The Vizsla breed dates back to the 10th century Austro-Hungarian empire. They were first bred as retriever dogs for hunters, meaning they’re sharp, energetic and devoted. As you expect with any breed, raising a well-balanced Vizsla puppy requires some commitment to training, but the most important things you need are a love for your pet and a willingness to both teach and learn from your Vizsla.
What You Need to Know About Raising a Vizsla
As you prepare to bring your Vizsla puppy into your life, there are a few things you should know about this lovable breed.
First, as a hunter/pointer breed, Vizsla puppies and dogs are bursting with energy! This breed is best suited to active owners willing to exercise their dog almost every day. You should expect to spend about two hours daily playing or otherwise exercising your Vizsla puppy. When they reach adulthood, Vizslas still need about 45 to 60 minutes of vigorous exercise per day.
If you have a backyard, let your dog run around unleashed for a few minutes every day so he or she can release some of that extra energy without exhausting you! Otherwise, you may want to consider training your dog to walk off-leash.
You may be wondering if such an excitable dog can fit into your quieter life or perhaps even your smaller apartment. A common misconception is that Vizslas need to live on a property with lots of land and room to roam, but this is not the case. So long as you give your dog the exercise he needs, he can be just as happy in a city apartment as on a farm in the country.
Despite their energy levels, Vizslas are quite soft in their temperament, and they like to be close to their owner during daily activities. Even though they never stop moving during the day, they will be just as likely to jump into bed with you for a night of cuddling when bedtime comes around. This temperament makes Vizslas fit well into families, but these high-energy pups do require training to ensure they don’t disrupt your household.
Start Training Your Vizsla Early for the Best Results
Training Vizslas is easiest when they’re puppies. The Vizsla is an intelligent species, which brings both pros and cons to training — while Vizslas pick up on commands quickly, they are also apt to test these new rules to see if and where they can break them. It’s essential to train them with an authoritative but loving hand. Vizslas respond better to being praised for good behavior than chastised for acting out.
If you’re concerned that training your dog could be more than you can handle in your already busy life, you might consider getting a Vizsla puppy that’s already had early training. To ensure your Vizsla fits your family and lifestyle, consult Golden Meadows Retrievers. Our services and puppies are certified by the American Kennel Club. Along with Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Rule of 7 training, our puppies go through crate and potty training and learn several basic commands, including come, sit, down, stay, wait, dance, crawl and high-five.
Contact us and join the Golden Meadows family today!