Vizsla Character Sketch

We have re-produced two wonderful character sketckes of the Hungarian Vizsla. Those who own a Vizsla will warmly identify with many of the traits described. For those contemplating Vizsla ownership, read on…

Strauz and Cunningham: Your Vizsla

“The Hungarian Vizsla is a medium size short haired russet gold coloured dog of elegant appearance. It is lightly rather than heavily built, reflecting a harmony of beauty, strength, balanced, intelligent with a vivid temperament.

The Vizsla is a very intelligent animal, as is befitting to a good bird dog. He responds to obedience training very quickly because of his intelligence, which also tells him how to please his master. Because of his superior intelligence, the adult Vizsla will try to get more than his due unless the family stops him. Vizslas’ don’t sleep on mats or on expensive wicker beds. They sleep on their owners bed and some have to sleep under the covers on chilly nights. Since the Vizsla is exceptionally clean, we will let the reader work out his or her own solution.

The Vizsla is extremely sensitive in his reactions to his family’s emotions. If a child cries, he is right there to comfort it. If someone he loves sets out a real belly laugh, he will be transfixed with joy, making the Vizsla noises and dancing around on his hind legs.

The Vizsla is a good bird dog, is fond of retrieving birds, chewing on pine cones, and as a puppy, chewing on anything he can get his mouth around. He has a soft mouth and is very “orally” oriented, to borrow the psychologist’s phrase. The non-biting characteristic of the Vizsla is important for the novice Vizsla owner to know, because the Vizsla does have another habit which could be misconstrued as biting.If your Vizsla is in a happy mood, walking along with you, he may just take your whole hand in his mouth and prance right along at your side, pleased as he can be.

Your sensitive Vizsla will not mature to full intelligence and affection if he is kennelled or locked away from the family. This same sensitivity works both ways. Vizslas’ don’t run away from home or get lost – it wouldn’t occur to them to leave those they love.

The Vizsla is trained easily and quickly. It’s character does not tolerate rough treatment. The Hungarians learned in the twenties that persuasion was the key to training the breed, not roughness, even for the stiffest field competition. The Vizsla’s sensitive intelligence is to be appealed to in training him. Training a Vizsla is roughly comparable to training a thoroughbred colt.

Kindness is the key in the success of training. However, we do not mean to imply that the Vizsla is as skittish as the colt. Vizslas’ need a lot of “talking to” but no “yelling at”. The latter will only confuse him and “burn” you.

In spite of its passion for hunting, it likes housekeeping as well. Because of this, and also due to its distinguished manner, many people keep it as a companion dog.

Out of its inherited traits, the following are deemed necessary; excellent scenting powers, staunch, fugurative pointing, distinct trialing and retrieving qualities, love of water and excellent response to handling.”

Frank Mayhew

“The Vizsla has to be “in” everything that the family is doing. As an active participant, he is never content to sit on the sidelines and watch. In the course of this participation he will develop his own variaton of the activity, often playing with objects by tossing them in the air and watching them before they hit the ground, retrieving objects from the bottom of swimming pools, catching butterflies and letting them go again etc.

In our experience each dog tends to form a close allegiance with one member of the family, not to the exclusion of all the others, but there is no doubt who each dogs master is. He has almost an uncanny knack of sensing the intent and/or wishes of his master. When in the normal course you have to be away from home, and you cannot take your Vizsla with you, he will object most strongly, but training and familiarity with a routine ensures that both parties know where they stand. He is acutely aware of any favouritism being shown to other dogs in connection with an activity (e.g. dog shows) in which he regards himself as pre-eminent. Without exception they are one of the cleanest and best dog-smelling of all breeds, cleaning themselves like cats as a matter of routine. House training is never a problem either.

It is a shame not to participate in obedience training as they are willing to please. Often anticipation is one of the factors which must be guarded against. Their sensitivity is such that over-reaction on the part of the trainer results in a dog which flatly refuses to perform the most difficult exercises. The need for daily exercise is paramount. Although adaptable to suburban living, the amount of exercise required tends to strain the resources of the average family unless they are really active. By constant association with his master and the family, the Vizsla matures into an animal of great love and response, which in depth of feeling, cannot be compared easily with any other animal breeds.”