Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Vizslas Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Vizslas Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Vizslas Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Vizslas Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Vizslas Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Vizslas Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Vizslas Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Vizslas Easy to Train?
- Do Vizslas Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Vizslas Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Vizslas have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Vizslas Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Vizslas Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Vizslas Playful? What is the Energy Level of Vizslas
- Conclusion on Vizsla Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Vizsla
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Vizsla out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Vizsla based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Vizsla breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Vizsla by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Vizsla.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Vizsla for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Vizsla.
The summary table below shows the score of the Vizsla for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 75.8 percent |
| Energy Level | 71.3 percent |
| Excitability | 62.7 percent |
| Prey Drive | 56.0 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 38.3 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 32.7 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 31.7 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 31.3 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 29.7 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 20.7 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 19.9 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 19.4 percent |
| Stubbornness | 14.8 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 11.5 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Vizsla`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Vizsla, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Vizsla.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Vizslas Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Vizslas are somewhat aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Vizsla ranks average for aggression towards strangers.
The Vizsla ranks number 68 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 29.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat aggressive towards strangers just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 30.2 % |
| 66 | Basenji | 29.9 % |
| 67 | Poodle (Standard) | 29.9 % |
| 68 | Vizsla | 29.7 % |
| 69 | Gordon Setter | 28.8 % |
| 70 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 28.8 % |
| 71 | English Springer Spaniel | 28.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Vizslas Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Vizslas are a little bit aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Vizsla ranks low for aggression towards its owner.
The Vizsla ranks number 78 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has an owner-directed-aggression score of 11.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit owner-aggressive just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Norwegian Elkhound | 11.8 % |
| 76 | Whippet | 11.6 % |
| 77 | Airedale Terrier | 11.5 % |
| 78 | Vizsla | 11.5 % |
| 79 | Havanese | 11.4 % |
| 80 | Golden Retriever | 11.2 % |
| 81 | Australian Kelpie | 11.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Vizslas Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Vizslas are a little bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Vizsla ranks low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Vizsla ranks number 76 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has a dog-directed aggression score of 38.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit dog-aggressive just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | Gordon Setter | 40.2 % |
| 74 | Great Dane | 39.8 % |
| 75 | Bulldog | 39.4 % |
| 76 | Vizsla | 38.3 % |
| 77 | American Bulldog | 37.3 % |
| 78 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 37.1 % |
| 79 | Rottweiler | 36.9 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Vizslas Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Vizslas are a little bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Vizsla ranks low for fear of strangers.
The Vizsla ranks number 81 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has a stranger-directed-fear score of 20.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit stranger-fearful just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | Pit Bull | 21.2 % |
| 79 | English Bulldog | 21.1 % |
| 80 | Whippet | 20.7 % |
| 81 | Vizsla | 20.7 % |
| 82 | Boston Terrier | 19.6 % |
| 83 | Jack Russell Terrier | 19.5 % |
| 84 | Alaskan Malamute | 19.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Vizslas Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Vizslas are somewhat fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Vizsla ranks average for fear of other dogs.
The Vizsla ranks number 70 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has a dog-directed-fear score of 32.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat other-dog-fearful just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | Greyhound | 34.9 % |
| 68 | Basset Hound | 33.6 % |
| 69 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 33.6 % |
| 70 | Vizsla | 32.7 % |
| 71 | Standard Schnauzer | 32.6 % |
| 72 | Poodle (Standard) | 32.0 % |
| 73 | Norwegian Elkhound | 31.8 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Vizslas Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Vizslas are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Vizsla ranks low for non-social fear.
The Vizsla ranks number 93 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has a nonsocial-fear score of 19.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 19.8 % |
| 91 | Belgian Malinois | 19.7 % |
| 92 | Labrador Retriever | 19.7 % |
| 93 | Vizsla | 19.4 % |
| 94 | Irish Wolfhound | 18.7 % |
| 95 | Weimaraner | 18.4 % |
| 96 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 18.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Vizslas Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Vizslas are a little bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Vizsla ranks low on dog rivalry.
The Vizsla ranks number 83 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has a dog-rivalry score of 31.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit competition-driven just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | Miniature Schnauzer | 32.6 % |
| 81 | Newfoundland | 32.6 % |
| 82 | West Highland White Terrier | 32.5 % |
| 83 | Vizsla | 31.7 % |
| 84 | Irish Water Spaniel | 31.5 % |
| 85 | Borzoi | 31.5 % |
| 86 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 31.5 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Vizslas Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Vizslas are very much easy to train.
This is because the Vizsla ranks very high for trainability.
The Vizsla ranks number 18 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the trainability of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has a trainability score of 85.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much easy to train just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Collie | 86.4 % |
| 16 | German Shepherd | 86.0 % |
| 17 | Golden Retriever | 85.8 % |
| 18 | Vizsla | 85.2 % |
| 19 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 84.6 % |
| 20 | Shetland Sheepdog | 84.3 % |
| 21 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 83.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Vizsla is and how the intelligence of the Vizsla affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Vizsla is.
Do Vizslas Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Vizslas are quite a bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Vizsla ranks high for small-pet-chasing.
The Vizsla ranks number 48 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has a chasing score of 56.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | English Springer Spaniel | 56.7 % |
| 46 | Old English Sheepdog | 56.5 % |
| 47 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 56.2 % |
| 48 | Vizsla | 56.0 % |
| 49 | German Shepherd | 54.8 % |
| 50 | Redbone Coonhound | 54.8 % |
| 51 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 54.7 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Vizslas Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Vizslas are very much attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Vizsla ranks very high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Vizsla ranks number 14 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 75.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much attachment/attention-seeking just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Miniature Pinscher | 78.6 % |
| 12 | Poodle (Miniature) | 77.9 % |
| 13 | Parson Russell Terrier | 75.8 % |
| 14 | Vizsla | 75.8 % |
| 15 | Yorkshire Terrier | 75.1 % |
| 16 | Gordon Setter | 74.7 % |
| 17 | Belgian Malinois | 74.4 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Vizslas have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Vizslas are a little bit prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Vizsla ranks low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Vizsla ranks number 78 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has a separation anxiety score of 31.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Belgian Sheepdog | 31.5 % |
| 76 | Australian Cattle Dog | 31.4 % |
| 77 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 31.4 % |
| 78 | Vizsla | 31.3 % |
| 79 | German Shepherd | 30.7 % |
| 80 | Anatolian Shepherd | 30.5 % |
| 81 | Poodle (Standard) | 30.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Vizslas Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Vizslas are not touch-sensitive.
This is because the Vizsla ranks very low for touch sensitivity.
The Vizsla ranks number 98 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has a touch-sensitivity score of 19.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are not touch-sensitive just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 20.5 % |
| 96 | Giant Schnauzer | 20.2 % |
| 97 | Great Pyrenees | 20.2 % |
| 98 | Vizsla | 19.9 % |
| 99 | Doberman Pinscher | 19.4 % |
| 100 | Anatolian Shepherd | 19.3 % |
| 101 | Mastiff (English) | 19.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Vizslas Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Vizslas are very much hyper (excitable).
This is because the Vizsla ranks very high for excitability.
The Vizsla ranks number 12 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has an excitability score of 62.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much excitable just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Old English Sheepdog | 65.0 % |
| 10 | Pekingese | 63.4 % |
| 11 | West Highland White Terrier | 62.8 % |
| 12 | Vizsla | 62.7 % |
| 13 | Miniature Pinscher | 62.3 % |
| 14 | Boston Terrier | 61.9 % |
| 15 | Boxer | 61.8 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Vizslas Playful? What is the Energy Level of Vizslas
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Vizslas are quite a bit energetic.
This is because the Vizsla ranks high for energy level.
The Vizsla ranks number 27 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 46 Vizsla owners reported on the temperament of their Vizsla in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Vizsla has an energy-level score of 71.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit energetic just like the Vizsla are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 73.2 % |
| 25 | American Eskimo Dog | 73.2 % |
| 26 | Border Collie | 71.3 % |
| 27 | Vizsla | 71.3 % |
| 28 | Doberman Pinscher | 70.7 % |
| 29 | Irish Water Spaniel | 70.6 % |
| 30 | Dalmatian | 70.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Vizsla Temperament
The temperament of your Vizsla comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Vizsla is exposed to.
You cannot change your Vizsla`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Vizsla to.
Exposing your Vizsla to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Vizsla to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Vizsla`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Vizsla.
If you think the Vizsla is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Vizslas cost and Vizsla puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Vizsla breeders in the United States and the prices of their Vizsla puppies.