breed of dog
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Written by
Caroline Coile
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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Vizsla hunting dog
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- sporting dog
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Vizsla, breed of sporting dog whose ancestors were probably brought to Hungary by the Magyars more than a thousand years ago. The dog can generally work both as a pointer and as a retriever. Developed on the open plains of Hungary, it was bred to be a swift and cautious hunter, wary of alerting its quarry. It is a graceful dog with a short smooth reddish gold or sandy-yellow coat; the tail is traditionally docked one-third in countries where docking is legal. The breed also has a bulkier wirehaired version, with hairy eyebrows and a beard, that was cross-bred in the 1930s with German Wirehaired Pointers for colder climates.
Care and upkeep
The short smooth coat needs only occasional brushing to remove loose hairs and even less frequent bathing; obviously, the coat of the longer-haired version needs more-frequent care. As with all dogs, the nails, ears, eyes, and teeth of the Vizsla require regular checking, but the breed requires no special maintenance.
Breed data
Other names: Hungarian Vizsla, Magyar Vizsla
Area of origin: Hungary during the Middle Ages
Breed group: Sporting (AKC)
Height at withers: 21−24 inches (53−61 cm)
Weight: 44−60 pounds (20−27 kg)
Lifespan: 12−14 years
Did you know? By 1900 the breed was on the brink of extinction, but it was revived from about a dozen dogs. It was once known as the “Gift of Kings,” as the only Vizslas allowed out of Hungary were given as royal gifts. World War II spread the breed throughout the world, because Hungarian Vizsla owners fled Soviet occupation with their dogs.
Vizslas are active dogs that require an hour of exercise daily. Although they especially enjoy a day in the field hunting birds, for most Vizslas, running, swimming, and fetching are sufficient, and more practical, modes of exercise. The breed does well in organized activities, such as hunt tests and agility.
Temperament
Vizslas were bred to be fairly close-working hunters and retrievers, which means that they tend to stick close when off leash and to be attentive to human signals. Though energetic, as long as the dog receives adequate exercise, it is typically calm and well-mannered indoors. The breed is fairly easy to train but can be stubborn at times.
This generally gentle and affectionate breed does well with adults, children, and elderly people, but it is an especially good choice for active owners. It gets along well with strangers and other dogs and pets, and it is not known to be aggressive.
These are well-established and widely accepted generalizations about the breed. Individual dogs, of course, may differ in behavior and temperament.
Caroline Coile
