Wirehaired viszla or BC breeders

[ponyparty]

Hello all - not looking for myself, but a friend. She's just been conned by a puppy farmer and ended up with a pup with parvo, who sadly didn't make it. She's reported it to relevant authorities etc. So sad and infuriating that there are such unscrupulous people out there just waiting to take advantage of well meaning people. She said she saw the warning signs, but just wanted to get the puppy out. At least she was loved and then when she got ill, got vet treatment promptly, was made comfortable, and then her suffering ended for her when she went downhill she said she's never seen her husband cry until this happened to them. Heartbreaking.

She wants to find a pup still, is aware she will likely have to wait, but is now SO scared of being duped again - so I said I'd help her. But I don't know these breeds, so don't know where to start really! If she does go down the BC route I think she should avoid something farm/worker bred? She knows they've all got that drive, and that appeals to her, but I don't think one that's likely to NEED to work sheep to stay sane is gonna be the right fit for her. She is home all day (always was, pre-lockdown) and has been thinking about getting a pup and preparing for some time (she's been talking about it for years!). I think she'll make a great owner, she's happy to take advice and plans to do all the training classes etc.

So - any suggestions or personal recommendations? She's in Warwickshire but willing to travel for the right pup from a reputable source. I'm hoping by the time anything suitable comes up, restrictions might have lifted a bit and I may be able to go with her to view, just to be sure.

I do have a Facebook friend with a wirehaired viszla but I don't want to ask her right now as she's just had her horse PTS so I want to give her a week or so to recover, bless her she doesn't need to be receiving random questions from me about dog breeders right now!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

All 5 of my collies have been/are farm bred and bought to work sheep and do agility. They love sheep work but do not 'need' to do it. If I was to give up my sheep tomorrow they would be quite happy as pets. They just need training and plenty of owner interaction. Not all farm collies want to work sheep anyway, some are just not interested.

 

[ponyparty]

Thanks for that - I am pretty clueless with both these breeds as you can tell! Good to hear that farm bred doesn't necessarily mean they won't make good pets.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I can’t help with breeders , but I thought it worth mentioning that people used to be advised to wait a few months before getting another pup after losing one with parvo, due to how long the infection lingers . The thinking may have changed nowadays but perhaps your friend could check with her vet , or one of the vets on here might advise .

 

[ponyparty]

Oh my goodness, I hadn't even thought of that. A scary thought! Hope someone can shed some light... will have a google too...

ETA: I've done my googling and you're absolutely right. It can survive in the house for 2 months and outside for 6-12 months! How terrifying. Leaving a year gap is considered safe. I've let her know, the only way to ensure complete safety before the 12 months is up, is to get a fully vaccinated pup - so probably wouldn't be able to bring pup home til 12 weeks, missing a lot of crucial socialisation time. What a nightmare!

 

[AmyMay]

I walk an ex working BC. Brilliant dog, easy to train, happy not to have a job (but obviously enjoys being out and about for as many hours as I care to give him), not ’wired’, just a really great all round dog.

 

[AmyMay]

wouldn't be able to bring pup home til 12 weeks, missing a lot of crucial socialisation time. What a nightmare!

Not necessary a nightmare. Many breeders won’t let a pup go until it’s twelve weeks, ours certainly wouldn’t. Daisy is the most social dog ever.

 

[{97702}]

I can’t help with breeders , but I thought it worth mentioning that people used to be advised to wait a few months before getting another pup after losing one with parvo, due to how long the infection lingers . The thinking may have changed nowadays but perhaps your friend could check with her vet , or one of the vets on here might advise .

Wow I hadn’t realised that MM! Not that (touches wood frantically!!!!) I’d have a dog with parvo, but even so ?

 

[{97702}]

Not necessary a nightmare. Many breeders won’t let a pup go until it’s twelve weeks, ours certainly wouldn’t. Daisy is the most social dog ever.

I second this - obviously every breed is different but Colin’s breeder was brilliant and wouldn’t let the pups go until they’d had their first vaccination at 10 weeks, so I picked him up at 11 weeks? I can honestly say I’ve never met such an outgoing and friendly little pup in my life ? I did make sure I took him out from day one of course, carrying him initially until he had had his second jab

 

[ponyparty]

Maybe I'm a bit OTT about socialisation having had a Manchester Terrier - breeder warned me how highly strung they could be and how I'd need to be really on it with socialisation from day 1. He didn't have his second vaccs til 12 weeks (she did his first at 8 weeks before he left her, but she's a vet nurse and advised leaving 4 weeks between them) so he just went on lots of carry-walks to get used to traffic/other people etc until he was ok to go on the ground.

Mightn't be the end of the world re: the vaccs then. I'll have a chat to her. Another potential issue is, she can't travel that far - she doesn't drive and her husband has set the limit at around the "2 hours away" mark, on further questioning. But if they're happy to wait a while, I guess it doesn't matter too much.

 

[Clodagh]

I'm no expert on either breed but they are incredibly different characters, those that I have seen?
BC.s, a bit neurotic but want to do things with you, WHV, a bit neurotic and want to vanish off hunting!? None of my business really but why did those two make the shortlist?
I'm so sorry she lost her pup though, that must be so distressing.

 

[{97702}]

Got to say PP that I’m not naturally a BC fan (I apologise to all their many fans on here!) simply because I feel they are a working breed who need a LOT of mental stimulation to keep them happy and engaged.

The only wire haired HV that I’ve known belonged to my farrier, who planned to work him with the falcons and hawks he owned - the dog was an absolute delight to know, friendly, outgoing, joyful and happy even though he was far too young to be worked when I knew him. I almost got one myself after knowing that pup ?

 

[ponyparty]

I did wonder the same re breeds - they live in a nice rural area though, plenty of good walking around there, she's home all day with plenty of time to spend on training/walking/activities, so I didn't grill her on it BCs not my first choice either (also no offence to anyone! I know loads of people with them as perfectly lovely pets!) but then neither are viszlas really... but who am I to talk, with my nutty, "discerning" (read: takes an instant disliking to certain people and dogs), barky little whirlwind of a terrierist

We're just chatting about her options and what a minefield it can be, sourcing a dog. They did consider a rescue (and wouldn't be too fussy about breed in that instance) but then talked themselves out of it for various reasons. I think now they're just really worried about being duped again.

She found a WHV breeder fairly locally, and did actually go to meet her early this year, but it was just as covid was kicking off so all very awkward, didn't go in the house etc. She did meet the bitch, who is a family pet and show dog, has been to Crufts, said the woman sounded knowledgeable, and won't be having a litter until mind 2021. Which all sounds promising to me - but she's really wary now, and doesn't want to line the pockets of anyone else unscrupulous (or go through any more heartbreak). Hence asking me to try and find someone by word of mouth. I can't imagine how devastating it must have been for them, really. The price you pay for being a bit naive.

Not sure what health checks they ought to have, can research that though. If she does go for that breeder, I'll go with her (if allowed, by then!) as an extra pair of eyes and to ask awkward questions.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

If she does decide to go with a bc...

We have a working-bred border collie, and he’s the sort of dog that makes everyone want a bc. He’s clever, engaged, responsive, great with children, easy to do anything with - he’s a really fun, happy dog.

He’s also kept very busy. He thrives on being involved in little adventures all the time. Today he helped turn the horses out, did some fencing with my husband, went for a long walk, then he helped with the hay delivery, went to get fuel, went for another walk in a different village for a change of scene, brought horses in, and went for a drive to the shop. It’s actually not the exercise that makes the difference with him, it’s his brain that needs the work. I genuinely don’t think he’d be half the dog he is if he was on a two-walks-a-day kind of schedule.

We got him when he was closer to 14 weeks as he was going to be retained to work but didn’t quite have the same drive as some of the litter. He’s never had a problem with socialisation and adjusts to situations very quickly.

After his busy days, he’s practically glued to his rug. This is also the closest he gets to sheep ? he’s scared of live ones.