Select the dog breed you are interested in from the list below. Alphabetical Search: A - E F - J K - O P - T U - Z or Select A Breed

Hungarian Vizsla

You can find the contact details for specific breed societies local to you by going to the Your Territory area.

You may want to post any specific questions that you have about this breed in our Pet Talk area to ask people with first hand experience.

General
OtherNames		Magyar Vizsla, Vizsla
Dog Group Kennel Club		Gundog
Breed Classification		The Hungarian Vizsla is a member of the gundog group. It is one of only 7 recognised breeds that hunt, point and retrieve (HPR). They were originally used for hunting and in falconry; today they are used as gundogs and as companions.
Cost of Ownership Visit our dog food department
Average Food Cost		£4-7.50
Feeding Requirements		A good well balanced dog food, or a completely natural diet (protein based) is ideal.
Other Expenses		The average cost of a puppy is between £650 to £800.
Average Puppy Price		£500-800
Lifespan		9 - 15 years
Average Litter Size		6
General Physical Description		The Hungarian Vizsla a medium sized, solid coloured, active dog with a short coat. They have a noble and graceful appearance and give the impression of great stamina, covering the ground in an elegant manner.
Height Min Max Bitch 53cm 60cm Dog 57cm 64cm Weight Min Max Bitch 20kg 30kg Dog 20kg 30kg
Size Category		Medium
Weight Height Range		Dogs normally measure between 57-64cms at the withers and bitches between 53-60cms. Both sexes weigh between 20-30kgs.
Ailments		The Vizsla appears to have few problems. Hip dysplasia has been recorded but it is not unduly common.
Common Ailments
Susceptibility To Illness Pet insurance for dogs resource Pet health and vet advice		Low
Other
History		The exact origin of the Hungarian Vizsla is a bit of a mystery, some say their ancestors existed centuries ago and others say they were developed in the 20th century. There are some prints that date back about 1000 years that show Magyar hunters (early settlers in Hungary) with dogs and falcons. These dogs were very similar to the Vizsla of today. In fact they were often referred to as the ‘Yellow Turkish Hunting Dog’. When the Magyar hunters went to other countries they took their dogs with them, which led to crosses with other breeds thus improving their ability as hunters. This dog remained popular as an all round hunting dog, unfortunately it was almost wiped out by the two World Wars. It is believed that it only exists today because some were smuggled out during this time. Recent selective breeding developed the Hungarian Vizsla as an all round hunter, able to retrieve from both land and water.
Intelligence		The Vizsla is not an unduly difficult dog to train as long as there is consistency and firmness in the training. They are intelligent and eager to learn and to please. It should be remembered that this dog is sensitive and therefore training should be carried out in a gentle manner.
Show Characteristics		The head should be lean and distinguished with the skull being slightly longer than the muzzle. The muzzle should taper and be square at the end. The nose should not be black, it should be brown. The lips should cover the jaws completely without being loose; the jaw should have a complete scissor bite. The eyes should be in a shade of rust to tone in with the coat, of medium size and slightly oval in shape. Their ears should be relatively long and low set, hanging close to the head, with thin skin and be rounded at the tips. The neck should be long, strong, muscular and arched. The chest should be broad and deep and the breastbone prominent. The front legs should be straight and muscular and the back legs should be strong and appear straight when viewed from the back. The feet should be round and tight with well-arched toes, cat like in appearance. Their Their movement should be smooth and graceful allowing them to cover the ground quickly. The tail should be carried horizontally and it is customarily docked by one third. If undocked the tail should be rather low set, moderately thick and slightly curved. It should taper towards the end and reach the hocks. When moving, it should be carried horizontally. The coat should be short, thick, smooth and feel greasy when touched. The preferred colour for the show ring is russet gold with some limited white allowed on the chest and feet.
Country Of Origin		Hungary
Famous Examples
Records Held
Characteristics Visit our dog training aids department
Energy		High
Overall Exercise		60 - 80 minutes
Distress Caused if Left Alone		High
Personal Protection		Medium
Suitability As Guard Dog		Medium
Risk of Sheep Worrying		High
Tendency to Bark		Low
Ease of Transportation		Medium
Level of Aggression		Low
Compatibility With Other Animals		High
Suitable For Children		High
General Character And Temperament		The Vizsla is an intelligent, dual purpose gundog, which gets on well with children, and enjoys being outdoors. They are ideally suited to the active country dwelling family, but may thrive just as happily in more urban areas, as long as owners are able to provide them with the exercise and mental stimulation such bright dogs need. They do have an inbuilt desire to protect their family with whom they are very affectionate and loyal. They should be socialised from an early age. In general the Vizsla likes to stay with the family and will not wander off too far. They do not thrive in a kennel situation. They will happily be both family and working dogs in one.
Grooming Visit our dog grooming department
Coat Length		Short/Smooth
Grooming Requirement		< Once a week
Trimming		None
Requires Professional Groomer
Grooming		The coat of the Visla is short and dense making it easy to keep clean after a day out in the field. Any dead or loose hairs can be removed by using a rubber grooming mitt. Coat is greasy to the touch.
Colour		They are solid coloured dogs, the colour being russet gold. Some may have white on the chest and feet.
Shedding		Little
Suffers From Allergies
Tendency to Cause Allergies