Vizsla vs Rottweiler: What’s the Difference?

The difference between a Vizsla and a Rottweiler goes deeper than their place of origin. It extends to their weight, personality as well as appearance.

Both breeds have a long life expectancy but when it comes to choosing one, you have to narrow down your options to your needs and which one is likely to satisfy them. In this guide, we outline the features of both breeds in a bid to help you make the right choice. 

About the Vizsla Breed

It’s believed that Vizslas originated from the Pannonian Basin in ancient Hungary. Their existence spans back to the 10th century when they were used as hunting dogs and pointers by warlords. They were superb in tracking down small games like rabbits, bush fowls, and hares. 

The Vizsla is blessed with an excellent sense of smell as well as impeccable physical abilities. They have an athletic build and rigid stamina which means they hardly lose their footing. The Vizsla made its way into most household in the US in 1960 and have become a mainstay since then. 

This is because they’re easy to train and their affectionate nature means they’re used as human companions as well. They require little maintenance since they hardly shed their coat and needs space for them to unleash their energy through exercise. 

Vizsla Breed Physical features 

A Vizsla is usually tall with long legs but manages to cut out a slim frame thanks to its light body build. It doesn’t have an undercoat. Its coats are glued to its skin and they rarely come off. 

The ears are located inches away from the face and appear rounded at the tip. their eye color is usually in contrast to the color of their coat which is usually golden rust. They have a striking resemblance to a Rhodesian Ridgeback except that they’re more athletic and muscular. 

Vizsla Breed Behavior 

A Vizsla is calm and affectionate. They love to socialize with people and thrive on human companionship. They’re not clingy but they do love to cuddle up to their owner. A Vizsla might follow you around the house once they become comfortable with you. 

We mentioned earlier that the Vizsla has an athletic build. They have a huge reservoir of energy and love to move around. An hour or more of exercise daily is needed to keep them in good shape. As much as they easily adapt to environmental changes, they’re not built for indoor arrangement. 

They’re usually kept in fenced yards with a lot of space for them to run around. Due to their adventurous nature, they’re more suitable for the countryside than cities. Also, they’re smart and learn quickly. They can learn new tricks that further improve their retriever skill. Lastly, you can trust them with your kids.  

Vizsla Breed Health  

The Vizsla suffers from some health issues depending on how they’re cared for. If not adequately catered for and allowed to live on their own, they’re susceptible to hip dysplasia which results in arthritis and lameness. They’re also at risk of epilepsy and sebaceous Adenitis which exposes them to several forms of inflammation, especially at a young age. 

We recommend regular visits to the veterinarian for an adequate checkup. Also, if you’re picking up this breed from a breeder, ensure the puppy you choose doesn’t have any of the diseases listed above in their medical history. 

Vizsla Breed Maintenance and hygiene  

The Vizsla is a self-cleaning dog. It employs some personal cleaning routine just like cats. They usually lick themselves to get rid of dirt and other forms of particles. On average, they will require just 6 to 7 baths annually. That’s once in 2 months. Also, you’re unlikely to spend a huge amount of money on their maintenance. 

This is because they’re not heavy shredders. However, you can do your best to help them brush their hair when you can afford to. Most groomers won’t charge you a lot to groom a Vizsla. Expect to spend less than $800 annually for their grooming needs. 

Who is the Vizsla Breed suitable for?  

The Vizsla is a human companion, as well as a pointer and retriever. They’re not perfect for city owners who love to chain their dogs. A Vizsla loves to alternate between an indoor and outdoor space. Also, if you work at an 8-6 job, this breed isn’t for you. He might develop separation anxiety due to boredom. 

About the Rottweiler 

The Rottweiler originated from Germany among Roman cattle dogs. Their early descendant was used in bear hunting and served as a guard for cattle in the field.  The Rottweiler is bigger than a Vizsla and they serve different purposes. 

A Rottweiler is calm and bulky with an imposing physique that makes them suitable as guard dogs at home. They bark a lot, especially around strangers. They’re perfect for active families rather than those who spend most of their days out of the house. The Rottweiler is intelligent, smart, and very sensitive. 

Rottweiler Physical features 

The Rottweiler has a thick coat. However, there are breeds with coarse long coats. In terms of their coat color, you will find different variants. They tend to be a mixture of different shades. You can find a combination of black and tan, grey and tan, or even silver and tan. In terms of appearance, they’re not pretty. They have a no-nonsense look. 

Their heads are usually large but it’s smaller in females. They also have long noses and wide ears that stretch towards their lips. Their body is muscular while the eyes are usually rounded.

The eye color tends to be blue at a young age but changes to amber as they attain maturity. They put on a lot of weight. Almost, double that of a Vizsla. They also need frequent exercise and thrive in an outdoor arrangement. 

Rottweiler’s Behavior and character 

The Rottweiler is a working dog. Their calm and confident nature makes them the perfect watchdog for homeowners. They’re not friendly. Hence, don’t expect them to bond with other pets or members of your household immediately. Some people suggest they’re an all-purpose dog and can also serve as a companion. 

Even at that, we don’t recommend you leave them alone with your kids. The only scenario this is advisable is if they were trained to be social at a younger age. Otherwise, keep your kids away from a fully matured Rottweiler. 

Their descendant was used as watchdogs around herds of cattle. They proved to be good for the herds. For this reason, you can expect the Rottweiler to watch over you and your household at night. They’re always alert and bark at the sight of strange objects. 

Rottweiler Health and Hygiene 

The Rottweiler has a strong immune system. It hardly falls sick and a majority of their health problems are not life-threatening. However, we equally recommend you take them for regular checkups.

The most common health challenges this dog breed faces a cataracts and retinal atrophy. There’s also a high risk of digestive disorders like bloats and physical challenges such as Hip and elbow dysplasia. 

Many people argue that Rottweilers don’t shed their coats frequently since a majority of their breeds are short-haired. However, they suffer from heavy hair loss during the winter when their topcoats are easily shed off. 

Who is Rottweiler suitable for? 

The Rottweiler can’t live in an apartment. This is because they’re less social than Vizsla. This breed is stubborn and sometimes aggressive. If chained indoors, they will scratch your wall. They’re muscular and do require frequent training.

You can’t have a dog like this if you can’t spare time to put him through his pace or visit the dog park frequently. It’s perfect for people with an active social life and those who need a guard dog altogether. 

Comparison: Rottweiler vs Vizsla 

	Rottweiler	Vizsla
Height at the withers	22 – 25 inches	22 – 26 inches
Weight	Between 50 – 60 kg	between 20 and 30 kg
Color	Tan, black, and mahogany	Golden rust
Average life span	8 – 11 years	between 9 and 10 years
Character	Affectionate, social, and energetic	Stubborn, alert, protective, and intelligent
Relationship with children	No	Excellent
Relationship with other dogs	No	Good
Skills	Hunting dog, watchdog, guard dog	they should be kept in a yard. Can’t stay indoors due to their aggressive nature
Space needs	they should be kept in a yard. Can’t stay indoor due to their aggressive nature	It fits perfectly in the home but needs daily exercise.
Food	approximately 500 g of dry food daily	about 500 grams of dry food daily.
Maintenance cost	Low	Low

Conclusion 

You can tell that both breeds are built differently. While the Vizsla has a slim frame, the Rottweiler is bulky even with an athletic build. One thing we can agree on is that they both require exercise to function at their best.

Our recommendation is this – if you need a companion that’s calm, affectionate, and social around the kids, a Vizsla will be your best friend. However if what you want is a guard dog that can watch over you and your entire household at night, a Rottweiler is your best bet.