45-50 lbs
20-22"
Unknown
The Vizsla Staff is the result of a cross between the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Vizsla. This is an athletic dog with plenty of energy and a jovial personality. These pups are deeply devoted to their owners and are happy to be lapdogs, despite averaging about 50 pounds! Their short coats are low shedding and require minimal maintenance and despite being at risk for a few diseases, they are generally very healthy. Their intelligence and love of humans makes them excellent candidates to be service dogs, and they make a wonderful pet for an active family.
The Vizsla Staff is a recent hybrid breed, thus its exact origins and history have yet to be discovered. However, it’s parent breeds have longer histories and have been popular in the United States for many years. The Vizsla is a very old breed, originating in Hungary. Their exact date of origin is unclear but there is evidence in artwork from Central Europe of dogs resembling the Vizsla dating back as far as the 10th century. They are believed to be descended from the Turkish Yellow Dog, the Transylvanian Hound, and the Weimaraner. It is believed that they were first used for falconing but later evolved into use as pointers and retrievers. Vizslas even had a role in World War I during which they helped deliver letters! They found their way into the United States during the 1950s and were admitted into the American Kennel Club in 1960. Since then they have remained a popular breed in the United States. The American Staffordshire Terrier can trace its origin back to 1800s England where it was bred as a farm dog. These pups were in charge of corralling bulls for butchers, which is why they were bred to be fierce (yet obedient). Farmers needed a tough dog that could stand up to the size and fury of a full grown bull. Sadly, these dogs were long used in dog fighting rings as well. For many years these pups were known as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, but after arriving in the US, American breeders began to favor larger dogs and eventually the American incarnation of the breed became known as the American Staffordshire Terrier. There are few differences between the two breeds, apart from the size. The American Staffordshire Terrier was admitted in to the AKC in 1936 and has been a prevalent breed ever since.
Vizsla Staffs are strong, athletic dogs with graceful trots. They may be fine boned and lean like the Vizsla, or stocky and buff like the American Staffordshire Terrier. They have a short, glossy coat, and a short tail that forms a point at the tip. Their legs are straight and their paws are round. They may inherit the broad head of the American Staffordshire Terrier, or the more fine boned skull of the Vizsla. The ears may be small, high, and pointed, or low and floppy, and large — or somewhere in between! Their eyes will be brown and their nose may be brown or black. Their coat could be the trademark rust color of the Vizsla but may come in any color combination, like that of the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The Vizsla Staff is easy to groom because its short, smooth coat is low shedding. Occasional brushing will help remove excess dead hair as well as dust and dirt, which will keep the coat shiny and smooth. These dogs have almost no odor, so you can bathe them only as needed. It is best to brush their teeth weekly, at minimum, this will help prevent gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath (a trait they inherit from the American Staffordshire Terrier). Trim your pup’s toe nails when you begin to hear them clicking on the floor (probably about once per month).
The Vizsla Staff is an intelligent, active dog that is extremely fond of humans. Both Vizslas and American Staffordshire Terriers are known for their affection for people (the Vizsla has even earned the nickname “Velcro dog”) and this is a trait that the Vizsla Staff has definitely inherited. They are happy to be with their people at all times. They are fiercely loyal and make excellent guard dogs because of their propensity to bark at any sign of disturbance. They may appear fierce, but they are typically quick to warm up to strangers as soon as they realize there is no threat. Their solid build and deep bark can be intimidating, so it’s important to train your Vizsla Staff well so that it will back down upon command, and won’t leave strangers feeling threatened. These dogs are great with kids, but are best suited to older kids because of their size; their boisterous nature may lead to them knocking smaller children over during playtime. Vizslas and American Staffordshire Terriers are both sensitive, gentle breeds. They are easy to train because of their eagerness to please (though Am Staffs may have a stubborn streak), but they don’t respond well to harsh training methods. Be sure to use a reward based training program with your Vizsla Staff to create the best experience for both you and your pup. Vizsla Staffs generally get along well with other dogs, particularly if they are socialized from a young age. They can coexist with cats, though they sometimes have a tendency to chase smaller animals. Because of their intelligence and incredible amount of energy, it’s important to ensure that your pup gets plenty of exercise. They love to be outdoors, but don’t plan to leave them alone in the yard for too long, because they are sensitive and prone to separation anxiety.
The Vizsla Staff is an active dog that will require a large amount of daily activity. You should plan to spend about 60 to 90 minutes exercising your dog each day in order to keep its energy in check. When they don’t receive enough exercise these dogs can be very difficult to control; they may bark, and become destructive. Many a pair of shoes has been sacrificed to a bored dog, so be sure to exercise them consistently! These pups are excellent jogging companions, but they also excel at agility and obedience competitions. When they are well exercised they are more than happy to spend their downtime as lapdogs. These dogs can live anywhere, as long as they receive plenty of exercise, but a house with a fenced yard for them to run and romp in is ideal. They can adapt to any climate, but their thin coats don’t insulate them from the cold. If you live in a cool climate you may need to invest in a jacket for your pup.
Written by a Border Collie lover Janine DeVault
Published: 01/12/2018, edited: 02/24/2021
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