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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Anyone Familiar with Vizlas's?

    Curious how they compare to labs and say GSP's when it comes to temperment-trainability- recall potential? Good sport dog? Are they are neurotic say a toller?

    trainability - for like obedience, agility, rally-o sorta stuff.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    I don't see them often. They vary. Show bred. Field bred. They need to flat out run for a long time, more marathoners vs sprinters. They are meant to be moving, running, flushing, looking, sniffing, etc. Busy! I think they can be difficult when they are younger, like Labs can be. I see more GSPs in the ring than Viszlas. I never really see pointers in agility. Their structure is not really made for it. I like them, but not sure I'd personally get one without property or time to really run them on a daily basis. They are bred to be far from their handlers looking for birds to flush. They can be nervous dogs. You'll have to look up their breeds standings in the different sports, see how many there are and how well they do. I'd be curious to see what you find out.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Hmm...well that doesn't sound like what I want (nor what I've read haha).

    I only went to one ckc agility event for like...20mins and saw a pointer and a gsp and a vizla. There is maybe one gsp competing actively locally in various sport (agility, dock diving,and conformation and possibly more).

    My issue with GSP (though i love them) is lack of recall. Sure some can be offleash but it's not really something common to the breed. And I've struggled so so much with recall in the past I really want a dog/breed that has more a natural want to come back (and then add the training on top of that - because while YES recall is about training, let's be honest that some dogs take a ton more work to get there - i've paid my dues, I want an easy one next!)

    The breed (vizla) seemed to possibly be a good match for what I want but maybe not. Tollers have been recommended but I can't stand them. I love BC's but am not ready for that much of a jump. My heart wants a lab haha, but a "made to order special" lab

    From the vizla club of canada page:
    ". The Vizsla is fun loving, lively, gentle, and very affectionate. It is sensitive but demonstrates a fearless protectiveness. Its desire and need to be close to people means it does not make a good kennel dog. These dogs reach their full potential when allowed to live as true family members. Males tend to mature more slowly than females."

    Protectiveness to me means be careful and socialise as they can be reactive (or/and barky). Ubber affectionate dogs can be prone to SA. But I haven't heard a ton about Vizla's with severe SA (unlike say Weims - where it is super common and why i won't get one, or at least won't consider one until I retire)

    From the american vizla club page: "
    There is an old Hungarian saying, "If you own a Vizsla, it lives on top of your head." " now that i love!

    They are repeatedly described as thinkings, intelligent, biddable, trainable. So that's a good sign for all i want to do. But not sure I could provide enough off leash exercise (i can do long line and run with them once old enough but i don't have a large fenced area i can get to daily).
    Last edited by Tanya; 09-22-2017 at 01:14 PM.

  4. #4
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Interesting. I do see nervous Vizlas, not reactive though. Though maybe they can be fear biter types? They kinda remind me of Dobermans in this way. Aloof with strangers. They seem like one person dogs, not really outgoing like our Labs. But, again, breeding, lines, etc. I don't think Vizlas are bred crazy for show though, unlike other pointer breeds with the long front legs and straight shoulders. Field and conformation might have similar conformation. My gut reaction is that their temperament might not make them good dogs for the ring. But, I could be wrong!

    I would say the vast majority of pet GSDs I see have e-collars on and I suspect it's for the recall. I like GSPs better than Vizlas because they are more outgoing, bouncier (you know, like a Lab! Ha!). And, I think they are cuter, personally. I like freckles and love the liver color.

    Have you considered a Brittany Spaniel? Or another type of spaniel? I'm sort of liking the Boykins!

    Also, the one BC puppy (Squish) I like is now in our agility class and I have to tell you, I am in love! He is liver and white and incredibly sweet. Loves other people. Not barky. Not super intense. He is silly. Not shy. Good with other dogs. Food motivated. Likes toys. I'd take him in a heartbeat! I can find out where she got him. I know she is picky. She has Dobermans and Malanois and is also a practice manager at a vet hospital and has been in dogs for decades.

    Oh, and the Lab thing. I think you are just too close, so you can pick what you like and what you do not from living with them. You'd do that with the other breeds, too, if you were more familiar. Every dog is going to come with issues, it's just that their issues are going to be different from your last dogs' issues. You can do all of the research in the world and you're not going to get exactly what you want, regardless of breed. In the end, it is out of your control. So, if you love Labs, get a Lab! Get a dog you can live with first and foremost since training takes up like 10% of your life with your dog and 90% is just being. As long as the dog is healthy physically and emotionally, you can do anything. You might not be super competitive in one sport, but it doesn't mean you cannot do that sport, as long as your dog is game, and Labs usually are. And there are so many sports to choose from! And, you can build drive. You can build love of the sport. You can adjust your training to fit your dog. It's all a journey and we are along for the ride.

  5. #5
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    My only "issue" with labs is size. and ensuring they are built to be active. that's it. Otherwise I love and want the breed. And both those "issues" are fixed with the right breeder. I am just get pretty ansty at being on standby I think I also started to get a bit freaked out at hte potential cost of an "older puppy-young adult" as most breeders will charge for the extra training on top of the puppy price and I can't see myself paying that (puppy price PLUS tons more for the training). BUT I also realize that is TOTALLY variable from breeder to breeder and case by case and most of my observations are on trained hunting dogs being sold as "started dogs" so of course they are expensive (3000+)

    I am not attracted to any of the spaniels sadly. exept some fun small European "mixes"

    reading on a vizla forum and their recommendations are crazy. if you work full time you need to get the puppy two visits a day for 30-60 minutes

    The right BC I know i could handle but it's a gamble. Even with doing it all right stuff happens. with a lab it's harder to mess up temperment (though i've seen many nasty labs in rescue).

    I like much of what i read but worry that the off leash exercise will be hard. it's not the AMOUNT of exercise that concerns me but the off leash part - without a car it would be super duper hard for me to get the dog to as a safe place to run offleash for an hour. And curious if they insane neediness (seriously, apparently a SUPER SUPER needy dog) could lead to major issues with my schedule. I'm wondering if breeders would even consider selling to me (i bet many wouldn't!)


    Really this is all pointless overthiink - it will all boil down to what's available when I am ready. I'll search for labs primarily but be open to other gun dog breeds and bc's and pick the "right dog for me".

  6. #6
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    I have the solution. You said you like Oban's size. The in-season Vizsla bitch we met is very small. I can take Oban back there and see if we meet her again.

    KIDDING.
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    Castilleja's Dubhgall Oban, the Black Stranger of The Little Bay
    Oct. 15, 2007 - June 13, 2021
    Oxtongue Rapids Park. Oct. 2019 Hidden Content

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    Tanya (09-22-2017)

  8. #7
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Snowshoe View Post
    I have the solution. You said you like Oban's size. The in-season Vizsla bitch we met is very small. I can take Oban back there and see if we meet her again.

    KIDDING.
    HAHAHA


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  9. #8
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    I have no direct experience with Vizlas, but there is a lady who has been at some of the obedience shows I've done who has at least two. I watched both in the ring and they both did nice jobs. Very nice looking dogs too. Not sure of the breeding, but next time I see her I'll ask about them.

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    Tanya (09-22-2017)

  11. #9
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    I don’t know many Vizla’s and the two I know have the same owner. One is a puppy, so hard to know what to make of her. Her older dog has been very successful in the Obedience ring. She is a good, responsive worker, but more nervous (worried about the environment) than most of my Labs have been. Sweet, patient, calm dog generally though. My understanding of the breed is that they do require a LOT of exercise though. Oh, and she needs to wear a coat in the winter as they don’t have the nice thick coat like a Lab has.

    That said, I’ve known quite a few GSP’s that compete in Obedience and all have been doing quite well, so it is clearly possible teach them a recall! They tend to be a bit goofy and impulsive though - they need to be taught to think things through. They are mostly higher energy than the one Vizla I know, but I would hesitate to generalize based on the one girl.

    You said you want an Oban size Lab - that should be very doable. Chloe is 62lbs, and the young girls are both less than 60. There are lots of smaller Labs around here - mostly from field lines, but even some from mixed or conformation. Granted, most of them are girls but girl Labs are wonderful!
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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    Tanya (09-22-2017)

  13. #10
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Snowshoe View Post
    I have the solution. You said you like Oban's size. The in-season Vizsla bitch we met is very small. I can take Oban back there and see if we meet her again.

    KIDDING.
    lol yes please

 



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