Finding a Vizsla Breeder

Finding a breeder can feel like a daunting task. The first time I contacted Vizsla breeders, about 12 years ago, we were planning a move across the country to San Francisco, California. I think I contacted a handful of West Coast breeders, most with wait times in the 4-8 month range. It was definitely a harder process in our second search (now back on the East coast), for a number of reasons. First and foremost, everyone and their mother seems to want a puppy right now while we're all spending more time at home due to COVID, so wait times and lists are long and breeders are overwhelmed with contacts. Second, having recently lost Captain, I was more worried and approached things more cautiously.

I am no expert on Vizsla breeders. But given the high demand and interest, and our recent re-introduction to the process, I wanted to share a few quick points on finding a breeder:

• First, and maybe most importantly, try to get connected with those who are really in the know. If you are in the US, contacting your local regional Vizsla club for reputable breeder recommendations is a good way to do this. International friends, if you have other recommendations for groups that make referrals, please feel free to post in the comments!
• Check for recommendations and referrals. 
• Do your research. If the breeder has a website or social media page, check what content they put on it. If they don't, do extra reference checking.
• Make sure the breeder commits to health screenings and can provide information on the sire and the dam. 
• Have a conversation with the breeder. Have multiple! They should be willing to take questions, and should also be asking you questions. 

This is not an exhaustive list of "do's" (nor is below an exhaustive list of "don'ts") - you will find more by googling 'finding a reputable breeder' or a similar search and asking the experts. Please do these searches! Plan to read a lot before you contact people. In addition to some basic points above, here's a short list of some red flags to note:

• The breeder doesn't ask you questions. (Most should also want you to complete a questionnaire, too)
• Always has puppies available (Red flag for a puppy mill- please do not support these!) 
• Has something on a webpage like "Vizslas are for everyone!" (I think we can all agree they are beautiful dogs, but their personalities and energy levels ARE NOT suited for everyone).
• Puppies go home <8 weeks old (Too young! They need that mama bonding time!)
• Breeder not willing to show you where puppies are kept 

Starting with Vizsla regional clubs was not something I did in my first search, but I found it really helpful this second time around. Since we are in PA now, I actually contacted several regional clubs, and found the individual in our area to be a wonderful resource and offer up a lot of referrals. Especially if you are trying to find a puppy during 2020-2021, you may have to contact a lot of people, and you will also need to be vigilant and check in fairly regularly. 

There's a lot of due diligence to ensuring you've found a responsible breeder. Ideally you can visit, but this isn't always possible (especially during COVID). In addition to ensuring you find a responsible breeder, I also think it's important to find a breeder that aligns with or at least understands your reasons for wanting a dog. Finding a breeder is also a matching process. For us, we were seeking a companion for our adventures. (Note: this doesn't mean breed standards aren't important, though, as these relate to health). This was true back when we got Captain, and it's still true today. But of course, these days, we have those "other nuggets" (aka, the human children) along for the ride, too. For some breeders, I found this was an instant no-go. And I get it. Kids distract from the sole focus on the puppy and make things harder. Nugget 4 will not have the same life as Nugget 1, and I already feel guilty about that. (Though I personally don't think it's impossible to take care of a puppy when you have young kids in the house too. Hard, crazy-  yes. But impossible - no. I look at a puppy like another child, and some crazy people have multiple of those!) I also think having a pet helps those human nuggets to learn to be caring and responsible. You just have to be extra committed. And not care about sleeping ;)

A brief note on contracts: Here is a link to an AKC article that I thought contained some useful info: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/everything-you-need-to-know-about-breeder-contracts/  The short of it is that contracts should indicate that both parents have been health tested, puppies are healthy, and the contract should include some sort of return clause, particularly for health concerns early on. Connect with your referrals to get more expert advice on contracts.  

Read on for more, including our most recent ventures to finding Nugget 4... (and if you're new here, a little background: Nugget 1= Captain - the best dog ever. Period. No arguments. My first Vizsla and frequently referred to as really, really, ridiculously good looking. Also incredibly sweet. Nuggets 2 and 3 are humans, they interrupted our sole focus on Nugget 1, and may make occasional appearances here, but don't worry, this isn't a parenting blog. Hahaha. Definitely not. Subsequent Nuggets to be named in order. There will be no more human nuggets - we play man-to-man defense in our house against those suckers - so 4 through 101 are to be Vizslas, obviously ;) ) 

The Tribute Video

It's been one month since Captain left us. Of course, I miss him. Every day. Our lives have carried on, as they have had to, but as one of my friends put it: grief is not linear. 

It was not easy to put together a video with the lofty goal of summarizing his life. I'm sure there are hundreds more versions I could have made, including entirely different, but still favorite, photos of moments with him. But no matter what version I'd make, this song would have to be the backdrop.  It was running in my mind during our last weeks with Captain, especially the line, "Love of mine..." 

Captain's Tribute Video

I hope it makes you smile (and not just cry), and remember your Vizsla, if you have lost one, with happy memories. I used to collect quotes, and I've always liked this one: "You find you are made up of bits and pieces of all who have touched your life, and you are more because of it, and you would be less if they had not touched you." Captain, most certainly, made me more.

A goodbye is never really the end for true friends or loves. So, til later, Captain. 

O Captain! My Captain!

The same post title as one we began with, nearly twelve years ago. A line from the movie Dead Poet’s Society, from a poem by Walt Whitman. And one that pretty much in many ways sums up the despair of losing a great Captain. I will forever have enormous love, respect, and awe for my dog Captain. 

Bad news and a box of tissues

From the book Finding Winnie, by Lindsay Mattick

I’m sorry to be reviving the blog after so many years with bad news, but such is life. This is the story of how we learned about Captain's illness. This is the beginning of an end.