Wirehaired Vizsla
About the Wirehaired Vizsla
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 21-25" |
| Weight | 45-65 lbs |
| Coat Type | Wire |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,500-$2,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,400/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Wirehaired Vizslas may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Wirehaired Vizsla
The story behind the Wirehaired Vizsla
The breed was developed in Hungary in the twentieth century, generally dated to breeding work begun in the 1930s by Hungarian sportsmen who wanted a Vizsla capable of working harsh winter conditions and cold water in the marshes and forests where the shorthaired dog was less comfortable. Vizslas were crossed with German Wirehaired Pointer stock, with other wirehaired continental breeds sometimes cited as contributing, and selection favoured dogs that kept Vizsla character and colour while gaining a dense protective coat. Like the shorthaired breed, the population suffered severely around and after the Second World War and was rebuilt subsequently. The Wirehaired Vizsla is recognised internationally as a distinct breed rather than a variety, with recognition in North America coming in the twenty-first century. It remains considerably rarer than the smooth Vizsla and is kept largely by hunters and active sporting owners.
Originally bred for: Pointing gundog, cold-weather water retriever, versatile hunting dog. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Wirehaired Vizsla
Choose something rich enough to fuel long working days, raised in the shooting season and when cold water is involved. Two servings with quiet time around them suit the frame, and the dog should stay hard rather than heavy.
Watch for: No breed-specific sensitivity is established for this comparatively young breed. Wirehaired dogs with skin irritation are often affected by coat condition or environmental allergens. Where symptoms persist, veterinary assessment should precede any elimination diet or long-term dietary restriction.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Wirehaired Vizsla
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.