Vizsla Price & Cost of Ownership: The Clingy Hunter

If the Vizsla’s pure adoration and high energy level have appealed to you to the point where you want to bring one home, you’re probably curious how much one costs.

The Vizsla price range stretches from $1,000 to $1,800. This may seem expensive, but it’s actually not that bad for the price of a Vizsla, or any dog really.

Ultimately, the dog’s lineage and rarity play big parts in the overall cost of the dog.

However, one thing you should acquaint yourself with before you bring home a Vizsla is the dog’s temperament.

For instance, do you want a dog who’s clingy? Can you keep up with his high energy level? Can you fulfill his hunting instincts?

These are all things to consider before you sign on the dotted line for the Vizsla.

The Vizsla, Up Close

Sometimes a breed’s history can tell you a lot about what to expect in the dog you bring home today.

For instance, early aristocrats appreciated the Vizsla’s ancestors as skilled hunters and bred them for it. That’s why today’s Vizsla’s still have such a strong hunting drive.

In fact, the Vizsla breed was in danger of going extinct a few times, but Vizsla breeders worked hard to keep the breed going strong.

This is a good thing for buyers today because if the breed was still rare, it’d be a lot more expensive!

Vizsla Temperament and Personality

Mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to research all you can about a dog’s breed before you bring him home.

You definitely don’t want to have to surrender a dog simply because he’s not a good fit.

And there are some things you could consider…difficult about the Vizsla breed.

Separation Anxiety

For one thing, he’s incredibly clingy – in fact, his nickname is “Velcro dog.”

While this can be adorable, it can also be incredibly inconvenient when you can’t leave him alone for too long or he’ll give in to his separation anxiety.

Hunter at Heart

And because he’s a hunter at heart, it’s probably a good idea not to have any small animals as pets that he could mistake for prey.

So, if you already have small animals as pets, you may want to rethink bringing a Vizsla home at this time.

Permanent Puppy

He’s also one of those “permanent puppy” kind of dogs, meaning he doesn’t fully mature until he’s 3 or 4 years old.

This is a full 1 to 2 years after most other breeds mature.

This may sound like it could be fun because he’s more willing to play for longer than other breeds. However, it can also be a chore when he’s still making mischief as an adult.

You’ll find yourself saying “shouldn’t we be past this by now?” more often than you might have otherwise thought with an adult dog.

Sweetheart of a Dog

One thing you’ll never have to worry about with the Vizsla is aggression.

Dog experts rank this breed low on their tendency to get aggressive or snap. It’s just not in their character.

So if there’s someone in your family who’s afraid of dogs, the Vizsla is a great introduction to how life “could be” with a dog.

Popularity

The Vizsla has come a long way since his days of near extinction.

Now, the breed is, per the AKC, the 31st most popular dog breed out there.

This is good because as demand increases, so too will the supply of Vizslas out there.

However, this can be bad for price because the more people who want Vizslas, the more breeders will charge as their Vizsla puppies’ price.

Not only that, but you may have to wait longer for a Vizsla puppy because there’s a long line of people ahead of you waiting for the same thing!

Don’t give up, though – if this is the breed you want, there are other methods of securing one. You don’t always have to go through a breeder.

You should also mention to your local shelter if you’re open to a mixed breed.

This way, if a Vizsla mix comes in, you don’t miss out on the chance to own at least a partial version of this breed.

Vizsla Size

In addition to a dog’s temperament, his size can certainly put you off if he’s bigger or smaller than you want in a dog.

The Vizsla is what you would consider a mid-size dog, but on the larger end. He’s 21 to 25 inches tall and 40 and 65 lbs.

If this size sounds like more than you can manage in a dog, then it’s good to find that out early.

It’s also good to know the size of the dog because you need to estimate how much it will cost you to feed him.

One large bag of food costing around $35 or so each month should be enough to satisfy the Vizsla’s appetite.

Vizsla Price – How Much Do Vizslas Cost?

As far as the Vizsla price goes, breeders can charge a “low” of $1,000 or as much as $1,800 and beyond.

Of course, a purebred Vizsla price will be on the higher end of that spectrum.

You can save money on the Vizsla puppy price, though, by opting for adoption or rescue.

Typically, the Vizsla average price of adoption is around $150 to $300, depending on the organization you choose.

And this isn’t a cost per se, but more like a suggested donation in exchange for the dog’s neutering, vet visits, boarding, and vaccinations while at the shelter.

Vizsla Rescue and Adoption

As far as rescues go, you can try contacting the Vizsla Club of America for more information.

In addition to rescuing Vizslas off the street, this club also rescues dogs from shelters to provide them with a better life prior to adoption.

In some cases, this means their dogs go to foster homes, where people take care of them temporarily until a permanent owner arrives on the scene.

Going through a rescue organization is a great way to save money, though these organizations tend to be pricier than your local shelter.

However, if you can’t find a Vizsla available for adoption at your local shelter, then this is the next best thing.

Sure, you might have to pay more, but you guarantee that you’ll be getting the breed you’ve been searching for.

Plus, you get to give a permanent “furever” home to dog who might otherwise have never found one – and that’s rewarding in and of itself.

Vizsla Cost of Ownership

When it comes to the Vizsla, his cost of ownership is not as intense as it may be for other breeds.

Things like training and grooming are truly no problem for the average Vizsla.

But, of course, every dog is different, so if you need to take advantage of these resources for your individual dog, then by all means do so.

Health Care Expenses

Healthcare is one of the biggest financial sinkholes when it comes to taking care of a pet.

Ideally, you’ll select a dog with a pretty healthy background, though each breed comes with its own set of problems.

It’s the long-term care stuff that you’ll need to concern yourself with when budgeting for a dog.

For the Vizsla, some of the health problems that tend to affect this breed include:

• Blood clotting disorders, like von Willebrand's disease or hemophilia
• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Eye disorders, like entropion, cataracts, or progressive retinal atrophy
• Hip dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism

Some of these conditions, like hip dysplasia, may not be too much of a problem in the beginning.

However, you may need to prepare for additional vet care later on, like when he has more difficulty walking as he gets older.

In these cases, you may want to incorporate medication or supplements that can help him live more comfortably – but that also cost money.

Training Programs

You don’t really need any help with training your Vizsla. He adapts well to training, especially if you start early.

He does like to test his boundaries, but as long as you hold strong, you’ll be fine. He does this more when he’s bored or energetic, so give him some exercise before you start.

And you can never go wrong with treats – just don’t go overboard with them or he’ll gain weight, and you don’t need those kinds of problems.

Grooming Costs

You don’t really have to spend any money on grooming the Vizsla if you don’t want to. He’s pretty easy to take care of.

While he sheds from time to time, it’s nothing you can’t handle with the occasional brushing. Bathe him when he gets too dirty or stinky, and that’s it really.

The only time you may need to involve a groomer is when you need to trim his nails, particularly if he doesn’t like you touching his feet.

The same goes for brushing his teeth. If he doesn’t let you do it, you can just neglect it – you’ll need to pay for outside help.

Kailyn C.

Kailyn has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2012, and during that time she has written about nearly every dog breed imaginable. Her mother loved Collies, and so Kailyn grew up with three of them throughout her childhood – including a blonde one who was half-blind! Now her home belongs to her first official dog, Macho, a Dogo Argentino rescue.