Large
15 Years
25 Kg
Gun Dogs
Affectionate, Energetic, Gentle, Loyal, Quiet
The Hungarian Vizsla is a medium sized dog whose ancestors dates back as far as the 14th Century. Otherwise known as the Magyar Vizsla, it is one of the native dogs of Hungary, originally a sporting dog used as an all-around pointer-retriever. It is the smallest of all the all-round pointer-retrievers which makes it appealing as an excellent hunter of fowl and upland game. It is one of the natural hunters born with an excellent nose and an outstanding capability of being trained. It has a general appearance of a distinguished dog, robust but lightly built with visibly well-defined muscles covered by short, straight, dense, smooth and shiny coat that feels greasy to the touch. The Hungarian Vizsla is a russet gold coloured dog sometimes with small white markings on the chest and feet. A male Vizsla has an average height of 57 - 64cms while a female usually stands between 53 – 60cms from withers to ground. The ideal weight is between 20kg to 30kg with males on the heavier, bulkier side of the scale.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Hungarian Vizsla’s ancestors were Magyar hunting dogs found in the Carpathian Basin during the 10th century. These dogs are depicted in centuries-old stone etchings found in Hungary showing the Magyar hunter with his Vizsla and his falcon. However, it was not until 1357 that the Vizsla was mentioned in writings by the Carmelite Friars. In its native country, the breed became a prized companion dog of the early nobility and aristocracy where it was protected and carefully guarded. Similar to the fate of other European dogs, the Vizsla suffered a tremendous loss to its population after the end of the Second World War. In fact, only about a dozen dogs remained after the war and from this minimum stock, the breed rose to prominence again. Besides Hungary, the Vizsla is also popular in Romania, Austria, Slovakia, and Serbia. In the United Kingdom today, the Hungarian Vizsla is one of the most popular breeds, making it into the top 50 with the total numbers continuing to rise steadily each year.
Owners of Hungarian Vizsla describe the breed as lively, intelligent and obedient. This intelligence and an attitude to always wanting to please its owner makes the Vizsla easily trained. It is also very affectionate and sensitive that it thrives on human companionship and praise. It is an adaptable hunter, able to hunt both fur and feather by pointing and retrieving from land and in water. The Hungarian Vizsla is gentle-mannered but don’t let this attitude fool you, as it can be fearless whenever the situation ask for it, plus it has an outstanding protective instinct which makes it a good watchdog. The Vizsla is a natural hunter, an outstanding pointer and an excellent retriever. It is also an excellent swimmer. As a puppy, it thrives on human attention and interaction. It can become bored and destructive if left alone for long periods of time.
Just like any other dog, a successful dog training usually starts when the dog is still a puppy who is eager to learn new things. Training the dog early on helps establishes good habits and behaviour and prevents the dog from being aggressive, easily bored which translates to unruly behaviours like chewing, barking, digging, jumping, and whining among others. The Hungarian Vizsla is a natural watchdog and can be easily trained as such because of its excellent protective instincts and impeccable sense of smell. Training the dog early also helps in controlling recreational barking for some breeds. The Vizsla can also be trained to excel in dog sports such as flyball, agility, obedience, and heelwork.s
The Hungarian Vizsla has a short flat coat that sheds all-year-round, even in winter. Constant brushing is required for the short coat to minimise hair fall while a shedding blade is advised to pull out the dead coat. Check the ears at least once a month for signs of infections and clean as necessary. Nails should be clipped once a month. Bathing is on an as-need basis because it can remove the coat’s natural moisturising oils.
The Hungarian Vizsla is a robust dog has an average lifespan of 9 to 10 years. There are a few medical issues associated with some dogs, among them are:
Like all hunting dogs that are used to working for several hours continuously, the Vizsla needs a great deal of exercise to remain physically healthy and mentally active. It is very active and needs a lot of mental stimulation especially when young. It is not a suitable pet to have for an owner how lives in an apartment or condominium. The Hungarian Vizsla is fairly active indoors even if it gets plenty of exercises outdoors.
Children and the Hungarian Vizsla can get along well if the dog is safely socialised from a very young age. The size of the Vizsla plus its speed and playfulness can easily knock children and elderly alike so the dog must be trained and socialised to behave when it is around children and the elderly. Conversely, children should be taught how to behave properly when they are around the dog. The Vizsla will do well with other dogs because it is a pack worker/hunter and will even get along well with cats if raised with them from puppyhood.
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