Vizsla | Dog Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

The Hungarian Vizsla, the Hungarian Pointer, or simply Vizsla, is a dog that has excelled in hunting for years. Fortunately, today it is a dog that excels in all kinds of activities and exercises. Its fine sense of smell and great fondness for water make this dog an excellent companion for dynamic and active people.

Representatives of the Hungarian breed have a fine sense of smell, which allows them to work clearly on the trail, excellent stamina, endurance, and the ability to hunt in almost any area under any weather conditions. A state of complete rest is a rarity for a vizsla.

The Vizsla became famous as a hunting dog and a companion dog. The vizsla’s energy and mobility can be envied. At home, this dog is affectionate, playful, friendly, but once he is on the hunt, he turns into a strict, serious dog, ready to hunt game for the owner.

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The Vizsla is distinguished by a taut, muscular physique. You cannot call it a heavy and rough dog, it gracefully combines grace, aristocratic manners with strength, endurance and power.

The weight of adults is 20-30 kg., Height at the withers is about 53-65 cm.

• Head: Proudly erect, bent in proportion to the body. The skull is narrow, rounded, with a marked longitudinal groove from the occiput to the rectangular muzzle. The fleshy nose is slightly darker than the shadow of the coat.
• Jaws: Strong with a scissor bite, full dentition. The cheekbones are well developed.
• Ears: Large, in the shape of an inverted triangle, close to the cheeks. The landing is low, slightly set back.
• Eyes: Slightly oblique in shape, medium in size, hazel or dark brown in color. Attentive gaze.
• Torso: Pumped from tip of nose to tail. Compact and strong body with sporty and taut shapes. The chest is quite wide, is at the same level as the elbows.
• Legs: Long and lean, straight and parallel when standing and walking. The elbows are turned inward, close to the chest. The hocks are pronounced.
• Coat: Short and wiry throughout the golden-red color range, on the head and ears are slightly softer and shorter. The undercoat is missing.

The Vizsla has an incredible character, making him a fun, happy and loving companion for those who can devote the time and attention he needs.

The character of the Vizsla is calm, balanced and friendly. Severity and aggressiveness are manifested mainly during the hunting session. With the right education, the Vizsla dog will be a faithful companion, an obedient assistant and just a cheerful friend for the owner.

If a guard dog is needed, there is little hope it will be a Vizsla. Representatives of this Hungarian breed are not aggressive, they are completely calm towards strangers and house guests.

The owner of the Vizsla should know what health problems the breed representatives are predisposed to:

• Hip dysplasia – at the initial stage it is characterized by pain, then the dog begins to limp, the pain intensifies, at the last stage immobilization occurs.
• Epilepsy – accompanied by involuntary bowel movements, seizures.
• Hypothyroidism is a decrease in thyroid function.
• Progressive retinal atrophy – if untreated, leads to loss of vision.
• Oncological diseases.

Vizsla is an unpretentious dog in everyday life, which quickly adapts to new conditions. It does not tolerate low temperatures. He can live in an apartment, provided he benefits from long daily walks, it is better that he lives in a house with a large raised ground or free access to nature.

During the period of abundant moulting – spring and autumn – the coat is combed daily with a glove or a special brush.

Ears and eyes are systematically examined and cleared of deposits. It is important to follow the vaccination schedule.

• The peculiarity of the Vizsla dog is the desire to be always with the owner, or at least not to let him out of sight.
• The Vizsla is able to jump, changing direction, as well as quickly navigate both water and land.
• Representatives of the breed have excellent hearing and scent.
• Sneaking up to the prey, the Vizsla takes an elegant stance, in this position, if necessary, the dog is able to stay for a very long time.
• The name of the breed comes from the Hungarian “vizsgál”, which means “search, study.”
• The Vizsla Dog is a very talkative breed. A pet often howls, whines, makes unimaginable sounds than barks. In this way the squeeze expresses its feelings.

The birthplace of the Vizsla is Hungary. Representatives of this breed are the national treasure of the country. It is interesting that once it was the Hungarians who almost became the reason for the complete extermination of the Vizsla.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and consider the history of this wonderful hunting breed from the very beginning:

• Ninth and tenth centuries – Pointing dogs (the ancestors of modern Vizsla) appeared on the territory of Hungary together with the Magyar tribes. Nomads survived solely thanks to hunting, which is why cops were indispensable to them.
• Eleventh century – Magyar cops often left their habitable territories because of an innate love for freedom, setting off to explore new places. During this period, nomad hunting dogs spread throughout Hungary. Against the background of local hunting breeds, newly arrived dogs were not appreciated.
• Twelfth to fifteenth century – the perfect hunting talent was finally noticed by Hungarian nobles, who loved to hunt. Pointing Magyars won their hearts with their grace, dexterity and versatility. During this period, these dogs are crossed with Russian canine greyhounds to improve their working qualities. As a result, the breed acquired a light shade of coat.
• 1526 – the Turkish army occupied the Hungarian lands, along with the conquerors the Saluki were brought into the country. As a result of unplanned mating with Turkish dogs, the exterior and working qualities of the future dogs changed. A beautiful golden color and versatility appeared.
• Eighteenth century – serious breeding work began to improve the Hungarian cops. Initially, the breeder Zai in the city of Zaingroche led the selection. The process was lengthy (over 140 years). During mating, representatives of the following breeds were used: kurtshaaras, pointers, poodles, Hanover hounds.
• Nineteenth century – the popularity of the Vizsla began to decline, German pointers took the place on the pedestal of hunting breeds. To preserve the purity of the Hungarian Vizsla, a law was passed banning the import of point-and-shoot goods from Hungary to European countries. But neither the law nor the efforts of the breeders could save the breed, it survived was on the verge of extinction.
• The twentieth century – a small number of purebred Hungarian cops was the beginning of the revival of this species. The FCI has entered the breed into the official registry with the established standard. Scaffolds have gained popularity in Europe, America, Canada. Thanks to the efforts of American breeders, the number of Hungarian short-haired cops has increased.
• 1941-1945 – The threat of extinction loomed again over the Hungarian breed. The fact is that during the war with Germany, the Hungarians decided to destroy all the representatives of the breed in order not to give the German invaders a trophy in the form of a Vizsla. As a result, dogs of this species survived only outside their homeland, this fact saved them from complete extinction.

The breed again revived at the end of World War II, now it is popular in many countries of the world.