The Hungarian Vizsla, also known as the Hungarian Pointer were most likely descended from hunting dogs used by the Magyars. These people settled Hungary more than a thousand years ago.
They were developed to point and retrieve and are excellent hunting dogs. Vizslas have a keen nose and are highly trainable. They can be a good all-round working dog and have also been used for herding cattle.
How much exercise does a Hungarian Vizsla need
As a Pointer dog breed, they were bred to assist hunters with tracking and retrieving. This makes them very active dogs and how a high level of stamina. They can hike for long distances over difficult terrain.
Hungarian Vizslas require at least one to two hours a day of energy-burning activity, but more is preferred. If they don’t receive the exercise they need to release their pent-up energy they can become quite destructive or develop behavior issues.
This recommended exercise quantity and ideas are for a healthy adult Vizsla. The exercise needs of a puppy are different as they are still growing. The wrong quantity and type of exercise can cause injury to a puppy with growing bones and joints. See below for exercise for a Hungarian Vizsla puppy.
As a dog gets older they become less active and have lower energy levels. However, it is still important that they remain reasonably active to keep their joints and muscles mobile and to manage their weight. Read ” Dog exercise for a senior dog” to learn more.
Many dogs develop arthritis as they age. Exercise for them becomes a balancing act. It is important to keep their joints mobile and manage weight, but too much can make them sore. Read “How to exercise an arthritic dog” to learn more.
There are three main types of exercise and activity you must provide your Pointer every day.
- 1. Daily walk
- 2. Purposeful Activity (see Vizsla exercise ideas below)
- 3. Mental stimulation
Hungarian Vizsla Walking Time
The daily walk is essential for a Vizsla not only to release some pent-up energy. The walk allows your Vizsla to stimulate the mind with the sights, sounds, and smells they come across.
The length of the walk is only limited by your time and energy as a Vizsla can go all day long. Ideally, the minimum should be 30 to 45 minutes daily but more would be better. This can be just once a day, or two walks a day would be better if your schedule allows.
Dogs also like routine, so try to schedule the walk for around the same time each day. Daily walks are much better than nothing all week and a big walk at the weekend.
If your Hungarian Vizsla has good recall and comes on command, walks at the park, or out on trails off the leash is ideal. Alternatively, you can use a retractable leash or long lead to allow them more freedom while maintaining control. In general, Vizslas are obedient and usually have good recall if trained.
You can add extra resistance to the walk by using a weighted vest or dog backpack. It is recommended that no more than 10% of their body weight be added. This is more than sufficient to tire them and strengthen their muscles without overworking them. Other ways of increasing the resistance on the walk are to walk on sand or include uphill sections in the walk.
Hungarian Vizsla Exercise Ideas
In addition to the daily walk, Vizslas also require other purposeful activity. Being a hunter’s dog purposeful activity is the type of activity that can stimulate their natural behaviors and provide them with a job.
Here are some suggestions for activities and exercise you can provide for your Hungarian Vizsla.
Scenting and nose games
Being a dog that locates and indicates on game and prey, nose games are a great activity not only for exercise but mental enrichment and challenge. See here for 12 scenting and nose games for dogs for some ideas.
One of the best scenting games you can do with a Vizsla is to use a scenting dummy treated with a scent. Hide or throw the dummy into the bush and have your Vizsla locate and indicate on the dummy.
You can get scent training kits here at Amazon. There is a range of various scents available such as duck, pheasant, and rabbit.
Fetch
Playing Fetch with your Vizsla is another fantastic way to burn pent-up energy. Vizslas are generally ball or toy crazy can play this for hundreds of throws. This caters directly to their natural retrieving instinct.
Handheld ball launchers are an excellent way to exercise your Vizsla. Obviously, the further you can throw the ball the more your dog has to run.
They also make life easier for you as the long handle lets you pick up a ball without having to bend over to the ground. It also prevents you from having to touch a slobbery ball.
The best quality and well-known brand are the Chuckit. These are also extremely inexpensive and well worth having. Check out the Chuckit ball thrower on Amazon.
A great alternative is to use an Automatic Ball Launcher so your dog can play Fetch by themselves. As the Hungarian Vizsla is highly trainable as long as you focus their attention they learn to use this quickly. For more information check out “Automatic Ball Launchers for Dogs”
Frisbee Toss
Most dogs can chase and catch a ball. But a Frisbee requires a little bit more skill, coordination, and timing. Vizslas look spectacular playing this due to their agility. Roll the Frisbee on the ground towards your dog. They will instinctually want to grab it in his mouth.
Once you’ve accomplished this, try tossing it at a very low level first to your dog. If you feel like your dog is ready to go to the next level, toss the disc a little higher and further. Great energy burner and you may be amazed at your dog’s agility and acrobatic skill.
We recommend the Kong Flying Disc which is made from durable rubber making it more suitable for dogs. A normal plastic frisbee will probably get trashed fairly quickly by a dog.
Flirt Pole
A Flirt pole is like a giant cat tickler for dogs. It has a long handle with a bungy type rope with a lure or toy attached to the end. You simply move the lure along the ground around in circles or in different directions as your dog chases it.
This activity is ideal for a Hungarian Vizsla as it works the whole body and strengthens their muscles. It is also one of the fastest ways to burn energy and provide a great aerobic workout for dogs. Be sure they have a good “leave it” command and don’t allow them to destroy the toy. It is important that this be a controlled exercise. For a full guide to flirt pole exercise for dogs see here.
View Flirt Poles on Amazon
Swimming
Swimming is a great exercise for any dog as it burns energy and uses all the muscles groups, in particular, the front legs and shoulders. It is also a low impact activity so doesn’t put a strain on the joints and tendons. It is a good exercise for dogs recovering from injury. See “What is Canine Hydrotherapy” to learn more.
Most Vizslas are excellent swimmers. However, every dog is an individual so some Vizslas may not be keen. Even if your Vizsla isn’t a keen swimmer they may learn to love it if introduced to the water in a non-threatening way. It is best to introduce to the water when they are young if possible.
The exercise benefits to a high energy athletic breed like Vizslas is well worth the effort. For more on swimming exercise for dogs see here.
Running, cycling or skating with your Vizsla
Hungarian Vizslas make great running partners. Due to their high level of endurance, they are great for long runs and even keeping up with cyclists. Bred as hunting dogs, Vizslas are sure-footed and have good reaction time, making them just as good, if not better, on trails as on the road.
For Tips for running with your dog see here.
Play with other dogs
Provide the opportunity for your Vizsla to play with other dogs. This is not only great to burn energy and stimulate their mind, but teaches them important social skills. Most Vizslas are friendly with other dogs but if you are unsure you should supervise.
Tug of War
Tug of war is a great strength building game for all dogs. Make them crouch and pull back to use extra energy. Ensure that this is a controlled game and they release when you want them to.
The purpose of strength-building exercises for dogs is not necessarily. to build muscle bulk. Strong muscles provide protection for the joints and tendons helping to prevent potential injury.
Herding Balls
Although the Hungarian Vizsla are a hunting dog, they are also excellent at herding. They do have a strong natural herding instinct. One of the best way to cater to this instinct if you don’t have livestock is to use a herding ball. It also gives them an excellent aerobic workout and conditions the whole body.
Recommended Herding Balls
Jolly Ball
The Jolly Ball was the original herding ball for dogs and is inexpensive. It is made from hard plastic and is virtually indestructible. However, some dogs are able to scratch the surface with their teeth or claws which can leave sharp ridges on the toy. Can also be filled with water or sand to add weight to give more resistance to the workout.
View Jolly Balls on Amazon
The Jolly ball also comes in a range of sizes from 4 1/2 inches to 14 inches so you can choose the size that is best suited to your particular dog. A further option is the Jolly Soccer Ball if you want to be able to kick it yourself. This ball floats on water and will not puncture.
Virtually Indestructible Ball
The Virtually Indestructible Ball is super tough and is slightly more expensive. It also comes in a range of sizes to suit your particular dog.
View Virtually Indestructible Balls on Amazon
Mental stimulation for Hungarian Vizslas.
All dogs need an outlet for their minds. If they are not provided the opportunity to challenge their minds they will come up with their own ways to achieve this. This usually manifests itself in bad behavior such as excessive barking, digging, escaping and other destructive behaviors. Read “Mental stimulation and mind enrichment for dogs” to learn about the 6 types or categories of mind stimulation a mental enrichment and some great ideas to provide this.
Some ways to provide mental stimulation and enrichment include;
Scenting and nose games
As already mentioned above, scenting and nose games an excellent way to provide mental stimulation for your Vizsla catering to their natural prey locating instincts.
See 12 Scenting and Nose games for dogs for some game ideas.
Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys are ideal for dogs like Hungarian Vizslas to challenge their minds and test their problem-solving skills. Due to their high intelligence, try to find puzzle toys that are a bit more challenging as they tend to work these out quite quickly. Check out “Top puzzle toys for dogs” for my top picks.
In addition to puzzle toys, Kongs for dogs are another great way to get your vizsla to solve a problem and challenge the mind. Read “How to use a Kong for dogs“.
Chew Toys
Provide your Vizsla with good strong chew toys. Chewing is a great way to occupy them. In addition, chewing releases endorphins and helps to relax a dog. Many dogs hold stress in the jaw.
For more on the benefits of chewing and the best chew toys click here.
Learning
Learning is ideal for stimulating a dog’s mind. Teaching new commands and tricks is also excellent to provide mental enrichment. A popular game that involves learning is to teach them the names of their toys. Dogs can learn hundreds of words and names.
Food enrichment
Turn mealtimes into an opportunity for your Hungarian Vizsla to get a mental challenge and enrichment. Instead of feeding them from a bowl, give them activities that require them to work for their food. To learn more about feeding enrichment for dogs see here.
Enrich their environment
Environmental enrichment is the process of making a dog’s living space more engaging and interesting. To learn more about environmental enrichment for dogs see here.
Hungarian Vizsla puppy exercise
The exercise suggestions above relate to a healthy adult Vizsla. The exercise needs of a puppy are quite different. With puppies, their bones, muscle, and joints are still growing and developing.
Overly strenuous walks are not necessary and in fact, could possibly cause harm. Any activity that is high impact on the joints should also be avoided.
The best exercise for a young puppy is free play with age-appropriate toys.
Socializing with other puppies or friendly adult dogs is a great way to burn some of that puppy energy along with teaching them the social skills they need.
As your Vizsla puppy gets older you can take them for short informal walks allowing them to sniff and explore and get used to being on a leash. Puppies under three months probably haven’t had all their vaccinations so shouldn’t be walked in public. Check with your vet when it is alright to venture out to the park or street.
The general rule of thumb for walking a puppy is around 5 minutes for every month of age. So, for example for a 4-month-old puppy, a walk of 15 minutes to 20 minutes is enough. Monitor your Vizsla puppy on the walk for signs such as lagging behind, lying down or panting. End the walk if they seem too tired.
Mental stimulation is important for puppies and can tire them just as much as physical activity. For more on mental stimulation for puppies see here.
For more on exercise for your Vizsla puppy read “How to exercise your puppy”
Over exercised dog symptoms
Hungarian Vizslas can go hard and keep going, often not knowing when to stop. With any dog, it is possible to over-exercise them, especially in hot weather. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a dog that has overdone it. Read “Overexercised dog symptoms” and “Dog exercise in hot weather” to learn more.
In conclusion – How much exercise does a Hungarian Vizsla need
Hungarian Vizslas are high energy and have good levels of endurance. They are also very smart and need to have their mind occupied as well. It is crucial to provide adequate physical and mental exercise and activity to release pent-up energy and prevent boredom.
A minimum of 1 to 2 hours a day of exercise including purposeful activity plus providing mental stimulation is recommended. The cost of not doing so can be an unhappy and frustrated dog. This can lead to behavior issues such as barking, digging, escaping, and destructive behavior.
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