Showing posts with label Vizsla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vizsla. Show all posts

Sunday, August 23, 2020

What Is the Hungarian VIZSLA?

English: a picture of a vizsla
A picture of a Vizsla (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Hungarian Vizsla is a high energy, affectionate, trustworthy, and loving. Frequently they're referred to as "velcro" dogs due to their faithfulness and affection. In general, Vizslas are quiet dogs, only barking if required or provoked. Occasionally when they feel neglected or desire something, they'll cry. The Hungarian Vizsla is a great retriever on land and in the water, making the maximum of their natural instincts. For the Hungarian Vizsla, games like fetch, swimming, and Frisbee are all preferred because they permit them to use those tracking and hunting instincts. In regards to training the Hungarian Vizsla, they need to be handled carefully and without tough commands or robust physical correction, as they have delicate temperaments and can easily be damaged.


Vizsla Problems


Every dog owner has their share of problems. Their dogs will dig, chew, jump, whine, or bark away whenever it is least convenient. So, if you own a Vizsla, problems are a very real possibility, especially if the dog is not properly trained from a young age. To help with each of these problems, here are some common issues and Vizsla training tips:

Vizsla Separation Anxiety

The Hungarian Vizsla can easily grow agitated and start showing signs of extensive anxiety - especially if you give them too much attention when leaving or coming home. Not only will the dog bark when you're away, but they may also begin to hurt themselves, pulling hair, scratching their paws, breaking teeth, or making messes in the house. This is a major issue for many reasons, not the least of which is the sanctity of your home. To help the Hungarian Vizsla with anxiety, teach the dog from a young age not to seek attention before or after you leave or return home. Furthermore, this behaviour needs to be taught by the whole family. Even one person "saying goodbye" to your Vizsla can create anxious feelings.

Vizsla Neuroses

Beyond separation anxiety, Vizslas can grow neurotic over a number of issues - sounds, digging, scratching, eating, or other common behaviours. It is usually easy to avoid many of these issues by keeping the dog busy and giving them lots of exercises. The Hungarian Vizsla needs at least 1-2 hours of exercise a day in some form or another. If you cannot spend time at home with your Vizsla in the first 1-2 years of ownership, you should definitely consider a breed that does better spending time alone. The Hungarian Vizsla is in general quite needy - they crave interaction with both humans and other dogs. Additionally, consider getting a second dog for company or try to spend at least 2-3 hours of every day in the company of your Vizsla, no matter how busy you get.



Vizsla Hunting Drive

Another potential problem which relates to their hunting heritage is the drive to chase (and kill) small animals such as mice and birds. It's a good idea to keep your Vizsla locked up when outside, and to make sure they meet any other family pets at a young age. The Hungarian Vizsla's problems are similar to most dog problems but can grow exponentially if you are not careful to nip them in the bud early. Spend time with your Vizsla, address common tendencies and build a relationship early so that your dog remains healthy and happy for the duration of their life.

The question is, can you alter your Vizsla's bad behaviours for good? Yes, you can!



Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Fact Sheet: VIZSLA Dog Breed

(Original Title: Vizsla Dog Breed Profile)


Curious about photography
Photo  by robot-girl 
Description:
The Vizsla is a medium-sized dog. This is a more lightly built dog than the Redbone Coonhound with which it is sometimes mistaken. The Vizsla dog has a shoulder height of 22 to 26. The bitch will be 2 less. The weight of this dog is 40 to 60 pounds depending on sex. The coat of the Vizsla is a rusty reddish color. The tail of the Vizsla is generally docked to about two-thirds of its original length. The Vizsla will generally live for 12 to 15 years. It is also known as the Hungarian Pointer, the Hungarian Short-Haired Pointing Dog, and Rovidszoru Magyar Vizsla.

History:
Long, long ago Magyar tribes arrived in what is now Hungary with their hunting dog, the forerunner of the Vizsla. The oldest pictorial reference to the Vizsla is an old stone etching showing the dog with its owner, who also has a falcon for hunting. The Vizsla was first mentioned in writing in 1357. As the aristocracy developed a fondness for this dog, it was also bred in with the Transylvanian Hound and the extinct Turkish Yellow Dog. Down to only about a dozen dogs after World War II, the Vizsla made a comeback thanks to the efforts of dedicated breeders.

Temperament:
The Vizsla is very gentle with the family. It is also a dog that has a very high energy level that needs to be addressed every day. This dog does best with children if it has been given enough exercise, otherwise, it might be too excitable for young children. This is a working dog and thrives on training and the chance to hunt or perform at agility. Not being given enough exercise can be very detrimental to this dog's mental and physical health. The Vizsla can be socialized to get along with other dogs. Unfortunately, the Vizsla can probably never be trusted with small household pets.

Health Issues:
Despite the restricted gene pool from which this dog made a comeback, the Vizsla is surprisingly free of most genetic disorders. This dog can suffer from hip dysplasia and food allergies, however.


Grooming:
The grooming requirements of the Vizsla are minimal. The dog should be brushed once a week to keep the coat free of dead hairs and to distribute the natural oils. This dog does not often need a bath but can be given a dry shampoo instead. As with all dogs with floppy ears, the ears of the Vizsla should be checked regularly to make sure they are clean and dry.

Living Conditions:
The Vizsla will be perfectly happy in the house with its human family, as it craves attention. The Vizsla will not mind being able to sleep on its owner's bed if allowed. This dog is not at its best in an apartment, however, it is quite active inside and with no easy outlet for its energy, it can become highly strung and destructive. Regardless of where it lives, the Vizsla must be given a great deal of exercise every day. It will love a walk of several miles and should have a chance to run off the leash occasionally.




Sunday, July 16, 2017

MAGYAR VIZSLA - Dogs of the World

Magyar Vizsla - Photo: Wikimedia



Tuesday, July 11, 2017

The VIZSLA Breed As a Retriever and Pointer

The Magyars were the first people to document the Vizsla breed being used in pointing and retrieving efforts during hunting. The Magyars were a culture who had to defend themselves against predators and ensured their existence by using animals in defense. The Vizsla breed is named for the Hungarian word meaning "pointer," the dogs are very intelligent and their ability to point and retrieve made them valuable.

Vizsla
Vizsla (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Magyars were threatened by invading forces from Turkey and were under constant attack. They selected the mountains of present-day Hungary, because they were protected and shielded through the entire region. With the Vizsla's great sense of smell, the Magyars continued to thrive and survive off of the food they caught in the rough terrain. Many years later, the Vizsla breed became well-known in present day Hungary. The dog had been common in areas like Transylvania where they were able to remain a pure breed. It was during the World Wars that the dog became mixed with other breeds and some different variations came about.

In the 1800's the Viszla was almost ran out of its own breed class, due to an influx of English and German Shorthair Pointers. There are theories about these breeds, along with the Weimaraner, that were used in the 1900's to resurrect and cultivate the Vizsla breed. It is simply a theory, there is no concrete evidence to confirm or deny the hypothesis. The Vizsla and Pointer breed share a definite resemblance from the sharp, pointy nose to the thin and erectly pointed tail. The game flushing skills of the Vizsla are only rivaled by the Pointer.

When Communists overtook Hungary, they wanted to eliminate everything from the Hungarian culture. The Vizsla breed all but nearly vanished to the point of extinction, though the hunting skills of the Vizsla is what resulted in the dog begin saved. High ranking officials of the Communist party loved hunting for deer and rabbit; a few Vizsla remained, but were denser in body structure.

While in Hungary the dog become popular for use in hunting rats. During the 1950's, the United States became aware of the dogs search and finding abilities and the Vizsla was imported. The dog became used for game hunting soon after arriving in America; it was used to retrieve fowl, rabbits and deer. The dog eventually became as popular in Australia as it was in America. Today, there are competitions held around the world to celebrate the Vizsla dog breed and its many talents.