Vizsla Puppies Blog

If you would like to have an excellent companion that has an easygoing nature and is very lively, friendly and eager to learn, then the Vizsla is the best breed for you. These dogs can easily become excellent watchdogs or guardians, as they are brave, courageous and will start barking if something unusual is happening in the house. The Vizsla likes children, especially the older, considerate kids, and they can also get on well with other dogs and cats in the family if they are raised together. They require almost constant activity, so a large, fenced yard is a must for them. Therefore they are not recommended for apartment living.

The coat of the Vizsla is short, dense and either smooth or wired. It is advised to brush the coat weekly, although it requires minimal care. They are prone to health issues like hip dysplasia and canine epilepsy. The breed does not like cold weather.

Training of the Vizsla is easy as they are clever and are eager to learn new things, but they tend to be dominant, so the trainer must be patient, consistent and firm. Early obedience training and socialization is recommended for the breed.

All in all, the Vizsla is suitable for families who will provide the dog love, many exercise and daily playing sessions or walks to keep them happy and healthy.

I hope these few sentences will be able to help you decide whether the Vizsla is the best breed for you and for your family.

Affectionate, Loving, Energetic, Intelligent …

What do you think? Feel free to leave coments.

No, they aren’t. Many would think that shorter-haired dogs are more likely to be hypoallergenic, but this statement is false. What we are actually allergic to is not the fur; they are the proteins found in the saliva and dander. So it is more likely, that those breeds which shed more are more allergenic. But this is not only thing responsible, the protein expression level counts a lot too. So one thing to protect ourselves a bit from allergies is to give a bath more often.
Check out this list of hypoallergenic breeds:

Bedlington Terrier
Bichon Frise – recommended by AKC to allergy sufferers
Chinese Crested
Irish Water Spaniel
Kerry Blue Terrier
Maltese
Poodles
Portuguese Water Dog
Schnauzers
Soft Coated
Wheaten Terrier
Xoloitzcuintli

The list is mostly based on the level of dander that the dog produces.

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!