Vizsla vs Wirehaired Vizsla

A Vizsla
Photo: Maja Dumat
A Wirehaired Vizsla
Photo: SchorschR

Side by side

Vizsla
Wirehaired Vizsla
Adult weight
Males 25–27 kg (55–60 lb); females 20–25 kg (44–55 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 25–29 kg (55–65 lb); females 20–25 kg (45–55 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 58–64 cm; females 54–60 cm (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 13.5 years3
No sourced figure
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Pointing dogs5
Pointing dogs6
Coat
Short coat5
Wire or harsh coat6
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Melanoma of the eye or eyelid (far more likely); Skin melanoma (far more likely)7
No sourced figure
Class
Sport
Field

Which suits you

Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Vizsla sheds through the year, the Wirehaired Vizsla holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out.
Temperament
They differ most on prey drive (Vizsla: chases; needs managing; Wirehaired Vizsla: likely to chase small pets).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 24 kg (53 lb) for the Vizsla and 25 kg (55 lb) for the Wirehaired Vizsla.
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Vizsla
Pointing dogs · Medium

In temperament the Vizsla is lively, gentle and affectionate.

Wirehaired Vizsla
Pointing dogs · Medium

In temperament the breed is gentle and lively, with plenty of stamina and a keen nose. It attaches closely to its people and is known for preferring company to being left alone.

The Vizsla page →The Wirehaired Vizsla page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Vizsla
Wirehaired Vizsla
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Vizsla
Wirehaired Vizsla
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Vizsla
Wirehaired Vizsla
Sensitivity
Needs a calm, predictable home
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 24 kg.
Vizsla
Wirehaired Vizsla
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More comparisons

Compare the Vizsla with
Rhodesian Ridgeback vs VizslaGerman Shorthaired Pointer vs Wirehaired VizslaAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·