Thread: Vizslas in the cold

Yeah pointers to my knowledge have a single coat and will feel the cold. My dog is half Vizsla and half GSP and as you'd expect quite active. He hasn't needed warmth while hunting during the day in mid-north island, but I noticed him shivering in 7 degrees the other day. A couple of things I've learnt/done over time:

1. They need extra insulation - They need extra warmth at night and while traveling if it's cold. We use a woolen swandri chequered vest and if sleeping at night, or really cold in the truck, I've cut down one of my old Macpac Puffer jacket's into a vest (taken the sleeves off) and chuck that on him. Acts like a sleeping bag and keeps him super warm. I also will layer him when in the truck cab as the windows are open for ventilation so can get super cold in winter

2. Extra food. Had a lot of regular hunting this year, and I didn't increase his daily food intake. Ended up having to leave him behind one trip because he hadn't put back enough condition. He burns off fat super fast (Vizsla's are lean at the best of times). I normally take 30% more food on trips for him and need to fatten him on on fatty bones often when we get back to put on condition.

I think he'd struggle as a working dog in the bush longer term as he's so active and they just burn through energy and don't have that warm under coat and fat layer that other breeds often carry. Part of being a sprinter/high performance athlete I guess, to put it another way. Have you ever noticed your larger bodied mates seem to not experience the colder if your on the leaner side? Basic physics