Temperament of the Dog

The Vizsla is a natural hunter whose nose is great and whose desire is equally great. He is lively but gentle and affectionate.

He has a well-developed sense of protectiveness in regard to his family and his possessions. The Vizsla enjoys family life and gets very excited with more activity. They generally do not get along well with other animals as they see them as prey – do not get a Vizsla if you have rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc.

Vizslas are very energetic and athletic and need a great deal of exercise or they become destructive and neurotic.

Vizslas need good socialization, especially with a variety of people and noises.

The Vizsla needs to start training early with someone who is patient and firm. He distracts easily so short, intense training sessions are needed. He wants to please his owner but sometimes does not seem to understand exactly what he is to do. Without training, he is difficult to handle. He can be willful (stubborn). He probably will cause problems with chewing.

Spend some time with this breed and with a variety of dogs in this breed before getting one. Ask a lot of questions of those who have or raise them. Many tend to be very high strung and excitable. Many are stubborn and hard to handle. Be sure you know what you are getting before taking it home!

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

Vizslas will want to be in the house, but may drive you crazy with their constant movement. They need plenty of outdoor activity.

Are they suited to homes with kids?

They are gentle and reliable with children. They love to play with older children. They may be too excitable and energetic for toddlers and young children. This is definitely not a calm dog except when he is sleeping. He can be quite nervous, prancing all around and stepping on children and toys without meaning to do it.