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Sexual Chocolate
Original Poster
853 posts
13 months
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Looking at getting another dog so our lab has a mate/companion/fellow mischief maker and quite fancied getting a vizla. What are they like in general? I have spoken to a few owners and most speak quite highly of them however I spoke to a owner a while ago and they mentioned that his goes into "hunt mode" and once it does this it can be a pain in the arse to get it back.
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Rosscow
972 posts
32 months
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Don't know too much - there is a local dog that is 2 years old and he always comes across a bit scatty.
BUT - you have to get the wire haired! Stunning dogs!
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pikeyboy
1,795 posts
83 months
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All working breeds have a high prey drive, more so with HPR brreds like vizla's. They will work and hunt on their own, you need to get them on the stop whistle from a young age and not encourage them to chase prey to help stop it. HPR's can be very head strong and stubborn, comming from a lab you won't know what's hit you when it gets to a year old. I have two GSP's and have had two GWP's so have an idea how they think and their minds work!
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Mobile Chicane
14,027 posts
81 months
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Sexual Chocolate said: Looking at getting another dog so our lab has a mate/companion/fellow mischief maker and quite fancied getting a vizla. What are they like in general? I have spoken to a few owners and most speak quite highly of them however I spoke to a owner a while ago and they mentioned that his goes into "hunt mode" and once it does this it can be a pain in the arse to get it back. I personally haven't found that they can be a pain in the arse to get back. If anything, I think viszlas are more likely to stay close than other HPRs. However that could be because the viszla I walk was trained to recall from the very earliest age. Just get one. They are lovely, lovely dogs, though be warned they need a lot of exercise and never really calm down.
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pikeyboy
1,795 posts
83 months
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Mobile Chicane said: Sexual Chocolate said: Looking at getting another dog so our lab has a mate/companion/fellow mischief maker and quite fancied getting a vizla. What are they like in general? I have spoken to a few owners and most speak quite highly of them however I spoke to a owner a while ago and they mentioned that his goes into "hunt mode" and once it does this it can be a pain in the arse to get it back. I personally haven't found that they can be a pain in the arse to get back. If anything, I think viszlas are more likely to stay close than other HPRs. However that could be because the viszla I walk was trained to recall from the very earliest age. Just get one. They are lovely, lovely dogs, though be warned they need a lot of exercise and never really calm down. Wouldn't argue that they aren't great dogs but go in with your eyes open. They are hard hunting and are very stubborn, when they are on point get sight of a rabbit and they get the urge you can have devils job to get them back. They will take as much exercise as you can give and then some, this is day in day out or they get bored although it is what they get used too. Every HPR I've had has dug in the garden and eaten my plants too.
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Sexual Chocolate
Original Poster
853 posts
13 months
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So what are they like around other dogs? My only concern is the lab has been spoilt and would be top dog for as long as his reign lasted. He is also a bit clingy, more so with me rather than the wife but if we got a vizla she would be spending a lot more time with it than I would, so, in theory, I reckon the lab won't feel to put out. Am I right in thinking this?
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Karyn
5,392 posts
37 months
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RE the "clingy" aspect of existing dog... if introduced right, you'll find that the "clingy" should dissipate from the existing dog with the introduction of a playmate. One of the reasons we got our second dog to try and counter-act the separation anxiety of our first dog (as well as providing company/playmate). Worked a treat! No input on the breed aspect, sorry! If you're aware that they're a high-prey-drive breed and train accordingly, and that they have a stubborn streak, I don't see a problem in getting one! 
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DoubleSix
2,521 posts
45 months
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Been looking at a Vizla too... my research informed me they are also known as the Velcro dog as the stick to their owners like er.. velcro.
Local guy near me rides his mountain bike with one loyally following him on the inside, even along the road.
I've learnt they give of very little smell which is appealing about the home, overall appear to a very sound choice.
I'd appreciate others views as I am considering one as I say.
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GWC
3,940 posts
64 months
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They are great dogs and extremely friendly but they need a lot of walking and can carry on for miles! They can be completely indifferent to your commands if they are having a hunt though. I'm more of a cat person but I'd have one without thinking about it if we didn't live in London and had access to lots of land to walk in.
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Mobile Chicane
14,027 posts
81 months
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DoubleSix said: I've learnt they give of very little smell which is appealing about the home You say that... However don't under-estimate the dog's intelligence. Whenever I walk Kaspar on Esher Common he immediately finds and lies down in the smelliest, s  ttiest, most stagnant puddle. Reason being, he knows that if he stinks, he'll get a swim in Black Pond (which he loves).
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DoubleSix
2,521 posts
45 months
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Mobile Chicane said: DoubleSix said: I've learnt they give of very little smell which is appealing about the home You say that... However don't under-estimate the dog's intelligence. Whenever I walk Kaspar on Esher Common he immediately finds and lies down in the smelliest, s ttiest, most stagnant puddle. Reason being, he knows that if he stinks, he'll get a swim in Black Pond (which he loves).  Go on, chuck some pics up!
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pikeyboy
1,795 posts
83 months
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At my house the bedlington pup is the boss of my two GSP's so I imagine a second dog would fit in fine especially if you have a young pup.
Re the vizla if you want one for a pet I'd try getting one froma breeder who doesn't have a long line of working parents. I imagine it may not have such a high prey drive as it only takes 3 generations for the best working charachteristics to be lost, in your case this might work in your favour.
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GWC
3,940 posts
64 months
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This is Rufus, my friend and his family look after him when his owner is on holidays. I always try and get back to Essex for a good long walk (with a couple of refreshment breaks ;-) through the Colne Valley when he's around, the longest so far is 13 miles and he still went for a swim in the river at the end of it, hehe. 
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pikeyboy
1,795 posts
83 months
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Not sure where you heard about them being a velcro dog. Most HPR breeds work at great distance and thus they like to range. In my experience as soon as an untrained or young inexperienced dog gets a whif of something they are off and suddenly become very deaf. I would agree that all HPR's are very loyal to one person whom they consider the boss. Mine follow me everywhere even to the outside loo!
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C3BER
4,003 posts
92 months
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Their as mad as a loon and perfect for the job they do. The dog is designed to be out in front hunting not near the handler. They need lots of space to learn they cannot catch and time to practice the point.
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Paddy_N_Murphy
15,157 posts
53 months
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I fear they have become the latest must have / trendy dog of the middle classes. I think the last was a Labradoodle ?
I see quite a few these days and whilst I like them and think the wire hair ones are ace, I think they suit an "outdoors" owner.
A mate has one - now 18 month old. Zebidee (spl?) Has less bounce in him. The dog is hypo, and I believe because he gets a fraction of exercise a dog like that needs, probably not even half what the our labs get.
Cracking looking thing with an intelligence you can see in the eyes, but....
He also has just started to show some aggression to strangers, and new children that approach 'the family'. Not Good.
Usual thing really - they are the right dog in the right circumstance, however I see them 'chosen' as a trendy dog often.
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pikeyboy
1,795 posts
83 months
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To try and use an automotive analogy, the OP has the mondeo of dogs. Nothing wrong with mondeos they are easy to work on cheap plentyful and a known quantity at your local garage. He's realised that its possible to get a porsche cayene for the same cash and thinks its a good idea, we know they are a specialist car that needs hours of work to keep them on form although they will do every job you ask of them sports car familly wagon and 4x4. Personally I think he should stick with the mondeo!
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pikeyboy
1,795 posts
83 months
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Paddy_N_Murphy said: I fear they have become the latest must have / trendy dog of the middle classes. I think the last was a Labradoodle ?
I see quite a few these days and whilst I like them and think the wire hair ones are ace, I think they suit an "outdoors" owner.
A mate has one - now 18 month old. Zebidee (spl?) Has less bounce in him. The dog is hypo, and I believe because he gets a fraction of exercise a dog like that needs, probably not even half what the our labs get.
Cracking looking thing with an intelligence you can see in the eyes, but....
He also has just started to show some aggression to strangers, and new children that approach 'the family'. Not Good.
Usual thing really - they are the right dog in the right circumstance, however I see them 'chosen' as a trendy dog often. Just as a matter of interest is the dog in question a wire viz? My old GWP was 50% whether he'd take to people or not and a wire viz is a cross between gwp and viz.
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Paddy_N_Murphy
15,157 posts
53 months
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Nope not a wired one (as in bearded / long hair, right ?)
Cost him a fortune and know the poor bugger gets walked around the block or park when I know he would love it "out" over the moors with the labs.
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pikeyboy
1,795 posts
83 months
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Yeah the bearded one. They'll take as much free running as you can give them, they never tire. You'd have olympic grade labs if they went out with one of those, lol. Over the moors is their teritory, pointing grouse over heather etc
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