Do you know a Vizsla?

The Vizsla, also known as the Hungarian Pointer is a medium sized hunting dog. They’re body is longer than it is taller, only slightly, and they’re an extremely lean and muscular dog.
They originated in Hungary and were bred by the Magyars who used them as hunting dogs. ‘Vizsla’ in Hungarian means ‘Pointer.’ They’re depicted in etchings dated back to the 10th century and are believed to have descended from several different pointers. Their strong sense of smell and endless amount of energy make them the ideal hunter and were superb for catching rabbit and waterfowl.
After World War II they almost became extinct. When the Russians took control of Hungary, after the war, native Hungarians smuggled some Vizsla’s into America and Austria and saved the breed.

There are two cousins of the Vizsla, the Wirehaired Vizsla and the extremely rare longhaired Vizsla. The longhaired Vizsla is a rare occurrence but can be born in a little of Wirehaired or short haired, though the longhaired is not registered anywhere in the world but some are believed to be in Europe.

The Vizsla is a very gentle, fun loving dog and is very keen to learn and easily trainable, with the right pack leader. They require a patient, calm yet firm leader who can provide them with the daily mental stimulation they require. A perfect owner for the Vizsla is someone who knows the difference between a firm pack leader and a strong authorities figure, as someone too strong a dominating will clash with the Vizsla’s temperament and they can be very stubborn when they want to be.

Daily exercise is a must! They are great with kids but can be too much for younger children, energetic kids are the perfect match! Long daily walks and runs are must but will not satisfy their mental stimulation, toys, games and tracking exercises are ideal, they also do well in competitive obedience. Without the right amount of mental and physical stimulation they become a very highly strung dog.  They require plenty of socialization from a young age and need to be exposed to new situations and sounds to avoid any behavioral issues later in life. Obedience training should also begin as soon as they join your family. A fully grown, untrained Vizsla can be extremely destructive and difficult to handle. Their wiliness to please makes them very easy to train.

Their smooth, short haired coat is very easy to maintain, only requiring a brush occasionally and bathing only as needed. They settle well into any home environment but if there is any chance that they cannot have long, daily exercise and mental stimulation then they are not the dog for you. They form great relationships with their family members and make a great addition to any high energy group.