[Cornbread]

we are on the wait list for a V. and we want to be prepared. Would appreciate your recommendations on brands etc:

1. Crate for night time sleeping (will use this in the SUV for transport as well).
2. Dog bed for the living room?
3. Leash(es) (length/nylon vs. leather)
4. Collar(s) (nylon vs leather)?
5. how many folks use choke chains with their V's to talk / train?
6. what brand food do you recommend feeding?
7. Metal bowls or another material?
8. Best toys / chew toys?

 

[UplandV]

Good luck with your new pup,

1) Any crate will do, generally I prefer a smaller crate for the car and house, as they are easier to move around. This will depend on how large the parents of your vizsla are, as we generally have smaller V's.

3) Either works well, I prefer a retractable leash for walking the dog. Leather looks nicer, but does not generally hold up as well as nylon and is more expensive.

4) I prefer large (width) collars, as it is easier to handle the dog, and they spread out the pressure from pulling. Dogs unlimted has some great choices, for collars, they even will put a customized name plate on collar for you. Generally we put

Reward for Return
Call XXX-XXX-XXXX
Reward for Return

V's are expensive dogs and have been known to be stolen...

5) Pinch collars are fine, we prefer to use a leather pinch from Lion County Supply or Dogs Unlimted. We have used both, either will work.

6) We feed Eagle, any food that is an 20/30 mix will be good. We recommend always buying a super-premium as the dog will eat less (becuase they are have higher density fat and protein) and then will also poop less.

7) We prefer metal, easier to clean.

8) American made rawhides are great, Kongs are also ok. Young V's chew quite a bit, remember to exercise them often.

 

[Fox_Trot]

1. Metal Foldout with divider in middle (good for when pup is small and you dont have to buy different sizes for when they are old vs young..
2. they make tons of nice ones btu they are REALLY expensive, we get ours at costco
3.We use nylon and use different lenths for different things, maybe we want her to run around more while on a leash or maybe there is many people around so a shorter leash
4. our collars/harnesses are all nylon
5. nope and never... not a fan= positive training for us
6.we enjoy a brand called castor and pullox and their food is organix and ultra mix....we like them both
7. we tried all kinds but ended up loving big clay bowls... they are wider ones maybe used for planting but they are big and wide and we LOVE them, and they look great
8. kong stuff, elk antlers, and cheap cheap stuffed toys

 

[Mercutio]

we are on the wait list for a V. and we want to be prepared. Would appreciate your recommendations on brands etc:

1. Crate for night time sleeping (will use this in the SUV for transport as well).
2. Dog bed for the living room?
3. Leash(es) (length/nylon vs. leather)
4. Collar(s) (nylon vs leather)?
5. how many folks use choke chains with their V's to talk / train?
6. what brand food do you recommend feeding?
7. Metal bowls or another material?
8. Best toys / chew toys?

1. Can't comment on crates
2. We just have a cushion type bed for him that moves from room to room as needed
3. Have a short leash for walking along the road etc and a long-line (20 m) for training and off leash areas. One is nylon one cotton which is a pain when it gets wet
4 synthetic collar because he likes going in the water at the beach
5. We clicker / positive reinforcement training so wouldn't recommend choke chains. Several people told me that Vs are very "soft" and respond better ton positive methods. Can't speak from my own experience but the clicker training has worked really well for us.
6 mostly feed raw food but also use various brands of kibble to supplement
7. Most of is food comes out of my hand during training or out a treat ball. We do have a metal bowl but he tends to drag his food out the bowl and onto the ground before he eats it anyway...
8. Kongs have been good, rawhide chews, knotted ropes are good to chew and play with. Everlasting treat balls and chews. Also have several different treat balls that he gets part of his daily food from while we're out. Make sure you give him plenty of his own things to chew and destroy - it will save your things!

Have fun ;D