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Breed profile

Wirehaired Vizsla

The Vizsla's tougher, bearded cousin, bred for cold water and rough cover. Glued to you at home, tireless in the field.

Head portrait of a golden Wirehaired Vizsla with a wiry beard, outdoors on grass
The wiry beard and brows of a Wirehaired Vizsla.Photo: Broneder / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Weight
20–30 kg44–66 lb
Height
54–64 cm21–25 in
Lifespan
12–14 yrs
Group
Gundog / Sporting
Origin
Hungary
Popularity
#130 US#60 UK · 2025

Known for: Running partnersWorking dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Affectionate, Energetic, Gentle, Biddable.

Health problems to know about

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Inherited eye disease (PRA, cataracts)
  • Hyperuricosuria (urate stones)
  • Subaortic stenosis

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Two hours of real exercise a day: running, swimming or field work. A weekly brush, and occasional stripping of the wiry coat.

A good fit for

Hunters, runners and very active families with secure outdoor space.

Probably not ideal for

Flats, people out all day (they hate being alone), low-energy homes.

Sources

  1. American Kennel Club: Wirehaired Vizsla
  2. PetMD (vet-reviewed): Wirehaired Vizsla
  3. Wikipedia: Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

All breeds
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German Shorthaired Pointer

A tireless athlete. Brilliant running partner, chaos if under-exercised.

Black roan German Wirehaired Pointer standing in profile on sandy heathland

German Wirehaired Pointer

A rugged, wire-coated all-round hunting dog. Tireless outdoors, affectionate at home, and bored stiff without real exercise.

A black and tan Gordon Setter runs low and fast across a field

Gordon Setter

The heaviest of the setters, black and tan with a feathered coat. Loyal, bold and tireless in the field, slower to mature than most.

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Pointer

Lean, elegant bird dog built for covering ground at speed. Gentle at home once it has run.

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