History of the Vizsla
Ch. Dawn's Riley Reignbo JH (Riley)
Do you want a Vizsla?? Read This
first....
As stated in the Versatile Vizsla, ...Owning a Vizsla will change your life
forever. The Vizsla standard calls for the breed to be 'demonstratively
affectionate,' and whether they are jumping up to lick your face, grabbing your
wrist in their mouths, sharing your bed, chair, lap or just bringing a favorite
toy, they are impossible to ignore." This is a very good description
of what it is like to live with a Vizsla. Some even say it is like having
another child. They have a very human quality about them and are a true
family dog. They do not do well as an outside dog and will often develop
behavior problems from there lack of human contact. They ARE NOT good kennel dogs and suffer badly if not allowed to be part of
he family. They were bred for many centuries to be close companions with their
owners. This is an inside breed of dog that will share your house and your
heart. A true "comfort seeker, the Vizsla would rather be on your
bed, couch or lap than on the floor. They will follow you around from room
to room earning their nick name "the velcro dogs." If you put
them outside to play, most often they wont stay out very long unless you come
out to play with them. They love your company that much.
Most people know only one thing about Vizslas - that they are a beautiful and elegant breed of dog. They require little grooming other than an occasional bath and regular nail trims. They shed very little compared to many other breeds which makes them a perfect house dog FOR THE RIGHT PERSON.
However, the characteristics of the Vizslas go far beyond physical beauty, and
these are the things that make them a breed not suited to every person. People who are
unfamiliar with the breed often think they are pushy, spoiled, and entirely too 'busy" to live with.
However, they are a delight to own if you are committed to seeing that they get enough exercise and proper training, are kept crated or in
an area where they cannot get in trouble when you are gone, and (most important) if you are the sort of person who does not mind having
a dog in your face.
Riley being a goof
The Hungarian Vizsla is one of the oldest pointer/retrievers in existence. It is
believed that the ancestors of today's Vizsla came with the Magyar nomads who crossed the Carpathian Mountains into what is now known as Hungary in
approximately 895 AD. Historically, they were possessions of the landed
aristocracy, bred and owned by the Hungarian nobility and wealthy land owners. This all changed with the first World War when the social order in
Hungary was drastically changed. With World War II and the Russian occupation, the Vizsla was nearly lost. Dedicated lovers of the breed spirited
their dogs out of the country to save it. The dogs began arriving in the United States in the
early 1950's. In 1960, the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club.
The Vizsla Breed Standard calls for a medium sized dog. Males stand 22'" to 24'"
tall, and females range from 21 '" to 23'". More than 1 1/2
inches or or under these measurements is a disqualifying factor. The average weight is 40 to 65 pounds,
depending upon height and amount of bone. The short, slick coat is varying shades of golden rust.
The eyes, nails and nose should blend with the coat color. A small amount of white is allowed on the chest, but is not desirable.
Massive areas of white on the chest, or white extending over the toes is a disqualification.
The Vizsla is used as a gun dog that can point and retrieve either fur or feather.
In Europe he is expected to hunt both. Here in the U.S. he is used almost exclusively on upland game birds. The Vizsla is a very versatile dog; you will
also find him in the show ring, obedience ring, the field, in agility, in tracking, and
working as therapy dogs. The first AKC Triple Champion was a Vizsla and the only
Quintuple champion is one too. I recommend joining your local vizsla
club and getting involved in show, obedience, agility and/or hunting.
There is nothing more beautiful and heartwarming than seeing your vizsla leap
and bounce joyously around the field doing what he was bred to do. They
love to have a "job" and look forward to any outing. It is also
a good way to have a happy, well rounded, sociable dog. It is much easier
than you think to get involved, and much more rewarding for your dog than
you could have ever imagined.
"Vizsla's teach so much love because they
have so much love to give. There affection is always there for you.
they are a joy to know and happiness to own. They are full of strength,
vitality, elegance, and beauty. A vizsla is a 365 days a year companion,
accepting the role of protector, friend and hunter. A vizsla is truly a
dog to be proud of owning, and he is forgiving in case you call him dog- he is a
Vizsla." (Coffman).
To learn more about the Breed Standard, please visit my club
site:
If the Vizsla is not right for you and your family, you can go to Central Pets.Com to search other breeds:
http://centralpets.com/index.shtml