Vizsla E-Book

Robert L. White

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Comprehensive Owner's Guide
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 239

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

The experts at Kennel Club Books present the world's largest series of breed-specific canine care books. Each critically acclaimed Comprehensive Owner's Guide covers everything from breed standards to behavior, from training to health and nutrition. With nearly 200 titles in print, this series is sure to please the fancier of even the rarest breed!

Leseprobe

Physical Characteristics of the Vizsla

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Head: Lean and muscular. Skull moderately wide between the ears with a median line down the forehead. Stop between skull and foreface is moderate, not deep.

Ears: Thin, silky and proportionately long, with rounded-leather ends, set fairly low and hanging close to cheeks.

Eyes: Medium in size and depth of setting, their surrounding tissue covering the whites. Color of the iris should blend with the color of the coat.

Nose: Brown. Nostrils slightly open.

Neck: Strong, smooth and muscular, moderately long, arched and devoid of dewlap, broadening nicely into shoulders which are moderately laid back.

Muzzle: Square and deep. Foreface is of equal length or slightly shorter than skull when viewed in profile, should taper gradually from stop to tip of nose.

Jaws: Strong with well developed white teeth meeting in a scissors bite. Lips cover the jaws completely but are neither loose nor pendulous.

Chest: Moderately broad and deep reaching down to the elbows. Ribs well-sprung; underline exhibiting a slight tuck-up beneath the loin.

Forequarters: Shoulder blades proportionately long and wide sloping moderately back and fairly close at the top. Forelegs straight and muscular with elbows close. Feet cat-like, round and compact with toes close.

Coat: Short, smooth, dense and close-lying, without woolly undercoat.

Body: Strong and well proportioned. Back short. Withers high and the topline slightly rounded over the loin to the set on of the tail.

Tail: Set just below the level of the croup, thicker at the root and docked one-third off. Ideally, it should reach to the back of the stifle joint and be carried at or near the horizontal.

Hindquarters: Hind legs have well developed thighs with moderately angulated stifles and hocks in balance with the moderately laid back shoulders. The hocks are let down and parallel to each other.

Size: The ideal male is 22 to 24 inches at the highest point over the shoulder blades. The ideal female is 21 to 23 inches.

Color: Solid golden rust in different shadings. Solid dark mahogany red and pale yellow are faulty. White on the forechest, preferably as small as possible, and white on the toes are permissible.

Feet: Rounded with toes short, arched and tight. Cat-like foot is required; hare foot undesirable. Nails short, strong and a shade darker in color than coat; dewclaws should be removed.

Contents

History of the Vizsla

Meet the Hungarian Vizsla, an ancient hunting dog of the Magyar tribes with a rich history and an aristocratic nobility. Follow the Vizsla’s fleet-footed path as a hunter of deer, wild boar and hare in Europe to its role as companion, show dog and field trial expert in Britain, the US and around the world.

Characteristics of the Vizsla

Take note of some “golden pointers” about the Golden Pointer of Hungary, the Vizsla. Learn about the breed’s affectionate manner and his superior multi-tasked hunting abilities. Find out if your household and family are well suited to the high-energy, people-adoring Vizsla.

Breed Standard for the Vizsla

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Vizsla by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Your Puppy Vizsla

Find out about how to locate a well-bred Vizsla puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.

Proper Care of Your Vizsla

Cover the specifics of taking care of your Vizsla every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification.

Training Your Vizsla

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Vizsla, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Enter Puppy Kindergarten and introduce the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

Healthcare of Your Vizsla

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dog’s healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Your Senior Vizsla

Know when to consider your Vizsla a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dog’s golden years. Consider some advice about saying goodbye to your beloved pet.

Showing Your Vizsla

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Here’s how to get started in AKC shows, how they are organized and what’s required for your dog to become a champion. Take a leap into the realms of obedience trials, agility and hunting tests.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS®VIZSLAISBN 13: 978-1-59378-270-2eISBN 13: 978-1-59378-960-2

Copyright © 2004 • Kennel Club Books® A Division of BowTie, Inc.

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Photography by Isabelle Français

with additional photographs by

Paulette Braun, T.J. Calhoun, Alan and Sandy Carey, Carol Ann Johnson, Bill Jonas and Tam C. Nguyen.

Illustrations byRenee Lowand Patricia Peters.

Colored in russet gold, the Vizsla thrives as a hunting dog of great ability and as a thoroughly devoted, affectionate pet.

ORIGINS OF THE GOLDEN POINTER OF HUNGARY

The dark yellow figure moves swiftly and effortlessly across the plain, its nose into the wind. Suddenly the dog whips into point and holds fast, his rust-gold silhouette shimmering in the late afternoon sun. Alert and motionless, he waits tensely for permission to retrieve.

In the Hungarian language, the word “Vizsla” means “alert and responsive.” This ancient cinnamon-colored hunting dog, however, is much more than its simple name suggests. Also known as the Golden Pointer, the Vizsla is coveted world wide as both a hunting dog and loving family pet. Shooting enthusiasts praise the breed as an ideal sporting dog that can perform on all levels in the field. A close-ranging dog, he can air-scent as well as ground-scent, making him superbly efficient on furred animals as well as game birds. The multi-purpose Vizsla is pointer, spaniel and retriever, a veritable hunting machine who snaps into point and holds fast until ordered to flush, then waits obediently until commanded to retrieve.

Although the exact origin of the Vizsla remains somewhat muddled in the complexity of European history, ancient etchings and other historical data suggest the breed entered Europe as a hunting companion of the nomadic Magyar tribes who migrated from China into Eastern Europe during the eighth century. Vizsla ancestors accompanied the warlords and army elite who conquered Hungary and other countries in the Carpathian mountain region on the continental fringe. Canines were essential to the survival of these ancient tribesmen who used the dogs for herding and guarding the sheep and cattle they raised in the plains. Dogs were especially valued in the field to procure small game and wild fowl for the table. The Vizsla’s superb dual hunting ability first located, then pointed the birds, which were then captured with a net thrown over them or with a falcon that was released to capture the birds once they were flushed by the dog. They also performed well in water, eagerly retrieving water fowl, wild duck and geese. This versatile hunter easily adapted to the shotgun when firearms replaced netting and falconry as methods of hunting game birds.

The English Setter may have figured in the early development of the Vizsla, cross-bred to add pointing ability to the breed.

The fleet-footed Vizsla also tracked deer, wild boar and giant hare, working equally well in grass, corn fields, heavy cover and a wide variety of terrain. It is small wonder that the Vizsla was prized by its ancient owners.

The first recorded evidence of the breed occurs around the tenth century; the image of the Vizsla appears in Magyar tribal art that depicts the Magyar falconer-hunter with his bird of prey and his canine hunting partner.

The breed is later mentioned in 1375 in a publication called the Illustrated Vienna Chronicle. Published under the direction of Hungarian King Louis the Great (1342–1382), the Chronicle features a chapter on falconry which includes a picture of the Vizsla. Other paintings and sculptures from public and private archives of that century detail more history of the Vizsla and further confirm his Hungarian ancestry.

During this era, the Vizsla was prized and protected by the Hungarian aristocracy, who revered the breed for its superb hunting ability and gentle, loyal disposition. Hungarian historian and novelist Ferenc Hercleg refers to the Vizsla in his historical writings about famous figures such as the warlord Prince Ferenc Rakoczi.

Swift-running sighthounds like the Greyhound course in the blood of the Vizsla, a purebred dog whose lithe figure and swiftness confirm such influence. The Magyar Agar (top inset), a Hungarian sighthound, may have been a Vizsla ancestor, as well as the Sloughi of Morocco (lower inset).

Other written documents with Vizsla references originated during the Turkish occupation of Hungary (1526–1686). Illustrations of the Vizsla in Turkey are identical to the breed in Hungary, suggesting the breed probably traveled home with the conquering Turks.

Important details about Vizsla history also have been reported by Jeno Dus, a director and breeder of the Vizsla Club of Hungary and a world authority on the Vizsla breed. Dus states that during the twelfth century a hamlet named Vizsla was located in the Danube Valley and was home to many representatives of the Vizsla breed. Dus also reports that on June 11, 1569, the son of the wife of the Hungarian Lord Chancellor, Tamas Nadasdy, wrote a letter to his mother and referred to the breed by name, stating that Milady Batthyanyi had two Vizslas and three falcons and had offered one of each to the writer.

HUNGARIAN POINTER

The Vizsla is also known as the Hungarian Pointer and is termed an “HPR” (Hunting, Pointing and Retrieving) breed. Other HPR breeds include the German Shorthaired Pointer, Weimaraner, German Wirehired Pointer, Wire-haired Pointing Griffon and Brittany.

The German Vorstehhund, also known as the German Wire-haired Pointer, may have improved the Vizsla’s scenting ability.

In most Vizsla historical documentation there is a special emphasis on the purity of the breed. The aristocratic Hungarian Vizsla owners, in an effort to protect the unique qualities of the breed, as well as their own special interests, adamantly discouraged indiscriminate breeding practices as well as the export of Vizslas to other countries. However, records from the 18th and 19th centuries do suggest cross-breedings with certain other breeds to enhance and ensure specific qualities: Irish and English Setters for pointing ability; Bloodhounds, Balkan Beagles, Foxhounds, German Vorstehhunds, Pammion Hounds and Romanian Hounds for scenting prowess. Other research also points to the Sloughi, a smooth-coated Salukitype dog, as another Vizsla ancestor. Still others suggest the Greyhound was also used by some.

Certainly the hound breeds’ scenting ability is apparent in the Vizsla, but other hound characteristics such as heavy flews, droopy eyes and heavy gait are not desirable Vizsla attributes. Indeed, the modern Vizsla’s deep chest and tireless demeanor is more indicative of the pointers’ contribution to breed characteristics. Purists counter that specific breed markings, found only in the Vizsla, never occur in any other breed, reaffirming their position that today’s Vizsla is a true descendant of its ancient ancestors.

Around 1825 the Vizsla was so prized in Hungary that it was declared the Official Pointing Dog of Hungary. It was then that the Magyar Vizsla Stud Book, the first official breed stud book, was established in order to maintain a record of pedigrees and to preserve the breed’s distinctive qualities with an official breed standard.

As happened with many breeds of dog, world events dealt a serious blow to Vizsla breeders. World War I and the subsequent invasion and occupation of Hungary in the 1920s caused a serious decline in Vizsla numbers, and the breed faced near extinction.

THE BREED IN ROYALTY

A favored breed of royalty, Vizslas have been owned by Queen Elima of Italy (1930s), Princess Antionette of Monaco and Pope Pius XII.

AMERICAN RECOGNITION

The Vizsla was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1960 with a total of 500 dogs submitted for registration.

Fortunately, several influential fanciers joined ranks to save their beloved breed. In 1924, Count Laszlo Esterhazy, Elmer Petocz, Captain Baba and Dr. Kalman Polgar founded the Oriszagos Vizsla Club. This group drew up a standard to identify and declare their vision of the correct type for the Viszla, with the ultimate goal of eliminating lighter eyes, excessive white markings, incorrect coat color and any unsound structure. They registered within their organization a few very select Vizslas who were chosen for their desirable characteristics. All registered dogs were required to be shown prior to registration, thus forming a gene pool on which to build the future of the breed. Not surprisingly, those dogs registered were reportedly owned by the club founders and their trusted acquaintances.

Their breeding goals appear to have succeeded, as about 5,000 Vizslas had been registered by 1944. The pedigrees produced during this time formed the foundation of the Vizsla breed today.

By the 1940s, however, the breed was to suffer yet another major setback. World War II and the subsequent occupation and domination of Hungary by the Soviet Union decimated Vizsla numbers, and the Hungarian people again feared for the very future of their breed. Many owners smuggled their beloved dogs into neighboring countries, while others fled the country, smuggling their dogs with them whenever possible. Ironically, these life-saving measures to preserve the breed ultimately removed it from the very umbrella of safety which had protected it on Hungarian soil for so many centuries.

The king of canine noses, the Bloodhound is credited for upgrading the nostrils of most breeds of gundogs.

Despite those many difficulties, the breed survives and continues to thrive in its purest form in its native Hungary.

THE VIZSLA COMES TO THE USA

The first Vizslas known to arrive in the United States, a bitch named Sari and two puppies, came to Emmett Scanlan and Frank Tallman of Kansas City in 1950. The following year, Scanlan, an employee of the US State Department, gave a recently imported male named Rex to Tallman, who is the first to show the breed in AKC Miscellaneous Class at the Heart of America Kennel Club. Tallman bred Sari and Rex to produce the nation’s first Vizsla litter in 1952. In an effort to promote and protect this unique Hungarian breed in America, Tallman incorporated the Magyar Vizsla Club of America in 1952 and served as the newly formed parent club’s first president; Scanlan served as the first vice-president. (The word “Magyar” remained in the club’s name until 1960.) The club’s first official publication, Viszla News, soon hits the press and interest in the breed grew considerably through the 1950s. Numbers expanded from 40 or 50 Vizslas in the US in the mid-1950s to around 700 in the late 1950s.

Two important foundation dogs arrived from Austria in 1955, imported by Frank Houksy of California, Romanze von Trutzh and Akil von Grombach. The 1960s began the Vizsla’s rise to national attention as the breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club’s Sporting Group in 1960. Two famous firsts occurred soon thereafter: the first dog to win an AKC championship was Miklos Schloss Loosdorf, owned is Harvey Warholm, and the first bitch was Annavolgi Arany, owned by Charles and Joan Hunt. The first Best of Breed winner for a national specialty was Gypsy’s Bronze Bomber, bred by Mr. and Mrs. John Kenly, at the specialty held in Chagrin Falls, Ohio in 1965.

LADIES’ FIRSTS

Let’s tip our collective hats to the best of opposite sex firsts, the bitches who have achieved historical firsts. The first Vizsla bitch to win an AKC championship was Annavolgi Arany, owned by Charles and Joan Hunt; title earned in 1961. The first Dual Champion bitch was DC Szekeres’ Kis Szereto, owned by Carole Smith; title earned in 1970. The first Best in Show winner in the US was Ch. Firebrand’s Constant Comment, owned by Betty Anderson and bred by Pam Pierce. She won the award in 1980 at the Newtown KC show in Connecticut. The first Vizsla Triple Champion bitch was DC AFC Legacy’s DeChartay, CDX, MH, in fact the breed’s second Triple Champion. She was owned and handled by Jack Sharkey of Virginia and won the title in 1997.

The first American-bred Vizsla to win an all-breed Best in Show was actually the third Vizsla to win a BIS in North America. The first victor, a Colorado dog, Ch. Piros of Mile High, owned by Ann Debarr, won the award in Mexico City in 1964. The second victor was the Canadian-bred Ch. Napkette Vadasz Dalos, owned by Mr. and Mrs. William Totton. The third victor, the first Vizsla to be bred and win on American soil, was Ch. Debreceny Dezso, owned by Gary Carpenter. Both Dalos and Dezso won their victories in 1970.

It took a decade for a bitch to catch up with the three victorious male Vizslas mentioned above. The first bitch to earn the Best in Show award was Ch. Firebrand’s Constant Comment, bred by Pam Pierce and owned by Betty Anderson. This lovely bitch won the Newtown Kennel Club in Connecticut in 1980.

Since the breed was first brought to the US, its hunting prowess and overall versatility have been prized by owners. Vizsla fanciers historically have remained involved in working and trialing their dogs, and the breed has proven to be exceptional in many fields of competition. The first national field trial for Vizslas was held in 1956 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota; not until 1975 would the national field trial be combined with the national specialty. Six years after the first national trial, in 1962, the VCA held its first AKC field trial with points in Iowa; 44 entires competed in 5 stakes, and a Vizsla by the name of Ripp Barat won two of the stakes. Another famous first was won by Brok Selle, who became the breed’s first Field Champion in 1964. The owner was Don Anderson of Colorado. This was topped the following year by Ch. Futacki Darocz, the breed’s first dual champion; a dog owned by Bela Hadik and handled by Chauncey Smith. By 1971 the breed could lay claim to its first Field Champion and Amateur Field Champion award winner in FC AFC Amber’s Windy Autumn, owned by Phil Rosenberg of Illinois.

In Hungarian the word “Vizsla” means alert and responsive, qualities that well describe this attentive companion dog.

The breed has excelled in obedience trials since the early days when Gelse von Schloss Loosdorf, owned by William Olson of Minneapolis, became the breed’s first Companion Dog titleholder. Gelse was also the breed’s first High in Trial winner in 1952, handled by Mary Lee Whiting. Many famous obedience-titled Vizslas followed, but a true one-of-a-kind winner was Cariad’s Kutya kai Costa, the breed’s first Obedience Trial Champion and the first Triple Champion of any breed. This remarkable dog, owned and handled by Robert Costa, was also the first recipient of the VCA’s Versatility Certificate, a program initiated in 1981 by the parent club.

The new millennium also brought another first for the Vizsla breed: the first dog of any breed to earn five AKC championship titles. TC AFC MACH Legacy’s DeChartay UDX MH, owned by Jack Sharkey of Virginia, is the proud titleholder and an unmatchable testament to the amazing versatility of the Vizsla breed.

THE HUNGARIAN VIZSLA IN BRITAIN

First introduced in 1953, the Vizsla came to Britain as a utilitarian working dog. In England, the breed is officially known as the Hungarian Vizsla. The breed adapted quickly and easily to the wide variety of game pursued by British hunting aficionados. Whether seeking grouse upon the moor, pheasant or rabbit in the rough, ducks and wild fowl on the river or deer in the forest, the Vizsla proved itself to be a valuable asset.

In 1953 Mr. and Mrs. J. Wyndham-Harris purchased littermates named Ernest and Agnes as family companion animals while they were traveling in Hungary. The two dogs were bred to each other and produced three litters, with seven pups from two of those litters exported to Mr. Charles Hunt in America. Mr. Hunt later exported his bitch, Adalyn Von Hunt, back to Major Petty in Britain, who used Adalyn to establish his famous Strawbridge prefix.

Two other US imports made significant contributions to the British Vizsla. Warhorse Lwow, owned by Mr. Henderson, was a grandson of the first American bench champion, Miclos Shloss Loosdorf, and figures prominently in three important Vizsla prefixes: Russetmantle, Abbeystag and Galfrid. The great Galfrid Gaspar was born in quarantine and was heavily hunted and trialed. While he earned only a Junior Warrant and never achieved championship status, he had superb talent and temperament and is behind many of today’s important pedigrees.

Eng. Sh. Ch. Futaki Lazslo, imported from America in 1972, is part of the Futaki Vizsla legacy founded by Hungarian-born Bela Hadik. Hadik bred the first American dual champion, the great Eng. Ch. Futaki Darocz, in 1965, as well as three additional US dual champions and several bench and field champions.

Amid all the great Vizsla names and bloodlines, we must pay tribute to Eng. Field Trial Ch. Viszony of Vallotta, who was bred, trained and handled by her owner, Sylvia Cox. By Waidman Brok ex Calversham Amber, she is the only member of the Vizsla breed to become a Field Trial Champion. To gain that illustrious title, Viszony had to compete and excel in open field trial stakes, stakes that are open to all HPR (Hunting, Pointing, Retrieving) breeds. Superb in the field, and showing great desire on every type of game, at her retirement she had earned 35 field trial awards.

Viszony’s sire, Waidman Brock, bred and owned by L. Petrie Hay, also figures in many other influential bloodlines. He is considered by some to be the most important contributing factor to the success of the Vizsla in the field.

Today the Hungarian Vizsla Society and the Hungarian Vizsla Club are well established, sponsoring trials, championship shows and working tests. Although still not a prominent breed in Britain, Vizsla numbers have increased, prompting the Society to create a voluntary code of ethics to educate newcomers to the breed and discourage irresponsible breeding practices. Indeed, owners of all breeds of dogs would be wise to heed the message of the Hungarian Vizsla Society.

Most purebred dogs of any breed spend their lives as pet dogs. All breeders recognize this elementary fact of life. Here’s Maximillian with his master Robert White, a most loving pair.

The Vizsla gained its first Challenge Certificates, required to gain a championship in the UK, in 1971. By 1991 there were 65 show champions, with 13 of those as full champions, proving the working ability of the bench-quality Vizsla. Most Vizslas are still good-looking dogs who can work ably in the field.

Today more owners are competing successfully with their Vizslas in field trial events, and many more are gaining honors in British working tests.

Although hunting ability is the breed’s most basic and important characteristic, the Vizsla historically has been revered for his affectionate nature as well as his hunting attributes. Possessed of an intense desire to please his owner, the Vizsla is as loyal and affectionate as he is talented. He is an intelligent and sensitive dog who is trainable, responding best to praise and positive interaction. A Vizsla will become severely stressed if subjected to harsh training methods. Training, therefore, should be positive and light-hearted, and he should never be disciplined with a heavy hand. Any Vizsla owner will attest that his dog will visibly mope and sulk after being scolded for misbehavior or rowdiness.

Originally bred as a multipurpose hunting dog, the Vizsla is even more a “people” dog who enjoys, indeed requires, human interaction and companionship. Despite his natural affinity for outdoor activities, the Vizsla makes an excellent family companion who prefers to live indoors in order to be close to his people. A loving and very tactile dog, the Vizsla apparently believes he is a lap dog and demands to be with or even on his human caretaker, blissfully unaware of his 45- to 65-pound body. He is even known by some as a “bathroom” dog, as he will happily accompany his owner to the toilet. Obviously a Vizsla is not for the owner who resents the 24-hour companionship of a dog. A patient and dog-loving owner is definitely required. While the breed craves the company of humans, it is a one-person dog and that person, man or woman, is the center of the Vizsla’s world.

The Vizsla will not thrive if confined to kennel life, and will, in fact, become destructively mischievous if he is bored or deprived of human companionship. Vizslas do not do well if left alone all day while their favorite human is at work. While the breed is not particularly destructive (no more so than other gundogs), it seems unable to busy itself as do other breeds.

EAGER TO PLEASE

Despite his short-haired coat, the Vizsla tolerates extremes of climate and will work eagerly in heat, cold, rain and snow. However, waterfowl hunting under intensely frigid conditions will severely stress the average Vizsla.

Blessed with abundant energy and enthusiasm for life in general, the Vizsla adapts better to a house with a large yard rather than an apartment. His athletic conformation enables him to clear a 6-foot fence with ease, which further illustrates the need for close human attention and supervision. The Vizsla’s energy level makes him an ideal companion for activities such as running, jogging, swimming, hiking and other outdoor sports. Although the breed is not hyper, it is very active and requires challenging daily exercise, certainly more than a brief walk about the park. Once you have witnessed a Vizsla in motion, you will understand that a small yard will not provide the breed with adequate exercise. The Vizsla seems as fast as a Whippet (he is not, we know), but he can tear about the property with wild abandon and create a Whippet-like blur with little or no effort. This impressive running ability can be tied to the breed’s cousin, the Magyar Agar (or Hungarian Greyhound).

A well-socialized Vizsla gets on very well with children, although it is important that he is introduced and exposed to children very early in his life. Supervision is essential for encounters with children, as the Vizsla’s abundant energy can easily overwhelm a visiting child. The breed generally gets on well with other dogs and cats, viewing all creatures as part of his own social strata. As with children, early introduction to canine friends is quite important. The author’s Vizsla lives with three Bengal cats that were introduced to him as adults when he was about one year of age. His initial reaction, which hasn’t changed too much, was fear! He kept out of the path of their sharp claws and teeth and has remained diplomatic and smart in their presence, although not his usual gregarious self.

The Vizsla is not a dog for everyone. The breed requires constant attention and supervision and loves being around humans.

The Vizsla’s solid rust-colored coat is low maintenance, a boon for those who dislike extensive grooming sessions. The hair is soft and short, not dense; it requires minimal brushing. It does shed, though not nearly as noticeably as most other breeds. The breed is also naturally clean, with little to no doggy odor. Dental problems are rare, as tartar seems to build up on the teeth less than in other breeds.