About Us
Meet the Breeders: Alison & Eric Stebbins
Welcome to Rusted Wires! We have been deeply involved with Wirehaired Vizslas for over 10 years. We live in Minot, North Dakota, where we live and breathe the outdoor lifestyle.
We are incredibly fortunate to live in a world-class upland bird hunting destination. Right in our backyard, we have an abundance of wild ringneck pheasant, Hungarian partridge, and sharp-tail grouse. During the hunting season, you can find us in the field every single weekend, alongside many days carved out during the work week. Beyond upland birds, we are avid bow and rifle deer hunters, and we enjoy hunting waterfowl and coyotes when the opportunities arise. When we aren't hunting, our summers are spent camping and fishing, and our winters are dedicated to spear fishing.
First and foremost, our Wirehaired Vizslas are our family. They go everywhere with us, live in our home, and enjoy snuggling on the couch with us just as much as they love the thrill of the hunt. Because we demand so much from our personal hunting companions, we are deeply committed to breeding structurally sound, healthy, and high-drive dogs that can easily handle the demands of a full day in the field
The Wirehaired Vizsla
About the Wirehaired Vizsla: Temperament, Field Work, and Care
The Ultimate Versatile Hunting Companion
The Wirehaired Vizsla is a truly versatile hunting breed, engineered to excel in both upland fields and waterfowl blinds. These dogs are natural pointers and retrievers, possessing the stamina, drive, and instincts required to secure game. Additionally, they have an exceptional nose for blood tracking and are highly capable when hunting fur.
Life in the Home: The "Velcro" Dog
While they are powerhouse athletes in the field, Wirehaired Vizslas make fantastic family companions. Often referred to as "Velcro dogs," they form intense bonds with their humans and love nothing more than being by your side. Crucially, they possess a wonderful "off switch." When their physical and mental needs are met, they are incredibly calm, well-behaved, and content to snooze inside the house.
Our Placement Philosophy
Because this breed is happiest when fulfilling its historic purpose—hunting—we prioritize working homes. We will only place our puppies with active hunting families or homes that will, at the very least, commit to hunt testing their dog. If you are not a traditional hunter, you must provide alternative outlets for physical exercise and intense mental stimulation, such as agility, scent work, tracking, or dock diving.
Coat Care & Maintenance
The Wirehaired Vizsla coat can vary from tight and short to longer and more furnished. Low-shedding by nature, their weather-resistant coats are easy to maintain if properly cared for. To preserve the correct, harsh texture required for field insulation, their coats must be hand-stripped and never clipped or cut with scissors.
Training and Sensitivity
Eager to please and highly intelligent, these dogs are remarkably easy to train. However, they are a sensitive breed. They require positive reinforcement and fair, correct training methods. Harsh corrections or heavy-handed pressure can cause them to shut down, so building a partnership based on trust is key.