The Vizsla
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The Origin of the Vizsla has been obscured by the centuries, but it is assumed that its ancestors were the hunters and companions of the Magyar hordes which swarmed over Central Europe more than a thousand years ago and settled in what is now Hungary.
The breed became a favorite of the early barons and warlords who preserved its purity through the years. The reason for the breeds continued existence is due to its innate hunting ability. The ability was developed by the terrain in which it grew-the plains of Hungary.
The great wars interfered with the normal breed progress of the Vizsla. The close of World War I found the Vizsla all but extinct. The breed was preserved by those who loved the breed and refused to let it die out. The years between the two wars were difficult ones but those who truly loved the breed stayed strong. After World War II, when Russians took control of Hungary, the native Hungarians feared all the Vizsla would be killed by the Russians, because owning a Vizsla was a symbol of aristocracy. Hungarians who fled before the Russian occupation in 1945 took their dogs with them into Austria, Italy and Germany.
The name "Vizsla" in Hungarian means, "pointer." The Vizsla is a fine retriever with an excellent nose, and is a good small game and bird hunter and pointer - even on marshy terrain. They have also been successful obedience competitors. The breed's gentle, friendly disposition makes them well-suited to their role as a family companion dog. The Vizsla has two cousins, one with hard-wire hair called the Wirehaired Vizsla and the other a rare longhaired Vizsla. The longharied can be born in both smooth and wire litters, although this is quite a rare occurrence. The longhaired Vizslas are not registered anywhere in the world but there are some to be found in Europe.
The Vizsla started getting imported into the United States in the 1950s, and they were admitted into the American Kennel Club registry in 1960. They are excellent hunters with plenty of endurance, as well as gentle and friendly companions.
This is an energetic dog with enormous stamina. It needs plenty of opportunity to run, preferably off the leash in a safe area, and a lot of regular exercise. If these dogs are allowed to get bored, they can become destructive and also vocal. Training and exercise are extremely important with this breed. Start leash training as a young puppy and enrolling in obedience training is recommended. Without proper training, your Vizsla may be nearly uncontrollable on walks.
Housebreaking is typically fairly quick with the Vizsla, however it does take persistance and patience. An owner who is home to monitor the young puppy and offer frequent potty breaks will have their puppy housebroken quicker than one who is working all day.
Crating your Vizsla puppy when you are not there to keep an eye on him is recommended. Puppies tend to be very curious and everything ends up in their little mouths. Be sure to puppy-proof your home before bringing home your new puppy, and keep a close eye on him to see what you may have missed during puppy proofing.
Never allow your puppy to chew on old shoes or socks, as it may be difficult for them to understand which ones are allowable and which ones are not. Also these items are a threat to your puppies health since they can tear off pieces and get a bowel obstruction. Always choose proper puppy toys and watch the toys closely for wear and tear- and throw away any damaged toys.
They are very loving, demonstrative and gentle, the Vizsla is somewhat willful and distractible, but smart and trainable. This breed needs a patient, firm hand. They are reliable with children, able to adapt quickly to family life, and are generally good with other dogs. Energetic and athletic, the Vizsla must receive sufficient exercise or they may become destructive or neurotic. Socialize this dog well and get him accustomed to noises at an early age. Look for breed lines that are not high-strung or shy. Vizslas are known as chewers. They have many talents such as: tracking, retrieving, pointing, watchdogging and competitive obedience.
The Vizsla's coat is short and smooth and can be solid golden rust in different shadings. Caring for the coat is quite simple, bathing and brushing as needed. Also be sure to trim nails on a regular basis as well as cleaning out the ears. Some Vizsla's tend to have skin reactions due to allergies. It's best to feed a high quality food without a lot of fillers such as corn. Corn is the main allergy in dog foods, and tends to be one of the main ingredients in dog foods that can be purchased in grocery stores.
Males should be 22 to 24 inches tall, females 21 to 23 inches. They are lively, good mannered, and have well developed protective instincts. When purchasing a Vizsla puppy, check to be sure that both parents have OFA certificates clearing them of any hip problems since Vizsla's are prone to hip problems. You should also find a breeder who checks their breeding dogs eyes yearly, and a skin biopsy for Sebaceous Adenitis. Also ask about low thyroid, seizures, and cancer in the bloodlines.
Vizsla Video
