Showdog Saturday, Vizslas

Showdog Saturday is BACK!!!!  This vizsla was a recent winner of one of my giveaways; note the new coat he is wearing.  His mom also got him a fleece jacket.

I love the vizslas I've come in contact with.  They always seem so personable and intelligent.  So that's the breed I'm covering today.  As usual, the internet sites of dogtime.com, akc.org and dogbreedinfo.com have been used for research and the pictures are not my own.

The vizsla was created in Hungary and is also know as the Hungarian pointer. They seem to have descended from the Magyar hordes in Europe a thousand years ago and then were developed by the aristocrats of Hungary.  The breed nearly disappeared after the World Wars, but a few dogs survived and allowed the breed to continue.

They were developed to be pointers and retrievers, but are good at all kinds of activities.  According to AKC, the vizsla is the only breed to be able to brag of a quintuple champion in conformation, obedience, field and agility.  (Yes I can count and that only adds up to four, but I'm trying to quote them accurately.  Maybe somebody out there knows if one of these categories has more than one title?). They are natural hunters and excel in all kinds of activities, such as search and rescue, flyball, therapy, drug detection......... you name it.  They are sensitive and quick to learn.

One of my sources called them the "velcro vizsla" because they stay very close to their people.  This was a valued trait when the breed was developed and it seems to have continued.  These guys need to be a part of the family and treated as a best friend.  They have short smooth coats so inside is the best place for them in cold weather.

They need a firm quiet hand and lots of socialization to keep them happy and balanced, as well as an hour or so of exercise every day. They are happiest when they are not left alone for long periods of time and tend to get into trouble if on their own too long.

Vizslas are generally chewers so lots of toys are in order.  They are good with kids but may be too energetic for toddlers. A large yard is definitely a plus so they can run off some of that energy.  Due to their hunting nature, they aren't usually good with smaller animals such as rabbits or gerbils, although cats can be ok if they are raised with them.  But people who have the right home for them have a loyal companion on their hands.