Hungarian Vizsla

[Dizzle]

At the moment we have a Border Terrier, he's 3.5 and a really easy lovely dog to deal with, he's good off lead (except in parks, too many people and he gets over excited saying hello and goes deaf), I take him to the yard and he potters about near me, coming back when called and is fab around live stock and horses. He's also really good with our 10 month old, he ignores him or will move out of the way if we're all on the sofa and child decides to pet dog. I'd happily trust him to baby sit to be honest ;-)

Anyway, back to my post. OH has his heart set on a Hungarian Vizsla, I'm not convinced. They're A LOT higher energy that the Border, I know it depends on the specific dog but they don't strike me as the type that would tolerate children (and no, I don't let child climb all over the dog but they live in the same house, their paths have to cross on a regular basis, as I type child is sat on the floor in laughing at the dog throwing a toy about, dog is careful not to squash child).

Does anyone have any experience of them? How long before they start to mature? How much exercise do they really need? I've read they are 'velcro' dogs but how do they cope in a multi-person, multi dog household?

Personally, I'd rather get a Red Fox Lab as a second dog but OH has his heart set on a Vizsla.

 

[godfreyy]

I have 3 Hungarian Wirehaired Vizslas. I don't know how much their personallity differs to the short haired ones, but I also know quite a lot of people that have Hungarian Vizslas, or a mixture of the two. And in most cases, I'd say they all have more than one and live with their OH or families.

The HWHV is slightly calmer than the Vizsla but both do require a fair amount of exercise. Mine get two walks a day - maybe about 1.5-2 hours in total over the day. But if they went a couple of days without exercise (for whatever reason, however this doesn't happen often) they do cope well. I'd have to say though that my eldest (5yo) matured at 3yo. My other two (3yo and 2yo) have not yet matured.

My boys don't currently live with children, I'm the youngest in the household at 22yo. However, we have my young nephew (my eldest dog met my nephew when he was first born) over a couple of times a year and they have always been careful of him and if they feel like they've had enough of playing (or the noise when he's being loud) they do take themselves away and go lay down quietly in their own space.

 

[Valar Morghulis]

I've had several Vizslas over the years - not had a lab but have known lots and I would say they are generally more tolerant of small children than Vizslas. Thats a generalisation, of course, but its my experience. Vizslas can be very clingy or they can be hunt-a-holics - we've had both - and the hunt-a-holics calmed down at about 3-4 years old; they can be laid-back or they can be hyper, they hate the cold and the rain and they would always rather be with you than left behind

 

[galaxy]

Ha ha Godfrey! Didn't know you were on here

Vizlas are fine with kids, my friend has one with her toddler and they get on great.

Having been around borders and vizlas id have said they were just as energetic as each other! I have gsps and they get an hours or so walk a day (well the adult does, pup will do lol) and then he sleeps and is calm and calm. Great and gentle round children.

But yes they are Velcro dogs and not dogs that like being left. Separation anxiety can be an issue, but if you have another dog that will make it easier

 

[godfreyy]

Haha funny seeing you on here Galaxy!!

Yes they are 100% Velcro dogs! It does definitely help to have another dog if you want to be able to leave them, but if you don't leave them regularly they can end up pining for you or developing separation anxiety.

 

[minesadouble]

We have an almost 2 year old Vizsla (smooth) everything you read about them is true!!! I've had dogs all of my life but the Vizsla is like no dog I have ever known. Our boy is almost human, incredibly intelligent, high energy, very demanding, attention seeking and most definitely Velcro - you will never bathe or go to the loo alone once you have a Viz!
I have 3 kids, the youngest is 5 years old and he ADORES them, he loves to play with them and cuddle up with them when he's sleepy. He sometimes knocked them over in his younger days but that's about it
As a puppy he was VERY hard work, I didn't know what 'zoomies' and 'shark attacks' were until I brought him home! As a bonus he was toilet trained in the blink of an eye, quicker than any other pup I have known.
In general I would say they are a high energy and demanding breed. However I don't think I could go back to any other breed now. I just adore our Vizsla and he is a real family dog. Nature wise there isn't a bad bone in his body. I would have another tomorrow but they wouldn't be everybody's cup of tea

Edited to add - re exercise, they do need a lot and you will never tire a Vizsla out by letting it run - they can go all day, it's what they were bred for. We gundog train ours and the only time he is genuinely tired is after a good training session. You have to work their brains rather than their bodies to tire them.