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Wirehaired Vizsla breed guide
American Kennel Club (AKC) calls the Wirehaired Vizsla an exuberant hunter on land or lake whose dense, wiry coat distinguishes it from its close cousin the Vizsla, calm and gentle around the house and fond of running, swimming and upbeat play.
Wirehaired Vizslas are close relatives of Vizslas but a distinctly separate breed, with a shaggy beard and eyebrows that set off a bright, lively expression and the same golden-rust coloring.
- Height
- 23 to 25 inches male, 21.5 to 23 inches female
- Weight
- 55 to 65 pounds male, 45 to 55 pounds female
- AKC group
- Sporting Group
Wirehaired Vizsla temperament
The Wirehaired Vizsla is lively, happy and eager to please, with a lot of energy and plenty of brains. AKC says it bores easily, which can make training a bit difficult, so keep sessions fun, interesting and not too long.
It needs a light but firm and consistent hand.
Wirehaired Vizsla lifespan
Wirehaired Vizslas live 12 to 14 years. Breeders screen for hyperuricosuria, a susceptibility to kidney and bladder stones, elbow and hip dysplasia, subaortic stenosis, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts.
Wirehaired Vizsla care
The Wirehaired Vizsla is something of a wash-and-wear dog needing only minimal grooming and wiping it with a damp cloth between baths usually suffices. A grooming mitt or shedding knife in shedding season helps keep hair down.
A high-energy dog that needs a lot of exercise, it loves being around its people and is happiest doing things together, which suits owners who hike, bicycle or jog. AKC calls it imperative that the dog be able to run freely.
Wirehaired Vizsla history
Origins of dogs developed in the 20th century are better documented than those of older breeds. AKC says Wirehaired Vizslas were created in the 1930s. Hungarian hunters and falconers wanted a dog with the drive and versatility of their beloved Vizslas but a sturdier frame and a denser coat for punishing terrain and cold weather.
They achieved it by judicious crosses of Vizslas and German Wirehaired Pointers.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 5 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 5 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 3 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 3 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 4 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 5 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 3 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |
More Sporting Group guides
Sources
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Wirehaired Vizsla by Pets Adviser from Brooklyn, USA, CC BY 2.0
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