Hi, we have a 12 week old v who is extremely wild at all times she is awake. The only time she isn’t biting and jumping is if we are actively training her with food. She is very difficult to calm down for bed and snarls and nips and flips herself around. She is semi crate trained and will fall asleep in her crate after cuddles but getting her to that point is very challenging. Otherwise she barks in her crate and won’t settle without cuddles first. We have also had a few episodes of resource guarding and vicious biting which is very scary and dangerous. It’s all very exhausting and it’s hard to enjoy her. We have 5 and 8 year old energetic boys which add to the chaos so that doesn’t help. They try their absolute best to be calm around her but being kids they are still very much a target. I have read through the forms and know that vizsla puppies are crazy but it’s hard to know what’s normal and what’s not. The vet yesterday doubts it’s normal but said our behaviouralist next week can tell us what she thinks. Anyways just wondering what everyone’s experience is and if it’s normal does it really get better? Any tips for teaching her how to chill when she’s awake?
cg_ember
Mine were all little red Tasmanian devils at that age. Some were worse than others.
I would not consider what your pup is doing as abnormal, but a behaviorist can help you learn how to redirect it.
I would not consider what your pup is doing as abnormal, but a behaviorist can help you learn how to redirect it.
Yep, that's a vizsla puppy. A routine helps- at that age, they nap a lot. Enjoy it! Play for an hour, and then expect that she will nap for an hour. Mix short training sessions in while she's up, but don't expect to see results for a while. It's about establishing rules and teaching appropriate behavior. Although normal to be mouthy at that age, when overtired you will see the crazy behavior like the thrashing and overly bitey bit. She needs to sleep. And redirect with a toy that she is allowed to work her teeth on.
Hi there,
My husband and I got a Vizsla pup nine years ago. He was our first dog. He was crazy too. The biting was scary and I wondered what we got ourselves into. He had room to run outdoors and I always took him for walks and we took him to training. He cried in his crate too, but got over that. Crate training is essential as I transport him in the car in a crate for safety and when we have work done at the house. Sometimes he just goes into his crate on his own and naps. Mostly he likes the floor!!! One day he calmed down. He still has a lot of energy, but does sleep a lot too. Hope this helps make you feel a little better that you are not alone!!!
My husband and I got a Vizsla pup nine years ago. He was our first dog. He was crazy too. The biting was scary and I wondered what we got ourselves into. He had room to run outdoors and I always took him for walks and we took him to training. He cried in his crate too, but got over that. Crate training is essential as I transport him in the car in a crate for safety and when we have work done at the house. Sometimes he just goes into his crate on his own and naps. Mostly he likes the floor!!! One day he calmed down. He still has a lot of energy, but does sleep a lot too. Hope this helps make you feel a little better that you are not alone!!!
I would say this is definitely not normal. Our 8 year old vizsla, Munro, is amazing and has been the most wonderful, gentle, loyal companion and family member. They are super active, but I’ve never seen the aggression you mention in Munro. Our breeder has been in the business for many years as well. Munro complained when she was crate trained too, but like human babies, they adjust. Good move to ask you behaviouralist to see what she thinks. She’ll know best. Best of luck!
Definitely let the breeder know what is going on. I used to breed German Shorthairs and as a breeder I wanted to know what was going on in the house and outside. My first vizsla will join our home on Aug 27 and I was hoping for a somewhat calmer companion that my GSP's, who I love to the moon and back but I think they may be a bit on the stubborn side. Your breeder may have some strategies to help you also.
Lot of good advice here already. Just wanted to post that its quite normal for a vizsla of that age to behave like that. I took me some time to realize that the extra craziness is usually because they are tired and you should try to just put them in a crate and cover it, so that they can go to sleep. The craziness will start to taper off after about 6 months. just hang in there, she will become an amazing dog
Vizsla’s are very active. You need to wear them out, if not on long walks as they are too young, so with mind games. Get them searching for their food, training to do tricks in addition to the usual recall and stay type commands. Do group training to get them socialising. Get them into the crate with a dental chew and keep them there. No cuddles! They will get used to the idea and want to go to their crate to sleep. Biting - I used the method of squeeling ouch and a firm No! This worked for me. Jumping- turn your back on them and a firm no when they do it to others. Don’t let people in the street fuss him then he won’t jump. They do it to smell what they have been eating. This one takes time and patience, but you will find they do grow out of it. Be less affectionate. Not easy but one dog trainer told me- less is more. Good luck’
I think it’s very much normal. I was broken at times with my Vizsla pup, he had boundless energy and although I thought I was prepared it was so much more challenging than I anticipated. My training was consistent and I did all I could to positively encourage good behaviour not bad, very slowly he picked up that mum doesn’t like biting or jumping, but it took time. Occasionally I wondered what I had done but now at 5 years he’s the most glorious loving boy ever. As others have said I’m sure ur behaviouralist will advise but don’t be too hard on yourself.
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