Selecting a Puppy
MOST dog behavior specialists agree that the forty-ninth day of a puppy's life is the optimum time to go to his new home. However, several states in the U.S. have now passed laws prohibiting the sale of puppies uunder the age of eight weeks. Even if this is not a law in your state, do not accept a puppy under the recommended forty-ninth day. If a puppy is removed from his littermates and dam at too early an age, he will relate poorly to other dogs as an adult, and become overdependent on his human owners. A puppy needs the interaction with littermates, and the corrections his mother gives in the first seven or eight weeks of his life in order to establish behavior patterns for life.
The young puppy that you select is going to be a member of your family for the next fourteen or fifteen years. Choosing him should be an enjoyable experience, and a reliable and dependable breeder will gladly help you with your decision.
Where to Find Your Vizsla Puppy
A good puppy that is a pleasure to live with is the result of much planning by the owner of the bitch. Thought, and care of both the mother and her puppies, should be evident whether you are picking your Vizsla for field training, show or obedience competition, or a pet. The puppy you choose must be healthy, happy, exuberant, friendly, and raised in a clean environment. It is virtually impossible to have confidence in a breeder whose young puppies are too dirty or smelly to hug.
Do not hesitate to order a puppy unseen from another part of the country if the breeder has a good reputation. Breeders depend on their reputations, not only for producing excellent dogs, but for fairness and honesty in all dealings, and any failure is very quickly known in "dog circles."
In your search for your new puppy, you will find that, through the years, established breeders have developed certain characteristics in their dogs for easy recognition of particular lines. These include a darker or lighter coat, a dark or light eye, a certain-shaped head and muzzle, top line or tail-set. All of these Vizslas fit the interpretation of the Standard, however you may find one "type" more acceptable than another. Learn to read and understand a pedigree. "Champion lines" do not necessarily mean that your new puppy will have a champion sire or dam. Look for some consistency in the pedigree which shows desirable line breeding.
If you are visiting breeders, you should be able to see the dam and get an idea of how her puppies will look at maturity. No honest breeder can guarantee that an 8-week-old puppy is going to be a top-winning field or show dog, only that the potential is there based on the breeding behind him.
Male or Female?
The choice of sex is usually a decision based on your future plans for a puppy, but it will also involve personal preference. The male is usually larger than the female and if size is a consideration this may influence your decision. Both sexes are happy, healthy, friendly, outgoing, and intelligent. Both are "demonstratively affectionate" but the young male depends and requires more attention. Males are sweet, soft, dogs and need more reasurance than females. If he stubs his toe he is a bigger baby about it and needs to be comforted.
Both are mischievous diggers. They are lovable, exuberant, but tractable dogs that take training easily, and both are sensitive when corrected as they have a strong desire to please.
If a bitch's twice-yearly seasons are likely to bother you and there are no plans for breeding, she can be spayed by 8 months of age. Male or female - both will make wonderful companions and friends.
Excerpt from "Versatile Vizsla" by Marion I. Coffman