HungarianVizsla
The Most Noble Breed
The Hungarian vizsla is the most popular Hunt, Point, Retrieve (HPR) breed in Britain today and still much revered and treasured in it’s homeland, where the Magyar Vizsla maintains its reputation as a symbol of aristocracy. The Vizsla is a rather privileged canine and holds a very high place in Hungarian sporting circles and is not expected to sleep outside at the finish of its day of work. The Vizsla always lived with the family and was as much a part of the family as the children. It has been said that the Vizsla must live with the family if the family is to deserve the loyalty and affection the Vizsla has to bestow.
Throughout the ages the Vizsla has been known as a ‘Gift of Kings’ and breedings were restricted to the Nobility of the Greater Hungarian Kingdom, which prior to World War I covered Hungary and Czechoslovakia. To receive a ‘Royal Golden Vizsla’ was an honour bestowed to only a very select few, including Royalty such as the Queens of Italy and Spain, and Princess Iolanda di Savia, daughter of the King of Italy. The Vizsla bears the official title of the ‘National Pointer of Hungary’ and the breed is especially protected by the Magyar Ebtenycstok Orsagos Egyesulete, whose purpose is to maintain the high standards of the breed. The Vizsla is most associated with the Puszta region in Hungary, a central area with diverse agriculture and a variety of game. Life in this vast terrain helped to create a dog with a superior nose and hunting ability suited to all weather extremes.
The word ‘Vizsla’, according to the Hungarian Etymological dictionary by G. Bordi, is documented first in the writings in the year 1350 as the name of a village on the Danube indicating that Vizslas may have been found in its environment. With the meaning ‘dog’ it is documented in the Berstence Glossary compiled toward the end of the 14th Century. It is supposed to have come from the oldest layer of the Hungarian language, from a root -Vis- which means ‘to search’.
The first written reference to the dog vizsla was on the order of King Louis I of Hungary and recorded in the Illustrated Vienna Chronicle by Carmellite Friars in 1357, though their origins as a breed are believed to date back to the 8th Century. Magyar tribes in the Carpathian Basin favoured the breeds ancestors (Transylvanian hound and Turkish yellow) as trusted hunting dogs and companions. Primitive carvings in stone in the Carpathian regions, estimated to be over 1,000 years old show the Magyar hunter, his falcon and his Vizsla.
The history of the Vizsla breed must first begin with the history of Hungary. Many different nomadic tribes roamed across Europe before crossing the Carpathian Mountains and settling in 895 AD on the land that was to be named Hungary. These nomads were descendants of Ugrians, Finns and Huns and brought with them their own hounds that may have been the ancestors of the early Vizsla. Settling down to lives of peaceful farming, horse breeding, cattle and pig raising, the Magyars needed to develop a breed of dogs related to the type of hunting these landowners pursued. The Magyar's yellow hounds, which were brought from the areas where these nomads had wandered, were selectively bred until the hunters had dogs with specialized abilities. Bird hunting was a necessity to provide food and these dogs were used to scent out game, and falcons were used to retrieve it. The dog's quiet movement and deliberate action of pointing, plus their retrieving abilities that future breeding developed were very useful, especially after the use of firearms were invented.
The Magyar Vizslas (Hungarian Pointers) honour their nomadic masters who roamed the Carpathian plains and valleys ten centuries ago. Herdsmen and hunters, these early Hungarians began the development of companion-hunting dogs. The golden Vizsla was the favourite companion dog of the early barons and warlords and, with the evolution of the nobility and large landowners, the breed was preserved in its purity through the centuries, jealously guarded and continued to develop the hunting ability of these yellow pointers, the russet gold coloration from tip to tail. Records of letters and writings show the high esteem in which the Vizsla has always been held through the centuries.
There is little doubt that its ancestors were the hunting dogs of the various Asiatic tribes that invaded the lands of Central Europe until the 10th Century. The Vizsla presents several specific breed-marks, apart from the characteristic russet gold coat, that have never been found in any other variety of pointer. The Vizsla was an established and recorded breed at least 300 years before the Nobles of the Courts of Weimar set out to develop the Weimaraner around the year 1810, or before the first English Pointers were introduced into the Hungarian Kingdom in the 1880.
The Vizsla breed has survived the Turkish Occupation, the Hungarian Civil Wars, World Wars I and II, and the Russian Occupation. The spread of the Vizsla to other parts of the world had changed little from the Middle Ages until 1945. As late as World War II the Vizsla enjoyed protection in selective breeding, as only the remnants of the aristocracy and the large estate owners were permitted by custom to breed.
In 1526, when the land was invaded by the Turks, the Magyar dogs were bred to the Turk's yellow pointers and those from that union were called Vizsla which means SEEK in Turkish and POINT in Hungarian. The Vizsla obviously did both. At that point in time the land was limited to the upper class. These were the people who played an important part in the early development of the Vizsla as we know it today. Shoots were organized and hunters from other countries brought the pointing dogs they had developed. These dogs were eventually crossed with the yellow coloured dogs of Hungary and were known by their versatility in the hunting of both birds and small game. Once the Hungarian hunters had developed the Vizsla into the type of dog they needed for their specific hunting areas, they kept it pure for many generations to come. Sportsmen from other countries still continued to cross breed to develop what they needed, and the Vizsla was bred to their Pointers and Irish Setters. It was not until 1882 that the Hungarian landowners realized they had very few dogs that were originally bred and called the Vizsla.
Documents of the Turk occupations of Hungary (1526-1686) deal with the Vizsla breed chiefly in the correspondence between the Danubian provinces and the court of the Sultan of Istanbul. The breed existed beyond question of doubt in the 1200s as the ‘Yellow Pointer’ As the breed became progressively more popular, ‘Hungarian Pointer’ gradually replaced the term ‘Yellow Pointer’. Throughout the 100 years of Turkish Occupation, the now famous all-purpose dog frequently was mentioned in correspondences of the era. By the 16th Century we find Vizsla generally accepted and used as the breed name.
One Janos Gyulai writes in Latin, in 1563, to Kristof Batthyani; "We know that your Honor possesses smaller sized hawks. Don't leave us without one or two of them. And do send us please a bird chasing Vizsla too. (Sed et canem odoranium vulgo fyrejre valo Vizslath nobis dare velli)."
Mihaly Komlossy writes his brother, Tamas, on August 15, 1515: "…besides, my beloved brother, I ask you for a good Vizsle (sic), fit for birds. And let the squire know that Janos Koesis is in the know about the falcons because he worked with the falconer of Kristof Krassy and had to handle them."(Lampeath, Old Hungarian Letters 202). Early in the 18th Century, Zolton Hamyay (landowner of the county Gomor) and Istvan Barczy de Barczihaza (landowner and Cabinet Councilor) established purebred records in the form of a studbook, and the now famous ‘Golden Vizsla’ was documented as ‘Magyar Vizsla’.
The breed suffered a serious decline after the Hungarian Civil War (1848–49) and the true Vizsla was close to being extinct. A careful search of Hungary and a poll of Hungarian sportsmen revealed only about a dozen true type Vizslas still alive in the country. From that minimal stock, the breed recovered and rose to prominence once again. In more recent times, the blood of the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Pointer has been added to the Vizsla. The various strains of the Vizsla have become somewhat distinctive as individuals bred stock that suited their hunting style. The Austria-Hungary Empire extended its influence over a large area for many years, but with frequent border changes Hungary was reduced to a mere shadow of its former self. As a result, owners of Vizslas suddenly found themselves living in Czechoslovakia, Romania, Yugoslavia, Italy, Germany, Poland or Russia.
World War I and the land reform from the Hungarian Peace Treaty saw the Vizsla living on foreign soil, but determined Vizsla owners were dedicated to keeping the breed intact. In 1920, the Magyar Breeding Association was formed and started holding field trials and drew up a standard for the Vizsla breed. At the end of World War I, the breed was almost extinct, but was preserved by such men as Dr. Polgar Koloman and Dr. Kubes of Southern Czechoslovakia, Dr. Ferenc Korbas, Count Esterhazy and the large landowners of eastern Hungary. Under the leadership of Dr. Koloman, careful selection re-established the breed between World Wars, when, once again, the Vizsla was threatened with extinction. Throughout the ages the expert breed masters were far more interested in fieldwork than show types. Hunting abilities were always paramount. Breedings were carefully considered to produce only the best puppies and never on a commercial scale. There were no so-called ‘puppy factories’. Only the best pups were saved from a litter and those that were undesirable were destroyed.
By 1941, World War II was to see many wealthy landowners flee Hungary for the safety of other countries and many took their Vizslas with them.
The Vizsla was so closely held by the nobility of Czech and Hungary that it wasn't until the Russians came that the specimens were taken out of the country. When the Russians came in 1945 the nobility feared for their lives and made an attempt to escape from the country. Many were put into prison but others did escape, a few taking their favourite Vizsla as a most cherished possession.
Before the war 5000 Vizsla had been registered in Hungary, however during Russian Occupation after World War II, the breed was nearly extinct. Hungarians saved some individuals and built the breed up again.
When Russians took control of Hungary, the native Hungarians feared all the Vizsla would be killed by the Russians occupied Hungary after the war (at least 80% of the breed were lost or destroyed) because owning a Vizsla was considered a bastion of aristocracy, something that was not favoured by the Russians. Much of the modern breed is based on dogs taken out of the country by owners who emigrated to other areas in Europe and abroad. Some devotees smuggled Vizslas out into Austria and to other countries as Vizslas once again faced extinction. They were saved, in part due to the valiant efforts of Mrs. Elizabeth Mihalyi.
Mihalyi, a noted portrait artist, escaped from Hungary to Austria, saving her family’s Vizsla, Panni XV, from the Russian armies. In Austria, Panni was bred to Betyar, establishing the Panni-Betyar line
It is believed two Vizslas were imported into the UK before the second World War in 1939. However, the first registration of imported Vizslas was recorded by the Kennel Club in 1953. Thereafter, between 1953 and 1955, there were three matings from this pair resulting in 13 puppies with some being exported to America.
Over the years, there were other imports and by the mid 1960s some 300 Vizslas were known to be in the UK. Despite the growth in its numbers, Vizslas were still classified as a rare breed and it was not until 1971 that the Hungarian Vizsla breed was awarded challenge certificate status for the first time.
The Vizsla is striking in appearance and never fails to attract attention. They have a very beautiful and distinctive shorthaired russet gold coat as well as a dignified and aristocratic bearing which sets them apart. They present the picture of versatile aristocrat, well balanced and with a look of intelligence and animation; a dog of great driving power, stamina, rugged constitution, in which the desire to hunt and the well-defined pointing and retrieving instincts are deeply ingrained. They have extremely high intelligence potentials and are exceedingly tractable and willing to obey whenever they understand. They have a rare adaptability to new conditions.
In early years, the dog was used to scent and search birds that were then netted or caught by falcons. With the advent of firearms in the 1700s, its abilities were developed to take on many tasks, such as tracking large wounded game; hunting, pointing and retrieving birds and ground game; and retrieving waterfowl.
Vizslas are adept hunters in a variety of landscapes, they will happily and successfully hunt partridge, pheasant, grouse, ducks, geese, rabbits, hare, wolf, bear, deer and boar. On land and in water it works with an excellent nose, natural drive, persistence and stamina.
The Vizsla is an exemplary all-round, general purpose gundog In Britain they are best suited to walked-up or rough shooting to hunt game birds like pheasant, partridge, woodcock, snipe and grouse.
As pointing dogs, Hungarian Vizslas work swiftly and cautiously in close contact with game. Although not all have the muscularity and pace to range as far as some other dogs, they still work with high drive, diligence and stamina. They tend to work at close to medium range to their handler, remaining within eyeshot, but with the right training they are very comfortable to range further. They have a superb nose and are a gentle-mouthed retriever, despite the disparaging views of many a keeper or gun not too long ago.
Although the driven shoot isn't the ideal environment for Vizslas, with the right training and management they can be a valuable member of the beating line.
HPRs are still a minority compared to spaniels and retrievers, as they aren't as easy to train and take longer to mature, so it is important to demonstrate they are impeccably trained and behaved to overcome any prejudices or uncertainties on the part of the gamekeeper.
Like other HPRs, Vizslas can be trained to work on the extremities of the beating line, in bordering wood or hedgerows. This way they will not hold up the line if they occasionally go on point when finding a bird to flush.
Working as a peg dog doesn’t come naturally to them, as they prefer to be part of the action, though with a properly designed and implemented training plan it is achievable. They are also well-suited for picking up, remaining quiet and still during the drive is a good steadiness exercise and they can be sent for some challenging and distant retrieves, as well as sweeping cover after the drive.
There is something that invokes an almost primeval feeling watching a highly trained vizsla quartering on a moor. The russet gold of the vizsla hunting gracefully amongst the purples and lilacs of a heather moorland on a beautiful August day. Mesmerized at times just enjoying the skillful tactician at work, closing in on its prey until. Game on, literally. Stock still. Barely breathing, edging in a silent almost motionless fashion. Then the statuesque stillness indicating. Moving tactically but with much less grace we slowly close in, all the while the vizsla holding. Then a click of the tongue and a swift flush and instant sit as the grouse burst from the purple cloud of cover and take flight. Feathers drifting down after my second shot and I send her in for the prize.
vizsla.org.uk
hungarianvizslaclub.org.uk
hprga.co.uk
thekennelclub.co.uk
The Hungarian Vizsla (Gay Gottlieb),
Hunt, Point, Retrieve Dogs for Work and Showing (N.C. Dear),
HPR License to Hunt (Phil Pearson)
The Kennel Club breed standard:
General appearance
Medium sized, of distinguished appearance, robust and medium boned.
Characteristics
Lively, intelligent, obedient, sensitive, very affectionate and easily trained. Bred for hunting fur and feather, pointing and retrieving from land and water.
Temperament
Lively, gentle mannered and demonstratively affectionate, fearless and with well developed protective instinct.
Head and skull
Head lean and noble. Skull moderately wide between ears with median line down forehead and a moderate stop. Skull a little longer than muzzle. Muzzle, although tapering, well squared at the end. Nostrils well developed, broad and wide. Jaws strong and powerful. Lips covering jaws completely and neither loose nor pendulous. Nose brown.
Eyes
Neither deep nor prominent, of medium size, a shade darker in colour than coat. Slightly oval in shape, eyelids fitting tightly. Yellow or black eye undesirable.
Ears
Moderately low set, proportionately long with a thin skin and hanging down close to cheeks. Rounded ‘V’ shape; not fleshy.
Mouth
Sound and strong white teeth. Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Full dentition desirable.
Neck
Strong, smooth and muscular; moderately long, arched and devoid of dewlap.
Forequarters
Shoulders well laid and muscular, elbows close to body and straight, forearm long, pasterns upright.
Body
Back level, short, well muscled, withers high. Chest moderately broad and deep with prominent breast bone. Distance from withers to lowest part of chest equal to distance from chest to ground. Ribs well sprung and belly with a slight tuck-up beneath loin. Croup well muscled.
Hindquarters
Straight when viewed from rear, thighs well developed with moderate angulation, hocks well let down.
Feet
Rounded with toes short, arched and tight. Cat-like foot is required, hare foot undesirable. Nails short, strong and a shade darker in colour than coat.
Tail
Previously customarily docked.
Docked: Customarily docked by one third of length. Moderately thick, rather low set. When moving carried horizontally.
Undocked: Rather low set. Moderately thick, slightly curved. Tapering towards the end, reaching to hocks. When moving carried horizontally.
Gait/movement
Graceful, elegant with a lively trot and ground-covering gallop.
Coat
Short, straight, dense, smooth and shiny, feeling greasy to the touch.
Colour
Russet gold, small white marks on chest and feet, though acceptable, undesirable.
Size
Height at withers: dogs: 57-64 cms (22½-25 ins); bitches: 53-60 cms (21-23½ ins). Weight: 20-30 kgs (44-66 lbs).
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.