Hungarian Vizla

History

Thought to have arrived in the Carpathian Basin with nomadic Hungarian tribes, descriptions and illustrations which resemble Hungarian Vizslas are found in documents of the 14th century. His reputation as a hunting dog began increasing in the 18th century, with competitions for hunting dogs organised in Hungary in from the 19th century. Specific modern breeding started in 1920, and survived the impact of World Wars before becoming established internationally.

Description

A medium sized, elegant all purpose gundog, with an eye catching appearance and a short russet gold coat. With a light, lean structure, he portrays both beauty and strength.

Grooming and Physical Needs

  • Grooming Needs: Minimal grooming required, usually a brush once a week, with regular attention to nails.
  • Coat Type: Short smooth coat that lies close to the body.
  • Moulting: Little – does not shed heavily, but may lose more coat with seasonal changes.
  • Exercise Needs: Requires daily mental and physical exercise outside the yard. Training is essential.
  • Average Life Span: 10 to 14 years.

Behaviour

  • Family: One with experience and willingness to train and involve the dog in family activities and day to day living.
  • Temperament: Lively, energetic, evenly tempered, receptive to training. Willing to please, and cannot bear rough treatment and should be neither aggressive nor shy.
  • Trainability: Developed as an all purpose working gundog, is receptive to training and best trained with positive reinforcement based methods.
  • Sociability (Other Pets): Like all breeds, appropriate socialisation and careful introduction to other animals required.
  • Barking: Medium tendency. Can be vocal if left alone for long periods or is not adequately exercised.

Talents

Capable of training for most dog sports, competent retriever, and often (though not always) enjoys swimming.

Notes

Requires appropriate training and mental stimulation. Does not do well if left alone for long periods without appropriate input.