cen5 asked:
Since our last dog died, we have been ‘um-ing and ah-ing’ over the idea of getting our dog a new friend, but after being let down by someone who was giving us another boxer (we were to pick it up on friday morning, they called at 11pm thursday night to cancel on us), we decided just to stick with the one dog.
Since our last dog died, we have been ‘um-ing and ah-ing’ over the idea of getting our dog a new friend, but after being let down by someone who was giving us another boxer (we were to pick it up on friday morning, they called at 11pm thursday night to cancel on us), we decided just to stick with the one dog.
But, the other day, a friend asked my mum if she would be interested in offering a year old vizsla a home. She had been sold as a family pet but had proved too much for the family and so was returned to the breeder (a friend of my mum’s friend). Apart form what they look like, we really don’t know much about the breed?
Any advice gratefully receivedd. Is it worth offering a year old dog a home (we have only ever had dogs from puppies), will it still be receptive to training?
We are used to active dogs, we have had boxers for the past fifteen years or so, and my brother shows, trains and handles weimaraners.
Also, my mum runs training classes so we have had plenty experience, but never starting training with an older dog, only starting young.
Maybe I’m not the right person to ask….I think that they are the best dog in the world !.
I’ve heard of a few puppies being returned to their breeder because the pup couldn’t cope with the hustle and bustle of a family home with small kids. You don’t say if you have any young children and since this dog is being rehomed I’d suggest that she would benefit from a quiet, stable environment.
If you can offer that then you’ll find a vizsla to be very intelligent, fairly easy to train and very loyal. They are a one-man dog and can be quite “clingy”, not wanting to be left alone for long and wanting nothing more than to snuggle up against your feet.
Hope that helps ?
Ross
Viszlas were bred to be versitile hunting dogs. They have a good amount of energy, and need an outlet for it or they can become destructive. They’re fairly easy to train – even a one-year-old dog! Old dogs CAN learn new tricks
And one isn’t even that old – it’s still very young.
I tended to a Viszla for a friend at our last dog show…she was the sweetest thing 3 And don’t let the fact that she’s already a ‘family reject’ sway your mother away…most of the time, the dogs are perfectly fine, and it’s the people that are nuts. Take the person who got a Brittany puppy from us, and eventually gave him back because he wouldn’t focus outside as a 10-week-old puppy, and chased the cats she got the day AFTER she brought him home. After getting pictures of him in his crate AND on a leash, we decided it was about time to bring him home.
If you have the time, energy, and space, I think it’s a great opportunity. Good luck!
I think giving a 1 year old is a great idea. One think you should know is this is a very active breed and needs tons of exercise.
Sounds like your family has the tools necessary to adopt a young dog. My only advice is if you do go forward with the adoption have the dogs meet on neutral ground. The transition to your home for both dogs would be less stressful. Good luck!
my friends 2 vizlas stay with us often and i have known them since one was a pup.i think they are drop-dead gorgeous.i have german shepherds myself.the vizlas are very active, very friendly and affectionate. i didn’t do their training but the owners made the rules for their dogs from the very start and apart from chewing whilst teething, [nothing new there!] they have never put a foot wrong.they need a fair amount of exercise,have boundless energy and therefor eat quite a lot for their size.i have met other vizla owners who say the same, but i can’t say if they’re all like these. this is meant to be a guide. you may get different answers from other people’s experience.try to talk to a breeder or two go have a look a chat before you decide.training is never too late. join a training class and do it properly if you need help. inyour case a year old is not a bad age to start .
its only a year old and should be easy to train and i think they make great pets
I think if you’ve been able to cope with bouncy boxers you should be very capable of looking after a Viszla.
Dog can be trained at any stage in life, it’s just easier to train them when they’re very young. At one year old however, there shouldn’t be much of a problem.
I’d go for it if I were you – before I adopted from the pound I raised my dogs from puppyhood. I kinda like getting them older as you miss the puppy stage (most of it anyway), and they seem more receptive to training. Plus the fact that the vizsla is only a year old — it is still a pup anyway (just an adolescent one – which like a human teen – you will probably have moments where it ignores you- lol). And you said your brother shows trains and handles Weimeraners, so there is a good resource right there – as Vizsla’s tempraments, etc are similar to the Weimeraner (although some say that the Vizsla is more sensitive). Plus you and your mum have training experience – so I think you’d be giving a dog a great home.
I don’t have one myself but our friends have a young maie Viszla who is a lovely dog. They’re tall, so have the potential to bowl you over if they jump up at you, and they can be very boisterous and need a firm but kind hand.
I wouldn’t worry about the dog being receptive to training, it sounds as if you are experienced and Viszlas are very intelligent dogs so should take to training easily. Our friends’ one was a bit of a humper and fond of jumping up but as soon as he realised I knew what I was doing with dogs he stopped straight away.
I think they’re lovely dogs and as long as your’re used to big boisterous dogs you should have no trouble.
Enjoy!