About Our Dogs: How We’re Different
What distinguishes Metropolis from other dogs and breeders?
We hold ourselves and our dogs accountable to high standards, and we expect the same of others we deal with. As a result, we have references from vets, Olympians, senior lawyers, and other high achievers in their professions willing to attest to our professionalism, reliability, and levels of support provided. We rarely rehome dogs after the age of 3, and while any of our dogs is with us, we treat them as our pets, the same as all our other pets.
You can read some of our many references and testimonials below. Names have been withheld for privacy.
Metropolis collaborates with a number of people who are experts in their fields, in order to benefit its breeding program and ultimately its dogs and their families. Those professionals include experts in canine reproduction, veterinarians, animal behaviouralists.
Pitswarren Kennels in the UK has been a significant support to Metropolis since our inception, and collaborated closely with us for a few years before we exported UK Sh Ch Metropolis Patriarch Nexus By Pitswarren (AI) (Imp Aus) to them. and they Aust Ch Pitswarren Magnum Opus of Metropolis (Imp UK) to us. Their expertise and advice has been invaluable.
Other expert collaborations:
Jenni Staniforth, who for decades acted as Breed Information Officer with the Hungarian Vizsla Club of Victoria, has been generous with her knowledge of Australian bloodlines.
Several of our dogs are owned by vets or siblings of vets, and we consult with some of those vets if we have general questions or wish to question something we have read. Our own vets willingly provide helpful information. We have also worked closely with professionals in canine reproduction.
For several years we collaborated with the youngest ever Breeder of Merit in the USA. This provided us with insight into differences between the practices of breeders and handlers in the USA, as well as American bloodlines.
Our local BarkBusters trainer has attained a Masters level in the BarkBusters canine training methodology, as well as owning one of our Vizslas, sister to our homebred UK record setting Crufts winner, UK Sh Ch Metropolis Patriarch Nexus By Pitswarren (AI) (Imp UK). Phillipa also holds an EFA Level 2 accreditation as a horse riding instructor, and has also independently pursued the philosophy of natural horsemanship. She has partnered with us to provide 2 complementary Zoom sessions and basic puppy training equipment to each of our puppy families as well as helping us with some of the matters we attend to before our pups go to their new homes. BarkBusters was so impressed with our dogs' temperaments that it invited us to speak at its 2023 Australian Trainer Conference.
For several years we collaborated with the Head of Animal Science at TAFE NSW, who was also the former President of the Vet Nurses Council of Australia.
Senior Counsel from Sydney Chambers
Longing fulfilled after years of research
I wanted a vizsla since I was first introduced to the breed in 2003 by my mentor and friend, [another QC]. Due to my own career and family commitments this was not possible and so it wasn’t until the past few years that I began the search for a vizsla in earnest. During 2019 and 2020 I researched and contacted a number of vizsla breeders throughout Australia and New Zealand. I also spoke with colleagues and friends who had owned and who currently own vizslas. …..Ultimately, I decided to express an interest in purchasing a Metropolis Hungarian Vizsla for a number of reasons including:
- Robyn Hanney - I was drawn to and impressed by Robyn’s passion for the breed and her dogs. Robyn is a successful, educated professional who brings the skills she has learned in her career to breeding. Robyn was responsive to my questions (unlike many other breeders) and was concerned to ensure that my family and I were suitable applicants for one of her puppies. In all my dealings with Robyn, I observed that her primary motivation was the future wellbeing of the puppies that she was breeding.
- The Metropolis bloodline – which is arguably the best in Australia and which is evident from the numerous domestic and international successes in the ring, including the incredible success of Metropolis Patriarch Nexus By Pitswarren (AI) (Imp Aus).
- The Metropolis temperament – Metropolis Hungarian Vizslas are relaxed, social dogs. They are excellent with children and crave family involvement.
Jenni Stanforth
Breed Inquiries Officer of the Hungarian Vizsla Club of Victoria 2009-2019, Vizsla owner since 1991
Robyn always has the best interests of her dogs front and centre and her lifestyle revolves around the care and health of her dogs. She provides the best diet, veterinary care, training and love for her dogs. She spends a great deal of time and effort in planning her breeding program to ensure that she produces puppies in each litter with the best chance for a healthy life. They are always kept in excellent condition and have a great lifestyle living as family pets as well as being show dogs. Robyn strives to keep her dogs engaged mentally and provides a range of interesting toys for them to amuse themselves.
Metropolis kennels provide the best facilities I have seen. Dogs have access to vast grassed lawn areas, as well as kennels, a large deck area alongside the house as well as comfortable beds inside the house. Dogs spend time outside when she is away from home and when she is home they are inside lounging around in their beds. Conditions are kept clean and droppings are collected daily.
Olympians from Sydney 2000
Experts in Effort
On countless occasions we have contacted [Robyn] with questions or asked for advice and she has always answered promptly and gone above and beyond to support us as first time Vizsla owners….Robyn is very focused on the welfare of her dogs and puts a lot of work into making sure her puppies go to suitable homes….[she] has done an exceptional job with her breeding program. She is hardworking and very dedicated to the Hungarian Vizsla as well as the families her dogs go to. We couldn’t recommend anther breeder more highly, for the care and devotion to her dogs and families.
One of our vets
Excellent standards
I have had the pleasure of providing veterinary services for Ms Hanney ….in her capacity as a private dog owner and as a registered dog breeder. I consider her ethics, animal husbandry practices and overall approach to breeding, and caring for dogs, to be of an excellent standard.
Former NSW Police Officer
Quality Temperament
My experiences throughout the years dealing with Metropolis Hungarian Vizslas has been great. Robyn has never given the impression that she is breeding dogs as a business. Her dogs are raised in the home environment and her own dogs live in the house with her. Robyn is professional yet thoughtful and she is more than happy to help answer questions when we have needed assistance. Since owning a Vizsla, we have met many others from various breeders both registered and not registered and I believe the temperament of the Metropolis-bred dogs far outweigh the temperaments of the others we have met. I attribute this to the high level of care and attention that Robyn gives to the Metropolis dogs through the way they are raised and her breeding regimes.
