History of the vizsla
There is some debate regarding the origins of the Vizsla with varying evidence suggesting the ninth century, the eleventh, and also the fifteenth century, due to a museum picture of a Gothic panel that shows a dog that is believed to be a Vizsla.
Very similar dogs are depicted in prints that date back around a thousand years which show early settlers, called the Magyars, using their dogs to hunt when they arrived in Hungary. These early records led to the Vizsla often being referred to as “Yellow Turkish Hunting Dogs”. They were taken to other regions of Europe by the Magyars where they were crossed with other local dogs, with the end goal being to breed highly skilled hunting dogs.
During the two World Wars the breed was almost erased, especially during WWII and the Russian Occupation. Fortunately, some emigrants who made it to Europe and further afield smuggled their Vizslas with them and the breed became established outside Hungary.
It is believed two Vizslas were imported into the UK before the second World War in 1939. However, the first registration of imported Vizslas was not recorded by the Kennel Club until 1953.
Today, Vizslas can be found all over the world and thanks to selective and careful breeding have become incredibly capable HPR’s as well as loyal family pets.
Hungarian Vizsla Breed Standard
- General Appearance – Medium-sized, of distinguished appearance, robust and medium boned.
- Characteristics – Lively, intelligent, obedient, sensitive, very affectionate and easily trained. Bred for hunting fur and feather, pointing and retrieving from land and water.
- Temperament – Lively, gentle-mannered and demonstratively affectionate, fearless and with well developed protective instinct.
- Head and Skull – Head lean and noble. Skull moderately wide between ears with median line down forehead and a moderate stop. Skull a little longer than muzzle. Muzzle, although tapering, well squared at the end. Nostrils well developed, broad and wide. Jaws strong and powerful. Lips covering jaws completely and neither loose nor pendulous. Nose brown.
- Eyes – Neither deep nor prominent, of medium size, a shade darker in colour than coat. Slightly oval in shape, eyelids fitting tightly. Yellow or black eye undesirable.
- Ears – Moderately low set, proportionately long with a thin skin and hanging down close to cheeks. Rounded ‘V’ shape; not fleshy.
- Mouth – Sound and strong white teeth. Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Full dentition desirable.
- Neck – Strong, smooth and muscular; moderately long, arched and devoid of dewlap.
- Forequarters – Shoulders well laid and muscular, elbows close to body and straight, forearm long, pasterns upright.
- Body – Back level, short, well muscled, withers high. Chest moderately broad and deep with prominent breast bone. Distance from withers to lowest part of chest equal to distance from chest to ground. Ribs well sprung and belly with a slight tuck-up beneath loin. Croup well muscled.
- Hindquarters – Straight when viewed from rear, thighs well developed with moderate angulation, hocks well let down.
- Feet – Feet rounded with toes short, arched and tight. Cat-like foot is required, hare foot undesirable. Nails short, strong and a shade darker in colour than coat.
- Tail – Tail previously customarily docked by one third of length. Moderately thick, rather low set. When moving, carried horizontally.
- Gait/Movement – Graceful, elegant with a lively trot and ground-covering gallop.
- Coat – Short, straight, dense, smooth and shiny, feeling greasy to the touch.
- Colour – Russet gold, small white marks on chest and feet, though acceptable, undesirable.
- Size – Height at withers: dogs: 22 1/2 – 25 ins bitches: 21 – 23 1/2 ins. Weight: 20-30 kgs
the Pros and Cons Of A Vizsla
Pros
- Vizslas are highly intelligent and loyal dogs
- They are low maintenance for grooming
- Vizslas make good family pets in the right hands
- Vizslas are biddable / willing and make excellent working dogs
Cons
- They are highly energetic and therefore need plenty of exercise
- Vizslas are known as the ‘velcro dogs’ and can suffer from separation anxiety
- Are highly intelligent and need direction from a young age
- Can be hyperactive and boisterous at times
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