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Is the Vizsla the right breed for me?
Vizslas are very active and energetic dogs, and require daily exercise. Vizslas also tend to be very needy and desire to be with you all the time. These same qualities, which make Vizslas so very endearing to many, can drive other, who are not necessarily looking for a dog that seeks such close human contact, crazy. This breed is not right for you if you want a low-key dog who is content to lie down in the back yard and not demand much from you. Vizslas who do not receive sufficient exercise or attention can develop significant behavioral issues, such as severe separation anxiety and destructiveness. There are creative ways to make sure a Vizsla’s needs are met, even if you work – day care, pet walkers, play groups – but it takes planning and involves a serious commitment from the Vizsla's owners.
Especially in homes that are do not have significant experience with dogs, we generally recommend that the youngest child in the household be at least four years of age or older before you add a puppy. Adding a Vizsla puppy with a toddler is extremely difficult, and the joy of raising and enjoying a Vizsla puppy frequently turns into a burden when trying to juggle a toddler and puppy – which is not good for anyone. With the proper care and planning, Vizslas are generally very accepting of newborn humans added to their existing families. Vizslas raised with cats also usually do well with them.
Should I get a boy or a girl?
There is no simple answer to this question, and we believe it makes more sense to focus on the personality and conformation of each individual puppy, rather than its gender. That said, we are willing to make a few generalizations, noting that there are exceptions to every statement. We have found that, in our experience, boys are just a bit more devoted and needy, while girls are a little bit more self-reliant and independent. Boys tend to be larger (50 to 60 pounds) than girls (40 to 50 pounds). Boys can sometimes be easier to housebreak than girls, but boys can also destroy shrubs and mark in the house if not trained. For a variety of health and development reasons, we feel very strongly that no puppy should be neutered or spayed prior to reaching its maturity (i.e., a female will have had fully progressed through at least one heat cycle; a male will be at least 18 months old).
How do I get on your list for a puppy?
We do not maintain a "waiting list" per se. Instead, once a prospective home contacts us to express interest in a puppy, we ask that home to complete our questionnaire. Your answers to the questions on the questionnaire enable us to help you decide if the breed is right for you, if we believe there is a good fit between the home you offer and our litter and, to the extent that you are offered the opportunity to take a puppy from one of our litters, it later helps us match the right puppy to your family. After completion of the questionnaire, we ask that you come meet us and our Vizslas to further determine if the breed is right for you, and to ensure that both you and we believe that a good fit exists. We liken our "process" to rolling admissions at a university -- we do not simply place homes on a waiting list by request but, following our in-person meetings, we evaluate prospective homes and, on an ongoing basis, extend offers to select prospective homes to take a puppy from our litter. Families to whom offers to to join one of our litters have been extended and accepted are welcome to visit the puppies after they each puppies reach four to five weeks of age. We are also always willing to assist you in locating a reputable breeder whether or not we are planning or expecting a litter at the time you contact us. To obtain a questionnaire, please contact us at sassafrasvizslas@gmail.com.
Do you require me to co-own my puppy with you?
No. Often, instead of conveying full legal interest in a puppy to a prospective family, some breeders require that they retain an ownership (and controlling) interest in the puppy. In our opinion, except in certain arrangements between experienced breeders, most co-ownership arrangements provide little benefit to you or your dog. Indeed, the American Kennel Club has itself gone on record as stating that “It has been our experience that all too frequently, severe and complicated problems result from disputes over conditional sale, conditional stud and co-ownership contracts or any contract or agreement relating to restrictions or limitations people try to place on the sale or breeding of a dog.” http://www.akc.org/contact/answer_center/faq_resolveconflict.cfm.
Do I have to show or breed my puppy?
No. Unless you want to, you do not have to show or breed your puppy, nor do you have to give us litters or puppies back down the road. We are absolutely thrilled to involve newcomers more actively in the breed and in organized activities involving Vizslas (whether it be shows, hunt tests, agility trials, obedience or other activities). As other reputable breeders do, we believe that the Vizsla breed needs guardians for the future, and nothing makes us happier than to help mentor, coach, and assist new Vizsla devotees who want to commit their energy to preservation of this wonderful breed. Thus, if you decide that you want to show and/or breed, we are thrilled to help and counsel you in any way possible. However, we do not believe that any person or family seeking a Vizsla as a companion dog should ever be forced into these activities by contract or otherwise.
What does it mean if you give me a limited registration?
A "limited" AKC registration means that your Vizsla will be registered with the AKC, but that no litters produced by your Vizsla are eligible for AKC registration. This type of registration is most appropriate for companion Vizslas who are not going to be shown and bred. It is akin to an AKC-sanctioned "non-breeding" agreement, without the problems noted in the preceding section. A Vizsla placed on a limited registration is not eligible to compete in dog shows, but is eligible to be entered in other AKC events (such as hunt tests, field trials, agility, obedience and tracking events). If we give you a limited registration, that registration can later be changed to a "full" registration if the breeder believes such a change is warranted. For more information on AKC limited registration, see http://www.akc.org/reg/limitedreg.cfm.
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