About Vizslas

There are many pros and cons when considering adding a Vizsla to your family. We would like everyone who is considering a Vizsla to be fully aware of what to expect and realize the commitment they are making.

Vizslas are very active dogs.  They require DAILY EXERCISE. They are not a "walk around the block" type of dog. By exercise, we mean that they need to RUN for AT LEAST 45 MINUTES A DAY.  You have to be willing to do this year round - in the snow and in the rain. If you are thinking that you can probably "get away with" exercising your dog in the backyard playing fetch with the children, this is the wrong breed for you! Vizslas that do not get the required daily exercise can become very bored and destructive.  They will race around your house, bounce off the walls and drive you completely insane. You must have access to large parks or fields where you can let your Vizsla run freely particularly within its first three years of life.

The Vizsla must also be part of the family and is not well suited either physically or emotionally to full time kennel life. Unlike some of the other hunting dogs, the Vizsla will only ever reach its fullest potential when allowed to be part of the family. They will follow you from room to room and at times seem as though they are actually stuck to you. It is for this reason that the Vizsla is also commonly referred to as the "Velcro dog." For some people this high level of people attachment can be overwhelming. We personally enjoy having a dog that wants to be with us all the time!

Out of all of the pointing breeds, the Vizsla is one of the softer dogs. They will not do well with harsh training methods. They truly want to please you so if you are inclined to lose your patience while training, the Vizsla is not the dog for you. Your Vizsla will shut down. The Vizsla is known as the "gentleman's hunting dog".

The above information is provided with the permission of the author, Debbie Reid.

History and Breed Standard of the Vizsla

Although the Vizsla has only been in Canada since 1953, the breed's ancestors were recognized for their hunting abilities on the European continent over one thousand years ago. The Vizsla was mentioned in very early times in Hungarian history. While exact origin of the breed has been lost in the mist of early European history, it is know that the origins of the present Vizsla were the favorite companion and hunting dog of the Magyar tribes, which lived in the Carpathian basin during the eighth century.

Primitive stone etchings over a thousand years old show the Magyar hunter with his falcon and Vizsla. Companion dogs of the early warlords, barons and kings, Vizsla blood was preserved pure for centuries by the land owning aristocracy and held in high esteem by their owners.  The Vizsla has survived the Turkish occupation, the Hungarian civil wars, World Wars I and II, and the Russian occupation.

However, late in the 19th century the true Vizsla was close to extinction and a careful search of Hungary revealed only about a dozen purebreds remaining. From that minimal stock the breed rose to prominence again, with various strains becoming distinctive as individuals bred stock that suited their style of hunting.

In 1945, when the Russian occupation forces invaded Hungary, many of the wealthy aristocrats were forced to flee their beloved land. Luckily many decided to take their Vizsla with them and from that stock came the first litters to be born in Austria, Italy and Germany. These Hungarians came to Canada and the United States in the early 1950's bringing their dogs along.

The Canadian Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1958. The Wire-haired Vizsla is also a recognized breed in Canada, and recent Hungarian imports have had a beneficial effect on the breed. The Hungarian Vizsla represents the best in both sporting dog and a loyal companion in the home. It is the smallest of the all round pointer-retriever breeds, and this size undoubtedly is one of the Vizsla's attractive characteristics. Because of the size, it holds the unique position for a sporting dog - that of a house companion and family dog. It does not make a good kennel dog and only reaches its potential when included as a member of the family.

Essentially pointer in type the Vizsla is a distinguished looking dog with very aristocratic bearing. His coat is an attractive golden rust. He is powerfully built, but lithe and well balanced with a light footed, smooth and graceful gait. He is a dog of power and drive in the field and a tractable and affectionate companion in the home. His tail is only docked one third off, unlike most of the other pointing breeds.

CKC BREED STANDARD

Origin and Purpose: The Vizsla (pronounced as if spelled VIZH-LA) is of Hungarian origin, where various records indicate its history as going back many centuries. It was the companion hunting dog of the early warlords and landed aristocracy who used it for general-purpose hunting. It was known in Hungary as the "Yellow" Pointer. In North America it is used primarily as an upland bird dog, where its excellent scenting and retrieving characteristics have been widely acclaimed. It is a strong swimmer and also retrieves well from water.

General Appearance: The Vizsla is a short-haired, medium-sized sporting dog. It conveys the impression of an alert, muscular, well-balanced animal with a distinctive and aristocratic appearance. Temperament: The Vizsla is intelligent, calm, obedient, and easy to train. It is a sensitive dog which becomes attached to its owner and develops a strong but not overly aggressive protective instinct. In the field, the Vizsla is an eager, happy hunter which is at home on land and in the water.

Size: The standard size, measured at the withers, for the Vizsla is 23 in. (58 cm) for males and 22 in. (56 cm.) for females. A dog of good bone and substance in this size range shall weight from 50-65 lb. (22 - 29 kg). A bitch weighs about 10 lb. (5 kg) less. The length to height ratio should be approximately 1:1.

Coat and Colour: The hair of the Vizsla should be short and dense and lie close to the skin. Each hair should be thick and elastic and the coat should have a glossy sheen. The correct colour is a golden-rust, sometimes described as the golden colour of a bread crust. In some strains slightly lighter or darker shades may predominate. A white mark on the chest under 2 in. (5 cm) is permissible but not desirable.

Head: Skull should convey an impression of being lean and muscular, with a median line down the forehead. The topline of the skull should be straight. The skull tends to be comparatively narrow in relation to its length, with that of the male being slightly wider. The occiput is slightly visible. The stop should be slight and sloping rather than abrupt.

Muzzle: the muzzle should be approximately the same length as the skull. It should be narrow, end squarely, and have clean straight lines. Mouth: the jaws should be strong, and well-developed teeth meeting in a scissors or even bite. The lips should be smooth and well developed and cover the teeth tightly. The lips extend in a level line 3/4 of the length of the muzzle.

Eyes: they should be almond shaped, bright and intelligent in appearance. The colour is in harmony with or darker than the colour of the coat; they should be moderately deep set. The eyelids close neatly and cleanly with no overlap. The nictitating membrane should not be overly exposed.

Ears: the ears should be thin, silky and moderately tapered with rounded ends. They should just meet under the jaw, or reach to the corner of the mouth, but should notextend as far as the canine teeth. They should be set about 1/2 inch (1 cm) below the level of the skull and hang close to the cheeks.

Neck: The neck should be of medium length in proportion to the body, it must be well muscled, with a definite arch at the nape and widened to blend smoothly into the forequarters. The skin of the neck should be smooth and tight.

Forequarters: Shoulders: the shoulder blade should be of medium length and must be tightly held in place. The angle formed by the shoulder blade (scapula) and the humerus should be approximately 90 degrees. The musculature should be firm, smooth and clearly defined.

Upper-arm (humerus): the bone structure should be heavy, smooth and well covered by strong firm muscles. The skin should be firm, pliable and smooth. The upper-arm should be equal in length to the shoulder blade (scapula).

Lower-arm (radius and ulna): strong big bones with good muscles. The legs should be straight whether viewed from the front or side. The angle at the elbow joint should be approximately 135 degrees. Pasterns: the angle that the pastern makes with the lower leg should be nearly straight (about 175 - 180 degrees).

Front Paws: the paws should be cat-like with tightly closed toes and big rough pads. The feet should be webbed. The nails should be short, firm and well curved, and their colour similar to that of the eyes, nose, and coat. Dewclaws should be removed.

Topline: the topline should be broad and smooth and is slightly arched over the loin and croup to the base of the tail; there is a slight depression at the juncture of the withers and the back. Chest: the chest should be deep, reaching down to the elbows and moderately broad. A cross-section of the chest is oval with well spring ribs, narrowing between the elbows to permit free and easy leg movement. Width of the chest between the forelegs is at least 6 in. (15 cm) for a male and 5 in. (13 cm) for a bitch.

Loin: it should be broad, strong and well muscled.

Croup: it should be heavily muscled and smoothly rounded to the base of the tail.

Abdomen: the abdomen should be trim and neat with a moderate tuck-up.

Hindquarters: Hip bone (pelvis): this is the framework which forms the basic support for the hind legs. These pelvic bones should be wide and strong. Themusculature attaching to these bones should be very well developed and gives strength to the hindquarters.

Upper thigh (femur): this bone should be heavy, straight, round, and smooth. Muscle attachments should be very powerful, broad, and evenly distributed. The angle at the hip joint should be 90 degrees. Lower thigh (tibia and fibula) should be well muscled. These bones should be longer than the femur. The angle at the stifle joint should be 110-120 degrees. Hocks: the angle at the hock joint should be from 125 -130 degrees.

Rear Paws: same as the front.

Tail: The tail-set is lower than on the other continental pointing breeds. In motion it is carried outstretched, at or above the horizontal level. A portion is docked, approximately 1/3 so that the tip of the shortened tail is level with the juncture of the upper and lower thigh. It should be thicker at the base than at the tip.

Gait: Viewed from the front, the dog's legs should appear to swing forward in a free and easy manner, with no tendency for the feet to cross over or swing wide. Viewed from the rear the gait should be true-tracking. The topline is level when dog is in motion, while the head is carried high and the tail "flags" constantly at the proper level.

Faults:

1. Very nervous dogs should be heavily penalized.

2. Very dark or very light colour coat.

3. Hare feet.

4. Light yellow, green, blue or "Pop" eyes.

5. Throatiness.

6. Dogs 10 lb. (5 kg) over or under the standard weight.

7. Dewclaws not removed.

8. Roached, hollow or camel backs.

9. Too steep a croup.

10. Undershot or overshot bites.

Disqualifications:

1. A dog 2 in. (5 cm) or more over or under the standard height.

2. White markings over 2 in. (5 cm) on the chest or white markings anywhere else other than the chest.

Home     About Us     About Vizslas     Our Dogs     Puppies     Links