A Guide to Raising Your Vizsla Puppy
Also sometimes known as a Hungarian Pointer, the Vizsla is a medium-sized (when fully grown) dog originally bred for hunting fowl and game, which is now more commonly kept as a pet due to its good temperament and intelligence.
With its shiny red hair and sleek body, the Vizsla is a good-looking dog at all stages of its life, and as with most breeds, the puppies are especially adorable!
If you have chosen a Vizsla as a pet you have made a good choice – when properly raised they are obedient, exceptionally loyal, and are energetic dogs that make great companions and playmates.
As with any dog, though, the way the Vizsla is attended to during the first months of its life will really shape its behavior, so you want to make sure you are giving your puppy the best start in life with the right training and socializing.
Training Your Vizsla Puppy
Vizslas, like any other puppies, need some degree of training even if you don’t have any desire for a pet that can do fancy tricks or win obedience competitions!
You will need to house train your puppy, and also ensure it always comes when you call it.
Vizslas, as hunting dogs, can run very fast and very far, and while they are smart enough to do this without getting lost, you want to be sure that your dog will return when you call him 100% of the time.
Teaching your dog to walk nicely on a leash is another important thing to do with energetic dogs like the Vizsla, so you can walk safely with them in areas where they can’t be allowed to roam freely!
Beyond the basics, it is up to you what you want to train the puppy to do. Vizslas are an extremely intelligent breed, so if you do want to teach them tricks or skills then you can with a little patience and the right techniques.
Socializing Your Vizsla
Once your puppy has been fully vaccinated and is old enough to mix with other dogs, it is very important to ‘socialize’ him.
The puppy should be introduced to other people, children, and other dogs at a young age so it is comfortable around them and doesn’t behave unusually, being aggressive or afraid when in public or when other people come to your house.
Obedience classes can be a good way to socialize a dog even if you are comfortable doing most of the training by yourself, and dog parks can also be a good place.
Exercise!
One thing to always keep in mind about your Vizsla is that it is a very energetic, lean dog that requires a lot of exercises, even compared with other similarly sized breeds.
As well as regular walks, your puppy will want to play a lot of the time, so if you don’t have the energy to keep up, teach him games like Fetch where he gets to run but you don’t have to!
With any puppy, you will have to invest a lot of time, energy, and love in the early months of their lives.
Learn all about your Vizsla and his specific needs, train him well, and you will have a loyal, affectionate, and well-behaved dog that will make all those hours worthwhile!
