Last Updated: March 31, 2023
Wirehaired Vizsla is a Hungarian dog breed that came into existence in 1930 by cross-breeding Short-haired Vizsla and German Wirehaired Pointer.
The primary purpose of cross-breeding was to create a robust dog breed that can survive and hunt in extremely rough terrains and cold weather of northern Hungary and open fields, forests, and lakes/ponds.
And thus, Wirehaired Vizsla was born with a short wiry coat (dense on the inside and wiry on the outside), lean stature, and extremely strong hunting instincts.
WVs were used for hunting, retrieving, and pointing prey for hunters in Hungary, and were recognized by AKC in 2014.
How much does a Wirehaired Vizsla cost?
There are approximately 450 Wirehaired Vizsla in the USA and around 3000 worldwide.
Being a rare breed, a Wirehaired Vizsla puppy can cost you $1800 – $3000 depending upon the location, breeder, purity of the pup, and how much the breeder has spent on the dog.
Don’t go after low-price deals when buying the pup because you will end up getting a mixed breed or an unhealthy dog.
To obtain a purebred, you can visit AKC Marketplace For Wirehaired Vizsla, Wirehaired Vizsla Club of America, and other reputed kennel clubs.
How to select Wirehaired Vizsla breeders?
Before buying your first Wirehaired Vizsla puppy, it’s important to do the first level of screening by visiting the breeder’s website.
Most reputed breeders have a website where they post pictures of dogs and their pups and information about the breed.
This will give you an idea if you should shortlist the breeder or look for another one.
After you have shortlisted the breeder, visit them and make sure to ask:
- To provide you with information about the dog’s lineage and history.
- To provide you with the health certificate of the pup and its parents so that you can understand if the breed you are eying for is healthy.
- To show you around so that you can assess the environment in which the dogs are being kept and understand the pup’s parents’ temperament and behavior.
- As many questions as you can to gather information about their feeding habits, daily routine, etc.
Don’t be in a hurry to buy the pup. Instead, spend some time around them and observe so that you can bring a healthy and happy Wirehaired Vizsla puppy home.
Have you decided on your puppy name yet? If not, check out our list of 500+ Unique Hunting Dog Names (Male & Female).
When does a Wirehaired Vizsla get full size?
Under a lively and active home environment, Wirehaired Vizsla attains its full size in 12 months.
After reaching the full size, the male Wirehaired Vizsla stands between 23 to 25 inches and weighs around 55 – 65 pounds, while the female gets a height of 21 – 23 inches and weighs approximately 45 – 55 pounds.
As your WV puppy grows into an adult, it will develop a dense and coarse undercoat, a wiry outer coat (approximately 1 inch in length), a beard on the chin, and fine hair on the ears.
The hair on their tail and eyebrows also become dense, and their feet’ hair remains soft.
With proper training, regular exercise, and high-quality dog food, your Wirehaired Vizsla will develop a robust muscular body over time.
This breed is prone to cancer, eye problems, and hip dysplasia, so regular health check-ups and visits to the vet are recommended to keep your dog healthy and active.
How to care for your Wirehaired Vizsla puppy?
Caring for Wirehaired Vizsla when they are puppies
After bringing your Wirehaired Vizsla home, give your puppy a couple of days to get accustomed to the new environment.
They are very social and will quickly get attached to you and your family.
Even as a puppy, your Wirehaired Vizsla will be full of energy and would want to run, play and chase small animals in your backyard, so provide your bud with enough space to release its energy and get adequate exercise.
Take your puppy out for short 15 minutes walk and start early socialization so that they become obedient and do not get super excited or aggressive in certain situations.
Feed high-quality dog food as per your vet’s or breeder’s recommendation and start brushing its teeth from the puppy stage to avoid dental problems in the future.
Caring for Wirehaired Vizsla when they grow up
A grown-up Wirehaired Vizsla needs nutritious dog food to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Like any other hunting dog, WV food requirements change from puppy stage to adulthood to senior.
Remember, every dog is different, and the nutrition intake varies depending on the dog’s health conditions, activities, and environment, so consult your vet for a healthy diet plan.
Wirehaired Vizsla is very fond of food and will gulp anything anytime, even when their tummy is full, so keep their favorite treats for rewards when performing certain activities and training sessions. Also, avoid giving too much table food to your dog.
Overfeeding will make your Wirehaired Vizsla obese and develop health issues shortening its lifespan.
How to groom a Wirehaired Vizsla?
Wirehaired Vizsla dog grooming is not as difficult as it sounds and should not be ignored, or they may get fungal skin infections from the dirt and dampness trapped in their hair strands.
The coat of the Wirehaired Vizsla is dense on the inside and wiry on the outside, which can be easily maintained with regular brushing to remove matting, dirt, or danger to keep the coat smooth and shiny.
Hand stripping or combing twice a year is enough to remove dead hair and promote a good quality coat.
Use a fine brush or comb to remove loose hair from the ears.
The inner coat will protect your WV from cold weather, thorny bushes, and sharp objects when they are out in the field.
Your furry mate will need a bath once or twice a month depending upon how dirty your dog gets when out in the field or swamps, retrieving and hunting prey.
Wiping your dog’s coat with a soft damp cloth will keep its coat clean until the next bath.
You should also check on your dog’s ears from the puppy stage and keep them clean of dirt, debris, and wax formation, as they can develop ear mites or infections that are painful for your pet.
Brush your dog’s teeth at least twice a week and introduce this practice from the puppy stage to avoid dental problems and tantrums when they grow up.
Trim your dog’s nails fortnightly or when you start hearing nail tapping sounds on the floor.
Also, regularly check for any infected spots on your dog’s body and take your dog to the vet immediately to get it treated.
Grooming Wirehaired Vizsla is pretty easy, and you can do it at home without much hassle, but if you are not confident, you can always seek professional help to keep your dog in good condition.
How much exercise does a Wirehaired Vizsla need?
Wirehaired Vizslas are athletic dogs with excellent stamina, making them ideal for hunting, retrieving, and pointing small games in the field, forest, lakes, and ponds.
Being its human parent, your WV would expect you to be full of energy and participate in the activities together.
They will always be eager to tag along when you go for long walks, jogging, bicycle riding, swimming, hiking, and other active exercises that utilize their energy to the fullest.
Adult Wirehaired Vizsla will need at least two hours of exercise each day, but this can vary depending on age, health, and weight.
An older WV dog may require less exercise than younger ones because their joints start showing signs of wear and tear from arthritis over time.
With pups, you can start small by taking them for short 15 minutes walk and training them in your backyard or open field for 30 minutes daily.
Wirehaired Vizslas enjoy playing fetch and other games where they can chase things and use their natural instincts as hunters.
But they get bored quickly if your training activities are repetitive.
So to keep them engaged, introduce challenging brain games every couple of days.
When training your buddy, ensure that your backyard is securely fenced and put a leash on when going for walks in parks or public places.
This is essential because Wirehaired Vizslas have a strong hunting desire and are known to chase, jump over or dig under fences when they smell small animals nearby.
They’re not the best choice for apartment life unless you can take your dog for long walks several times a day.
Does Wirehaired Vizsla shed a lot?
If you want a low-maintenance dog that doesn’t need frequent brushing or combing, this might be the breed for you.
The Wirehaired Vizsla is a relatively low-shedding hunting dog.
However, this does not mean that WVs do not shed at all.
They will shed some amount of hair throughout the year, but not as much as other breeds like Golden Retriever and Dogo Argentino.
The Wirehaired Vizslas have a double coat – a thick undercoat and a wiry top coat.
The undercoat helps to keep them warm in cold weather, and the wiry top coat protects them from the sun and other elements when they are outside.
Though these minimal shedding dogs have an undercoat, it will not be visible or even noticeable on the furniture or carpet in your home.
Most of the time, you will only notice it if you look for it.
You should be able to keep up with their shedding fairly easily by brushing their coat twice a week to keep them from matting and clean the trapped dirt.
However, consult a vet immediately to determine the underlying cause if you see an unusual shedding pattern.
Is Wirehaired Vizsla hypoallergenic?
If you have allergies, this breed may be a good option for you because they don’t shed as much as some other breeds do.
Although it’s not unusual for a dog to shed, it’s a natural way for their body to get rid of old hair and replace it with new, just like it happens with our hair.
But finding a chunk of your dog’s coat latched to your bedsheet, couch, or sofa every time can be frustrating.
The Wirehaired Vizsla is one of the most hypoallergenic dog breeds.
They do not shed much and therefore are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
The Wirehaired Vizsla’s coat is short and dense with a soft undercoat which makes it easy to groom and maintain and hard for allergens to escape from the dog’s skin.
Understanding Wirehaired Vizsla Temperament
The Wirehaired Vizsla is a friendly, active, and intelligent breed.
They are affectionate, loyal, and playful dogs who love to be part of their human family and thus make a great companion if you want a furry friend who can accompany you for biking, hiking, jogging, swimming, or other fun activities.
The WVs make an excellent family dog and get along well with children, other dogs, and pets if raised with them from puppyhood.
They can be shy around strangers if not socialized early, leading to fearfulness and aggression later in life.
Due to their high prey instincts, they will chase after animals if not put on a leash in public places.
They do best in homes with larger yards or that are able to take the dog out on walks or runs during the day.
When raised right, WVs do not get aggressive towards strangers or another dog or animal outside their home, unless provoked.
The Wirehaired Vizsla is an excellent watchdog and will bark only when they sense danger or see a stranger approach the home.
This breed does best in families where someone is always home or can take them with them when they go out because they need human companionship and attention regularly and can develop separation anxiety if left alone often.
How intelligent are Wirehaired Vizsla?
Wirehaired Vizslas are highly intelligent dog breeds and will be perfect if you want to get into dog sports.
These dog breeds can be trained to do almost anything, including working as therapy dogs or performing in agility competitions. They are very trainable when it comes to obedience training.
They learn new tricks quickly and thrive when exposed to plenty of exercises and mental simulations.
Repetitive activities become boring to them quickly.
If you do not have enough challenging activities in your pipeline, they will find their own creative ways to engage and challenge themselves, which you may not like.
They will happily chew on things and cause destruction in your home when they get bored due to a lack of physical and mental activities.
Wirehaired Vizslas make a great family dog, but they do best with owners who have time for them to do all the fun activities together.
How easy is it to train Wirehaired Vizsla?
Wirehaired Vizslas are a highly intelligent dog breed that loves to learn new commands and need unique training tips and tricks once they understand the old ones and become familiar with them.
This breed is energetic but will get bored if your training techniques are repetitive.
So it is essential to keep them busy with activities such as obedience classes, agility training, flyball, and lure coursing, to name a few, so that they can run off some steam while having fun at the same time.
Since they have so much energy, they will always work hard to please you in their own creative ways, which can sometimes make your training sessions difficult if you are a first-time dog owner and don’t know your way around dogs.
This is because they can be stubborn and hard-headed at times. Positive reinforcement is the best way to go about it in such situations.
Though they look rough and tough, they have a soft side and may feel hurt if you raise your voice or become strict with them during training sessions.
Wirehaired Vizslas need an alpha parent who can teach them obedience commands in the most compassionate manner without losing patience.
Being strict with your WV can make them stubborn and dominating and ruin your equation with your pal.
Also, remember that they have incredibly high hunting instincts and will chase after small animals, so make sure to fence your backyard before beginning your training session.
The Wirehaired Vizsla will not be the best choice if you do not want to invest much time in training your dog.
They will also need socialization training since puppyhood to get along well with other dogs, cats, and children in their families.
What type of hunting is best for Wirehaired Vizsla?
The Wirehaired Vizsla is a breed of hunting dog known for its exceptional vigor, courage, and loyalty.
They do well in any type of hunting situation due to their excellent sense of smell and superior tracking abilities that allow them – to point out prey, flush it out, and retrieve it for its owner.
Wirehaired Vizsla hunts small animals such as rabbits and squirrels in addition to larger prey like ducks, quail, pheasants, foxes, deers, and falcon, to name a few.
Since WVs are versatile and highly intelligent, they pick up on commands quickly, making training easy for any hunting situation or activity.
Wirehaired Vizslas can be trained to do field hunting and waterfowl hunting.
Field Hunting
The Wirehaired Vizsla was originally bred for hunting larger game in open fields and forests.
When it comes to field hunting, most Wirehaired Vizslas have similar characteristics:
- They are fast runners with solid noses and excellent tracking abilities.
- Have great stamina once they get started on their prey. They can run for miles without stopping or getting tired to track down animals and follow their trail.
These traits make them highly effective hunters when they’re allowed to run freely through fields or forests without restrictions on them by their owners.
Waterfowl Hunting
Wirehaired Vizslas are also used as retrievers when it comes to waterfowl hunting because they are known for their ability to swim effectively while retrieving birds from swamps.
Their noses are so strong they can even track down scents underwater if necessary.
The Wirehaired Vizsla’s coat is dense and wiry with a thick undercoat, which makes them excellent swimmers and all-weather hunters.
Wirehaired Vizsla was developed to hunt both land and waterfowl, but today it is primarily used as a companion pet.
Wirehaired Vizsla Lifespan
This Hungarian hunting dog generally survives a healthier lifespan of 12 – 14 years depending on home ambiance, owner’s attitude, nutrition, and care.
Wirehaired Vizslas oozes a fascinating personality as a skilled retriever on land and water and a protective family dog.
These peace-loving dogs can’t stand loneliness and can turn destructive.
Before you decide to get one, make sure you have enough space and time to train and bond with this people-oriented dog.
Wirehaired Vizslas can be your ideal dog but only in a cordial family, so train your puppy to socialize early with people and other pets at home to ensure a stress-free journey for you and your dog.
Common Health Issues Associated With Wirehaired Vizsla
When it comes to health, Wirehaired Vizslas are prone to some common dog ailments and inherited disorders.
Diseases that can trouble their health at some point in their life are hip dysplasia, eye issues, and cancer.
All these issues can be averted if you deal with a reputed breeder who will provide a complete health evaluation and vaccination report with added information on the pedigree.
With proper pet grooming at home, a vet-approved diet, and daily exercise, you can safeguard these non-shedding hunting dogs from other conditions like hypothyroidism, digestive issues, infertility, epilepsy, skin, and genetic disorders.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a dog that’s full of personality, Wirehaired Vizsla may be the breed for you.
The Wirehaired Vizsla has been recognized by most major dog organizations, including the American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC).
In recent years, this breed has gained popularity worldwide due to its intelligence and loyalty toward its human family.
The Wirehaired Vizsla is easy to train and learns new commands quickly.
They will gladly accompany you for jogging, hiking, swimming, and other active activities that unleash their full potential.
Being its human parent, your furry mate would expect you to be playful and full of energy so that you can engage in the activities with your pet together.
But remember that they need plenty of space to run, play, and exercise; they are not meant for apartment life.
They get bored easily and will get creative to get rid of boredom by chewing on things while you are busy with your life.
They are not the kind of dogs to adopt and forget. They need constant human companionship and can develop separation anxiety if left alone.
So, what did you like the most about Wirehaired Vizsla? Let us know in the comment section.
About the Author
I am Chhavi Kumari, a digital marketer, blogger & parent of two mischievous rabbits (Cookie & Snow). I have a passion for writing, a love for entertainment and a zeal to learn something new every day. If I were ever to be stranded on an island, I would probably have a pet bunny.
