Finding a Preservation Vizsla Breeder

If you're looking for a Vizsla puppy, a great place to start is the Vizsla Club of America or your local Vizsla Club. In Missouri, try the Gateway Vizsla Club. These organizations can help point you in the right direction. Keep in mind that you may need to wait several months to a year for a puppy, so it’s best to start your search early. It can also be helpful to build a relationship with a breeder well in advance—ideally at least a year before you plan to bring a puppy home.

What Makes a Breeder a Preservation Breeder?

Preservation breeders are dedicated to improving the breed, not making a profit. They invest thousands of dollars into ensuring their dogs are healthy and meet breed standards. For Vizslas, this often includes:

✔️ Earning a Show Championship (CH) and other performance titles (e.g. Junior Hunter (JH) title)

✔️ Completing thorough health screenings (hips, elbows, heart, eyes, thyroid)

✔️ Selecting breeding pairs carefully based on temperament, health, and structure

A preservation breeder should be able to explain why they are breeding a particular litter. If a breeder has multiple litters per year, breeds a female every heat cycle, or breeds a dog more than four times, it’s worth asking more questions. While none of these automatically mean a breeder is unethical, they are things to be mindful of.

Red Flags to Watch For

Some breeders use misleading phrases like “AKC papers” or “championship bloodlines” as selling points. Here’s why that’s a concern:

🚩 AKC registration simply means a dog is purebred—not that it meets health or quality standards.

🚩 "Championship bloodlines" doesn’t guarantee quality. Preservation breeders don’t need to highlight this because their dogs consistently meet championship standards - the parents of the puppies will likely be champions in addition to their ancestors.

🚩 Puppies listed on Craigslist, newspapers, or often even the AKC Marketplace—these are not typically where preservation breeders advertise. AKC does not screen breeders on its marketplace, so listings there should be carefully evaluated.

Other major red flags:

❌ Breeding dogs under two years old

❌ Breeding without health clearances

❌ Breeding dogs with known genetic defects

What to Expect From a Preservation Breeder

A preservation breeder isn’t just selling puppies—they’re carefully placing them in the best possible homes. Expect to be screened as a potential owner, and don’t be surprised if you don’t get to pick your puppy. The breeder evaluates each pup’s temperament and works to match them with the right home. Trust their expertise!

Preservation breeders also stay involved in their puppies’ lives. They’ll want updates, photos, and may even require in their contract that they be contacted first if you can no longer care for your dog. This lifelong commitment ensures every puppy always has a safe place to land.

Selective Breeding & Puppy Selection

Ethical breeders carefully choose a sire and dam to improve the breed. If a breeder always uses their own male and female dogs for litters, that’s a potential concern—breeding pairs should be selected based on the best possible match, not just convenience.

Finally, while you may have preferences, trust that every puppy in a well-bred Vizsla litter has the potential to be an amazing companion. The breeder’s job is to ensure each puppy gets the right home, and they’ve put in the work to make sure the litter is well-socialized and set up for success.

By doing your research and working with a preservation breeder, you’ll be giving yourself the best chance at a happy, healthy Vizsla who will be a wonderful part of your family for years to come!