Responsible Breeding

Many responsible breeders are working to keep prices reasonable in an effort to discourage puppy mill breeders (See www.nopuppymills.com for more information) Ask the breeder of any litter you consider about the goals of their breeding program; ask why they paired the parents of this litter and about titles the parents have earned. Make sure that both parents have been cleared of hip dysplasia by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) registry. Get a copy of OFA numbers for both parents and ask for proof, as on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals web site, not just their word for it. When you acquire a puppy from a reputable breeder, you also acquire support throughout the lifetime of your dog. Be suspicious of any "bargain" prices for this breed, especially if "registered" or "papers" is part of the selling pitch, or without show titles or field titles and OFA numbers. Make sure the puppy you are purchasing is registered with the American Kennel Club, with Wirehaired Vizslas registered through the Foundation Stock Service. Avoid purchasing a puppy from a breeder with whom you do not have a good rapport and avoid puppy mill, pet store and total Internet purchases.

Sometimes, breeders may seem "snooty" to first time owners, and you should not purchase a puppy from someone with whom you feel you can have no rapport, but because of the protective needs of this breed and because of their own breeding objectives, many breeders may seem reluctant to take a chance on a newcomer, especially one who only wants a pet and won't even consider doing any competitive events with the dog. You need to sell yourself to the breeder as much or more than you need to be able to pay for a Vizsla or Wirehaired Vizsla puppy, and you need to keep an open mind about what you might do with the dog in the future with the breeder's help and encouragement. You are buying more than a dog. You are buying a carefully planned breeding, a pedigree, and a lifetime relationship with a breeder.

WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM US AS A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER

We breed only to produce puppies of excellent quality and to improve on the qualities of the sire and dam in temperament, structure, train-ability, and hunting ability. We know of no other valid reason to breed. We screen breeding stock for hereditary diseases, and only then do we begin to study pedigrees carefully to make as sure as possible that there are no genetic health or temperament problems being brought in from either the sire or dam's side. We breed no Vizsla or Wirehaired Vizsla before they are two years old, and certified free of hip dysplasia from OFA, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. All certified dogs over two years of age will have a link to their OFA certification for your review. We have at least a four generation pedigree of the puppy, available for the puppy buyer to study, and we can intelligently discuss the traits of the dogs in that pedigree, and tell why this particular breeding was done. You may be able to meet the dam if she is on site, and we will be able to show you pictures of the sire and dam if he or she does not live in my home. Not all of the dogs or litters on this web site are at the home of Nancy Edmunds in Winder Ga. Many of the dogs seen on this site and puppies advertised, belong to the owner or co-owner and are at their homes. We may use this web site as a vehicle to get the word out about that particular litter being available.

We screen puppy buyers carefully to make sure they understand what the Vizsla or Wirehaired Vizsla is like to live with, as they are not for everyone. Please read the About the Vizsla page on this site to better understand the temperaments and personalities of the two Vizsla Breeds. Expect to be interviewed and have questions asked of you. When inquiring about a puppy, please let us know whether you are looking for a show, hunt or performance event puppy. The more flexible you are with the puppy's sex, the better chance you have of there being a puppy for you. We will want to know if you have other pets, small children and if you have a fenced yard. We discuss spaying and neutering with you at the time of inquiry, and will require that all are to be altered if not being shown and finished as an AKC Champion. All Wirehaired Vizsla puppies tails are docked 1/4 off per the WHVCA standard at 3 days old, along with both front dew claws. The smooth Vizsla tails are docked 1/3 off per the VCA standard. All puppies will carry the prefix of "Vizcaya's" on their registered name, unless the puppy is coming from another breeder/kennel. We normally take a word from one of the parent's names or come up with a theme and will expect use in the registered name of the new puppy.

We require, through a contract agreement and Limited Registration, that neutering and spaying be done if you are not purchasing a conformation show puppy, and include this in our contracts. We adopt the protocol of Dr. Laura J. Sanborn M.S. and the protocol of Dr. Chris Zink DVM, PhD, DACVP when it comes to neutering and spaying dogs who will not be exhibited. If a puppy coming from my kennel is spayed or neutered before the agreed time frame, I will no longer guarantee health issues for that dog. Exhibited puppies will also go with a contract stating our agreement about showing and possible breeding. Since we breed for conformation excellence and hunting ability, those homes that will be taking their dogs to a title in those venues will have first choice out of a litter. Agility and obedience or other performance event will have next preference. Deposits placed are to hold a puppy for you until they are 7.5 to 8 weeks old, are ready to go to their new homes, but are not necessarily to establish an order of choosing. Please do not ask to choose your puppy before the designated release date at 7.5 to 8 weeks old. Deposits can be made with a valid check, or through PayPal using your credit card. PayPal deposit payments must include the 4% fee added to the deposit. Final payments made through PayPal must include the 4% fee added to the balance. Checks must be written out to Nancy Edmunds, not Vizcaya Vizslas. The balance is due when the puppies are 8 weeks old, whether you take your puppy home then or later. Please do not ask to take your puppy home any earlier than the stated ages. Deposits are only refundable when we cannot provide you with a puppy. We do not always have all venues coming out of each litter so there are usually puppies for the couch and the park! When picking up your puppy we will provide you with a packet of important papers. The AKC registration paperwork will be sent in with the rest of the litter, to AKC along with a $20 check you provide at puppy pick up.

After all monetary agreements have been met and contract signatures are acquired we provide the following paperwork: AKC, UKC or NAVHDA registration forms; copies of the OFA certifications for both parents; pamphlet to help with training, feeding and learning about the breed ; vaccine and de-worming records for the puppy and a four generation pedigree of the puppy you are purchasing. On occasion we may be making trips to various parts of the southeast, and it may be possible for us to bring your puppy to a location nearer you. If not, you will be expected to come to my home in order to pick up your new puppy.

We wean our puppies at 4 to 5 weeks of age, socialize the puppies well and allow them to go to their new homes at about 8 weeks of age. Puppies will be de-wormed, vaccinated, and be clean and healthy for going to their new home. We provide a Puppy Information sheet to help you with your first days and years with the puppy, and we are always here to answer questions and provide suggestions and support for the life of the dog.

Please understand that the Vizsla and the Wirehaired Vizsla are two separate breeds and therefore,

if bred together, would be considered mixed breeds and could not be registered.

We make it clear in our contract that we will take the dog back at any time during it's life,

should your circumstances prevent you from keeping the dog.

Recommended books to help you learn about the Vizsla!!

The Versatile Vizsla by Marion Coffman

The Complete Vizsla by Gay Gottlieb

The Hungarian Vizsla by Gay Gottlieb