Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Are Vizslas Typically Aggressive? Facts & FAQ

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

vizsla running

Vizslas are generally friendly, intelligent, and gentle, with an affectionate disposition that rarely leads to aggression. This energetic breed is eager to please and makes a suitable companion for active families. However, some of these dogs can be destructive when they’re bored and can show aggressive tendencies if they’re not trained or socialized properly.

Although they’re not typically aggressive, some Vizslas can be if they’ve learned that the behavior is acceptable. Here are a few reasons that Vizslas might be aggressive and how to stop it.

Divider 2

The Vizsla Temperament

Overall, the Vizsla has a calm and dependable temperament.1 Despite their size, they’re friendly dogs that get along with their owner, other humans, and pets. They’ve even been known to get along with cats. These gundogs are incredibly versatile, with boundless amounts of energy that served them well during hunts alongside the Hungarian sportsmen who first developed the breed.

The Vizsla is intelligent, curious, and sensitive with an eagerness to please their owner. However, a lack of training and proper activity can make these dogs a challenge for even experienced dog lovers. They will find ways to entertain themselves if not given a job and can become destructive if they’re bored or left alone for too long. These dogs are highly affectionate even though they’re too active to sit calmly on your lap.

Divider 4

Why Is My Vizsla Aggressive?

Wire-Haired Vizsla standing on grass
Image Credit: Colin Seddon, Shutterstock

Vizslas might not be an aggressive breed, but some of these dogs have been known to show aggressive tendencies,2 depending on the situation. This is often due to a lack of training or guidance by the owner or is a defensive reaction that the dog learned in the past.

If your Vizsla is showing aggression toward you, a friend, or another animal, understanding what is prompting the behavior in these otherwise friendly dogs is your first step in tackling the issue.

Boredom

The Vizsla is classed as a sporting breed by the AKC, and their high energy levels need an outlet.3 They are not ideal for quiet, sedate families or apartment life.

You must ensure that they get enough exercise and that they are challenged mentally. They are incredibly intelligent and quick to find solutions of their own whenever they get bored. Unfortunately, this often leads to tearing up furniture or chasing smaller animals.


Fear

Generally energetic, affectionate, and gentle, Vizslas are happy to be around people and other pets. However, they are still animals, and if something scares them badly enough and they can’t run away, responding with aggression is often the only way for them to protect themselves.

Vizsla
Image Credit: Chiemsee2016, Pixabay

Lack of Socialization

How well you socialized your Vizsla as a puppy can make a difference in how they react to people and other animals. The more experience your Vizsla has with different situations, the more well-adjusted they’ll be as an adult.

A lack of socialization can lead to your Vizsla feeling jealous of other animals or humans if you give them too much attention. They can also be wary of strangers and be overprotective of their family members if they’re unsure about a situation.


Learned Behavior

Aggression can be a learned behavior and is often accidentally reinforced by dog owners. For example, a Vizsla puppy must learn how to play with humans and other animals politely and will often toe the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

Training should start on the first day that you get your Vizsla, but sometimes, things that a puppy does gets encouraged rather than corrected. Growling or snapping at you to defend their food bowl might seem cute and earn a laugh, but it won’t always be adorable. Without correction, your Vizsla will grow up thinking that aggression is acceptable behavior, and the problem will get worse as they age.

This isn’t just limited to their food bowl. Your Vizsla’s possessiveness can extend to their toys or even you.

Vizsla lying on the ground looking up
Image Credit: Ferenc Novák, Pixabay

Over-Protectiveness

Like many sporting breeds, the Vizsla started as a hunter’s companion. They are quintessential gun dogs with a powerful sense of loyalty to their owners. In fact, they’re often called “Velcro dogs” due to their unwillingness to be alone.

Some Vizslas can take their loyalty too far, though. While most dogs of this breed are placid and friendly, some can act aggressively if they sense a threat. If they feel that they’re being forgotten about, they may try to scare off anyone trying to steal your attention.

Divider 4

How to Prevent Aggression in Your Vizsla

Many Vizslas don’t have a problem with aggression, but you can still take steps to ensure that your puppy understands the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. You can also help prevent them from developing aggressive behavior as they age by following these tips.

Exercise

Although they are likely to always be somewhere close by, the Vizsla is not a sedate dog. They need at least 2 hours of activity every day regardless of the weather. You can split this into several walks and time spent running around a dog park or your backyard. These dogs also enjoy being in the water and love going for a swim.

Obedience Training

Vizslas are smart and will find solutions for things on their own if they’re not given proper guidance at a young age. This might be a good thing when they pick up tricks and obedience commands quickly, but it can backfire when they learn bad habits too.

Start obedience training as soon as you get your Vizsla puppy. It’s far easier to teach your dog how you want them to behave from the get-go instead of fixing bad habits that they’ve already learned. Obedience training is also an excellent way to keep your Vizsla’s brain active and challenge them mentally, preventing boredom.

vizsla dog obedience training
Image Credit: ABO PHOTOGRAPHY, Shutterstock

Socialization

Teaching your puppy how the world works will help them in their journey into adulthood. Meeting all sorts of new people, animals, and situations will give your Vizsla puppy the knowledge that they need to understand how to behave. It will also help them become more confident in themselves, and they’ll be less likely to be scared during unfamiliar situations.

Showing your Vizsla that strangers and other animals are friends and will not steal your attention away will help curb any aggressive tendencies associated with jealousy or fear.

Divider 4

Do Vizslas Bite?

A way for a dog to show aggression is through biting. Vizslas are gentle dogs and aren’t known for biting, though they may gently mouth at their owner’s hands or carry around their favorite toys.

Puppies are the most frequent offenders of biting as they learn to control their impulses and express what they’re feeling. Over-tiredness, over-stimulation, fear, or possessive behavior can lead to a sharp nip from a puppy and later, an adult Vizsla if this behavior isn’t corrected.

Divider 4

Are Vizslas Good Family Dogs?

Vizsla-puppy
Image Credit: henriethaan, Pixabay

Due to their easy-going temperament and friendliness, the Vizsla is well suited to family life and matches well with active families that have plenty of backyard space. The breed is often too big and energetic for apartment living and too dependent on companionship for people who spend a great deal of time out of the home.

For families who want to take their dog on all sorts of adventures, this breed is the perfect match.

Divider 2

Conclusion

Vizslas are gundogs bred to work closely with their human hunting partners. Therefore, they are incredibly loyal to their owners and eager to please them. They’re not known for aggression, but they can get destructive or aggressive if they’re scared, lonely, or bored or if they learn that the behavior is okay.

For the most part, Vizslas are excellent family dogs, and with proper socialization and exercise, they are gentle, affectionate, and lovable.


Featured Image Credit: Ivanova N, Shutterstock

Related Articles

Further Reading

Vet Articles

Latest Vet Answers

The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database