Varazs Perm. Reg'd Vizslas breeds for quality, not quantity and have produced only ten litters since 1992.  While I want to create the perfect Vizsla, I know this is an ideal rather than a reality. There is no perfect dog.  I do, however, strive to:

be a responsible breeder
be an ethical breeder
produce healthy dogs with excellent temperaments
produce Vizslas with characteristic, versatile and working abilities
produce Vizslas with excellent conformation.

Improving the breed is something else I strive to do.  Admittedly, the improvement is limited to my dogs rather than the breed overall, given my very low breeding rate.  To improve my dogs, I carefully select breeding stock with outstanding qualities and test the hips, eyes and thyroids of my breeding stock and insist the same tests be carried out on those dogs I don't own. Health is always a gamble.  Unfortunately no genetic tests are available for our breed.  All I can do is breed dogs that are healthy at the time of breeding and try to find out as much as possible about their ancestors. 

I don't breed Vizslas just to meet public demand or to help offset costs of my other dogs, two reasons I have unfortunately overheard or witnessed other Vizsla breeders state!!  

Breeding responsibly is expensive, exhausting and stressful.  Many a night I have lain awake, worrying about the fate of puppies that I have brought into this world, wondering if they will live long and healthy lives and be loved and well taken care of.  For more on ethics, please visit www.dog-play.com/ethics.html.

Puppies are only sold to loving and caring homes where people will devote sufficient time to exercise these dogs.  Preference is first given to buyers who are willing to give their Vizsla a "career"  and will agree to earn at least one title, whether it's in conformation, obedience, field, tracking, or agility.  This is because this breed is one of the most versatile in the world and also because Vizslas excel and enjoy activities. Training and being actively involved with your dog also enhances the human/animal bond which is so rewarding for the creatures at both ends of the lead.  And there is now research that proves dogs that are mentally stimulated throughout their lives stave off senility and old age better than dogs that aren't required to use their brains.  I did not allow my dog Sasha to retire and he earned his last title at the age of 14.5 years of age.  He remained mentally and physically in good condition into his 16th year.  From time to time, Varazs Reg'd Vizslas has a puppy that's not show quality, but for the reasons above, I still encourage owners to train and compete in obedience, agility, field, rally, etc. because their dogs will have so much fun.

In general, I don't usually sell my puppies to homes with children under the age of eight.  While the breed is known for being good around children, Vizslas are a very demanding breed and require a lot of time and attention.  High energy dogs combined with high energy children make for a wild household.  In the competition for parents' time and the demand placed on parents with young children, it's the Vizsla that usually loses out.  A Vizsla that doesn't get enough time, attention, training and exercise will be bouncing off the walls and driving its people crazy; and sometimes this will leave to destruction inside the house.

Our dogs reside inside our house as our family members, not in outdoor kennels.  They each have their own crates and beds.  They are allowed on the furniture in our family room.  Sometimes it's a challenge for the humans to get sufficient space on the couch but we've managed to squeeze in five adult Vizslas and two humans.  It makes for a very cosy arrangement.  Our puppies are also whelped and raised inside the house.  

BREEDER AIMS AND GOALS

• To investigate and combat breed-specific health problems and to screen and clear all breeding stock we own against hip dysplasia, genetic eye diseases,  and thyroid disease before breeding.
• To use only breeding stock with hips rated OFA ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ (absolutely no ‘fair’).
• To breed the healthiest, most beautiful and intelligent Vizslas with the best temperaments possible.
• To produce quality litters from time to time.
• To educate our puppy buyers in the joys and responsibilities of owning and raising a Vizsla and to encourage them to get involved in conformation, obedience, field, tracking, agility and other canine activities to stimulate their dogs and to enhance the human/animal bond.
• To keep the Vizsla breed versatile by training, competing and earning "degrees" with our dogs in CKC/AKC conformation, obedience, and field, as well as other canine sports where time and money permit.
• To provide a lifetime commitment to the dogs I breed and sell.

HOW ARE OUR PUPPIES RAISED?

• Whelped and raised with love inside our home
• Tails docked and dewclaws removed when pups are 2 - 3 days old
• Gently handled by humans every day
• Wormed and given up-to-date inoculations
• Weaning begins at around 5 weeks
• Remain with the mother for the entire time and play with our older dogs when ready 
• Tattooed and registered with the Canadian Kennel Club
• Clicker- and crate-trained
• Increasingly exposed to a variety of visual, auditory and tactile stimuli 
• Socialized and not less than 8 weeks of age before leaving for their new home
• Sold to approved homes only and matched to owners' needs and interests
• Sold on non-breeding contracts until it can be determined they are of breeding quality or not.
• Show-potential dogs are co-owned with the breeder until the dog turns 5 years of age or are spayed/neutered.

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WHAT DOES YOUR PUPPY COME WITH?

• Customized sales agreements for show-potential puppies and non-show
• Starter kit of food and water (unless shipped by air) and written instructions on feeding and training
• 3 generation pedigree and copies of sire's & dam's pedigrees, health & title certificates
• Puppy photos and photos of dam and sire
• Follow-up information and assistance

WHAT MY SALES AGREEMENT INCLUDES

Highlights of Breeder's Commitments and Guarantees:

• Dam is clear of hip and elbow dysplasia and has hips rated only as "good" or "excellent" (OFA system)
• Dam's eyes and thryoid are tested
• Sire is clear of hip dysplasia with hips rated only as "good" or "excellent" (OFA system)
• Puppy's health guarantee is 4 years against genetic diseases with a replacement puppy or 50% of the purchase price refunded (original dog can be kept by the owner)
• Sliding refund scale for dogs being returned, depending on dog's age
• Lifetime return policy (I require that my dogs be returned to me f it doesn't work out with the owner)
• Dogs are tattooed and registered with Cdn Kennel Club
• Tails are docked and dewclaws removed
• To provide as much information and support as possible to assist owners with the health, well-being and training of their puppies

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Highlights of commitments I seek from owners:

• Raise the puppy with love in a stable, non-smoking environment
• Crate the puppy when owners are out and when transported via a vehicle
• Provide fresh water and feed high quality commercial dog food (NOT raw!)
• Provide vigorous daily exercise, suitable to the dog's age
• Keep dog at its ideal weight with nails trimmed
• Not leave the dog tied up or left unattended in a yard for extended periods of time
• Complete three 8-week training sessions before the pup's first birthday
• Use positive training methods only and no electronic shock collars
• Train for and complete one title on the dog by its third birthday
• Show show-quality dogs to attain a championship title (I provide free handling if I handle the dog at dog shows) 
• Keep dog vaccinated annually as per the owner's local regulations and free of parasites
• X-rays hips for hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia
• Spay/neuter non-show-quality dogs or dogs that will not be used for breeding
• Agreement to co-own show-potential puppies until the dog's 5th birthday