[Cornbread]

Hello all,I've just joined because I am very serious about the V breed. Our Lab passed about 6 months ago and we'd like to adopt a dog within the next 12 months. I have studied many breeds Ridgebacks, GSP, Wiems, etc. and keep coming back to the V!!

We have a 3.5 yr old daughter and a 1 yr old daughter. My intention is for the dog to be "mine" as for responsibilities but ours to the extent it will provide us opportunities to teach our oldest child some responsiblity help feed, etc but more appealing is the time with her and then our younger kid talking the dog down to the park at the end of our street for training / exercise and fun and most appealing time with my daughter(s) on the walk to and from the park...I can see them "never forgetting" it.

I've been warned by many that the energy level is ridiculously high. I like to work out but but typically that's on a mtn bike (not a runner). so fetch would be curtial.

am I considering the the wrong breed for the above? I work from home and would really like a companion in my basement office!! several 3-5 minute breaks during the day out back would be great for training and a short escape for me!

...what's wrong with this vision??

appreciate your feedback.

who are some go-to breeders in the Carolina's?
Thanks!

 

[Vlicked]

Well...I must say V's are fantastic family dogs who love being with their humans. So, one would make a great cuddler for your girls! And, when your girls are a couple years older, they will make great play companions for your pup.

V's are highly trainable with positive reinforcement (as they are quite "sensitive") but can also be bull-headed at times. I think Rhodesians are the same way, but have a higher tendency to be aloof to their owners and more independent. And, Rhodesians are a larger dog than a V, GSP or Weim (if that's a factor). But I remember an aunt having a ridgeback when I was young and it was a very sweet dog.

But I digress (sorry). V's DO have a very HIGH energy level. But so does any other bird dog since they were bred to run in the field all day (i.e. GSP, Weim and ESPECIALLY a Brittany). So, with any of those three breeds, expect to do some serious exercising. If you want a dog that you can leave in the backyard to entertain itself, a V is not for you. If you want a well-behaved V, you are going to have to take the time to give it some serious off-lead exercise almost every day (for about an hour). My husband will sometimes take our guy running behind the bike which is also a good way to burn off the energy. And, V's need to be heavily socialized from an early age since they have a tendency to be skiddish later on in life (and the socialization should continue through its adult life). But, good training sessions throughout the day will be another way for your V to get mental exercise.

V's are very different from labs in that they do not have the same rock-solid temperament (i.e. labs were bred to sit in the cold and wait and therefore have a higher threshold for "pain"), they can't just be left alone (i.e. in backyard), they will follow you around everywhere, they have a WAY higher energy level and they don't grow up as fast...a V is still considered a puppy at 3 years.

Our breeder said an interesting thing to us once. She said that V's are highly adaptable and can be a couch dog. It just depends on how many clothes items, shoes, furniture, etc. you can handle being destroyed!

I think it's great you work from home and would be able to have a V as an office companion. They LOVE being with their people.

I'm sure I haven't told you anything you didn't already know! I just want to reiterate key points that make V's "special." They will require more work in terms of exercise than a lab and they will require more socialization and training to make them a great family dog.

They are called velcro dogs for a very good reason, so if you want an independant dog that won't get underfoot, consider another breed. And, the V will reward you with his loyalty and sweetness. After having labs my whole life, our V is the best dog I have ever had (even with the extra work required!). Our V has been the easiest dog to train, by far. And the nice thing about V's, since they want to be by their owners, is that they don't run off. We've had our fence gate blown open many times, only to find our V loitering around our house looking for a way back in.

I would highly recommend searching for a Vizsla club in your area and become involved in one way or another. Here's the Carolina Vizsla Club: http://www.carolinavizsla.org/ They will have breeder referalls and recommendations. They should also help you in your final decision to get a V.

Didn't mean to be so long-winded! Good luck in your decision and have fun with your new pup! Oh, one last thing, you might want to consider not getting a V from a kennel that specifically breeds hunting lines as they will have higher energy levels than a kennel that breeds for conformation/showing. But it is still very important to get your pup from a reputable breeder.

 

[smitty]

We hike and do some trail running with our V pretty much daily !!! We go a lot of times with 2 labs that our 3 and 4 yrs old... our V is going on 11 months. She runs circles around them and they usually give up chasing her half way thru the hike !!! We are also big mountain bikers and will be doing that with her next spring when she is 14 months... , So yes they are a very active dog. She is also everything the last posting said !!!

 

[madaboutvizslas]

We have just finished 5 days of summer holidays with my brothers family (Xmas comes with sweltering heat down in New Zealand). My brother has a 3.5 year old lab. Our V is now 8 months old. They are great mates and the V plays with it all day long. I say the V, as after about 2 hours the lab is had it. The major differences I have noted between the 2 are:

-After 20min simming in the lake the lab is still going while the V is out after 10min and shaking like a major earthquake is going on. So be careful with them in the cold.
-Even in the the company of the lab, when locked out of the house the V will whine and pine to be with you.
-The V likes to hold your hand and is very vocal.
-The V doesn't smell and drop long hair everywhere!
-The lab doesn't sit in your lap but the V will be in their every time you give her the chance.
-I haven't seen a fat V yet!

It took me 20 years to stick my neck out and get a dog (I'm starting to go grey now!). I wouldn't have any other type.

I wouldn't worry about the energy bit. We have yard that is 45m x 30m. This is quite a bit to run around in (and dig the odd hole) but some days she is just as happy to sit around. I walk her almost every day about a mile. One thing I have learnt is that they sure change as they grow up over six months. Its like going from a baby to a 7 year old kid in just 6 months so take heaps of photos when you first get them.