Although I intend this blog to be more fun & a representation of "a day in the life of"...style,
I thought it best to start with a little history on the Vizsla (veezh-la).
The Vizsla has been a prized hunting partner and family companion in eastern Europe for hundreds of years, with breeding closely controlled by the local nobility. Sometimes termed the “Gift of Kings,” few of the “Magyar pointers” (as Vizslas are called) were allowed to leave the region, except when presented to foreign royalty such as the queens of Italy and Spain.
This privileged status changed when Hungary was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945. Some of the aristocrats who fled the country were able to bring their dogs with them, but the majority of Vizslas were killed, either by owners who could not take them or by the invaders. It is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of the breed was wiped out at this time and the Vizsla teetered on the edge of extinction. (!!!)
From a handful of individuals that survived in its native land plus the few dogs that had been exported, the Hungarian breed was slowly rebuilt until, today, the Vizsla stands 41st in popularity in the United States.
Unlike many utility dogs, Vizslas were never expected to be far from their masters; they were close-working hunters, finding, indicating, flushing, and retrieving game by day and sleeping next to their owners at night. The breed is classed as an “all-arounder” rather than as a specialist; the word vizsla means seek in Turkish and point in Hungarian.
Being an uber-achiever doesn’t make this high-energy pointer any less of a softie, however. Though hardy and tireless in the field, this is not a breed that can be treated harshly or made to sleep alone in an outside kennel. The Vizsla Club of America quotes an old Hungarian saying: “If you own a Vizsla, it lives on top of your head,” and warns: “If you bring a Vizsla into your home, you may never go to the bathroom alone again!” (SO TRUE!!)
The AKC standard describes the breed as “lively, gentle-mannered, demonstrably affectionate and sensitive,” yet, at the same time, “fearless and with a well-developed protective instinct”. The Vizsla is often described as noble in appearance, with its elegant, athletic build, clean, short hair, and far-seeing expression.
How to describe the proper colour for a Vizsla has been debated since breed standards were first compiled. Apparently, the original Hungarian term used meant yellow and the dogs are sometimes called the “yellow pointer,” yet yellow is a poor word for the rich color of their coats.
Although long reserved as a possession beyond price for the rich and aristocratic class of his native land, the Vizsla— whether you see him as gold, copper, or amber (OR ginger as i describe Frannie)—is now a precious treasure to be shared by all.
Referenced material: http://www.moderndogmagazine.com/breeds/vizsla
Frannie, January nap, 2013.
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