The Dog Codex

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Choose two breeds. You’ll see the same strip of citeable traits — not a winner, and not kids / apartment / shedding scorecards.

Temperament lines are short plate excerpts, not a verdict. Open each plate for the full entry.

Vizsla

Vizsla

Sporting · Hungary

  • AKC group

    Sporting

  • Size

    Medium

  • Height

    53.3–64 cm (registry- and sex-specific; AKC ideal males 55.9–61.0 cm and females 53.3–58.4 cm; FCI dogs 58–64 cm and bitches 54–60 cm)

  • Weight

    20–30 kg (Royal Kennel Club); CKC dogs 22.75–29.5 kg and bitches about 4.5 kg less; AKC and FCI standards do not publish a numeric adult weight

  • Energy

    High

  • Energy notes

    High: the Vizsla is a working Sporting gundog with documented drive, endurance, and a versatile point-and-retrieve role in field, forest, and water. AKC describes power, drive, and endurance in the field; FCI requires a versatile worker with scenting, pointing, retrieving, and swimming ability; The Royal Kennel Club describes a lively hunting dog.

  • Trainability

    High

  • Coat

    The smooth Vizsla has a short, dense, close-lying coat without a woolly undercoat.

  • Origin

    Hungary

  • Temperament

    The standard picture is lively, friendly or gentle-mannered, affectionate, sensitive, and trainable. AKC describes a natural hunter with a good nose and above-average ability to take training, while FCI calls the breed lively, friendly, evenly tempered, easy to train, and strongly willing to maintain contact with its handler.

English Springer Spaniel

English Springer Spaniel

Sporting · United Kingdom

  • AKC group

    Sporting

  • Size

    Medium

  • Height

    48–51 cm (AKC ideals)

  • Weight

    ~18–23 kg (AKC)

  • Energy

    High

  • Energy notes

    High. The AKC standard says the Springer is built for endurance and suggests 'power, endurance and agility,' and the Kennel Club recommends more than two hours of exercise a day.

  • Trainability

    High

  • Coat

    The Springer has a medium-length outer coat, flat or wavy, over a short, soft, dense undercoat, and together they make the dog largely waterproof, weatherproof and thornproof.

  • Origin

    United Kingdom

  • Temperament

    The AKC standard describes the typical Springer as friendly, eager to please, quick to learn and willing to obey, a tractable dog that is easy to handle in the field. The FCI and Kennel Club call it friendly, happy and biddable.