Vizslas

bsmom

New Member
Q: What's wrinkled and wiggly and red all over?

A: A vizsla puppy!

Having only started researching the breed about a year ago, I'm certainly not a vizsla expert, but after spending the last several months with our new vizsla puppy, I'm head over heels for these Hungarian bird dogs!!!

I wish I could tell you some fantastic story about how I saw a vizsla across a crowded room, our eyes met, and it was love at first sight, but honestly, the first time I had even HEARD of this type of dog was while taking one of those online quizzes for potential dog owners to see what kind of breed would best fit their lifestyle! I told this automated doggie matchmaking service that I was hoping to find a running buddy (spring-fall I like to pound out 3-6 miles a day), who doesn't shed (I have mild allergies that seem to flare up around labs and other "water dogs"), and who might be interested in hunting and fishing (2 big passtimes here in Wisconsin!), and it spit back out "Vizsla" (???)

Having never heard of the breed before, I asked an acquaintance who works in a vet's office about it- her response was the clincher for me:

"OMG, girl- that's PERFECT! That's YOU in a DOG!"

(how so?, I asked- a little tentatively...)

"You know- smart, and loyal, and pleasantly neurotic!"

After that the hunt was on- I searched online, bought everything Barnes & Noble had on Vizslas, asked around, and in the process stumbled upon a FANTASTIC breeder (who I would LOVE to recommend to anyone interested in one of these pups!!!!)- she put me in contact with people at several local and national vizsla organizations, owners of dogs from her previous litters, etc., and in November of this year (on our way home from our honeymoon, actually!) we picked up Baccio- and he is truly everything people said he would be AND THEN SOME!

He's super smart- @ almost 17 weeks he knows come, sit , stay, off, leave it, hide n seek, down, crawl, shake, high 5, give mommy kisses, roll over, go under, go over, go around, and in your crate. we're currently working on moonwalk, and learning the names of a few of his favorite toys (a la "go get your_____")

He's VERY energetic- I can't WAIT until his little bones have solidified enough to go out running with me- i know he's going to love it! He already does very well out on our walks, runs himself to near exhaustion playing with the other dogs at doggie daycare, and is ALWAYS up for a new adventure

He's extremely loveable- Everywhere we go, my little man is a total crowd pleaser :) he's friendly, takes commands from nearly anyone, wants to constantly be near people, next to people, and top of people- we've actually had to work with him a bunch on EATING because he'd MUCH rather be playing or even just sitting at my feet! Until we started feeding him inside his crate, he would only get one bite in before he ran off to find someone to play with! When he's exercised out, he wants nothing more than to sit next to me with his head on my lap, or on my shoulder :), and when we're playing, he brings everything he finds and plops it right into my lap/@ my feet (sticks, leaves, and the neighbor childrens' mittens outside; socks, pieces of mail, and his toys inside). My favorite is the occasional nap together- which doesn't bother my allergies at all! (he snores so cute!)

He's a total goofball- I think this is what my friend meant by "pleasantly neurotic"! We brought him to the neighbor's house for a football party last weekend, and at one point, the another partygoer started doing his best Baccio immitations- the way he prances instead of simply walking, what the folks at doggie daycare call his "raisin face"- head cocked, forehead wrinkled", and the way he rolls onto his back, stretches himself out to freakish lengths and then SLEEPS like that! He's also started to "point" his favorite toys when I throw them- he'll gallop after the toss, stop on a dime, pick up one front paw, and lean towards it with his nose- hilarious to watch (I can't wait to get him out after pheasants!). His attention span is pretty short- which makes for funny comparisons to my own ADD- but also never leaves a dull moment when he's around!

I haven't seen enough of the breed to differentiate between what is a specific personality trait of my B-man's vs. a breed generality, but I hope this intro to Baccio helps to compel anyone interested in owning a vizsla to do some of their own information-gathering!

Best of Luck,

"Baccio's mom"
 

szecsuani

Experienced Member
Vizslas are the most popular breed here in Hungary, especially in the town. You can find a vizsla breader almost every corner...
They are energetic, elegant, lively, friendly, balanced, easy to train. Altough they are hunting dogs, and always have to do something exciting, they can be great family dogs.Their face is really expressive, I really like them.
My friends who have vizslas can only say good about them.
 

CollieMan

Experienced Member
That's a really lovely, enjoyable, and enthusiastic post. I loved reading it, and learning about yet another breed I've never heard of! Thanks for the education. :)
 

bsmom

New Member
Thanks szecsuani and collieman :)

Szecsuani- is that a photo of one of your friend's dogs? (gorgeous!) I'm hoping that my Baccio will start "filling out" a little soon- he's so skinny that I worry people will think I starve him!

:) Bsmom
 

storm22

Experienced Member
i love vislas faces, im a sucker for any dog with a wrinkly face i think it runs through the family lolz
 

l_l_a

New Member
There are quite a few vizslas in the dog parks I go to, at first I was confusing them with rhodesian ridgebacks from a distance but now I've seen enough that I can tell the difference! Yes they are excellent jogging/running companions, very energetic, and high prey drive, lots of personality!
 

tx_cowgirl

Honored Member
Staff member
Vizslas aren't very common around here, but I've heard they're very good dogs. Sounds like you're having fun with Baccio! Good luck with him!
 
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