How to Train a Vizsla to Point

The first thing you need to do is teach your Vizsla to stop at the sound of a whistle. The sharp sound should make them pause instantly, so just reward that quickly each time and they will swiftly get into the habit of stopping when they hear you whistle.

Now place a dummy toy in a launcher and position it so it will land around 10 yards in front of you. Now call your dog to you, launch the dummy and whistle to ensure they stop in front of you.

Each time your Vizsla successfully stops, go over and give them a tasty reward. Alternatively, you can play around with a toy for a minute. You can also shower them in verbal praise.

Now start heading out looking for prey. As soon as a pigeon flies away, for example, issue a whistle to remind the dog what is expected. Again reward them when they stop and point. You need to practice this regularly until it becomes habit.

Now set up the launcher with a bird or prey in it. Head towards it from down wind side. As soon as the dog makes game, launch the bird. Before you know it they will stop as soon as they smell the bird. Then just practice this in a few different locations until they get the hang of it.

When your Vizsla is just a puppy, let them chase after prey all on their own. It won’t take them long to realize simply running towards them barking won’t give them much success. Instead they will naturally learn to creep and approach prey with more stealth. They will, in effect, teach themselves the basics.

Prepare a decoy with scent spray or a bird. Ensure you and your dog, on a check cord, are downwind of the bird. Watch your Vizsla to see when they pick up the scent. Then as soon as they do, release the launcher. This helps them naturally develop pointing, without confusing them.

They will naturally want to chase after the bird. And simply holding them back for a couple of seconds will make them want to chase after it even more. So hold them back until the bird is in the air and then let them give chase, ensuring they won’t actually catch it.

Practice in a range of situations and sometimes in challenging terrain. In these times, keep hold of the check cord and let your Vizsla chase until the end. The chase and watching them fly away will be reward enough.

The mistake many owners make is excessively interfering. Instead let them develop the skills naturally, making occasional changes when needed. Dogs will learn all by themselves if you practice using the steps above.

Lead your Vizsla towards a group of birds or prey. But instead of shooting, let them get excited, pointing in every direction. After a while they will settle down and stop. You can then capitalize on this moment.

As soon as your dog stops, issue a ‘hold’ command. Keep it upbeat and playful, Vizslas learn best when they think they’re playing a game. Also make sure you give the instruction just once.

Once you’ve given the command, quickly follow it up with some verbal praise and a reward. This could be a treat or some time playing with a toy. If you use a clicker when you train, now is the time to click too. Practice this for a couple of weeks until the dog recognizes the command.

Now take your dog back towards some prey. But this time when they point, simply give a whistle. This will make them pause and let them know they need to wait for you to go over to them. Once you get close you can then give the ‘hold’ command to keep them in check.

Now you have the most time-consuming part of training - practice. So go out at least a couple of times a week and practice the steps above. Before you know it your Vizsla will naturally point and hold.