The Vizsla puppy

I think talking from the heart about the vizsla puppy will be helpful for some who are looking to own this as a dog breed. I have to be honest with you as I want to prepare you. We see cute photos on facebook and instagram, and u tube. Everyone falls in love with the breed. We can even meet up with Vizsla and it wont really prepare you for the struggle ahead. When we meet up with adult vizsla we do not see the breed at their worst or most difficult point. Generally you are seeing well behaved dogs. Owners will tell you what the breed is like, but you wont really be listening because all you see is the trained dog in front of you. I began to realise people coming to visit my dogs pre having a puppy was a waste of time, because my dogs go through intensive training from 8 weeks to 6 months. So when people come to see well trained dogs they arent seeing the breed at their worst point. The worst point is two days after you own the dog. For a start the puppy goes home, subdued! It is scared and not sure. It will be cautious, some come out of their shell quickly but exploring carefully as they are investigating their new home. They sleep on the floor where they fall or on your lap. Sometimes the first night is even easier than the following nights. But the first night is noisy. They are scared, and this is why we tell people to take the dog to your room and put in a crate by the bed, or sleep downstairs with the puppy so he can feel your hands for comfort. A puppy on its own will scream. They are the noisiest breed I know. We started with Weimaraners and with my first vizsla litter I remember ringing the breeder who bred my girl and said at 5 weeks, my goodness nothing prepared me for the noise of vizsla puppies. She said, “I told you so”!. I realised in fact that the Weimaraner was quieter. The Weimaraner has other difficulties which I wont go into, but the Vizsla is a noisy breed of dog. I can only relate the noise to a howler monkey non stop. The reality is the older the dog gets we forget those early struggles. So after the first couple of days of fascination of owning a new puppy, the lack of sleep sets in, and then tiredness, and then for some regret they brought the puppy as they question will it ever end? It does of course but it can take up to 3 weeks of routine.
A puppy must start as the way you mean to go on, so people who work part time but take time off to be with the dog can often I still bad behaviours early on as they are with the dog too much. We must remember all dogs must be trained to be left even early on, because if you do not, then your adult dog will have behavioural issues. I’m seeing post after post of people struggling from here to the USA with seperation anxiety.
The next hurdle is mouthing, and many people fall at this next stage of reality. People who struggle the most are people with children under the age of 8. Puppies and children seem cute, but when puppies are snapping at fingers, legs and faces the appeal of puppies is less. Its like they change into vipers, or as some say sharks. Nothing prepares you for the biting. But something to remember is it is not just Vizsla puppies that bite. So many cocker spaniels, cockerpoo’s, Weimaraners and all breeds bite. Its a natural process whilst the dog is teething and learning what it can do and cant do. It is up to us to teach the dog what they are allowed to bite.
Once you have got to 14-16 weeks its starting to get worse but by then you will be going to your first puppy school and your puppy will start to have more to think about, starting walks which again will help wear the puppy out. Buy a snuffle mat, or lick mats, and give your puppy something to think about. Vizsla puppies in particular need to have their brain entertained. They are not a boring breed that has to be said.

So thats an honest view point of having a puppy in the first month and the hurdles you will have to over come. They are not an easy breed, if you want easy then you really shouldn’t own a Vizsla. Being truthful myself and other breeders are now reluctant to sell to young families. Its too hard work to deal with children and a very active breed such as a Vizsla. Nothing you read will prepare you, nothing you see on the internet will prepare you. To own one you must have oodles of patience, and you must train your dog. An untrained dog is a nuisance.

Once you have over come the hurdles you will in fact own the most delightful breed of dog you could of wished for, and three years later you will of forgotten those early weeks, and you will be thinking about owning another 😀🐶💕