Weimaraner vs Vizsla, are they related? Both breeds are listed under the Gundog Group of the Kennel Club and the Sporting Breed Group of the American Kennel Club.
The Weimaraner and the Vizsla may seem like the same dogs with different coat colour, but if you look closely, these hunting dogs have many differences. From appearance to temperament, each breed has its own distinctions that make it unique.
We will compare the Weimaraner and the Vizsla to figure out their differences and similarities.
Weimaraner vs Vizsla: Which of the Breed Is the Oldest?
The Vizsla has long existed before the Weimaraner. This dog breed is of Hungarian origin and has been around since 890 A.D.
The Hungarian Vizsla was brought by migrant Hungarian tribes from Asia to the Carpathian Basin. The breed excels in hunting and flushing game such as birds, deer, hare, and boar.
As time passed, Vizslas became popular within the circle of nobles in Hungary. However, their fame greatly declined, and their population was almost wiped out twice during the two World Wars.
Fortunately, dedicated Vizsla breeders were able to save them from extinction. In the 1950s, the Hungarian hunting breed was imported to the United State by an American breeder named Frank Tallman.
On the other hand, the Weimaraner was developed in Germany, just like the German Shepherd Dog. He first existed in the 19th century in the German town of Weimar. Breeders of this hunting dog were noblemen and aristocrats. He is adept at taking down bears, wild boars, and wolves.
To create the Weimaraner breed, the breeders crossed English Pointers, Bloodhounds, German Shorthaired Pointers, and blue Great Dane. Weimaraners were secretly kept within the group of German blue bloods.
It was the American breeder, Howard Knight, who introduced the breed in the United States.
Weimaraner vs Vizsla: Which Dog Is Bigger?
The Weimaraner and the Vizsla are closely similar in size, with the Weimaraner slightly larger than the Vizsla.
A full-grown male Weimaraner can grow 61–69 centimetres (24–27 inches) tall and weigh around 31–40 kilos (70–90 pounds). Whilst the female Weim can grow up to 56–64 centimetres (22–25 inches) and weigh 24–34 kilos (55–75 pounds).
On the other hand, the Vizsla is a mid-sized dog breed. The male Vizsla can measure 57–64 centimetres (23–25 inches) in height, whilst the female Vizsla can grow up to 53–63 centimeters (21–24 inches). Both weigh 20–30 kilos (44–66 pounds) when fully matured.
Despite being medium-sized dogs, the Weimaraner and the Vizsla are suitable for apartment life. However, dog owners should be committed to providing them with a lot of exercises and interaction.
Otherwise, these gun dogs will easily get bored and end up developing bad habits such as destroying furniture and excessive barking.
Weimaraner vs Vizsla: What Are Their Differences in Appearance?
The Weimaraner’s eye color is unique as it starts with blue. As he grows older, it slowly turns into a shade of amber or blue-grey, unlike most breeds with brown eye color.
Known as the Grey Ghost or the Silver Ghost, the Weim has a coat color that can range from cool charcoal blue to different shades of grey.
The Vizsla actually looks a bit like the Rhodesian Ridgeback. He has a solid golden rust-colored coat that comes in a variety of shades. He also has a unique nose, eye, and nail colors as they often match his coat.
Weimaraner vs Vizsla: How Much Exercise Does Each Breed Need?
The Weimaraner and the Vizsla are very active sports dogs, requiring more time for exercise. The Weimaraner has a lot of energy and needs at least 2 hours of exhaustive exercise.
This can be in long walks, runs, dog sports, or fun games such as fetch or Frisbee.
Allowing the Weimaraner to run about in a fenced back garden is not enough to quench his need to burn his extra energy. With that said, he is not suitable for small homes.
Always supervise the Weimaraner during playtime since he is smart enough to open doors and escape even a fenced area.
You may also like: How to Exercise Your Weimaraner
The exercise needs of the Vizsla mirrors the Weimaraner’s as well. This highly energetic breed should have a minimum exercise of 2 hours. He is a great companion for long jogs and hikes.
Training and playing games with the Vizsla as a form of physical and mental stimulation are also effective.
Weimaraner vs Vizsla: Which Breed Is Easier to Groom?
Grooming the Weimaraner and the Vizsla is easy to do as they sport short coats. They do not need lots of time for brushing as it only needs to be done once or twice a week.
Since their fur is not dense enough to insulate them during cold weather, consider letting them wear doggy jackets to keep them warm.
You may also like: How Cold Is Too Cold For Your Dog? -7 Ways to Keep Dogs Warm during Cold Winter
Although the Weimaraner and the Vizsla have the same coat length, their shedding levels differ from each other. The Weimaraner tends to shed more compared to the Vizsla.
Bathing should be done occasionally for the Vizsla and the Weimaraner to prevent skin and coat dryness.
Weimaraners and Vizslas have loose lips and can be sloppy when they drink water. Thus, be sure to keep towels nearby to clean up any spillage. Consider training them to eat and drink somewhere that isn’t on your expensive carpet or rug.
Weimaraner vs Vizsla: Which Breed Is More Affectionate?
The Weimaraner and the Vizsla are both very affectionate family pets despite being originally bred as hunting dogs. What’s more, they are also dubbed as “Velcro dogs.” This means these 2 breeds strongly desire to constantly be around their loved ones.
The Weimaraner and the Vizsla have a noticeable hobby of shadowing family members around the house. Both breeds are not meant to live outdoors. They do not do well being left alone for long periods as well. Or else they may suffer from separation anxiety.
Both the Weimaraner and the Vizsla should live together with their families where they can acquire constant human interaction. Despite their need for their owners’ attention, training them to be more independent should be carried out.
It will save you from the possibility that they might turn into overly clingy family dogs.
You may also like: Are Weimaraners Good Family Dogs?
Weimaraner vs Vizsla: Do They Make Good Watchdogs?
If you are looking for a breed that is highly capable of alerting you whenever there’s danger, the Weimaraner fits this task than the Vizsla. Although he is a friendly dog breed, he possesses a timid and solemn nature.
Unlike the sociable and free-spirited Vizsla, the Weimaraner isn’t quick to trust strangers and is naturally aloof towards them. However, it is a natural trait for him to be territorial, and he may show aggression towards strangers.
Thus, it is crucial to socialise the Weimaraner from a young age to mature into a confident and self-assured canine companion.
Weimaraner vs Vizsla: Are They Good with Children and Other Pets?
The Weimaraner and Vizsla are sweet, loving, and devoted family dogs. They are great companions for children and other pets as they are very energetic and playful.
But you need to do a few precautionary measures to ensure that they harmoniously live together.
Although the Weimaraner and the Vizsla can get along well with older children, they can be a handful for toddlers since they have large builds and high energy levels.
If playtime gets too rowdy, children might accidentally get injured. With this in mind, always supervise dog–children interaction.
Weimaraners and Vizslas have a strong prey drive because of their nature as hunting dogs. They may easily give in to the urge to chase and nipping smaller pets.
On a brighter note, they can still become dog-friendly or even pet-friendly provided that they start socialisation and training during puppyhood.
To avoid aggression between pets, make sure that they are slowly introduced to each other. Always keep a close eye whenever these dogs are with other animals, especially small ones, to prevent accidents from occurring.
You may also like: Solutions for Dogs Not Getting Along
Weimaraner vs Vizsla: Are They Easy to Train?
The Weimaraner and the Vizsla are highly intelligent and love to please their owners, making them fairly easy to train. However, each breed also has his own downsides.
The Weimaraner can be stubborn and can quickly learn undesirable behaviours. He is also sharp and highly trainable. Quelling his bad habits is easy to do provided that you use safe and proper training methods.
Rewarding your Weimaraner with treats and praises every time he successfully carries out a command will boost his motivation to do better in training.
It also strengthens your bond with your Weimaraner. Never resort to implementing harsh punishments since it will only push him to be more obstinate and rebellious.
The Vizsla is an eager learner compared to most pointing breeds. He is a very smart breed, but he easily gets distracted during training.
Maintain the Vizsla’s focus by incorporating positive reinforcement during training. Practise firmness as well as patience when training him. Never use rough and aggressive techniques as you will lose his trust and instil fear rather than encouragement and motivation.
Weimaraner vs Vizsla: How Long Do They Live?
The Weimaraner and the Vizsla have quite long lifespans. The Weimaraner can live from 11–13 years, whilst the Vizsla can live from 10–14 years.
Provide the Weimaraner and the Vizsla with their daily needs, like feeding them high-quality food per day, and give them the love they deserve to ensure that they will be with you for a long time.
Although the Weimaraner and the Vizsla are generally healthy, they are still susceptible to several health issues. The health problems common in the Weimaraner are hip dysplasia, bloat, ectropion and entropion (eyelid issues), epilepsy, and dilated cardiomyopathy.
The Vizsla is prone to develop hip dysplasia, idiopathic epilepsy, polymyopathy, glaucoma, cerebellar ataxia, Alabama rot, cancer, hypothyroidism, dwarfism, immune-mediated diseases, and some skin problems.
Weimaraner vs Vizsla, which one should I get?
Picking the best canine companion for you depends on how well your lifestyle matches the breed’s characteristics.
The Weimaraner and the Vizsla may have unique differences, but they also share a handful of admirable and not-so-admirable traits. Both are loyal, energetic, and affectionate dogs that can develop a powerful bond with their families.
However, the Weimaraner’s and the Vizsla’s wonderful dispositions can become drawbacks if they are not given proper love and care.
Thus, as a soon-to-be dog owner, do your research and ensure that you are fully committed to caring for your canine buddy throughout his lifetime.