Over thinking

This post is for people who are looking to own an HPR breed of dog. 

Take one very hard look in the mirror and ask yourself some questions.  Because everyone can fall in love with instagram pictures and u tube videos of dogs.  But the truth is over owning HPRs for 30 years and more now I can say Ive learnt a lot about people who apply for our puppies. 

If you are someone whose laid back, does not worry you will succeed in owning the Vizsla, Weimaraner and Bracco Italiano. 

If you are someone who worries about every little aspect of owning a puppy  you wont succeed and you will be bringing me that puppy back after 7 days. 

We learnt over the years that the most laid back people really succeed in owning these dogs and the reason is they are hard work dogs.  They will do things you wont like.  Chewing furniture, peeing in the house every five minutes, demanding attention.  Those who worry about everything cant cope.  They can not cope with their own lives so bringing in this whirlwind of a dog you wont cope. 

I can not stress this enough that you can make a big mistake taking a Vizsla into the home if you are a. born worrier. 

During my lifetime as a young child and teenager I worried about everything. But life threw me some rather horrible life events and it hardened me up. I became almost immune.  We think everyone has an easy life but not all of us do.  I learned to let life wash over me and not worry about things.  When I started with a Cavalier King Charles spaniel life was easy and if you want an easier type of dog go for a toy breed of dog.  They are suited well.  If you want the Gundog group look at the show line Cocker Spaniel.  I love spaniels a lot and lived with them early 20's.  Then I had a Weimaraner and boy did my life change..  They taught me everything the worst part of owning an HPR. I found then when we introduced a Vizsla they seemed so much easier because they want to please you.  Where as a Weimaraner would stick two fingers up at me and do what they wanted. So in some aspects the Vizsla was easier.  But then we started breeding Vizsla and I saw different types of people wanting the breed.  I began to realise the ones who were not coping were over thinkers.  The ones I never heard from again was people who were more laid back. Did not worry about what the dog did. 
Now 30 years in owning HPR I realise so much more than I did back then.  

The worst thing for any breeder is to have a puppy back.  So do not put us in that position. The dog is not an object you can take back to Tescos. Breeders worry you'll ruin their dogs or bring back a dog with already behaviour issues.  Its unfair. 

So why this post?  My dearest friend had a puppy back after 7 days of owning the puppy.  The previous litter she had she had one back after about 16 weeks of owning the puppy.  She was shocked because the one home was even a previous Vizsla owner. We are seeing it over and over at the moment. People are buying dogs and cant cope.  We would like to see more responsibility on the owners behalf because it's unfair to dogs and breeders.  So by doing this post I hope you will think can I really cope with this dog. If you have a small knot in your stomach saying no, pull out from buying that puppy.  Dont have it.!!  You can go for easier breeds,

In the Gundog group: Easier dogs. 
Show line cocker spaniels
Labradors
Golden Retrievers
Bracco italiano I would classify easier than a Vizsla.  But you need to train them. 
Sussex spaniel
Field spaniel
Italiano Spinoe are nice laid back dogs. Need training though. 
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HPR stands for HUNT POINT RETRIEVE.. The UK does not have a dog which does this. So they are all dogs from Europe. These dogs have brains, need entertaining more. 


So are dogs or bitches easier?  Dogs in Vizsla are easier.  In Bracco Possibly females are easier than males.  
The Vizsla female is active and super intelligent. Picks things up so easy.  But can be very active needing attention.  The male seems more laid back as a puppy. I never know why people do not look at males and think they should have a female for easiness.  Possibly because you saw a different breed. But in the Vizsla males are easier. I adore them.  Males can go through a puberty stage and switch off, but it comes back again.  Both male and female will love you the same.  Both affectionate.
 
In Bracco males are needy, females more independent. Both love cuddles.  But males can really switch off around adolescence and not listen to you.  Females do but come back to recall quicker.  

To have any good dog its about training.  But if your a worrier you wont probably even get time for training.  To own a good dog its about a year of good training.  So think can you really cope.