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 shaded golden rust. Originating in Hungary, the
Vizsla was bred to work in field, forest and water. Agile and
energetic, this is a versatile dog of power, drive and endurancein
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 requisite instincts and abilities to maintaina "dual
dog" are always to be fosteredand appreciated, neverdeprecated.
Head
Lean and muscular. Skull moderately wide between the ears with
a median line down the forehead. Stop between skull and foreface
is moderate. 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 should 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 self-colored.
Any other color is faulty. A partially or completely black nose
is a disqualification. Freckles due to aging or sun exposure are
not to be faulted.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.
Withers high. While the Vizsla may appear square, when measured
from point of breastbone to point of buttocks and from the highest
point over the shoulder blades to the ground, the Vizsla is slightly
longer than tall. A proper proportion of leg length to body length
is essential to the desired overall balance of the Vizsla. The
Vizsla should not appear long and low or tall and leggy. Backline
firm with a slight rise over a short and well muscled loin. The
croup is gently rounded to the set on of the tail and is not steep,
sunken or flat. When moving at a trot, a properly built Vizsla
maintains a steady, level backline. Chest moderately broad and
deep reaching down to the elbows. Ribs well-sprung and carried
well back; 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 when moving it should be carried at or
near the horizontal, not vertically or curled over the back, nor
between the legs. A docked tail is preferred.
Forequarters
Shoulder blades proportionately long and wide sloping moderately
back and fairly close at the top. Upper arm is about equal in
length to the shoulder blade in order to allow for good extension.
Forelegs straight and muscular with elbows close. Feetcat-like,
round and compact with toes close. Nails brown and short. Pads
thick and tough. The removal ofdewclaws, if any, on front and
rear feet, is strongly recommended, in order to avoid injury when
running in the field.
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
Golden rust in varying shades. Lighter shadings over the sides
of the neck and shoulders giving the appearance of a "saddle"
are common. Solid dark mahogany 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
or scarring mustnot be faulted. The Vizsla is self-colored, with
the color of the eyes, eye-rims, lips, nose, toenails and pads
of feet blending with the color of the coat.
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 1 ½ 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.
The foregoing describes the ideal
Vizsla. Any deviation from this ideal must be penalized to the
extent of the deviation. Deviations that impact performance and
function should be considered more serious than those that affect
only appearance.
Disqualifications
Partially or 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 25 ½ inches, or under 20 ½ inches
and any female over 24 ½ inches or under 19 ½ inches
at the highest point over the shoulder blades.
Approved
January 13, 2009
Effective April 1, 2009