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Choosing to bring a Vizsla into your home will bring you endless joy. Their energy and loyalty make them the perfect canine companion for active individuals and families alike. But before you welcome your new family member, you may be tossing up one more question: do I get a male or a female Vizsla?
While each dog will display their own unique personality, there are subtle differences between male and female Vizslas. These differences are driven by fundamental biological differences between a male dog and a female dog, but keep in mind they are broad generalizations. Each dog’s behavior reflects their personality, early socialization, life experiences, genetics and training, not their sex.
Visual Differences
At a Glance
- Average height (adult): 22–24 inches
- Average weight (adult): 55–65 pounds
- Average height (adult): 21–23 inches
- Average weight (adult): 45–55 pounds
Vizsla 101
Vizslas are one of the best all-around hunting dogs. They make great trackers, pointers, and retrievers, making them great companions for various types of hunting. In addition to this natural hunting instinct, they have high levels of energy that will keep them going for hours on end.
They also make great pets for families who don’t hunt if they get plenty of opportunities to burn this energy. To keep them happy, they need lots of physical and mental stimulation; otherwise, they can display behavioral problems in the home.
Active owners will suit the company of a Vizsla. They are not dogs that will be suited for apartment living. Regular walks, in addition to off-leash adventure time, are needed to keep an active Vizsla satisfied.
Vizslas are incredibly loyal and will form close bonds with their families. They excel in agility and obedience training and have been used as guide and search, and rescue dogs.
They generally take well to the company of other pets. With proper socialization, they can get along very well with other dogs and small animals in the home. They are also tolerant of children but may be overly boisterous for small kids, who may find themselves in the path of an excited Vizsla.
Eager to please and exceptionally intelligent, training a Vizsla basic commands is a breeze. They will grasp simple obedience quickly and be happy to take on some more challenging training.
Male Vizsla Overview
Personality / Character
Male Vizslas will happily approach anyone and are less likely to get overly attached to just one family member. This means they will suffer less from separation anxiety as they can get their social needs filled by multiple people. Other family members won’t feel left out as a male Vizsla will spread their love evenly.
Some male Vizslas tend to be more attention-seeking, relying on their owner for the company a lot more. You may find your male Vizsla needs to escort you around the house to ensure you do not get out of his sight!
Training
Male Vizslas are eager to please, so they will love to engage in training sessions with you. Younger males are often more easily distracted, though, so some effort and creativity may be needed to keep them focused on the task at hand. When used for hunting, this may cause an issue as their mind may wander when at work, particularly during adolescence. It can be overcome with regular and consistent training using positive reinforcement.
Health & Care
Male Vizslas will have similar potential health concerns as the males of many other dog breeds. Male Vizslas that are left intact may be at higher risk of developing prostatic hyperplasia and testicular cancers. If de-sexed, on the other hand, there may be a risk of developing other types of cancer in neutered males. Speak to your vet about the best time to neuter your Viszla and the pros and cons associated with the procedure.
Due to being slightly larger, a male Vizsla may require more food, particularly to fuel periods of growth.
Breeding
If you de-sex your Vizsla, then concerns around breeding will no longer apply to them. If they remain intact, expect their behavior to be affected, more or less based on each individual dog. Intact males may be more territorial and dominant towards other males, but this is also largely dependent on their personality. Territorial males are prone to marking behaviors on their walks and will show interest in entire females, particularly ones in heat.
Undesirable breeding-related behaviors will be more prominent if there are other intact males for your dog to compete with or feel threatened by. If your intact male Vizsla is exposed to a female dog on heat, the worst behavior may be displayed. This will cause their hormones to take over, and they will act of character as they become desperate to breed. They may become defiant, disobedient, and prone to running away.
Dealing with the unpredictable behaviors of an intact male around a female dog in heat can be challenging. If you do not intend to breed your Vizsla, it may be in your best interest to get them desexed.
- Eager to please
- Unlikely to choose favorites
- Generally more affordable neutering procedure with fewer risks involved
- Stubborn
- Boisterous
- Risk of sex-related health issues in intact males
- Undesirable mounting behavior in intact males
Female Vizsla Overview
Personality / Character
Female Vizslas are generally independent and will often happily do their own thing as long as you are nearby, and they do not rely on you for constant attention.
Female Vizslas are friendly with those who are familiar but may be more suspicious of strangers. With correct socialization and training, they may alert you to a stranger in your backyard but are unlikely to show signs of fear or aggression.
Their behavior will be based on their individual character and early socialization, and they are generally gentle around children when supervised and accepting of other pets.
Training
Although some may claim females are easier to train than males, there is no rule when it comes to this. It will largely depend on the dog’s individual character and personality, their inherited traits, early socialization and experiences, consistency of training, and training methods. Both male and female Vizslas can be trained as they are eager to please and highly intelligent, when methods such as positive reinforcement and reward systems are being used.
Health & Care
Intact female Vizslas will require special care when they are in estrus or “on heat”. They may need more food in reproductive primes and be kept separate from other dogs, as they may inadvertently mate and become pregnant. Females left intact may also be at higher risk of developing pyometra or an infection of the uterus and mammary cancers. Spayed females generally live longer than intact ones based on research, although there are a lot of factors that may have an impact on a dog’s lifespan. Speak to your vet about the pros and cons of getting your female Viszla spayed, unless you intend to breed her, and what is the best time to do it based on her age, size, and temperament.
Breeding
Again, if you plan to de-sex your dog, then breeding behaviors will have little effect on your dog. If you keep your female Vizsla intact, then you should expect her to go through at least two heat cycles in a year. She will be receptive to any intact male during this time, so she must be separated and kept secure to ensure no accidental litters.
This reproductive behavior will affect how she interacts with other dogs and her presence may cause some male dogs nearby to be assertive and sometimes even become aggressive.
Because the spaying procedure is more complex than neutering, desexing is more expensive and has slightly different risks for females than males.
- Independent
- Generally gentle with children when supervised
- More expensive spaying procedure with some recognized risks
- Ongoing heat cycle in intact females
- Risk of sex-related health issues in intact females
Which Sex Is Right for You?
In a nutshell, whether you choose a male or female Vizsla won’t make much of a difference, as they both display extremely lovable and active traits. They make great family pets, avid hunters, and enthusiastic adventurers.
Those who will keep their dog intact, perhaps for future breeding or just personal choice, may lean towards a male Vizsla. Intact males tend to be much easier to manage than females as they do not experience heat cycles, so care is the same all year round.
Each characteristic and trait we’ve described in this guide is not a sure thing; either sex may display any of these traits. So, rather than focus on gender, you may wish to prioritize the genetics and temperament of any potential dog. If you can meet the dogs that parent your prospective puppy, this is a great time to get some insight into what your Vizsla may be like as an adult.
With good genetics, early socialization, consistent training, and lots of love, your Vizsla will be a well-adjusted and much-loved addition to your home!
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Featured Image Credit: Vizslafotozas, Pixabay (top); photohun, Pixabay (bottom)
