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INTRODUCTION

The Hungarian Vizsla is one of the HPR (Hunt, Point, Retrieve) breeds and can be described as a medium sized and 'many-sided' hunting dog or, put simply, as an all-purpose gundog. Although the breed has a reputation for being both easy to train and affectionate, you should NOT get the idea that owning one will be a picnic! Their merits as working dogs are well known so the focus here is to comment on their role as a family pet, since a considerable percentage of all litters is destined to fill that post. Your Vizsla will need careful management and clear and concise direction if it is to become a valued family member. The following points should be taken into consideration and most have been provided by Jackie Perkins - a breeder of over 20 years standing:

TEMPERAMENT

The temperament of your Vizsla is paramount and, in the opinion of Jackie Perkins (GARDENWAY) this is still the most important quality for your consideration. After all, a dog may be the most beautiful one of its kind but, what good is he or she if you cannot live together harmoniously?

Your Vizsla should be confident and friendly towards both humans and other dogs. How you manage your Vizsla will impact enormously on its temperament. Few people or animals respond well to harsh handling and there is little doubt that most 'problem dogs' are the result of poor handling, often from the owner's ignorance.

COMPANIONSHIP

The Vizsla thrives on human companionship and it MUST be a valued member of your family, as so many owners will testify. However, in order to fulfil that special role, your Vizsla has to know his/her place. Of course, this is the case with all dogs but, many years of experience with the breed has shown that the Vizsla excels in cleverness and downright cheek!

If you go out to work for long periods, a Vizsla is NOT the dog for you (and, really, no dog should be!). Left alone, in such circumstances, its intelligence will quickly come into play. If your Vizsla becomes bored, it may seek to relieve its boredom by re-designing the legs of your furniture or cupboard doors - at least those s/he cannot open and empty! Or, maybe, your favourite knick-knacks that its ever-searching gundog nose can sniff out might be preferred! And, toilet training will probably take for ever - if, indeed, it is ever learned at all! Such behaviour is hardly likely to endear him/her to you . . .

However, if you are at home with your Vizsla during those early, formative weeks and months, you will not only have untold fun, as you realise his potential and capacity for learning, but you will also develop the essential rapport that will form an unbreakable bond between the pair of you.

PERSONALITY

Take a look at the results of the Shows, Field and Working trials, Agility, Obedience and all the other, wide-ranging activities in which the Vizsla is involved. You immediately realise you have a multi-faceted animal in your life. Not only hard-working, but also intelligent, intuitive, inquisitive, instinctive and 'in-your-face'. That's your Vizsla and you ignore him/her at your peril!

BUYING YOUR VIZSLA

There are many points to ponder when making this decision. After you have researched the various breeds, considered your lifestyle and finally decided you DO want a Vizsla, the next question is:

1) From whom do you buy your puppy?

The Hungarian Vizsla Club has a puppy-line, whereby the names of reputable club members - who expect to have puppies to sell - are made available to interested people. You select one or some, make contact and are then considered by the breeder(s) for suitability to have one of their puppies. If you are, you go on their list.

Do be careful not to buy from a breeder just because you like the look of his/her web-site! Having the ability to construct an attractive web-site is not positively correlated to being a good and reputable breeder. Some breeders use their dogs as a business!

First, ask the breeder if s/he complies with the Club Code of Practice. The Club regularly publishes in its Newsletter a list of all the litters that have been registered with the Kennel Club. The list includes details of the hip scores (or their absence!) plus the ages of the dam (mother dog) and sire (father dog).

Hip scores are important because they show the breeder is working to prevent hip dysplasia. It is not a big problem in the breed and the Club wants to ensure it stays that way. Therefore, reputable breeders have their breeding dogs X-rayed to prevent problems with hips in the puppies' future. Hip-scoring is NOT a guarantee because that is not possible with nature. However, breeders who have hip-scores for their Vizslas have done their level best to guard against the possibility.

The age of the parent dogs is very important. Sadly, some breeders use very young bitches, far too young to be mothers and the Club works hard to educate as many people as possible to avoid such practices. Members do this because they care for their Vizslas and want to promote the best practice possible.

NEVER BUY FROM A NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT OR PET SHOP - good breeders have a waiting list for their puppies.

VIZSLA PUPPY LINE

The Puppy-line Co-ordinator for the Hungarian Vizsla Club is:

Contact:  Mrs Sonny Benson tel no: 01908 373097


Alternatively write to: The Oak Tree Bungalow, Five Oak Green Road, Five Oak Green, Nr TONBRIDGE, Kent TN12 6RL

2) Check Kennel Club registration details

Is the litter registered?

Does the breeder have an affix (a kennel name that identifies the breeder)?

Is the colour of the Vizsla properly recorded?
The Breed Standard colour is 'Russet Gold'. If the breeder calls it any other name then, clearly. the breeder is not familiar with the Breed Standard and this should sound a warning note to you.

3) Will you get a Puppy Pack that details feeding, care, vaccination, worming and also promises to maintain contact with you indefinitely?

4) Does the purchase contract insist that the puppy is returned to you in the event of something going wrong? Beware of a breeder who does not insist that the puppy is returned to the kennel if you cannot keep it!

5) Is the price reasonable?
Some breeders are charging exorbitant prices for their puppies. Do remember a high price does not guarantee you have purchased the next Crufts champion!
Unfortunately, the Club cannot regulate prices but the Puppy Line will only recommend breeders whose first concern is the well-being of the breed.

REMEMBER: First, contact the Hungarian Vizsla Club puppy-line for the names of breeders with puppies for sale.

MANAGING YOUR VIZSLA

You can rely upon your relationship with this special breed to give you enormous stimulation and satisfaction. Indeed, at times, you will be challenged and frustrated equally yet, overall, you will be rewarded in immeasurable degree. If you have 'got it right' both your lives will be enriched and enlivened as you learn to understand and respect each other. Fortunately, few owners get it wrong but, sadly, some do! So, it is up to you to make sure you are not one of them. At the first sign of any difficulty, contact your breeder for advice. And then, having received it, follow it!

Dog Training Classes can be found all over the country and will train you in the management of your Vizsla. Attendance at dog training, after innoculation, will also 'socialise' your puppy and ensure it learns to enjoy the company of other dogs and people, under your control. If you intend showing your puppy, you will also wish to attend Ringcraft classes, where you will learn the rudiments of handling your Vizsla in the show ring.

For both Ringcraft and Dog Training, do remember, that practice may not promise perfection but it will go along towards it.

CARING FOR YOUR VIZSLA

Your Vizsla is no different from any small creature, be it animal or human - it needs food, warmth and love; the latter includes discipline. Never confuse discipline with chastisement: discipline is about learning and training, whereas chastisment is about punishment. If you get the training right, your Vizsla will learn to fit in with your life and you will never need to chastise it. Simple commands will suffice, preferably of one word and syllable - eg SIT, DROP, DOWN, NO! LEAVE, STAY etc., followed by 'Good dog!' or 'Well done!' and a titbit as a reward. As with children, canine discipline requires a calm attitude and consistency of approach. The main focus should always be positive and reward the good behaviour.

COAT - a very attractive aspect, not only for its beautiful 'Russet Gold' colouring but also because, being short-coated, it is relatively easy to keep clean compared with some other breeds. When your Vizsla's wet, a quick towel down will leave him almost dry whereas, if he's muddy, somewhere warm and comfortable to lay - perhaps on newspaper - will see most of the mud drop off when it's dry. To keep his coat gleaming, a brush down daily with a 'velvet' grooming glove will work wonders. In the spring he will start to shed his winter coat - often a lighter colour - to reveal the lovely rich colour coat he wears in the summer, when a daily brush with a horse (or human) brush will help the metamorphosis.

CLAWS - need clipping on a regular basis. It is easier to learn to do it yourself as vets do not always take off enough. The old adage about claws being worn down by walking on pavements etc doesn't always work. The Vizsla should have thick fleshy pads: this means his claws can grow too long if they have to touch the ground in order to be worn down. So, continue the nail clipping that your pup's breeder should have started, on a weekly basis, so that he becomes used to the routine and will sit quietly as you do it. If he struggles, you may cut too short and make the claw bleed. This is painful and will lead to the pup refusing to let you clip his claws again. Be firm and kind and reward good behaviour.

LEAD TRAINING - The final part of the early learning process is lead training. This should be done in the garden while his vaccinations are taking effect. Make sure you never drag your Vizsla by the lead. Remember that all training must be a positive and happy experience so, if he digs his heels in and refuses to move, don't forget the food! A piece of cheese will work wonders!

EARS - they should be sweet-smelling and clean in appearance. Usually they are. A wipe with tissues is usually enough to keep them clean and a cotton bud may be used very gently on the inside of the outer ear flaps. However, NEVER insert a cotton bud down into the ear for fear of perforation of the drum. Your dog will jerk his head quite vigorously if you attempt to do this, perhaps with catastrophic consequences so, NEVER EVER DO IT! At any sign of a discharge or unpleasant odour, make an appointment to see your vet.

TEETH - chewing on raw marrow bones will keep them sparkling. There are also many biscuits brands on the market, designed with canine dentition in mind. Do remember, however, these have a calorific value and an abundance of any 'food' will inevitably lead to an increase in weight over time. Many propriety brands of tooth-paste are available and most dogs will permit their owners to brush their teeth clean, particularly if you make it a pleasant experience.

 

 


 

 
     
 

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