Having decided that the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla is the dog for you your search for a puppy will begin the HWVA has a Breeders List that is available on this site.

Hopefully the puppy that you eventually collect at around 8 weeks old will form part of your family for the next 12 years or so and it is important at this stage to do your homework thoroughly.

• Research the breed: A good way to gain an insight into the breed is to attend a few shows. You can check on the internet for details of dog shows these could be small local open shows, the HWVA’s own championship show held in March at Kenilworth, General Championship shows held up and down the country throughout the year or the Kennel Clubs own show Crufts held at the NEC in March. The Kennel Club also arrange Discover Dogs at ExCel in London in October. Attending a show as an observer will give you the opportunity to meet with the established breeders and exhibitors as well as other newcomers. It will also give you the opportunity to watch dogs in the ring and see whether you have any preference for dogs from any particular kennel. Exhibitors tend to be busy before their classes are judged and it is best to wait until judging has been completed before engaging them in conversation.

• Be prepared to wait for the right puppy: Unfortunately puppies do not always become available at the precise moment in time that you want one and this is when you may have to be patient and place you name on a waiting list. All responsible breeders will put you through the ‘third degree’ and it is right that they should. There is nothing wrong with putting your name on more than one waiting list but it is polite to subsequently remove your name from the list if you find a puppy elsewhere. This is a numerically small breed and breeders will know from each other that you have your names on more than one person’s puppy list.

• Expect to be asked questions and ask questions yourself: The breeder will want to know lots of information about you and your family set up, home and garden, working patterns and intentions regarding any activities you wish to pursue with your puppy and this is the ideal time for you to ask them for information about the bitch and sire of their litter.

• Ask about the bitches breeding history and the puppy’s parent’s health: You should ask the age of the bitch that is having the litter, generally a HWV bitch should not produce a litter before 2 years old or after she is 8 years old. Ask how many litters the bitch has had previously (no bitch should be expected to whelp more than 4 litters in her lifetime) and whether any of these were in the last 12 months, as it is preferable to have at least 12 months between litters. Ask about the health tests results of the parents, they should both be hip scored under the BVA scheme (hips should ideally be around or below the breed mean score, which is 11 (2015)) and tested for HUU (At least one parent should have a “clear” status if you wish to guarantee your puppy won’t be genetically “affected”.  Puppies from other matings can be tested to check their genetic status). Details relating to Hip Scoring & HUU can be found in Health Information on this site. This is also an opportunity to ask about any known health issues the parents of the litter or their extended family may suffer from.

• Be prepared to meet the breeder in person before you collect the puppy: It is likely that the breeder will wish to meet you and the whole of your family before you actually reach the time when you collect your puppy and they may also want you to pay a deposit once the puppies feet are on the ground.

• Collecting the puppy and what to expect: Remember puppies should not change hands before the age of  eight weeks and by law they must be microchipped. All puppies sold over the age of 12 weeks should ideally be fully vaccinated. The breeder of all puppies should provide a satisfactory diet sheet, complete health records, details of worming carried out, a copy of the puppy’s pedigree and KC registration papers. Certificates indicating the parent’s hip scores and HUU status should be available for inspection. The breeder may also provide insurance for the first few weeks that the puppy is with you and this something else you should discuss with them.

What to expect from your breeder when you collect your puppy

You’ve found your perfect puppy and breeder, so what should you expect when you collect your puppy.

A signed, by both parties, contract. This protects the breeder and buyer and ensures that all the relevant documentation that was agreed upon is available when you collect your puppy. It should include the breeders name, address, contact details such as e mail, mobile number and landline. The contract should identify the puppy by KC registration number, microchip number, name and sex. Any warranties or health claims must also be listed in the contract, along with the price. However you pay for your puppy, you should expect a receipt with the puppy identified on it. If the puppy is endorsed, you must be shown the endorsements on the regsitration documents. The contract should set out what the breeder will do if you need to return the puppy at any stage of its life, and all other responsibilities and agreements made between you and the breeder. Your contract may state that you need to have your own vet check the puppy within a certain time frame and what happens if your vet finds a problem with the puppy.

Your puppy pack should include

A health check certificate or consultation notes from the vet if the breeder claims the puppy has been health checked. This vet check should include eyes, ears, umbilical, testicles, teeth, heart, limbs and general condition. Anything remarkable should be commented on. Any treatment that the puppy has received, whilst in the care of the breeder, should be on the health check form and may make the free insurance invalid.

Your puppy’s pedigree (family tree)

Details about your puppy’s microchip and how to transfer ownership.

Information about your puppy’s vaccination (if relevant) and worming treatments

Kennel Club 5 weeks free insurance. Your breeder may have chosen another insurance, but you should have at least 4 weeks free insurance that covers your puppy for injury and accident from the time you collect him. This insurance must be activated BEFORE you take your puppy from the breeder, and you should have a cover note in your puppy pack. Delays at the Kennel Club in receiving the hard copies of registration documents does not mean that your puppy can’t be insured. As long as the breeder has registered the litter and the KC have e mailed back with the puppies names and registration numbers, the breeder can set the free insurance up for you.

Copies of health certificates regarding the puppy’s mother and father

You should also expect advice and guidance on socialisation, exercise and training, information about the breed, including advice on exercise, grooming, feeding, worming regime with dates treated, product used and dates that puppy needs worming in the future.

You should expect to be given, by the breeder enough food for a few days or your breeder should have ensured that you have food ready at home.

Collecting your puppy is an exciting time but DO make sure that everything is in order and that you have all the relevant paperwork. Should you need to claim on the insurance, return the puppy, should the puppy be diagnosed with an illness or condition, then you know what will happen and how your breeder will respond.

Now go and enjoy your puppy!

Information about breed relevant health tests can be found on our health pages by clicking here.