Information on AKC Vizsla Puppies
AKC MEET THE BREEDS®: Vizsla
Originally from Hungary, the Vizsla is a medium-sized, short-coated hunting dog that is essentially Pointer in type, although he combines characteristics of both pointer and retriever. An attractive golden rust in color, this "dual" dog is popular in both the field and the show ring due to his power and drive while hunting and his trainability in the home.
A Look Back
The Vizsla's ancestors were hunters and companions for the Magyar hordes, a tribe that settled in what is now known as Hungary. A favorite of early barons, Vizslas are depicted in etchings as far back as the 10th century.
The agricultural terrain of Hungary created a dog of superior nose and high-class hunting ability well-suited to Hungarian climate and a variety of game, including upland game, rabbits and waterfowl. Nearly extinct by the end of the World Wars, the Vizsla gradually regained popularity and began to be imported into the United States in the 1950s.
Right Breed for You?
The Vizsla thrives as part of an active family that provides daily exercise. He is lively and affectionate to his people, and possesses an above-average ability to take training. Although he sheds, his short coat requires low daily maintenance.
If you are considering purchasing a Vizsla puppy, learn more here.
- Sporting Group; AKC recognized in 1960.
- Average size: 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder.
- Hunting dog, family companion.
© The American Kennel Club, Inc.
Vizsla Breed Standard
Sporting Group
General Appearance
That of a medium-sized short-coated hunting dog of distinguished appearance
and bearing. Robust but rather lightly built; the coat is an attractive solid
golden rust. This is a dog of power and drive in the field yet a tractable and
affectionate companion in the home. It is strongly emphasized that field conditioned
coats, as well as brawny or sinewy muscular condition and honorable scars indicating
a working and hunting dog are never to be penalized in this dog. The qualities
that make a "dual dog" are always to be appreciated, not deprecated.
Head
Lean and muscular.
Skull moderately wide between the ears with a median
line down the forehead. Stop between skull and foreface is moderate, not deep.
Foreface or
muzzle is of equal length or slightly shorter than skull
when viewed in profile, should taper gradually from stop to tip of nose. Muzzle
square and deep. It must not turn up as in a "dish" face nor should
it turn down. Whiskers serve a functional purpose; their removal is permitted
but not preferred. Nostrils slightly open. Nose brown. Any other color is faulty.
A totally black nose is a disqualification. Ears, thin, silky
and proportionately long, with rounded-leather ends, set fairly low and hanging
close to cheeks.
Jaws are strong with well developed white teeth meeting
in a scissors bite.
Eyes medium in size and depth of setting, their surrounding
tissue covering the whites. Color of the iris should blend with the color of
the coat. Yellow or any other color is faulty. Prominent pop-eyes are faulty.
Lower eyelids should neither turn in nor out since both conditions allow seeds
and dust to irritate the eye.
Lips cover the jaws completely but are
neither loose nor pendulous.
Neck and Body
Neck strong, smooth and muscular, moderately long, arched and devoid
of dewlap, broadening nicely into shoulders which are moderately laid back.
This is mandatory to maintain balance with the moderately angulated hindquarters.
Body is strong and well proportioned. Back short. Withers high and the
topline slightly rounded over the loin to the set on of the tail.
Chest
moderately broad and deep reaching down to the elbows. Ribs well-sprung; underline
exhibiting a slight tuck-up beneath the loin.
Tail set just below the
level of the croup, thicker at the root and docked one-third off. Ideally, it
should reach to the back of the stifle joint and be carried at or near the horizontal.
An undocked tail is faulty.
Forequarters
Shoulder blades proportionately long and wide sloping moderately
back and fairly close at the top.
Forelegs straight and muscular with
elbows close. Feet cat-like, round and compact with toes close. Nails brown
and short. Pads thick and tough. Dewclaws, if any, to be removed on front and
rear feet. Hare feet are faulty.
Hindquarters
Hind legs have well developed thighs with moderately angulated stifles
and hocks in balance with the moderately laid back shoulders. They must be straight
as viewed from behind. Too much angulation at the hocks is as faulty as too
little. The hocks are let down and parallel to each other.
Coat
Short, smooth, dense and close-lying, without woolly undercoat.
A distinctly
long coat is a disqualification.
Color
Solid golden rust in different shadings. Solid dark mahogany red and pale yellow
are faulty. White on the forechest, preferably as small as possible, and white
on the toes are permissible.
Solid white extending above the toes or white
anywhere else on the dog except the forechest is a disqualification. When
viewing the dog from the front, white markings on the forechest must be confined
to an area from the top of the sternum to a point between the elbows when the
dog is standing naturally.
White extending on the shoulders or neck is a
disqualification. White due to aging shall not be faulted. Any noticable
area of black in the coat is a serious fault.
Gait
Far reaching, light footed, graceful and smooth. When moving at a fast trot,
a properly built dog single tracks.
Size
The ideal male is 22 to 24 inches at the highest point over the shoulder blades.
The ideal female is 21 to 23 inches. Because the Vizsla is meant to be a medium-sized
hunter, any dog measuring more than 1½ inches over or under these limits
must be disqualified.
Temperament
A natural hunter endowed with a good nose and above-average ability to take
training. Lively, gentle-mannered, demonstrably affectionate and sensitive though
fearless with a well developed protective instinct. Shyness, timidity or nervousness
should be penalized.
Disqualifications
Completely black nose.
Solid white extending above the toes or white anywhere else on the dog except
the forechest.
White extending on the shoulders or neck.
A distinctly long coat.
Any male over 25½ inches, or under 20½ inches and any female over
24½ inches or under 19½ inches at the highest point over the shoulder
blades.
Approved December 11, 1995
Effective January 31, 1996