The Vizsla is a medium-sized, short-haired hunting dog with a smooth, dense golden rust coat, also occasionally referred to as a Hungarian pointer or Magyar Vizsla. The VCCNE’s first president, Count Bela Hadik, believed that the genetic origins of the Vizsla were as old as the Magyar peoples who originally settled in what is now Hungary in the late 9th century. The history of the Vizsla goes hand in hand with that of the Hungarian people. There are a number of documents from the 16th century that refer to the dog used for hunting quail specifically as a Vizsla.
Both World Wars saw the numbers of Vizslas drop dramatically. Arguably, it was the importation of the first Vizslas to the United States by Frank Tallman in 1950 that helped to ensure the breed’s survival. One of the first major features on the Vizsla in America appeared in the November 1954 issue of Field & Stream. The Vizsla continues to thrive in its homeland although there are now several kennels that have used American stud dogs to ensure the strength and diversity of their gene pool, too.
The image below was printed in the March 1959 issue of Outdoor Life and conveys the mystique the Vizsla had 50 years ago. The kennel’s owner, Dr. Osborn, authored one of the pioneering studies in using X-rays to detect and predict hip dysplasia and also bred the first Vizsla AKC Field Champion, Brok Selle, in 1964.
Vizslas are legitimately regarded as ‘dual-dogs’ – as high-energy hunting dogs and loving domestic companions. Towards the beginning of his classic book, The Vizsla, Clif Boggs writes “Vizslas lead owners on paths they never before dreamed they would follow.” They are highly intelligent, which means they will take to training with enthusiasm. However, they are also generally sensitive and require the same from their trainer. Currently, the only AKC quintuple champion ever crowned – in show, obedience, agility, and both amateur and open field trials – is a Vizsla, Jack Sharkey’s Legacy de Chartay.
As Rita Martinez wrote in The Vizsla News, anticipating how to channel a Vizsla’s mind and body is something that every prospective owner should think about seriously and honestly before taking one in.
View the AKC Breed Standard on the Vizsla Club of America website for more details.