Vizsla Information & Dog Breed Facts

The Vizsla can trace its history back to the 1000s, to Hungary in the Central part of Europe. The first finding of the Vizsla was a stone etching showing a smooth-coated dog accompanying a Magyar huntsman from the 10^th century. There have been multiple records from the 1300s describing dogs very similar to the Vizsla from Hungarian nomadic tribes. It is believed that these nomadic tribes introduced the breed to the region, to the Carpathian Basin. Another early finding is a chapter on falconry, in a manuscript originating from the 14^th century, which depicts a Vizsla-like dog while hunting.

The Vizsla became more and more highly esteemed and valued as time marched forward. First, the Hungarian aristocracy cherished the breed as their hunting companion for the dogs’ excellent hunting and retrieving capabilities and for their outstanding intelligence. By the mid-1800s, the breed has proven itself to be a reliable and effective multi-purpose gundog. At that time, the breed also competed really successfully in pointing competitions in Hungary earning themselves respect and more fanciers. By the end of the 19^th century, the Vizsla was recognized as a distinct breed, with excellent scenting abilities. The breed was able to work effectively individually, or in packs with their masters, which made them very popular and sought-after by most of the hunters.

The Vizsla’s planned breeding started at the beginning of the 20^th century, in 1920. During the 1930s, the pure-bred Vizsla was cross-bred with the German Wire Haired Pointers, in order to create another breed. Breeders intended to develop a breed that was better suited to cold climates and working in the water with a thicker coat while keeping all the excellent and desirable characteristics of the Vizsla. Thus, the Wire Haired Vizsla was born, which is now accepted and registered as a distinct breed. After the First World War, the breed suffered a blow to numbers. According to the documents, there only were a dozen specimens left in the Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time. Moreover, unfortunately, followed by the ravages of the Second World War, the Vizsla was got to the edge of extinction. Thanks to the breed’s community, they managed to revitalize and preserve the breed. Later, in the early 1950s, the breed was smuggled out of Hungary and was exported to the United States of America, with the help of a U.S. State Department employee. The breed quickly made into the American hunters’ hearts, thus four years later, in 1954 the Vizsla Club of America was founded. In 1960, the AKC (American Kennel Club) gave the breed their recognition. In 2010 a Vizsla named Charity to become the first dog in the AKC’s history to win the championship in five different sports, which proves how versatile this breed really is.

The Vizsla’s exterior appearance was slightly changed over the centuries, from having longer muzzles and a bonier skull to a more hound-like look, with longer ears. Hungarian nobles and breeders worked on refining and perfecting the breed and set the type of the modern Vizsla. The breed is now more popular than ever both among the hunting community and among the ordinary men who keep the breed as family companions. The Vizsla is also employed as a rescue and search dog, as seeing-eye dogs, and as sniffers. After 9/11 happened in New York City, Vizslas were brought to Ground Zero, to the scene and to help in the search and rescue of victims. The breed is also represented in pop-culture, there is even a whole Hungarian cartoon show based on the life of Frakk the Vizsla, The Nightmare of Cats.