Dog Breed Spotlight: The Vizsla
Vizslas are cute, spunky, and energetic. In our daycare environment, you can usually find them chasing after a ball or loving on our team members!
Vizslas are ranked #31 in popularity according to the AKC, making them one of the more popular breeds of dogs.
History
The ancestors of the modern-day Vizsla were excellent hunters that specialized in finding and retrieving game both in and out of water. These early Vizslas were first bred by the Magyar tribes of Hungary in the 10th century.
Throughout the centuries, Vizslas became trusted companion and hunting dogs of Hungarian noblemen and warlords.
After World War II, Vizslas nearly went extinct – only about 12 remained!
Smuggled out of Communist Hungary, the very first Vizsla came to America in 1950. In 1960, the Vizsla became officially recognized by the AKC.
Temperament
Due to their close working relationship with humans throughout the centuries, Vizslas are fiercely loyal to their people and absolutely hate to be left alone!
Vizslas are great family dogs and bond quickly with adults, children, and strangers. They are very affectionate and will follow their humans anywhere they go!
Vizslas are super energetic, playful, eager to please, loving, sweet, and smart! They have a life expectancy of 12 – 15 years.
Early obedience training and socialization are both important for this breed. Vizslas are on the sensitive side and benefit most from positive reinforcement training.
Care
Regular mental and physical exercise is very important for this high-energy breed. Vizslas are fantastic swimmers, love games of fetch, and make excellent jogging companions.
Vizslas lack an undercoat, making them unsuitable for living outdoors. They tend to get cold quickly.
Vizslas have very low grooming needs and only require the occasional bath. However, regular brushing is important as they do tend to shed!
The Vizsla is a a medium-sized dog breed and is typically somewhere between 44 and 60 pounds.
Vizslas can be prone to environmental allergies, hip dysplasia, and certain types of cancers, so it’s important to do research on potential breeders before choosing one!
If you have any questions about Vizslas, feel free to contact us.