Talk to me about Wirehaired Vizsla

[andychas]

Folks, I'd be keen to hear of your experiences with the Wirehaired Vizsla breed - I'm sure we must how've one or two enthusiasts on here although for whatever reason they don't seem to be a common sight at all.

My current dogs are 11 and 9, and I feel its time to have a serious think about what's next. Any comments on their temperament, trainability, etc. would be welcome as would advice on where to source a decent pup, bloodlines and the like.

Great dogs, lots of good points made above which I’d agree with, particularly the need to do the research on breeder (I got mine from Zoldmali in Hungary) and that they are Velcro!
mine, and the others i know are very calm around other dogs, certainly compared to my previous GSP’s who wouldn’t tolerant idiots. My HWV has learnt that its best to be cautious and reserved with other dogs until she knows theyre ok. No good around cats, but then neither am I.

 

[sikasako]

I lost mine in October ‘21.

He was bloody brilliant, the dog of a lifetime. I taught him nothing other than to walk to heel and stop & stay. The rest was all instinct, pointing fur & feather, tracking, he just got on with it as if he knew what he was doing. Brilliant in the home, a bit needy but that was fine.

When I had to replace him I thought hard about what I didn’t like. There wasn’t a lot, but he was a bit soft, hated rain and didn’t cope well with the cold. He was also very nervous around strange people and dogs which came out as mild aggression that never resulted in a problem but he did scare the **** out of people on a regular basis.

I didn’t want another HWV as I didn’t want to compare another dog to Bear, so I looked for something that was essentially very similar but would be more hardy and more confident. I got a GWP.

He’s 17 months now. Jury still out. I definitely got all I asked for, he’s very hardy and very confident, I just hadn’t banked on the incredible prey drive that comes with it. He’s been stalking at heel since about 9 months. We’ve shot 30 odd deer together. He is indicating deer well and tracking very well. We are up to the moors this spring for counting and pointer training and if that goes to plan we will be shooting grouse over him this season. But he is bloody turbo charged and you have to be on him the whole time. If I can tame the beast he will be a better dog than the HWV, but it will have been a lot tougher getting there.

So to my mind, whilst the GWP can potentially be a better dog the HWV will get to 90% with a lot less stress and training. I’m young enough (just) to be very happy with my choice and the challenge, but if I was 10 years older or didn’t have the hours to put in I would go for another HWV without hesitation.

Hope that helps.

+1 for Nigel’s response.

I have an 11 year old HWV bitch who is a good all rounder and great for locating shot deer.

Only criticisms for her is that she is soft (most HWV are) and she is nervous in (first) contact with new people.

Was out assisting a forestry contractor and was very impressed with his GWP.

The prey drive was much more evident on the GWP compared to the HWV which is handy for the occasional deer which runs on a bit.

Will probably go for a GWP as a dedicated deer dog next time round.

 

[Terrydeer]

They are great dogs, easy to train with good prey drive but not up to GWP levels in my experience (as we have one at 12months and wow) however sometimes that can be a good thing. Mine comes out with me stalking all the time, let’s me know that there are deer there with a look back at me and then a stare in the direction of the deer. The problems that I have had so far are skin problems and limp tail when getting very wet and cold (so my fault) the skin problems seem to have abated with grain free food. Apart from that she is my mate and not that bothered about anyone else, but great with the family.

 

[Scotty99]

This is such a pleasant thread.

What are they like with other dogs-especially what I would call badly trained dicks, both owners and dog?

Mine are generally OK with other dogs and people. They will travel OK in a very crowded shoot trailer packed with other people and dogs. They like their own personal space and if a dog gets to be too intrusive they’ll let them know with a friendly but firm bark.

They are great with children, my two love our three year old grandson and have done so ever since he first came to visit as a very young baby.

 

[pendle]

Mine was no problem with other dogs. Great to stalk with . Kite did not like to sit under the highseat or like the rain . When going to collect the shot deer or find one great. Happy to sit while sorting the deer out. When heading back to the vehicle off he would go. if it was dark when we were heading back all I would see is his light on his collar flashing then jumps onto the back of the pickup.
Greatly missed

 

[SimpleSimon]

This thread is great, thanks to everyone who's answered. Lots of great photos too.
They sound like good dogs, I'm definitely keen!

 

[mudman]

This is such a pleasant thread.

What are they like with other dogs-especially what I would call badly trained dicks, both owners and dog?

WHV are lovers not fighters

 

[Pennjaeger]

Folks, I'd be keen to hear of your experiences with the Wirehaired Vizsla breed - I'm sure we must how've one or two enthusiasts on here although for whatever reason they don't seem to be a common sight at all.

My current dogs are 11 and 9, and I feel its time to have a serious think about what's next. Any comments on their temperament, trainability, etc. would be welcome, as would advice on where to source a decent pup, bloodlines and the like.

We have one whose father was from bryantscroft . Soft dog , very bidables and friendly .and progressing at 19 months well through his training . As he has French blood he is rangy at 40 kg and 67 cm So more Gwp size. Nice wire hair and elegant with a beard. We wanted a bidable dog as we wanted to avoid the possible conflicts that can come with having a hard GWP which I know well from Germany . He hunts well and has a good nose , likes water and retrieves well. We chose hunting lines so for us the genetics were important.
it goes without saying good with the family and neighbours . Stays close and also hunts close. We hope to try him on the moors so he can stretch his legs. Can recommend.

 

[Pennjaeger]

Here is our boy

 

[Jon P]

+1 for Nigel’s response.

I have an 11 year old HWV bitch who is a good all rounder and great for locating shot deer.

Only criticisms for her is that she is soft (most HWV are) and she is nervous in (first) contact with new people.

Was out assisting a forestry contractor and was very impressed with his GWP.

The prey drive was much more evident on the GWP compared to the HWV which is handy for the occasional deer which runs on a bit.

Will probably go for a GWP as a dedicated deer dog next time round.

Be careful what you wish for , for additional prey drive , I am on my 3 GWP now and the prey drive on the latest one is unreal on deer, she not 3 yrs old yet , if she gets to them before me they are not fit for the game dealer. Luckily she is 100% stock proof with livestock and pheasant.

 

[bramble basher]

not sure if link works wouldnt be without mine loads of bad points usually make the day go better

bb

 

[Davids901]

I've got a nine month old pup. He is very entertaining and is easy to get along with.
He is fairly immature right now compared to the Brittany's that I've had.
He retrieves well and is just starting to hunt up game and will go a decent range out if he thinks there is something about.
The cold and the wet doesn't seem to bother him.

 

[pendle]

Have you asked a WHV for its veiws.
You can have a good conversation with one.
They can be vocal. Just like scoopy do

 

[Bauldy]

Folks, I'd be keen to hear of your experiences with the Wirehaired Vizsla breed - I'm sure we must how've one or two enthusiasts on here although for whatever reason they don't seem to be a common sight at all.

My current dogs are 11 and 9, and I feel its time to have a serious think about what's next. Any comments on their temperament, trainability, etc. would be welcome, as would advice on where to source a decent pup, bloodlines and the like.

I have one and have taken her out since she was 12 weeks old,, I never use a lead , she’s steady and a good tracker,, will take down a roe and hold a red ( on the very rare occasion needed)
Absolutely great all rounders ,, Briton a rough or walked up day for birds ,,, not such a great fowling dog but it’s deer I use her for ,, she’s a wireless wire haired,, the only one in the litter ,, all her pups had wires

 

[Feugh]

 

[Feugh]

The vizsla in what she considers her rightful place

 

[kernow69]

They are a fantastic breed and easy to train i have 5, 4 working game and retrieving one solely for tracking, imported two from zoldmali kennel, i have a stud dog and breed occasionally , wouldnt be without them