Rescue Group, and 2nd Chance Vizsla Rescue

Is the Vizsla a good choice for first-time owners?

If you have owned high-energy dogs before, you should have no problem with training a Vizsla to be the perfect companion, whether you want this breed as a pet or you plan on showing, doing sporting events, or preparing your dog to hunt with you.

If you have never owned a high-energy dog with high intelligence, be sure you do your research on the breed and make sure you can provide the physical and mental stimulation this dog needs.

*DogsBestLife.com participates in the Chewy Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to let our site earn fees by linking to Chewy.com. 

Chewy new pet

Puppy training 101: 7 tips to start your dog off right

 
 
 

Related Posts

  • wire fox terrier
    Is a wire fox terrier the right dog for you?

    The wire fox terrier is a smart, high-energy, friendly dog.…

  • The Alaskan Klee Kai is a beautiful and intelligent dog. They may be small, but the Klee Kai have big personalities.
    Is an Alaskan Klee Kai the right dog for you?

    The Alaskan Klee Kai are small dogs with big personalities.…

  • The German Spitz, with its foxlike face and fluffy double coat, is an easy-to-train dog who is eager to please.
    Is a German Spitz the right dog for you?

    The German Spitz, with its foxlike face and fluffy double…

  • Cluster of four Akita puppies. The Akita has a royal pedigree to match its noble looks.
    Is an Akita the right dog for you?

    The Akita bonds closely with its people. They also are…

  • The Basset Fauve de Bretagne (aka BFB) is known for its vibrancy, playful nature and being non-aggressive.
    Is a Basset Fauve de Bretagne the right dog for you?

    The Basset Fauve de Bretagne (aka BFB) is a little…

  • Australian Kelpie dog breed
    Is an Australian Kelpie the right dog for you?

    The Australian Kelpie was bred to be nimble and quick,…

  • Korean Jindo dog breed
    Is a Korean Jindo the right dog for you?

    The Jindo is a loyal breed that can be strong-willed…

  • Irish setter
    Is an Irish Setter the right dog for you?

    The Irish Setter needs an attentive owner who will work…

Share this post:

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Reddit

Filed Under: Dog Breeds Tagged With: Petfinder.com

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • puppy 101

    Puppy training 101: 7 tips to start your dog off right

  • Small brown and white dog wears a mask. Dogs and coronavirus: Canines unlikely to catch or transmit the virus to people or other animals, World Small Animal Veterinary Association says.

    Coronavirus and dogs: Can canines get COVID-19?

  • Dogs and other pets on a video conference call. Dog home alone again? If you're preparing to go back to work, get your dog ready. To prevent separation anxiety, use training, treats, and a safe space.

    Ready to go back to work? Prepare your dog to be home alone

Tags

Corgi Dog teeth care Rescue dog Golden retriever Driving German shepherd dog age Dog names Potty training Hip dysplasia Christmas Dog gifts Chewing Fleas Dog grief Dog cloning Health conditions Jumping Canine fitness Separation anxiety Dog hair collie Socialization Home renovations Healthy weight Barking Big dogs Puppy-proof French bulldog Puppy kindergarten

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • Big dog essentials: Get the right gear for large canines
    Large dog owners need to provide the proper gear to suit their size. Carefully consider your large dog's bed, toys, and grooming gear. […]
  • 8 ways to keep your dog away from fish tanks
    Put your aquarium in a room where your dog doesn’t go or set up a motion sensor-controlled alarm system to keep your pup away from the tank. […]
  • 7 tips for living successfully with an epileptic dog
    If you have an epileptic dog, reduce risks at home that could injure your dog during a seizure. Research the condition and ask questions. […]
  • How pets help us through the pandemic
    Being stuck at home reinforced the value of pet benefits for most owners. Our dogs provide unconditional love and are great listeners. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2021 Dog's Best Life online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more