ABOUT VIZSLAS
Origination:
The Vizsla (pronounced VEEZH-luh (zh as in vision)), whose name means alert and responsive, was prized by the land-owning aristocracy of Hungary for its hunting abilities, its regal appearance, and its warm personality. Between World War I and World War II, the Vizsla nearly became extinct. Hungarians who fled the Russian occupation in 1945 smuggled their beloved dogs out of the country. The Vizsla first appeared in the United States in the early 1950s and was admitted to AKC registry in 1960.
Description:
The Vizsla is a medium-sized hunting dog and pointer. The strong body is slightly longer than it is tall. The slightly domed skull is lean and muscular, wide between the ears with a medial line going down the forehead. The muzzle tapers gradually from the stop to the nose and is the same length or shorter than the skull. The neck is strong with no dewlap. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The long ears are silky thin, hanging down close to the cheeks with rounded tips. The tail is thick at the root and is customarily docked to 2/3 its original length. The front legs are straight with cat-like feet. The dewclaws are usually removed. The short, smooth coat is tight to the whole body and comes in a rusty-gold color in various shades on the body.
Temperament:
The Vizsla is expressive, gentle, and loving. Keen and trainable to a high degree, they need mental stimulation daily. These beautiful dogs have become popular work, show, and companion dogs in the past few years. They are incredibly tenacious hunters and have great agility. They need a patient, calm, and firm hand. If they do not see you as a strong authority figure, they will become stubborn. They are reliable with children, loving to play for hours. Without extensive daily exercise they may be too energetic and excitable for very young toddlers, but are excellent for energetic kids. They are able to adapt quickly to family life, and are generally good with other dogs and pets. They are very athletic. Socialize them well to people, places, noises, dogs, and other animals.
It is very important to obedience train your Vizsla. Without enough exercise, they can be overly eager, prancing around you in sheer excitement. This breed is highly trainable and very willing to please - if you can get them to understand exactly what it is you want of them. If you do not train this breed, they may become difficult to handle and control.
Vizslas tend to chew. You must give them several chew toys to curb this tendency. Vizslas also have seemingly boundless energy at times. At the very least they need puppy and obedience training. Regular training sessions are recommended to reinforce training as your Vizsla settles in. Without proper exercise, they can easily become high-strung.
Talents:
Vizslas have many talents such as: tracking, retrieving, pointing, watchdog and competitive obedience. They are hunting dogs, and may be good with cats they are raised with, but should not be trusted with animals such as hamsters, rabbits, and guinea pigs etc. (Fuzzy tails tend to invite them to chase.) Vizslas respond well to training as long as methods reflect their sensitive, eager-to-please nature. They are great field dogs, both as a pointer and retriever. If introduced to water at a young age, most enjoy water and are strong swimmers. Vizslas are FAST! Documented to be able to run up to 40 mph, they are one of the fastest breeds on the planet!
Vizslas crave human contact, and most Vizsla owners will tell you they are an important and integrated part of their family. They can be somewhat sensitive and need gentle discipline during and after training. They are great with children and will quickly learn and adapt to their new family's routine. Be sure to always be your dogs pack leader to avoid any negative behaviors such as guarding food, toys, and so on. Well balanced Vizslas, who receive enough exercise, and have owners who are true pack leaders, will not have these issues. These behaviors can be reversed, once the owners start displaying leadership, discipline, and provide enough exercise, both mental and physical.
Please take time to research the Vizsla breed before you make your final decision to acquire
one of these beautiful and gentle dogs for your family!
Our Vizslas and our litters are all AKC registered.
Related Links:
Check out the AKC site for more information at http://www.akc.org/breeds/vizsla/
or visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vizsla
All Photographs are the property of Dallas Vizslas and may not be copied nor reused.