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VIZSLA |
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The exact origin
of this striking Hungarian hunting dog is difficult to pinpoint. Some
historians think the Vizsla goes back in pure line to the days of the
Magyar hordes that overran Hungary from the East. Others feel it is a
creation of the present century! Perhaps the reality is somewhere between.
The home of
the Vizsla is the hot central plain of Hungary, the Puszta, an area of
rich and diverse agriculture and plentiful game. Etchings of nearly a
thousand years ago show Magyar huntsmen with dogs and falcons. It is known
that they had good hounds (such as the Transylvanian),
and they must have used these hounds in selective breeding for dogs to
use with the falcon. Legends persist about the "Yellow Turkish Hunting
Dog" used in the Vizsla's development. This will continue to be a
mystery, as there is no modern equivalent of this type, and it isn't known
even what kind of "hunting" dog the extinct breed was. Of course,
it is only logical to assume that good hunting dogs were brought with
the migrating Magyars as they left Asia Minor for Europe. But the modern
fine tuning of this breed as an all-purpose hunting dog probably occurred
fairly recently, possibly with crosses to other established European breeds.
The Vizsla
suffered greatly between the two Great Wars, and much of the modern
breed is based on dogs taken out of Hungary by owners emigrating to
other countries. The breed has gained some following in several European
countries, as well as in North America. Because of his origin on the
hot plains, he has been noted for his stamina in hot weather. Some Vizsla
historians note that at some point during the 1930s, after crosses were
made to the German Wirehair, the Drotszoru or wirehaired version
appeared. This variety has not been officially recognized in the USA,
but the wire coat is encouraged in Hungary since it can better withstand
the winter weather, especially while retrieving ducks from ice-cold
water and sitting (wet) for hours in a boat.
The Hungarian
pointer is expected to be an all-rounder, searching diligently, not
ranging too far, and marking and retrieving from land and water. These
are gentle dogs, willing to please but not adapting well to a harsh
hand. Their character is defined by their Hungarian name, Vizsla,
meaning alert and responsive.
The breed is more refined than many of the other European utility dogs, only moderate of bone, standing high on cat feet, with a hint of an arch to the loin. Perhaps that "yellow dog from Turkey" had some of the sighthound in him! But breeders are warned to avoid letting their dog degenerate into one too refined and shelly to stand up to the work expected of him. The Vizsla is making a good name for himself among American hunters, and his bright gold color stands him well in the show ring. A steady trickle of dual champions is being produced by dedicated breeders who don't want a breed split. Obedience has also found him a capable participant. In 1987, a Vizsla captured the first and only triple American championship, a special award created by AKC for a dog that has won his bench title for the ideal appearance, his field trial championship, and an obedience trial championship won after the UD title is obtained.
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