I was torn between a vizsla and a rhodesian ridgeback. I chose the ridgeback in the end due to the vizsla's tendency to have separation anxiety, but the exercise requirements are roughly the same: 5 - 10kms every day without fail. Normally she gets 2 walks, but it can be one long one.
I am Hungarian and had 2 vizslas in Hungary and now one in the US. We used to feed the vizsla leftover and all bones, no worries of hurting them in Hungary. They generally eat everything and don’t get possessive about their food, you can take the food away. I also have a small jack Russell dog. I need to order this dog away from the food before I touch his food again. The jack Russell is very picky with his food. No such problem with the vizsla.
I had a Vizsla and I hiked her twice a day. She was remarkably easy to train, would carry her leash while walking next to me, and would 'stay' forever. She lived to 16, the dear thing. Still miss her. Thank you for this great video!
just be active and that's it. no need to be a hunter, explorer, hiker or whatever. Dogs require commitment and be active to keep your dog healthy. All the BS about lifestyle is not necessary.
I love my Vizsla, she is beautiful and smart. Would I get one again? No, there were valid reasons, but in hindsight it is pretty much 2 hours a day exercise and interaction for the first 3 years at least. They are very funny and beautiful though and probably good for mending a broken heart.
Had seven of them and worked them all on shoots. They are VERY different and obedience is the first thing to teach from the day they arrive....but gently....they do need a lor of activity and if you cannot give them that then choose another breed. Now, having said that they are the most fantastic dog and to be honest they need work. This guy says it as it is and with him 100%.
Completely true! We lost ours recently age 15 and even with one eye, mostly deaf and with dementia he loved his walks although much slower right to the last day of his life. A truly active and loving companion whose heart just gave out. Missed greatly but it’s so good to see one well loved and enjoying life just as ours did his whole life. Enjoy every moment with her! They are a great blessing.
A great explanation of the breed. Main (wire-haired) get a minimum of 4 miles off leash a day. What ai just learned about their were breed to follow hunters which were on horse, so they kept up with the hunt. That explains a lot.
Thank you for this fantastic video. It is incredibly informative, and as a nature lover, bush walker and hiker, I feel as though a Vizsla will be great companion for me. Highly energetic, yet very affectionate and loyal. Your information is invaluable and should be shared far and wide. Thank you so much Shaun. Cheers from Australia.
Hey Shaun, just been watching your videos and noticed you live local to me (Stanmore) can’t believe it.. was just on RU-vid watching Vizsla videos as we just got our pup and was wondering if we could get in touch?
Im looking into the breed, I own a paddle board business, and this breed says it is a water dog, do you believe that? also Im also researching raw diet for my current pup, you have a link you recommend to find safe and healthy recipes for raw diet?
All true ) My vizsla pup is 10 month old now. I walk with him in the forest and mountains 1,5-2 hours in the morning and 40-50 minutes in the evening. And he also wants to play above that: throw ball and toggle rope, etc. An he is very active, good for hiking ) thinking to start running with him. Also a very good companion, follows me everywhere I go )) It’s a good thing I work from home. Also he is very vocal )) seems like talking when he is hurrying me up to go out for a walk or begging for a snack )
As a Vizsla owner for 25 years I must agree with everything Shaun says. This is the best introduction to Vizsla We have ever seen and nails it. Your film of you and your beautiful friend brought back wonderful memories for us, sadly lost our beautiful Ginny two years ago at the age of fourteen and our previous Vizsla Honey was sixteen when we lost her. We desperately wish for another Vizsla but sadly worry that we may be too old at mid seventies, the trouble is that all other breeds may be super but a vizsla is, well a Vizsla. We hope that any prospective Vizsla owner views your video before committing.. We have also owned Dalmations for many years, they are very similar but not as deep thinking or as sensitive as Vizsla. For many years we had a dalmation and vizsla together, they were a great team. We smiled at your reference to a bucket of warm water when you got home, we had two buckets, two towels and a sponge with diluted white vinegar for the fox poo rolling. It kills the smell!
Thank you for this video! I LOVE dogs. For years, I’ve noticed that far too many humans need a better understanding of dogs and/or animal culture and behavior. Too many people seem to think dogs do not need to be trained to live in human culture…as if it’s instinctive to them. Sorry but living in alleys or back yards is not their initial vibe. If you want peace while having a dog be sure to provide them with proper training. Dogs have hearts of gold, they just want to get some kisses to confirm they’ve pleased you in some way. The most profoundly lessen they teach humans what’s important, starting with unconditional/authentic love. (Nothing like seeing that in real time)🐾❤ ps, I don’t have dogs now but I’ve had 3 vizslas. My last one lived 14 years and passed in 2015. They’re active but the smartest sweetest breed ever. Great dog for families.
I have owned 2 Vs and showed the second to his bench championship. I always expected to have another, but at 76 opted for a field-bred lab. I do walk or jog at least 4 mi every morning and live on 6A in the mountains, but my love for and knowledge of the breed told me I could not guarantee my ability to provide for a Vs needs for his lifetime. A well-trained lab would be much easier for me to manage as we age together and to rehome, should I become unable to maintain him. But I looove watching any videos about Vizslas! ❤️🐶❤️
Excellent video, thank you Shaun. Our family has been considering getting a Vizsla, my wife and I are both avid trail runners, mountain bikers and we are always outside as much as we can, we also live on 5 acres. I want a dog we can take out on our hikes and even run and bike with when they are older. Im curious how do they do with fences and large yards? We have cattle fencing so a dog could easily get out, with the right training would a Vizsla be able to be off leash and know the boundary of our property?
With the right training anything is possible with a dog. Outside supervision is always a must when a dog is not in a secured garden would be my advice. Farmers have dogs on farms but I guess cattle and other live stock are separate or a distance from the farm house. My Starfire walks always off the lead in the forest but I will never walk her along side the road off lead. Our back door is always open and she does as she pleases but if we are out she’s has the whole house to herself because of dog theft here on the U.K. but in South Africa most dogs stay outside as guard dogs. Vizsla are very attached to their owners so they most likely don’t run off they stick around always in eye contact which is cute yet annoying slightly when work needs to be done hahaha.
I’d say that generally vizslas are homebodies (ours can run around on the front lawn and we don’t worry about her going further than the hedge), but they are sensitive to noise and things that frighten them. Our first once tried to run away from home when the leaf blower was going. She didn’t get far, but they do have a bolting tendency and since they are fast they could travel far. Any time I see a lost/missing Vizsla posting on Instagram, it’s usually because they escaped an unsecured yard after some sort of noise/event. If you live in. Cold climate, exposure becomes and issue quickly. I know of at least one that went missing in a ski town and was never found. We have a secured yard for ours, though at least part of that is because we have a significant coyote population in the wild area behind the yard. Ours loves her big yard. They thankfully are not escape artists like beagles where you have to go to extremes in fence design. They are amazing dogs.
I would be careful with chicken, if u break up bone it can cut inside or stick and the dog dies. For a time I had a deer butcher, he throw everything in there from the deer he cut off. I kg frozen to minus 30, 2.50 Euro. For my second dog also a horse butcher, I had 3 vizslas in my life, and I didn’t see a difference if It’s raw, cooked or regular wet food from the store. Now I just buy a 90% meat product, with some berries or vegetables. There r many good brands. And he is 8 years old and fast like the wind. I bought steel plates u use for camping, also put it in the dish washer, but so he has his own, bought a set of six on Amazon, very cheap. Vizlas for some reason don’t like to eat out of a bowl
Excellent advice. Everything you said applies to Dalmatians as they too are energetic dogs, require space, nature and the ability to venture into, explore, and stimulate their desire for adventure and learning. Truly a commitment and a labor of love.
Find me an Hungarian Vizsla puppy that’s 10 weeks old and I will gladly adopt one. I chose Hungarian Vizsla for the breed characteristics and personality because that fits in with my personal lifestyle. Together we both benefit from one another work together as one which is an unbreakable bond. I did not want any other dog breed I chose not for the looks but the nature of the dog. I did look at the Hungarian Vizsla adoption website but the chances were slim as hear in the U.K. they are highly in demand. Maybe one day in the future I would adopt a dog to give it a better life but I don’t have to. People have a choice and just because others have been cruel towards other dogs doesn’t mean new owners should be forced to pick up the pieces. Your comment comes across in a forceful manner but I understand that in your life things are different so will your opinions and that’s fine and your are obviously less selfish than most others including myself by taking in rescues irrelevant to the breed or their nature which is beautiful. Understanding is everything so my choices are my own not others.
Thank you so much for these words. So so true. I grew up with dogs ( german pointer) and then my first own dog was a Viszla. Love of my life, but lots of work in the beginning. They also need brain work like track searching, eg. I now have a 5 month old viszla Weimaraner mix. Same Story. Great loveable dog but needs to be there where it should be. In the fields and woods with somebody taking care and time. Regards from Austria 🤗🦮
Had a Vizsla for two years until we had to put her to sleep due to ever increasing seizures and she was the most amazing companion I miss her every day did walks every day no matter the weather and I'm getting another one Next month most amazing dog well more than a dog a family member and she did me a world of good for my condition love them
Just feel insecure to have them running off-leash in the woods. How can you make sure that she is not running away from chasing some squirrels? Thanks for the tips.
At first I took Starfire out to a local park that had a big field and I walked her with a long lead 5 meters which gave her freedom to do her own things but I had the control and just worked with getting her used to my recall voice with some treats. I did that a few times and took her into the forest off lead and the rest is history. As long as there’s is no traffic nearby or farmers live stock cow goats sheep then you should not be worried. Starfire chases squirrels but not for long because squirrels are fast and head up a tree then she just leaves them and returns to walking. Vizslas are very close to their owners like Velcro so they don’t tend to wonder off. Open field or forest no cars around no roads nearby no cyclists and you should be good to go because that was my main concern for her safety. In the beginning it can be scary off lead but the earlier you start the quicker they learn and as puppies they will also chew any litter left around tissues bottles cans and you’ll have to work it out with them but eventually they know right from wrong and the walks are just amazing. Take care
