Wirehaired Vizsla: temperament, size, care and health

About the Wirehaired Vizsla

The Wirehaired Vizsla is a medium-large pointing and retrieving dog with the rust-gold color of the smooth Vizsla and a coat of dense, harsh, wiry hair. The coat protects it from cold, wet and brush, and the dog has a distinctive beard and eyebrows. It is slightly heavier in bone and more rugged than its short-haired relative.

It was developed in Hungary in the early twentieth century by breeders who wanted a Vizsla able to cope with harsher weather and rougher cover. It hunts, points and retrieves from land and water. Many are kept as active companions by people who love the Vizsla temperament but want a coat that handles cold weather and brambles.

Temperament and family life

This is a loyal, affectionate and sensitive dog that likes to be close to its household. Like the smooth Vizsla it can be called a Velcro dog, but many owners find the wirehaired type a little more settled and independent. It tends to be good with children who are respectful and with other dogs. High prey drive makes small pets a risk.

The breed does badly when isolated. A bored Wirehaired Vizsla can bark, dig and chew. Training that uses gentle methods works best because harsh treatment tends to upset it. Early socialization with people, places and noises gives a confident adult. The dog loves to be in the house with the family and will sleep close to its people.

Exercise and training

Expect to give at least 90 minutes of hard exercise a day. Running, hiking, swimming and retrieving are excellent, and field work keeps the dog mentally satisfied. A walk around the block is not enough. A fenced yard is helpful, though it does not replace exercise.

The Wirehaired Vizsla is clever and eager to learn, and responds well to praise and food. Short sessions with plenty of variety are best. It can be distracted by scent, so recall needs diligent work. The dog does well in hunt tests, agility, tracking and obedience. Maturity arrives slowly, often around three years of age.

Grooming and shedding

The wiry coat sheds less than the smooth Vizsla's. Brush weekly to remove loose hair and dirt. A few times a year, most owners tidy the coat by hand-stripping or thinning, mainly on the body and ears, to keep the texture. Clipping will soften the coat and affect its weather resistance.

The beard collects food and water and needs wiping. Check the ears for moisture and debris, and check the feet and skin after field work for burrs and ticks. Bathe only when needed because the coat is naturally dirt-resistant. Nails require regular trims, particularly if the dog runs mostly on grass.

Health

The Wirehaired Vizsla is generally a healthy breed, but some conditions are known. Hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, allergies and eye conditions such as entropion are reported, as are ear infections. Cancers and epilepsy occur in the wider Vizsla family of breeds. Responsible breeders screen hips, eyes and thyroid and share the results. Deep-chested dogs are at risk of bloat. None of this replaces an examination, so take questions about an individual dog to a veterinarian.

History

The breed is generally traced to Hungary in the 1930s, when breeders crossed the Vizsla with the German Wirehaired Pointer, and some accounts add other rough-coated pointers. The aim was a Vizsla with a coat suited to harsh weather. It was recognized by Hungarian and international breed bodies in the following decades. The breed reached North America in the 1970s, and the American Kennel Club recognized it in 2014.

Is the Wirehaired Vizsla right for you?

A Wirehaired Vizsla suits an active person or family that wants a loyal, close dog and spends a lot of time outdoors. It is a good fit for hunters in cold or wet country and for runners and hikers.

It is not for those who are out all day, who live in small spaces or who want a calm pet. The smooth-coated Vizsla has the same temperament with a shorter coat. The German Wirehaired Pointer is more serious and independent, and the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is shaggier and slower.