Category Archives: Owning

Here is a link to the vizsla database – where you can look up your vizsla’s pedigree

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:

From whom do you buy your puppy?

The Hungarian Vizsla Club has a page which list puppies available from Club Members 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.
Check the following:
1.
Is the litter registered?
2. Does the breeder have an affix (a kennel name that identifies the breeder)?
3. 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.
4.
Will you get a Puppy Pack that details feeding, care, vaccination, worming and also promises to maintain contact with you indefinitely?
5.
Does the purchase contract insist that the puppy is returned to them 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!
6.
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 Club will only recommend breeders whose first concern is the well-being of the breed.

The Club has compiled a list of questions you should ask the breeder of your puppy – if you are not satisfied with any of the answers to your questions then you should seek further advice or go elsewhere.

Download the HVC Puppy Pack with lots of good advice from experienced Vizsla owners.

Brief history of the Vizsla

A full and impressive history of the breed can be found in Gay Gottlieb’s definitive work, ‘The Hungarian Vizsla’ (ISBN 0-947647-09-0) from where the following information was obtained.

Some research suggests the origins of this breed lie in the ninth century, some suggests the eleventh, whilst other points to a later time. In her seminal book on the Hungarian Vizsla, Gay Gottlieb includes a museum picture of a Gothic panel from the fifteenth century: it shows a dog that is believed to be a Vizsla.

The one thing we can rely upon, about which there can be little doubt, is that the Vizsla has a very long history. She explains how the breed has changed its appearance somewhat over the centuries, to the lovely animal we now delight in. In its early days, the breed was bred with the The Yellow Turkish dogs and latterly many other breeds are thought to have been in its bloodlines. Gay Gottlieb refers to Setters, Bloodhounds, the German Vortsthund, the Balkan Beagle, the ancient Foxhound, the Pammion Hound and the Romanian Copie, as well as the Greyhound and the Sloughi. Little wonder, then, that it carries such a variety of instincts and characteristics, all making it such a versatile breed and adaptable companion for many different types of owner.

During the early part of the twentieth century, the Hungarian Empire experienced many difficulties from hostile countries intent on stealing its land and taking over its rule. During this time, the Vizsla also experienced difficulties and lovers of the breed determined to save it from the possibility of extinction. They formed a club in 1924 that resulted in individual dogs being registered for the first time in its history. However, things got even worse for the Vizsla after the disintegration of the Hungarian Empire, particularly during the second World War and the Russian Occupation. Fortunately, some emigrés to Europe and further afield smuggled their Vizslas with them and the breed thus became established outside Hungary.

Today, the Vizsla can be found all over the world with good specimens of the breed regularly exported and imported between breeders.

THE BREED IN BRITAIN

It is believed two Vizslas were imported into the UK before the second World War in 1939. However, the first registration of imported Vizslas was recorded by the Kennel Club in 1953. Thereafter, between 1953 and 1955, there were three matings from this pair – resulting in 13 puppies – with some being exported to America.

Over the years, there were other imports and by the mid 1960s some 300 Vizslas were known to be in the UK. Despite the growth in its numbers, Vizslas were still classified as a rare breed and it was not until 1971 that the Hungarian Vizsla breed was awarded challenge certificate status for the first time.

Since then, a glance at the Show Results will demonstrate how the breed has gone from strength to strength in the ring. It has also gained recognition in the Field and many other areas of activity.

Versatility of the breed

Vizslas display their versatility in a variety of different disciplines:

Regardless of the category in which they are used, all Vizslas should first and foremost be dearly loved family pets, as well as being respected participants in their chosen activity.

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

There are two clubs/societies dedicated to the Hungarian Vizsla: The Hungarian Vizsla Club and The Hungarian Vizsla Society. Both have as their purpose the welfare of the breed and promote good practice for owners.

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!

Published with the kind permission of the Kennel Club: http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk

General Appearance
Medium-sized, of distinguished appearance, robust and medium boned.

Characteristics
Lively, intelligent, obedient, sensitive, very affectionate and easily trained. Bred for hunting fur and feather, pointing and retrieving from land and water.
Temperament
Lively, gentle-mannered and demonstratively affectionate, fearless and with well developed protective instinct.

Head and Skull
Head lean and noble. Skull moderately wide between ears with median line down forehead and a moderate stop. Skull a little longer than muzzle. Muzzle, although tapering, well squared at the end. Nostrils well developed, broad and wide. Jaws strong and powerful. Lips covering jaws completely and neither loose nor pendulous. Nose brown.

Eyes
Neither deep nor prominent, of medium size, a shade darker in colour than coat. Slightly oval in shape, eyelids fitting tightly. Yellow or black eye undesirable.

Ears
Moderately low set, proportionately long with a thin skin and hanging down close to cheeks. Rounded ‘V’ shape; not fleshy.

Mouth
Sound and strong white teeth. Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Full dentition desirable.

Neck
Strong, smooth and muscular; moderately long, arched and devoid of dewlap.

Forequarters
Shoulders well laid and muscular, elbows close to body and straight, forearm long, pasterns upright.

Body
Back level, short, well muscled, withers high. Chest moderately broad and deep with prominent breast bone. Distance from withers to lowest part of chest equal to distance from chest to ground. Ribs well sprung and belly with a slight tuck-up beneath loin. Croup well muscled.

Hindquarters
Straight when viewed from rear, thighs well developed with moderate angulation, hocks well let down.

Feet
Feet Rounded with toes short, arched and tight. Cat-like foot is required, hare foot undesirable. Nails short, strong and a shade darker in colour than coat.

Tail
Tail Previously customarily docked.
Docked: Customarily docked by one third of length. Moderately thick, rather low set. When moving carried horizontally.
Undocked: Rather low set. Moderately thick, slightly curved. Tapering towards the end, reaching to hocks. When moving carried horizontally.

Gait/Movement
Graceful, elegant with a lively trot and ground-covering gallop.

Coat
Short, straight, dense, smooth and shiny, feeling greasy to the touch.

Colour
Russet gold, small white marks on chest and feet, though acceptable, undesirable.

Size
Height at withers: dogs: 57-64 cms (22 1/2 – 25 ins); bitches: 53-60 cms (21 – 23 1/2 ins). Weight: 20-30 kgs (44-66 lbs).

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.