Vizslas 2009 Dog Breed Calendar
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Your Online Guide To Everything Vizslas
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming - Training - Health
Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale - Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
Country
of Origin: Hungary
Height: 19.5-24.5
inches for females and 20.5-25.5 inches for
males
Weight:
40-60 pounds
Exercise Needs: High
Grooming Needs: Low
Life Expectancy: 11-13
years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Medium
Difficulty
Common Misspellings: Visla, Vizla, Vishla,
Vissla
Alternate Names: Hungarian Pointer, Hungarian
Vizsla
A descendant of dogs which were believed to
have roamed Central Europe with the Magyar
hordes, it is believed that this unique breed
has existed for hundreds of years. Facing near
extinction during World War I, the Vizsla has
since made a comeback and has proven himself a
very unique canine, possessing characteristics
of both the sleek pointer and the devoted
retriever. Those who know this magnificent breed
can attest to his uncanny versatility.
Creative Spelling and Name Variations For Vizsla Dogs:
Viszlas,
Hungarianvizslas, Visslas,
Vizzslas, Vizzlas,
Hungarian Viszlas,
Hungarian-Vizslas,
Hungarian-Viszlas
Like many ancient breeds, a great deal of
speculation surrounds the history of the Vizsla
dog,
though the most common theory is that he is a
descendant of the same dogs who traveled with
the Magyar hordes, set upon conquering Europe.
Most likely used as a hunting dog, as well as a
companion animal, an idea of his history can be
traced through various etchings and manuscripts,
dating as far back as the 10th century.
Apparently favored by the ancient warlords, it
still remains a mystery as to whether the
Vizsla dog breed
evolved through selective breeding or purely by
accident.. When it made its way into Hungary,
however, it seemed to have found the ideal
surroundings that it needed, in order to develop
into a superior hunting dog. In a land which was
comprised mainly of agricultural areas, the Vizsla needed to become a dog that possessed a
superior scenting ability, a light and cautious
step, and a swift movement. In addition to his
keen scenting ability, the Vizsla was bred not
only to point out game, but to retrieve it for
his master afterwards.
World War I proved almost to be the end of this
noble breed, when all but a few of these
magnificent dogs remained. Fortunately, however,
the handful that survived were enough to slowly
and steadily continue on with the Vizsla breed’s
progress. By the 1950’s, the Vizsla was introduced into
the United States and, by 1960, he was admitted
into the American Kennel Club (AKC) registry.
The Vizsla is a striking dog of medium size,
well known for his regal bearing and uniquely
beautiful coat of solid gold rust. Well-balanced
in appearance, the
Hungarian Pointer possesses a
frame that can be described neither as stout,
nor of lean, but should instead be athletic and
honed, giving the impression of strength and
endurance. His neck is proudly arched and
strong, leading down into a chest that is both
broad and deep, and the back is short and
muscular.
The Vizsla possesses eyes that should be the
same shade as his coat color, the irises
blending gently into the coat and the nose of
this unique breed should always be brown - black
is considered a disqualification from
competition. The Hungarian Pointer is allowed in
several distinct shades, including the golden,
golden rust, the red golden, red, rust, rust
golden, and the sandy yellow. While a small
amount of white is permissible on the chest and
toes, excessive white is considered a fault, as
is any dog possessing a longer coat.
While the Vizsla is by no means considered an
aggressive breed, he can tend to come across as
a bit standoffish or anti-social. A no-nonsense
hunting dog first, this Hungarian Pointer is
very cautious and curious of his surroundings,
always on duty when it comes to sniffing things
out, and tends to carry this serious attitude
into the home. Not patient enough to put up with
small children, chances are he will take himself
to his master’s feet and plant himself there, in
hopes that this will deter the child from
further antagonizing.
Also be forewarned that Vizsla dogs are not
always the best with small animals either;
trained as hunting dogs for centuries, the
desire to hunt is very natural in most Hungarian
Pointers. Vizslas should always be supervised
when exposed to cats, rabbits or anything else
remotely “bite sized".
They say that the only happy Vizsla is a
tired Vizsla and, perhaps, this definition rings
true. A very active dog, this rusty-gold pointer
requires a good deal of activity in order to
keep him entertained. Failing to provide him
with the exercise he needs can result in
problems such as various vices, obesity, or
extreme restlessness and possible aggression. At
the very least, the Vizsla should have access to
a dog run or a yard where he can stretch his
legs and run.
Care and upkeep of your Vizsla dog or puppy
is relatively simple - a gentle brushing, once
or twice a week, will suffice and will help to
keep his coat glossy by stimulating the oils in
his coat and helping to free and remove any
dander. To brush your Vizsla, use a
soft-bristled brush and go with the grain of
hair, brushing in a gentle and flicking motion.
He will love the free back-scratching and look
forward to your time spent together.
A Vizsla shouldn’t need to be bathed too often
either; once or twice a month is usually a good
bet, provided that you don’t have an individual
who rivals the old Peanuts character “Pig Pen.”
Aside from this, the only other major grooming
needs that a Vizsla requires are keeping his
nails clipped, his ears clean and, if he will
let you, his teeth brushed. Should
tooth-brushing be an issue, however, there are a
variety of toys and treats now available, which
help to reduce tartar build up and tooth decay.
The Vizsla is a very intelligent breed and
one that possesses a great deal of stamina and
control. For these reasons, he can sometimes be
a bit of a handle for the inexperienced but,
once you know where you‘re going, it‘s
relatively easy. Obedience classes are highly
recommended, particularly if you are
inexperienced with training dogs - not only does
it teach your dog basic commands and obedience,
but it also teaches you how better to understand
your new puppy, and what methods he bests
responds to. In no time, you two are sure to be
teaching one another new tricks.
Like any breed of dog, the Vizsla is
subject to a variety of health concerns. Your
best bet is, when deciding to choose a new
Vizsla puppy, check around with several
breeders and ask about the various health issues
that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A
reputable breeder should be well-versed in the
health concerns and should be able to give you
more details, as well as showing you the sire
and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the
health problems that can affect Vizslas
include:
- Autoimmune Disease
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Eye Problems
- Hip Dysplasia
The Vizsla is a very beautiful and energetic
athlete but, despite all that, there is no
guarantee that he is the right dog for you.
Requiring a great amount of exercise and
frequent trips to places where he can stretch
his legs, he is ill-suited for small places like
apartments. Despite his sweet face, the
Hungarian Pointer can be a troublemaker in his
own right, and will quickly show his displeasure
by chewing on your favorite slippers. For some,
however, this is the ideal dog for them - If you
like an energetic and hard-working hunting dog,
you may very well need to try one of these
magnificent canines today!
Now that you have decided that the Vizsla is the right breed
for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible
Vizsla breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized
puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad
breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Vizsla puppy
you find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a
responsible Vizsla breeder, you may need to pay more and wait
longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it.
Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard
breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional
expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love
with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely
need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication -
or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible,
caring Vizsla breeder who home-raises their puppies with
love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a
health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the
Vizsla breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather
than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a
healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that
will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter
and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Hungarian
Vizsla puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many
sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for
puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear
of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Choosing a name for your Vizsla puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your
Vizsla. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a
few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you
decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of
humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side?
A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Vizsla
puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue
about what type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog
names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful
information resources, while others, unfortunately, are just
"garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in on
visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Vizsla puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
Vizslas are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Vizsla pictures, you can usually gain more insight into
what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help
you decide if you really want to become an Vizsla owner.
The following sites below offer pictures of Vizsla dogs,
Vizsla puppy photos, funny Vizsla photos and
more. Enjoy!
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Vizsla dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Vizsla information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the Vizsla dog breed, while
avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of an Vizsla information site that offers
unique, quality information and photos of the Vizsla
breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief description so
that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Vizsla clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn
even more about the Vizsla dog breed, help you locate a
responsible Vizsla breeder, or help you find an Hungarian
Shepherd dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving,
forever home. We've compiled the following list of Vizsla
clubs and Vizsla rescues web sites for your convenience:
- Central Wisconsin Vizsla Club
- Events calendar, photographs, newsletter, breeders directory, links, and
membership information.
- Hungarian Vizsla Club of New South
Wales - Breed description, photograph album, and pictures of rescued
dogs in need of homes.
- Hungarian Wire Haired Vizsla
Association - Club history, news, breed history and standard,
photographs gallery, and how to join. United Kingdom.
- Puget Sound Vizsla Club -
Video, newsletter, rescue information, and litter announcements.
- Rio Salado Vizsla Club - News,
calendar of events, breed history and standard, newsletter, and photographs.
Arizona.
- South Louisiana
Vizsla Club - Membership application, frequently asked questions,
photographs, and rescue information.
- Tampa Bay Vizsla Club -
Schedule of meetings and events, advice for new owners, and membership
information.
- Texas Gulf Coast Vizsla Club -
Organization for fanciers of the breed. Club events and membership
information included.
- United Hungarian Wire-Haired Vizsla
Association - American organization, with provisional status at UKC.
Includes details of national shows and pointing dog events, health warnings
and membership, with photographs including rescue successes.
- Vizsla Canada - Dedicated to
both smooth and wirehaired varieties. Breed history and standard, how to
join, calendar of events, and member information.
- Vizsla Club of Central New England -
Newsletter, club history, information on upcoming events, breed description,
and forum.Serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.
- Vizsla Club of Metro Atlanta
- Calendar of events, photographs, club information, newsletter, contacts,
and links.
- Vizsla Club of Michigan -
Events calendar, list of club officers, articles, and rescue information.
- Vizsla Club of Northern California -
Calendar of events, newsletter, membership packet, and a photograph gallery.
- Vizsla Club of the Carolinas
- News, calendar of events, code of ethics, and membership application.
- The Vizsla Society
of Ontario - Information on upcoming events, list of breeders, and news.
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