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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

Vizsla Dog Breed

Vizsla Size Variations: None
Vizsla Colors: None
Vizsla Height: 19.5-24.5 inches for females and 20.5-25.5 inches for males

Vizsla Weight: 40-60 pounds
Vizsla Exercise Needs: Demanding
Vizsla Grooming Needs: Minimal
Vizsla Life Expectancy (Lifespan): 11-13 years
Are Vizslas Child-Friendly? Yes, with supervision.
Vizsla Training:  Medium Difficult
Breed Group:  Sporting

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

Vizsla History

The Vizsla dog breed originated in United States of America. Like many ancient breeds, a great deal of speculation surrounds the history of the Vizsla, 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 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 breed�s progress. By the 1950's, he was introduced into the United States and, by 1960, he was admitted into the American Kennel Club (AKC) registry.

Vizsla Appearance

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.

Vizsla Temperament

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. Vizsla should always be supervised when exposed to cats, rabbits or anything else remotely "bite size."

Vizsla Exercise Needs

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.

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

Vizsla Grooming Requirements

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.

Vizsla Training

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.

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

Vizsla Health Information

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

Is the Vizsla Dog Breed Right For You?

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!

Finding A Responsible Vizsla Breeder

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 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:

• Vizsla Puppies For Sale
• Vizsla Breeders Showcase
• Vizsla Puppy Finder on Pet Net
  
  

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

Vizsla Names

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!

Vizsla Dog Names

• Dog Names
• Choosing A Name For Your Dog Or Puppy
• Unique Pet Names
  
  

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

Vizsla Pictures

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!

• Vizsla Dog Pictures
  
  

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

Additional Vizsla Information Resources

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.

• Wikipedia - 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

Vizsla Clubs and Rescues

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 Vizsla 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:

Vizsla Clubs - Vizsla Rescues