Like most Seattleites, I love being active with my 5 year old and spending time outdoors —hiking in the Cascades, jogging around Greenlake, rollerblading near Alki, and biking on the Burke Gilman trail are just few places that I can be found in my leisure time with my family. Over the last year, I’ve been thinking about getting a dog, and wondering, which dog breed fits best with my family’s active lifestyle?
A friend of mine asked me if I’d ever considered a Hungarian Vizsla. After doing some research on the internet and talking to some Vizsla dog owners, I was attracted to this breed. They’re beautiful, mid-sized, short-coated dogs that are ideal for a family with kids. They’re described as very affectionate, fearful but intelligent, and great all-around sporting dogs. My 5 year-old son also fell in love with the breed since one of his favorite cartoon characters is the Clifford the Big Red Dog, which is based on the Vizsla. As another step in the exploration process, I’m looking to become a dog sitter or a dog boarder for a Vizsla to see how this kind of dog will fit in my home.
Hungarian Vizslas are considered to be very sensitive, loyal, and highly affectionate. They tend to form close relationship with their owners. I consider these to be great temperament qualities in a dog, but they also made me decide to hold on my “impulsive” excitement until I’m sure we can support the Vizsla’s needs for attention.
Just like humans, this breed can feel neglected and depressed if left alone for a longer period of time. They seem to be happy as long as they receive attention. Even though I spent most of my time in the area, I still do take the occasional trip, vacation and long weekends away, so a local trustworthy dog sitter would be much appreciated.
