Description
The Vizsla is a sleek, muscular, medium-sized hunting dog with a beautiful rusty-gold colored short coat. The front legs are straight. The head is lean, chiseled and aristocratic, with a long tapering muzzle. The muzzle is neither pointed like a Dachshund nor square like an English Pointer. The slightly domed skull is broad between the ears and has a line up the middle of the forehead. The round-tipped ears are pendant and rather long. The neck is muscular, without dewlap. Its musculature is well developed over the entire body. The tail is docked to 2/3 its original length. The eye color blends in with the coat color and the nose is brown. It has a developed jaw, porcelain-white teeth and a distinguished, robust, elastic gait. The hair is short, abundant, and tight to the whole body. The coat can be solid golden rust in different shadings. In some standards, solid dark mahogany red and pale yellow are faulty, and any noticeable area of black in the coat is a serious fault.
Temperament
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, loving all the play they can get. Maybe to too energetic and excitable for very young toddlers, excellent for energetic kids. 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. It is very important to obedience train your Vizsla. They can get overly eager, prancing around you in sheer excitement. This breed is highly trainable and very willing to please; if you can get it 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. Look for breed lines that are not high-strung or shy. Vizsla are known as chewers. 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, the 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.
The Vizsla is not a noisy dog. It is quiet, barking only if goaded or the circumstances warrant it. This does not make them passive. Vizslas can be both aggressive and destructive. Highly intelligent dogs with a need to be active, they become bored and restless if not stimulated or exercised. If left cooped up too long, a Vizsla is a destructive animal; if bored, a Vizsla will resort to eating anything and everything, stealing food from off tables or countertops. Vizslas, well bred though they may be, are not adverse to overturning and gobbling the contents of garbage cans. You can sometimes find a mildly bored Vizsla lying on tables or other places it should not climb. Overall, the Vizsla is a gentle, quiet, good-natured dog and highly intelligent. It is confident and likes to be with people, even children. This breed however, needs sufficient training to keep both you and it happy and content.
Height, Weight
Height: Dogs 22-26 inches (56-66cm.) Bitches 20-24 inches (51-61cm.)
Weight: Dogs 45-60 pounds (20-27kg.) Bitches 40-55 pounds (18-25kg.)
Health Problems
Prone to hip dysplasia.
Living Conditions
The Vizsla is not recommended for apartment life. It is moderately active indoors and does best with at least an average-sized yard.
Exercise
This is an energetic working dog with enormous stamina. They need to be taken on daily, long, brisk walks or jogs. 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.
Life Expectancy
About 12-15 years.
Grooming
This smooth, short-haired 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.
Origin
The Vizsla is a Hungarian hunting dog which probably descended from two ancient breeds: the Transylvanian hound, and the Turkish yellow dog (now extinct). In more recent times, the blood of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pointer has been added to the Vizsla. After World War II, the breed was nearly extinct. Hungarians saved some individuals and built the breed up again. 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. Some devotees smuggled Vizslas out into Austria and to other countries, including America. 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 longhaired can be born in both smooth and wire litters, although this is quite a rare occurrence. The longhaired Vizsla are not registered anywhere in the world but there are some to be found in Europe.
Group
Gun Dog, AKC Sporting
