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Vizsla & Lab Mix: Info, Pictures, Characteristics, & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Beautiful Vizsla lab mix

Height: 21–25 inches
Weight: 55–75 pounds
Lifespan: 10–14 years
Colors: Black, fawn, brown, cream, red
Suitable for: Adventurous families, kids of all ages, other pets, houses with large yards, hunters
Temperament: Intelligent, outgoing, friendly, loyal, protective, curious, family-oriented

The Vizsla Lab is a mixed breed that is the result of pairing the Hungarian Vizsla and the Labrador Retriever. These strong, personable dogs are fun-loving by nature, but they tend to maintain the prey drive that they developed as hunters over the years. They need to be socialized with other animals—especially small ones—from a young age if they’ll be expected not to give chase at the sight of every cat that runs by.

These outgoing dogs love their family members and will do anything to make them happy. Their penchant to please and their high intelligence typically make these dogs easy to train, both as puppies and as adults. Vizsla Labs are the perfect playmates for kids, although their frisky nature could be a danger to toddlers if not supervised during interactions.

Unlike the Hungarian Vizsla which has been in existence since the 10th century and the Labrador Retriever which has been around since the 1500s, the Vizsla Lab isn’t an old crossbreed. They’re thought to have been developed in the 1980s, but there is no concrete evidence to back up that claim. No matter this mixed breed’s history much can be learned about them by studying their parent breeds.

We present everything that you need to know about the Vizsla Lab here in this guide.

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Vizsla Lab Puppies

Yellow labrador vizsla mix puppy_Jared Cook_shutterstock
Image Credit: Jared Cook, Shutterstock
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

This mixed breed is typically less expensive than other crossbreeds on the market simply because they aren’t as popular. Still, being less expensive doesn’t mean it’s not a high price, so be wary of breeders trying to sell you a Vizsla Lab puppy for low prices. This can be a sign that you’re dealing with an inexperienced breeder or a puppy mill.

Vizsla Labs are happy puppies, but they turn into curious and energetic adults who require a great deal of love and commitment. They’re a great choice for families that have enough space for their dogs to run around in. Vizsla Labs are loving and loyal dogs that create strong bonds, especially with children.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Vizsla Labrador

1. They’ve been assigned multiple names.

The Vizsla Lab mix has been assigned multiple different names by breeders and dog clubs throughout the years. They are sometimes called Labralas and sometimes Viszladors. Vizsla and Vizslabrador are other nicknames that they are sometimes referred to as.

2. They are obsessed with the water.

The Vizsla Lab mix takes after both their parent breeds when it comes to spending time in the water. These dogs can efficiently hunt waterfowl. They love to swim for fun, and they’ll take advantage of a wading pool in the yard on a hot sunny day. They’ve even been known to catch a few waves when visiting the beach with their owners.

3. They’re excellent working dogs.

These dogs can do more than hunt and spend time in the family home. Like their parent breeds, they can be excellent service and rescue dogs with the right training.

The parent breeds of Vizsla & Lab Mix
The parent breeds of Vizsla & Lab Mix: Left – Labrador Retriever (Henry Ravenscroft, Unsplash) | Right – Hungarian Vizsla (Daniel Johnson, Pexels)

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Vizsla Lab Mix 🧠

This crossbreed dog will stick to their family members like glue and tend to develop separation anxiety if they are left alone too often. It’s recommended that working owners make dog-sitting arrangements or hire a dog walker to keep their Vizsla Lab mix happy during the day. They love playing in the yard during the day and enjoy nothing more than a long snuggle when it is time to settle down in the evening.

The Vizsla Lab is intelligent and easy to train, but training should be ongoing throughout their life to ensure proper behavior at home and out in public. Their happy-go-lucky personality makes them an awesome playmate for children. They can even handle a little teasing from the younger kids without getting aggressive or pushy.

These dogs like to protect their family members, so owners shouldn’t be surprised when their dogs bark at strangers who are walking up to the front door. Their agile bodies make them efficient when it comes to breaking out of fenced yards. But if they are trained to stay inside their contained yard, they will usually cooperate. All in all, Vizsla Labs are well-rounded dogs that can adapt to a wide range of environments and situations.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

As mentioned, the Vizsla Lab mix makes for a great family pet. They like to please and are rarely aggressive, so they can be trusted to behave in the chaotic and loud setting that kids are good at creating. They can get too excited when young kids are acting rowdy, though, which could result in an accidental injury. Children should learn to stay calm and even-tempered when spending time indoors with these dogs.

They should know how to use the “sit” and “stay” commands when running and playing outside with the dog.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

This crossbreed can easily get along with other dogs, especially those living in the same household. They like to be the life of the party at the dog park, and they will happily introduce themselves to strange dogs when they meet one on the streets. This can put them in danger when meeting an aggressive dog, though, so they should always be kept on a leash when in public.

If they are introduced to cats and other small pets while still puppies and are taught not to chase them, these dogs shouldn’t have a problem living in the same household with those other pets as time goes on.

Brown labrador vizsla puppy walks through bush_Jared Cook_shutterstock
Image Credit: Jared Cook, Shutterstock

Divider 4Things to Know When Owning a Vizsla Lab Mix

If you want to make sure that your Vizsla Lab puppy grows into a strong and healthy adult, you should make a game plan for how to care for them properly from the time that you first bring them home. Here is what you need to know to come up with a successful game plan.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Vizsla Lab has a big appetite to match their active lifestyle. Owners can expect them to eat between 3 and 4 cups of dry commercial food each day or the equivalent in commercial wet or homemade food. They do well on a high-quality commercial diet if the food features real meat as the protein source and real fruits and vegetables as the main carbohydrate energy source.

Choosing a food that is free of animal by-products and artificial ingredients will help ensure a long and happy life for your Vizsla Lab pup.

Exercise 🐕

With such an energetic personality, the Vizsla Lab won’t be content spending their days locked inside the house. While they love cuddling up with family members and laying in front of the fire on a chilly afternoon, they need about 90 minutes of vigorous exercise and activity to stay healthy and happy throughout their puppy, adult, and senior years.

A daily walk is a must, as is time playing fetch or running around in the yard. These dogs will never turn down a trip to the dog park. They also love playing with toys and engaging in activities like hide-and-seek when spending time indoors. They can even be trained to walk on a treadmill for exercise when the weather is too bad to go outside for a walk.

Training 🦮

It’s necessary to invest time in obedience training if you expect your Vizsla Lab mix to behave well as they get older. They should learn how to come, sit, and stay while they are still puppies. Practicing the stay command will help teach your pooch patience so they can get along well in the family household. The Vizsla Lab mix is extremely agile, which makes them excellent candidates to participate in agility competitions.

Agility training in a public setting will allow your pooch to socialize with other dogs while expelling pent-up energy and challenging their mind. These dogs can also be trained as service animals, which will allow them to do things like help a family member with PTSD or help out at a facility where you volunteer your own time.

Grooming ✂️

These dogs like to groom themselves, so they rarely need bathing. They do shed but brushing them two or three times a week should keep the shedding under control and help ensure that tangles don’t develop. They should get enough outdoor exercise to keep their nails naturally trimmed, but they should still be checked regularly for cracks, chips, and splits. They are prone to ear infections, so the ears should be checked for redness and swelling before being thoroughly cleaned with a damp cloth once a week or so.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Unfortunately, there are several health problems that Vizsla and Lab mixes are susceptible to. With quality veterinary care and the awareness of these possible problems, though, you can protect your pooch from these health conditions.

Minor Conditions
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Ectropion
  • Entropion
  • Otitis interna
  • Otitis media
Serious Conditions
  • Gastric torsion
  • Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Epilepsy
  • Congenital eye defects

Divider 5Male vs. Female

While both male and female Vizsla Lab mixes are generally smart, loyal, and energetic, there are anecdotal accounts of gender differences to be aware of. Some owners feel that their females are easier to housetrain than their males, especially if the males have not been neutered. Males are sometimes more excitable and needy than females, but both genders can become rambunctious at times.

Any other behavior differences seem to be derived from the unique personality of each dog.

Divider 3Final Thoughts

Whether you are looking for a hunting companion or a fun family dog, the Vizsla Lab mix is worth your consideration. These friendly dogs can get along well in a variety of different household dynamics: with or without kids and with or without other pets. They love the great outdoors and would make awesome camping and hiking companions.

Their fun-loving attitude and willingness to please are traits that any dog owner can appreciate.

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Featured Image Credit: Ivanova N, Shutterstock

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