Dutch & Luxemborg Ch. Fram Od Smutne Ricky retrieving from water. Photograph by Ron Baltus.

Although there are only about 350 WHVs in U.S.A., this highly talented breed is ideally suited for today’s American all-around hunter, and is supported by a loyal and dedicated group of breeders and owners. Thus, the breed’s future in this country should be quite promising.

Physical Description
The wirehaired vizsla is an average-sized pointing breed. The males typically stand 23 to 25 inches at the withers and weigh 55 to 60 pounds. The females stand 22 to 23.5 inches and weigh 50 to 55 pounds. The tail is docked by about one-fourth or one-third. Because of the German wirehair influence, the WHV is somewhat heavier boned than the vizsla.

The coat comes in the same range of colors found in the vizsla, varying from a sandy gold to a russet gold. It is a double coat, having a soft undercoat for warmth and a harsh, wiry outercoat for protection.

This coat picks up burrs, but not like breeds with long, soft coats. Because of the wiry outercoat, the breed has pronounced eyebrows and whiskers, which contribute to its striking appearance.

Temperament
This is a soft breed, an affectionate breed, a people-loving “everybody’s buddy” breed. A natural charmer, it gets along well with family, friends, strangers, other dogs, other family pets, and children (known and unknown). Beyond barking to announce stranger’s presence, the typical WHV is a total washout as a watchdog.

“My elderly mother lived with us during her last few years,” said WHV breeder Deb Wall of Konza Vadasz Kennel in Assaria, Kansas, “and she suffered several strokes. All of our WHVs were very careful not to bump her or get in her way. One, named Tulip, practically adopted Mom. She slept by Mom’s bed and if Mom got out of bed and became disoriented, Tulip would come into our bedroom, nuzzle my face until I woke up, and then lead me to Mom.”

“In our hunting and fishing lodge,” said Mike Kinsella of Border View Lodge in Baudette, Minnesota, “we couldn’t have a dog that didn’t get along well with all sorts of people. Our WHV is a very charming host to one and all. And our hunting clientele love to hunt with him.”

“Before we got ‘CB,’ our first WHV,” said David Nackerud of Portland, Oregon, “my wife Susan had never been around dogs. But she has become so attached to CB and to this breed that she says we’ll never be without one.”

Training
Being soft, the WHV is easy to train, if and only if you use a gentle approach. The WHV has a strong desire to please and will do anything you want him to do, provided only that he understands what it is you want. If he fails in some way, it’s almost certainly because he doesn’t understand what he’s supposed to do.

He’s not being rebellious; he’s not testing your limits; he just doesn’t understand. Therefore, you should train a WHV with predominantly positive techniques and minimal corrections. In fact, that’s the only way you can succeed in training one. Over-corrected, a WHV tends to shut down. Over-corrected repeatedly, he might not ever open back up.

“I’ve abandoned the e-collar,” said David Nackerud. “I just don’t need it with my WHV. A voice correction is all she ever needs.”