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Breed Characteristics
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Vizsla
| Other Names | Hungarian Short-haired Pointing Dog, Rovidszoru Magyar Vizsla, Hungarian Pointer, Magyar Vizsla |
| Country of Origin | Hungary |
| Weight | Males: 45 - 60 lbs. (20 - 27 kg) Females: 40 - 55 lbs. (18 - 25 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 22 - 26 in. (56 - 66 cm) Females: 20 - 24 in. (51 - 61 cm) |
| Coat | The coat of the Vizsla is thick, dense and very smooth and easy to keep. There is no longer feathering on the dog and the coat is uniformly short over the entire body, legs and face of the Vizsla. |
| Colour | Solid rust colours in any shading. Very pale yellow and very dark mahogany colours may be a fault in some registries. Black in the coat is a serious fault. |
| Litter Size | 6 - 9 puppies with an average of 7 |
| Life Span | 11 - 15 years |
| Origin & History | The Vizsla was already known in early Hungarian history. The ancestors of the present Vizsla were the trusted and favorite hunting dogs of the Magyar tribes who lived in the Carpathian Basin in the 10th century. Primitive stone etchings over a thousand years old show the Magyar hunter with his falcon and his Vizsla. The first written reference to Vizsla dog breed has been recorded in the Illustrated Vienna Chronicle prepared on order of King Lajos the Great (Louis the Great) by the Carmelite Friars in 1357. Companion dogs of the early warlords and barons, Vizsla blood was preserved pure for centuries by the land-owning aristocracy who guarded them jealously and continued to develop the hunting ability of these "yellow-pointers". Records of letters and writings show the high esteem in which the Vizsla was held. The Vizsla survived the Turkish occupation (1526–1696), the Hungarian Revolution (1848–49), World War I, World War II and the Soviet Period. However, Vizslas faced and survived several near-extinctions in their history, including being overrun by English Pointers and German Shorthair Pointers in the 1800s (Boggs, 2000:19) and again to near-extinction after World War II. A careful search of Hungary and a poll of Hungarian sportsmen revealed only about a dozen Vizslas of the true type still alive in the country. From that minimum stock, the breed rose to prominence once again. The various "strains" of the Vizsla have become somewhat distinctive as individuals bred stock that suited their hunting style. Outside Hungary, vizslas are commonly bred in Romania, Austria, Slovakia, and Serbia. The Vizsla started arriving in the United States at the close of World War II. As interest in and devotion to the breed began to increase, owners formed the Vizsla Club of America in order to gain AKC recognition. As a result of registering foundation stock with the AKC, Vizsla owners were able to obtain official recognition on November 25, 1960, as the Vizsla became the 115th breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. The Vizsla was used in development of other breeds, most notably the Weimaraner, Wire-haired Vizsla and German Shorthair Pointer breeds. There is much conjecture about those same breeds, along with other pointer breeds, being used to reestablish the Vizsla breed at the end of 19th century. |
| Personality | The Vizsla is expressive, gentle and loving. Keen and trainable to a high degree, it needs daily mental stimulation. It needs a patient, calm, firm hand. If this breed does not see you as a strong authority figure it will become stubborn. Reliable with children, loving to play for hours. Without extensive daily exercise these dogs may be too energetic and excitable for very young toddlers, but are excellent for energetic kids. Able to adapt quickly to family life, and are generally good with other dogs. They are very athletic, and when lacking in exercise they may become destructive or neurotic. Socialize them well to people, places, noises, dogs and other animals. It is very important to obedience train your Vizsla. Without enough exercise, they can be overly eager, prancing around you in sheer excitement. This breed is highly trainable and very willing to please—if you can get them to understand exactly what it is you want of them. If you do not train this breed they may become difficult to handle and control. Example: See Video of a Vizsla that needs more exercise. Notice how very eager-to-please the dog is, yet she has more built up energy than she knows what to do with. She is obviously stressed and not relaxed. Vizslas tend to chew. This breed is not for everyone. If you want a calm dog and are not willing to walk a couple of miles or jog at least one mile a day, do not choose a Vizsla. Without proper exercise, they can easily become high-strung. They have many talents such as: tracking, retrieving, pointing, watchdog and competitive obedience. The Vizsla is a hunting dog and may be good with cats they are raised with, but should not be trusted with animals such as hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs etc. Be sure to always be your dog’s pack leader to avoid any negative behaviors such as guarding furniture, food, toys and so on. Well-balanced Vizslas that receive enough exercise and have owners who are true pack leaders will not have these issues. These behaviors can be reversed once the owners start displaying leadership, discipline and provide enough exercise, both mental and physical. |
Care Requirements
| Health | The interbreeding to preserve the line results in a number of inherited Health issues. While these conditions do not occur in all lines they can include: Eye diseases and problems among Vizslas include Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Entropion, ectropion and Corneal dystrophy. ectropion, or loose eyelids, gives your dog a sagging-eyed look. With entropion, the hairy skin surrounding the eye acts as an irritant. Stomach or digestive system difficulties include dysphagia-megaesophagus. A Vizlas with this condition struggles to swallow. There is also associated muscle wasting and excessive Drooling. Allergies to food and some plant life. Owners have noted the development of rashes on their dogs after romps through the woods. Sebaceous adenitis or inflamed skin glands. |
| Grooming | This smooth, shorthaired coat is easy to keep in peak condition. Brush with a firm bristle brush, and dry shampoo occasionally. Bathe with mild soap only when necessary. The nails should be kept trimmed. These dogs are average shedders. |
| Exercise | This is an energetic working dog with enormous stamina. It needs to be taken on daily, long, brisk walks or jogs. It makes a great rollerblading or bike riding companion. In addition, it needs plenty of opportunity to run, preferably off the leash in a safe area. If these dogs are allowed to get bored, and are not walked or jogged daily, they can become destructive and start to display a wide array of behavioral problems. |
| Other Considerations | The Vizsla is not recommended for apartment life. It is moderately active indoors and does best with at least an average-sized yard. In popular culture; Former White House Press Secretary and cohost of The Five, Dana Perino has owned two Vizslas, Henry (deceased) and Jasper. Kubrick the Dog, a 2011 photography book by British fashion photographer and film maker Sean Ellis. Gary Dell'Abate, also known as Baba Booey from The Howard Stern Show has a Vizsla named "Murphy". The Hungarian cartoon Frakk, a macskák réme ("Frakk, the nightmare of cats") centers on a Vizsla dog named Frakk. |
