Hungarian Vizsla breed characteristics
- Size: Large
- Traits: Friendly, Intelligent, Loyal
- Maintenance: Low - brush regularly with a firm bristle brush, bathe as necessary, clip nails once or twice a month
- Best Suited To: People with active lifestyles
Where I'm From
There is a little bit of mystery surrounding the origin of the Hungarian Vizsla. Some reports claim they were first roaming our Earth centuries ago, while others believe the breed was only developed in the 20th century.
A similar breed of dog is dated back a 100 years ago when the early settlers of Hungary (the Magyar hunters) were using dogs referred to as Yellow Turkish Hunting Dogs. The Magyar’s would take these dogs to other countries and cross breed them to try and improve their hunting abilities, but they were all wiped out by World War I. It is however believed that some of these breeds were smuggled out of the country and selective breeding developed the Hungarian Vizsla we know today.
What I Look Like
The Hungarian Vizsla have a short coat that is often a russet gold colour, with some having white markings on their chest and feet. They have a graceful and noble looking appearance, with a slim and sleek body. Their ears are thin and silky and their eyes and nose are typically various shades of brown.
How I Act
The Hungarian Vizsla are an intelligent dog who are eager to learn and easy to train with consistency and firmness. They are however quite a sensitive breed, so training should be done gently.
The Vizsla is quite high energy, loves lots of exercise and being outdoors, so a home with plenty of space, particularly families living in the country, will be best suited.
Affectionate and loyal, they love to be close with their family, are great with children and have an inbuilt desire to protect them. They also love to be social and may often moan, whine or make other noises to try and communicate with you. This trait does also mean they can fall into a bad habit of being regular barkers, so be sure to get control of this while they’re young. If you happen to be particularly interested in dog sports, the Vizsla are usually more than happy to compete. As natural hunters, they particularly excel at agility, field and obedience.
With a history of being retrieving dogs, the Vizsla can also have a tendency to chew, so be sure to have plenty of toys ready and on rotation to make sure they don’t end up chewing your shoes.
Looking After Me
The average life span of a Vizsla is around 14 to 15 years.
The Vizsla, like most larger dog breeds, can also suffer from hip hysplasia. Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition in which the dog’s thighbone doesn’t fit properly into their hip joint. Some dogs may display symptoms such as lameness on one or both rear legs and outward signs of pain, but others may not display any symptoms. Having intermittent X-rays at your vet can help detect the issue.
They can also develop some treatable cancers, such as Lymphosarcoma, so be sure to keep on eye on your dog and get anything usual checked.
Am I the pet for you?
If you’re looking for a companion who can come exercise with you everyday or you’re on the look out for the next dog show superstar, the Vizsla are the perfect breed to consider.
Pros
- An intelligent breed who are eager to learn, the Vizsla are easy to train.
- The Vizsla love people and are affectionate and loyal by nature, so they are a great family pet.
- If you love dog shows and are looking for a companion to enter with, there is no better choice than the Vizsla.
Cons
- They tend to be chewers, so be sure to have plenty of toys handy so your shoes don’t become their next victim.
- With a history of being hunting and retrieving dogs, they love to get out a run, so they are best suited to houses with plenty of space and/or people who love to get out and exercise daily.
- Being vocal by nature, make sure to train them while they’re young otherwise you may end up with a companion who loves to bark.