Vizsla Puppies Blog

The Hungarian Wired Haired Pointing Dog or the Vizsla, is believed to have existed along with the Magyar tribes as hunters during the 8th century as stone etchings thousands of years old depicting the breed. They were also mentioned in the Vienna Chronicle in 1357.  Vasas Jozsef of the Csabi Kennel and Gresznarik László of a German Wirehaired Pointer Kennel came together to make a breed that had a heavier coat, stronger build.

They also wanted a breed that was more durable for work in cold climates and resistant to frigid waters. The Vizsla has a rough, dense and wiry topcoat that is ¾ to 1 ¼ inches in length, having no glossy appearance and a soft dense undercoat. Coats are grown on tight fitting skin and water resistant as they are built to handle cold working conditions. Heights for males are 58 to 64 centimeters from the withers and females 54 to 60 centimeters and 45 to 60 pounds. The accepted colors are russet, golden sand or red.

Contrary to what you may think, the two types of  Hungarian Vizslas – Wire-haired and Short-haired are completely different breeds, though they share many of the same characteristics.

The wire haired Vizsla was crossed with the German Wirehaired pointer in order to get a coat that was better adapted to the cold and and was more tolerant of moisture. Currently, though they are well recognized in Europe, the wirehaired Vizsla is still a rare breed in the US, and isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) though they are recognized by several other clubs in the US. They are recognized by the FCI and considered a rare breed in Europe as well. The Wire-Haired Vizsla’s have a dense undercoat that protects them from moisture quite unlike their shorthaired cousins.

The short haired Vizsla is commonly recognized breed and thought to be the only kind of Hungarian Vizsla. They are not suited for cold climates or getting very wet, since they don’t have the protection of the undercoat. However, this also makes them great indoor dogs, as they are less prone to give their owners allergies. They also shed very little, and this results in a remarkable lack of the “Doggy Smell” that is a trademark of most other homes. They are one of the few breeds that are perfect family dogs as well as sporting dogs.

Vizsla is regarded as the dog with human soul. If you have a vizsla too, you know what I mean. 

This is measured out of a scale of 1 to 10….

Affection: 10
Energy: 8
Playfulness: 8
Sociability – dogs: 6
Sociability – other pets: 8
Sociability – strangers: 6
Trainability: 6
Exercise needs: 2
Grooming needs: 4
Suitability to cold: 4
Suitability to heat: 6
Watch dog capability: 8
Guard dog capability: 4

The Vizsla’s temperament is much like that of otehr bird dogs or hunting dogs. They are playful, alert, social, and active. The Vizsla?s hunting roots are undeniable, and nothing makes it happier than a day in the field. With its boundless energy, it is difficult to tire out this dog. A Vizsla will retrieve and point naturally, and it also enjoys following the various scents it detects. Around the house, the Vizsla is gentle and affectionate; playful and lively. It thrives on the love and attention it can get from its family. These dogs are well mannered in the house when given the chance to exercise properly. However, if left inactive they will become neurotic and destructive inside. The Vizsla is intelligent and takes well to training, but it can be stubborn at times. Therefore consistent, firm training should be given to Vizsla puppies. With an overall sweet disposition, Vizslas are wonderful dogs.

Hungary is famous for its sheepdogs. These include the Komondor, the Puli, the Pumi, the Mudi and the Kuvasz. But within the breed group of Vizsla, only 3 sub-categories can be found. Namely, the German Vizsla, the Italian Vizsla ( a.k.a Bracco Italiano) and the Hungarian Vizsla. The Hungarian Vizsla is the most-well known and thus the most well-loved as well. Within the famous Hungarian breeds, the Hungarian Vizsla stands regally next to the Transylvannian Hound (a.k.a Pannon Hound), since it is not a flock guard, but rather a hunting dog – unique to all the Hungarian dog breeds!

It developed independently from all the other Vizsla breeds, and its origin dates back to when the Magyars conquered the Carpathian Basin at the end of the 9th century. Hungarian tribes that settled in the Carpathian Basin brought dogs with them and these in turn mixed with hunting dogs of the Slavic people living in the occupied territory at that time. The dogs that evolved were the ancestors of today?s Hungarian hunting dog breeds, namely the Hungarian vizsla and the Transylvannian hound. Seperation of the two breeds occured in the 11th century and when the Turks conquered Hungary in the 16th centruy, the Vizsla developed further by crossing with the dogs of the Turks: namely with the dog breed called the Sloughi. Unfortunately, by the end of World War II, much of the Hungarian Vizsla population was destroyed. A few of these dogs were taken to Western Europe and America. The original book of origin was also lost in a fire, so the origin of some of the remaining facts became unknown. But top quality European breeders have perpetuated the gene-pool of this beautiful and regal breed that is very much loved outside of its native Hungary as well!