Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla

Other Names: Wirehaired Vizsla, Hungarian Wire-haired Pointing Dog, Magyar Vizsla

Country of origin: Hungary

Dog Group Kennel Club: Gundog

General appearance:

The Vizsla breed comes in two coat varieties: the Smooth and Wire. The Wire is hard, harsh,and loose fitting. There is no gloss or shine. There is a winter ander-coat and the hair is brush-like on the back of the forelegs, head, muzzle, and ears. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizslas were bred from a German Wirehaired Pointer and Hungarian Vizsla in the late 1930s for hunting fur and feather, pointing and retrieving from land and water. The Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla has its own special nature and apart and its aim in life is to please....making it a wonderful pet, friend and helper in all forms.

Colours: Golden Sand, Russet

Size:

Bitch          54cm (21") 58cm (23")

Dog            58cm (23") 62cm (24")

Weight:

Bitch          20kg (44lbs) 30kg (66lbs)

Dog            20kg (44lbs) 30kg (66lbs)

Temperament:

The Vizsla is friendly, lively, and affectionate with their family and those they know. They are alert and watchful. They will bark when they sense danger or visitors. Although they are very reserved with strangers. The Vizsla is very demonstrative, but has a tendency to be willful and distracted. They get along well with older children and in most cases other dogs. They will tolerate cats they are raised with. They do have an inbuilt desire to protect their family with which they are very affectionate and loyal. They should be socialised from an early age. In general the Vizsla likes to stay with the family and will not wander off too far. They will happily be both family and working dogs in one.

Movement: Their Their movement should be smooth and graceful allowing them to cover the ground quickly.

Care and training:

The coat of the Visla is harsh and wiry. It is longer on the muzzle, eyebrows, body and legs. Any dead or loose hairs can be removed by hand plucking. The excess hair between the pads of the feet needs to be trimmed. Bathing should only be done with a mild soap so as not to strip the coat the protective oils.

The Vizsla is not an unduly difficult dog to train as long as there is consistency and firmness in the training. They are intelligent and eager to learn and to please. It should be remembered that this dog is sensitive and therefore training should be carried out in a gentle manner. The Vizsla needs both socialization and obedience training at an early age. Owners of this breed must make their authority clear right from the start. The Vizsla displays their talents in the areas of tracking, pointing, retrieving, and competitive obedience.

Overall Exercise: 100 - 120 minutes per day.
The Wirehaired Vizsla requires plenty of exercise and needs to be kept active. They are best suited to the active country dwelling family and they do not thrive in kennel situations. They much prefer close contact with their family.

Feeding requirements: The Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla is an undemanding dog to feed with no special dietary requirements; they generally have a good appetite. If they are used as gundogs then they do need a higher protein diet suitable for working dogs.

Exercise: High

Grooming: Med

Noise: Med

Personal Protection: Medium

Suitability As Guard Dog: Low

Level of Aggression: Low

Compatibility With Other Animals: Medium

Suitablity for Children: High

Often docked? Yes

Average litter: 6 - 8

Life expectancy (yrs): 12 - 15

Health issues: Hip dysplasia, skin problems, allergies, cancer, eye problems, thyroid disorders, von Willebrand's disease and epilepsy.

History: The origin of the Vizsla can be traced back to very early times in Hungarian history. Ancestors of today's Vizsla were the toy dogs used by the Magyar tribes living in the Carpathian Basin from the 9th century on. They were widely used for hunting rats.