Vizsla Breed Magazine - Showsight

Vizsla Breed Magazine features information, expert articles, and stunning photos from AKC judges, breeders, and owners.

VIZSLA

Let’s Talk Breed Education!

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Official Standard for the Vizsla 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 endurance 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 requisite instincts and abilities to maintain a "dual dog" are always to be fostered and appreciated, never 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. 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. Feet cat-like, round and compact with toes close. Nails brown and short. Pads thick and tough. The removal of dewclaws, if any, on front and rear feet, is strongly recommended, in order to avoid injury when running in the field.

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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 must not 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 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. 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. S olid 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 January 13, 2009 Effective April 1, 2009

JUDGING THE VIZSLA

By Patricia Folz Szikra Vizslas

T he Vizsla is a joyful creature with a charm- ing way of making a fool of itself and us. Th e breed is an intel- ligent, good worker who responds to kindness and can be ruined by a heavy hand. Th e Vizsla is a personal gun dog and companion and it is well suited for that purpose in size, character and silhouette—a short- haired dog of golden rust color, proud and lively, with an elegant and distin- guished appearance. Th is is not an easy breed to judge—subtle in the attributes that distinguish it from the other smooth coated pointers—it can be as di ffi cult to understand as it is to get your hands on a wiggly Vizsla puppy. Th is is a gentle and a ff ectionate breed with a well- developed protective instinct—they are

sensitive but cheerful; shyness and timidity should be penalized. Th e Vizsla is moderate in all aspects: size, angula- tion and overall substance. Th e silhouette of the Vizsla is a series of continuous curves—from the begin- ning of the nose to the end of the tail, your eye should never stop. Follow the arched neck down over the moderately laid back shoulders, past the ribcage, which is carried well back to the mus- cular fullness over the short loin, fol- lowing to the set on of the tail, which is slightly below the level of the croup. Th e tail should not o ff end the eye and is carried near the horizontal, in length it should reach to the bend of the stifle. A docked tail is preferred. Carriage, which is an extension of the structure, should be judged rather than length which is man-made. Th e outline should be of a

dog who appears square and is neither tall and leggy, nor long and low. Th e chest, moderately broad and reaching to the elbow, flows through the slight tuck up and on to the well-muscled thigh and moderately angulated rear. On exami- nation, the hand should move smooth- ly over the curves without feeling any abrupt changes in direction. Th e standard calls for a dog who is “robust but rather lightly built”, mean- ing it should be well muscled and have substance, while being an agile mover. Th e Vizsla should never seem slight nor heavy, but there should be some appre- ciable substance to the breed. It is the smallest of the smooth-coated point- ers, which is an important part of its breed character. Th e ideal size is 21-23 inches for bitches and 22-24 inches for dogs. Th ere is a disqualification in the

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“THE SILHOUETTE OF THE VIZSLA IS A SERIES OF CONTINUOUS CURVES— from the beginning of the nose to the end of the tail, your eye should never stop.”

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standard for any dogs measuring less than 1 ½ inches under or more than 1 ½ inches over the ideal size. If in doubt, do not hesitate to measure—a good Vizsla temperament will not be disturbed by applying the wicket. In keeping with its function of a mul- tipurpose gun dog, the Vizsla’s gait is far reaching, light footed, graceful and smooth. Th e movement should be appro- priate to the moderate angulation and size of this breed. Th e Vizsla should have balanced reach and drive with no wasted or excessive motion. It is important that the dog cover plenty of ground while maintaining a steady topline. Restricted movement, a reflection of less than mod- erate angulation, is detrimental both to form and function and excessive move- ment is a misuse of energy. One of the most unique features of the Vizsla is its self-coloring—golden rust from head to toe with matching eye color. Th e dogs will often have lighter shadings on the sides of the neck and shoulders, with a darker saddle on the back. Solid dark mahogany as well as pale yellow are faulty. A black nose is a disqualification and black anywhere else is a serious fault. Solid white extend- ing above the toes or white anywhere except the forechest is a disqualification. Please note that freckles due to aging or sun exposure and white due to aging or injury are not faults. Th e lovely color is accented by the short, smooth coat. A distinctly long coat (setter-like in tex- ture) is a disqualification. Even though the head is addressed first in the standard, the primary impor- tance of the head is as a compliment to the outline of the Vizsla. Th e noble head must not be too heavy with exces- sive flew or dewlap, nor too small and snipey so that it disturbs the silhouette of the elegant Vizsla. It again is moder- ate in size and shape. Th e thin, fine ears are neither too low nor long—the dog will have a houndy appearance—nor too high and small—as they will spoil the gently rounded outline. When lifted gently, the ear will reach to the corner of the mouth. Th e ears, when alert, create a frame for the face. Eyes should have a

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soft expression and be moderate in size and shape and blend well with the coat color. Th e muzzle is equal to or slightly shorter than the skull, it is neither down faced nor dish faced. Th e standard calls for a strong jaw with a scissors bite. Breeders do an excellent job of main- taining the multiple talents of this breed. In order to compete in National Field Trials, dogs must be certified by an AKC judge to be free of disqualifying faults. When judging, you may encounter a dog in field condition who could appear gaunt and have scars. A field conditioned dog, although thin, will have hard mus- cles, correct conformation and exhibit correct movement. Do not penalize field conditioning, as the hunting and working abilities of the Vizsla should be preserved. In this breed the field dog in silhouette, size and color is easily recog- nizable and exemplifies the dual dog in temperament and type. In the 9th century, the Magyar tribes settled in the Carpathian basin, in an area that was part of the Austro-Hungar- ian Empire and is now modern Hungary. Th ey brought with them a yellow dog that in both form and function clearly resembles the modern Vizsla. Histori- cally the Vizsla belonged to the nobility who developed the versatility of the dog for hunting, pointing and retrieving upland game birds, rabbits and water- fowl; tracking wounded game; falconry; and as a companion. The Vizsla has been on the brink of extinction many times, most recently after World War II, but each time the breed has been saved by passionate breeders and owners. Recognized in 1960 by the AKC, the Vizsla has thrived in the United States, becoming ever more versatile, main- taining its distinct silhouette, personal- ity and hunting abilities while adapting to present day. The Vizsla excels in agil- ity, obedience, dock diving and life in suburbia; hunts on the weekends and sleeps on the bed. Th e standard’s call for modera- tion reflects, not a call for a lack of any attribute, but rather that the writers have placed the standard in relation to like breeds and found that the Vizsla is t4 )08 4 *()5 . "(";*/& / 07&.#&3

moderate by comparison to the other shorthaired pointers both in form and function. As such, exaggeration in any aspect is a departure from the standard which repeatedly calls for moderation. Unlike some of the other standards, the standard for the Vizsla gives a range of what is acceptable. Judging this breed well is the art of knowing the outer lim- its of what is acceptable and being able to reward dogs of varying style that all fall within those limits.

BIO In 1970, Patricia Folz purchased her first Vizsla, Katie, and did everything with her. Under the kennel prefix Szikra, they have produced four generations of winner’s dog at the Vizsla Club of America Nation- als—three from the bred-by-exhibitor class as well as going best of winners with their bitch, best of opposite sex and best of winners from the bred by exhibitor class. Th ey are looking forward to seeing the next generation in the ring and the field.

The recent revision of the breed stan- dard was a complicated task that Patri- cia was privileged to be a part of and she now finds herself on the committee to produce a quick reference guide and an illustrated standard as well as being Judges Education chairperson. She believes it is through careful study of the Vizsla and other breeds and the exchange of ideas and experi- ences that one comes to better under- stand the breed.

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Navigating the Vizsla DISQUALIFICATIONS

BY TAD WALDEN

D isqualifications in the Vizsla are contained in four general areas: size, nose color, coat length, and white. The breed has height preferences for male and female dogs. Male height at the top of the shoulder is preferred to be 22" to 24", but there is an allowable 1.5" boundary up or down, providing for a total height range within the Standard of 20.5" to 25.5". The female pre- ferred height is 21" to 23", with the same 1.5" up or down allowable, which creates a total boundary of 19.5" to 24.5". The breed strives to maintain its moderate size. All things being equal, when judging the breed, the prefer- ence is to reward dogs within the preferred height boundary. However, this does not mean that judges should reward poorly constructed dogs within the height standard at the expense of a well-constructed dog that appears above 24" and under 25.5", for example, if it is a male dog. Judges trained in proper wicket examinations should be aware of the preferred and allow- able heights as well as the height disqualifications. A black nose and long hair are fairly easy to determine in the breed. Just make sure that you are not penalizing darker freckles on the nose as a result of sun exposure. The accompanying photos on this page are examples of a black nose and long hair in the breed. Black noses and long hair are rare, but they can exist. Long hair, although rare, can show up in the breed. Long hair is silky and resembles that of the Irish Setter or Long-Haired Weimaraner. The more difficult and challenging aspect relative to breed disqualifica- tions is determining the acceptable [amount of] white. When it comes to white, there are boundaries, and any white outside of these boundaries is a disqualification. Anyone examining for white must have a full understand- ing of canine anatomy. Elbows, forechest, and toes are anatomical points used in determining boundaries for allowable white. The two most common areas where white appears are the forechest and feet. The toe is comprised of three phalanges; distal, middle, and proxi- mal. White extending beyond the proximal phalange is a disqualification. Understanding that the white boundary will not be a straight line, but follows the anatomical points of the bone structure, is important when evaluating whether or not the white is acceptable. The illustration on the following page denotes the white boundary on the toes.

A black nose on a Vizsla is a disqualification.

“DISQUALIFICATIONS IN THE VIZSLA ARE CONTAINED IN FOUR GENERAL AREAS: SIZE, NOSE COLOR, COAT LENGTH, AND WHITE.”

Long hair on a Vizsla is a disqualification.

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NAVIGATING THE VIZSLA DISQUALIFICATIONS

“THE EASIEST WAY TO DETERMINE IF WHITE IS EXTENDING OUTSIDE THE ALLOWABLE BOUNDARY UNDER THE DOG’S CHEST IS TO IMAGINE TAKING A RULER AND PLACING IT UNDER THE DOG FROM ELBOW TO ELBOW. THAT POINT SETS THE ALLOWABLE BOUNDARY FOR WHITE EXTENDING DOWN UNDER THE DOG ON THE FORECHEST. ANY WHITE EXTENDING BEYOND THAT POINT ONTO THE DOG’S UNDERSIDE IS A DISQUALIFICATION.”

This illustration identifies the acceptable boundary for white on the front of the forechest.

White extending above the toes is a disqualification.

White is allowable from the top of the sternum to the elbow.

elbow to elbow. That point sets the allowable boundary for white extending down under the dog on the forechest. Any white extend- ing beyond that point onto the dog’s underside is a disqualification. The sternum is also a precise anatomical point on the dog. The sternum should not be confused with the prosternum. The vertical boundary for white on the breed is the sternum. Any white extend- ing above the sternum and onto the neck is a disqualification. The illustration above shows the allowable points on the dog in profile where white is acceptable.

White must be contained in the horizontal and vertical bound- aries established for the breed. When evaluating white on the forechest, the Standard allows for white to extend to the elbow. The forechest extends from the top of the sternum to the elbow, which defines the vertical boundary for white. The elbow is a specific ana- tomical bone, so understanding this skeletal component is critical to understanding the boundary. The easiest way to determine if white is extending outside the allowable boundary under the dog’s chest is to imagine taking a ruler and placing it under the dog from

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NAVIGATING THE VIZSLA DISQUALIFICATIONS

White created by aging is acceptable and never penalized.

“ANYONE JUDGING THE BREED SHOULD TAKE THESE DISQUALIFICATIONS SERIOUSLY.”

Anyone judging the breed should take these disqualifications seriously. The Vizsla Club of America holds two national field events annually; the VCA National Field Trial and the VCA National Gun Dog Championship. A requirement for any dog competing in these national events is that the dog must have passed a “Qualifying On The Line” examination by an approved AKC conformation judge, ensuring that the dog does not have any disqualifying conformation features. The VCA is one of only a few national parent clubs to take such measures to ensure that dogs are being bred appropriately and to the Breed Stan- dard. We ask that judges in the show ring apply the same diligence relative to breed disqualifications that we do in the field. Anyone needing more clarification or assistance in understanding these breed disqualifications, and how to properly locate and determine the boundaries, should contact the Vizsla Club of America Judges Education and read more at: http:// www.vcaweb.org/download/VCA_Illustrat- ed_Standard.pdf

The other boundary of white on the chest deals with the horizontal boundary. White cannot extend onto the shoulders. This is where close attention needs to be paid to the prepositions used in the Standard. “On” defines that any white reaching the shoulder or neck is a disqualification. This requires any person examining the dog to have a full under- standing of the canine shoulder anatomy and be able to accurately locate bone structure when determining the white boundary. Being able to take your hand and feel where the shoulder bone is, and seeing if white extends to that boundary, is critical to determining if a dog has a disqualification. The illustrations throughtout this article are visuals to help you identify the various disqualifications in the breed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tad Walden has been involved with Vizslas for nearly two decades. He is approved to judge Vizslas conformationally and in the field. He is an AKC Breeder of Merit. Tad has trained and handled his dogs in the show ring and in the field, earning Best of Breed at national events and eight AKC Master Hunter Titles. He has also trained and shown the only Weimaraner in US history to achieve an AKC Best in Show and an AKC Master Hunter title. Tad is a Board Member of the Vizsla Club of America and has chaired the breed’s Illustrated Standard Committee. He is also President of the Vizsla Club of Colorado, President of Evergreen Colorado Kennel Club, and President and Show Chair of Roaring Fork Kennel Club. Tad is the founder and Chairman of FidoTV Channel, a cable television network dedicated to canine programming, reaching more than 65 million people.

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Understanding the General Appearance of the Vizsla

BY TAD WALDEN

F or many Breed Standards, there is a General Appearance description of the breed in the written standard for the purpose of providing an overall “look” of the dog. These descriptions are usually designed with a general framework or boundary that would encompass any dog meet- ing the breed’s general description, regardless of a dog’s specific structural quali- ties. Often, these descriptions are rooted in the dog’s history and purpose. There are certainly variations between dogs that fit the description, but all dogs should fit within this general description. The Vizsla Standard has such a description, but we would like to bring attention to the adverbs as well as the adjectives in the description in order to help frame the general appearance of the breed. This article focuses on two areas of the general description; robust but lightly built and coat color. ROBUST BUT LIGHTLY BUILT The Vizsla Standard General Appearance states: “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 versa- tile dog of power, drive and endurance in the field yet a tractable and affectionate com- panion 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 maintain a ‘dual dog’ are always to be fostered and appreciated, never deprecated.” The goal of this General Appearance description is to help define the true pur- pose of the breed, which is a hunting dog, as it relates to structure. The breed is built for hunting in many types of field conditions, and should be able to do so for hours at a time with their hunting companion. This means the dog is moving for long periods of time in the field. Unlike some breeds with a single purpose (i.e., retrieval of game), the Vizsla needs to be able to locate, maintain, and retrieve game for their hunting partner. These complete hunting dog elements are key to the general description of the breed, describing a robust dog, yet it must be lightly built in order to maintain the endurance needed to complete its task in the field. Proper structure, including skeletal and muscular condition, coupled with the innate hunting abilities, are mandatory in order to be able to perform in the field. The General Appearance in the Standard goes to great lengths to reward dogs that fit the athletic dog, and penalize dogs lacking in such athletiscism. Hunters need a dog that has the stamina and structure to efficiently cover ground in the field. A dog that can effortlessly navigate the show ring will be able to transfer that ability to the field. A dog that appears to be lacking in structure in the show ring may find the field difficult. Ask yourself when examining the dog, “Does it look strong and healthy, and can it efficiently navigate rough terrain and hunting environments and pick up a downed pheasant and bring it to its hunting partner?” A Vizsla of proper structure and movement is one of the most elegant things to witness in the field. Invite yourself to any of the Vizsla Club of America’s two national field events (VCA National Field Trial and VCA National Gun Dog Championship) and get a first-hand look at how form follows function in this versatile, athletic breed.

The Vizsla is a versatile gun dog used primarily for upland game.

The Vizsla’s job is to locate game, point, and then retrieve downed game to the hunter.

A Vizsla on point is a striking visual in the field.

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The Vizsla coat color has a broad range of golden rust tones.

aging or scarring must not be faulted. The Vizsla is self-colored, with the color of the eyes, eye-rims, lips, nose, toenails and pads of feet blend- ing with the color of the coat.” As with any breed, there are things that are allowed by the Breed Standard—but less of some things that are allowable is the preference. Coat color in the Vizsla is no different. While white is acceptable when within the approved boundaries, less white is the preference when all other attributes are equal. However, white as a result of aging should never be faulted. Also, it is common in the breed for the Vizsla to have a saddle, which is a lighter coloring around the shoulder area. This is perfectly fine and should never be faulted. The nose color blends with the coat, so that a darker dog should have a darker nose and a lighter dog can have a lighter nose. It is a brownish-red or brownish-pink color, not quite liver or dark brown and never black. Noses that are chapped, freckled or discolored from the sun, field work or age are not to be penalized. However, a black nose is a disqualification in the breed. As always, if you want to get more information or clarification on the breed, reach out to any of our breed mentors or visit our breed’s Illustrated Standard at: http://www.vcaweb.org/download/ VCA_Illustrated_Standard.pdf.

UNDERSTANDING COLOR A Vizsla on point in the field in full view of the morning or afternoon sun is an incredibly striking visual. The Vizsla Standard calls for a golden rust coat color. As with many colors, there are varying hues. The best way to evaluate color in the Vizsla breed is to think about a color scale or wheel. Ask yourself, “How far to the left or right is too far away from the cen- tral description of golden rust?” The Vizsla breed will have dogs ranging in coat color (see coat color examples above) and all are perfectly acceptable. Pale yellow and mahogany brown are most likely outside the desired color boundary for the breed and should be faulted. The Vizsla Color Standard states: “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 disquali- fication. 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

Few breeds can match the speed and work ethic of a Vizsla.

Vizslas often have a pronounced lighter-colored coat over the shoulders, called a saddle.

Vizslas are high-performance dogs that can match their human hunter’s endurance.

The robust but light build of a Vizsla enables its endurance in the field.

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VIZSLA MEET THE BREED The Vizsla A thousand years ago, the Vizsla hunted with Magyar nomads before settling into an area that is now Hungary. Primi- tive stone etchings show

By Dane Mrazek

the tribal hunter with his falcon and his Vizsla. Centuries later, the Vizsla became the premier sporting dog and a lively a ff ec- tionate family member of the Hungarian Aristocrats. Today, photos hang within homes across the world illustrating extraor- dinary connections between the Vizsla and their families. The Vizsla Form Th e Vizsla was built to hunt vast upland fi elds with pro fi ciency and grace. Th ey are a medium-sized, short-haired sporting dog of rust-gold color that con- veys elegance and readiness. In structure, they appear balanced in both height and length. In motion, they glide e ff ortlessly over the ground with smooth movement. In the fi eld, they are swift and careful hunters with superb noses and exemplary pointing/retrieving skills. At home, they exhibit a demeanor that is gentle, sweet and sensitive.

The Vizsla Lifestyle Th e Vizsla is more than a dog—he is a lifestyle. Th e modern Vizsla will thrive as an active member of your family. Th ey are physically active and emotionally attentive dogs known for their “Velcro®”

quality. Th ey want to be outside with you and inside with you. Many Vizsla owners will admit that they no longer go to the bathroom alone! Your canine friend will gladly fi ll the role of hiking buddy, hunting partner, agility quali fi er

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or tracking expert. He is a superb athlete and supreme snuggler always looking for the next opportunity to curl up next to you on your couch at home. The Vizsla Choice Th e Vizsla is a great choice for someone wanting an athletic dog that will become a signi fi cant part of their life. Similarly, they are a poor choice for someone want- ing a dog that is expected to be content with a daily pat on the head and a walk around the block. Vizslas require signi fi - cant engagement on a daily basis. So, be warned, an unhappy Vizsla will produce an unhappy Vizsla owner. The Vizsla Family A Vizsla properly raised with children will be their best friend. Families with children should strongly consider their ability to commit to the requirements of this breed. Furthermore, parents should be careful to always manage the behav- ior of their children toward this sensitive breed that may not always tolerate improp- er behavior such as poking, prodding and hitting. The Vizsla Puppy A Vizsla puppy comes ready to be sculpted by caring hands. He is exuberant and eager to learn. He is smart but sensi- tive. He will take to positive training but can be ruined by a heavy hand. Th e Vizsla was designed to cover ground so it should come as no surprise that he will be energetic and ready to run. Be prepared to engage your puppy in fre- quent periods of on-leash and o ff -leash

activity. Regular physical exercise will help settle your Vizsla for a successful day. Regular mental exercise will help boost your connection with your puppy. Tricks and obedience skills will not only dazzle your friends but also teach your puppy to work for your attention and praise. Socialization is important for all dogs and Vizslas are no exception. Daily posi- tive experiences will help your puppy grow up to be a well-adjusted con fi dent dog that loves humans and dogs large and small. The Vizsla Health Vizslas are commonly very healthy with a life span of 12 or more years. Th e breed has some cases of hip dysplasia, cancer and epilepsy, but careful breeding has helped control these problems. All puppy buyers are encouraged to research the pedigrees of their prospective puppy to reduce the risk of these rare health issues. Puppy seekers are also encour- aged to fi nd a breeder who is breeding for the right reasons. Look for a breeder that loves this breed and strives for excellence in temperament, health, capability, and beauty. And, above all, avoid purchasing a puppy from a pet store, a puppy mill or a puppy farm. The Vizsla Versatility While the Vizsla was built to be a great hunting dog and a grand companion, the modern Vizsla has developed into a truly versatile dog. Th ey can compete success- fully in multiple AKC venues including conformation, obedience, agility, tracking, hunt tests and fi eld trials. Th is adaptability has extended their role into transportation

security, search-and-rescue, seeing-eye, and therapy programs. The Vizsla Club of America Th e Vizsla Club of America (VCA) is dedicated to the maintenance of the Vizsla breed. Our members are owners/ breeders who are committed to preserv- ing/enhancing the characteristics of this noble/classy sporting dog. Th e VCA spon- sors three national annual events that include: a National Gun Dog Champion- ship, a National Field Championship and a National Specialty including Conforma- tion, Agility and Obedience. Th e VCA has also established a “Code of Ethics” for its members de fi ning requirements for dog ownership, competitive sportsman- ship and breeding practices. To learn more about the VCA and regional Vizsla clubs, please visit www.vcaweb.org. BIO Dane Mrazek, Public Education Coor- dinator for the VCA and the owner of 7 ½ - year-old Vizsla “Bond” and 4 ½ -year-old Vizsla “Diamond” in Redwood City, CA.

Dane and Diamond after they acquired her Senior Hunter title in the fall of 2012 at a hunt test in Reno, NV. 4 )08 4 *()5 . "(";*/& / 07&.#&3 t

THE HUNGARIAN POINTER: VIZSLA

courtesy of the VIZSLA CLUB OF AMERICA

H istorically, this breed came from the Carpathian basin in what is now Hungary. The basin is a huge, grassy plain, requiring a dog to cover large amounts of ground in search of game. The Vizsla is only a moderate sized dog, the smallest of the smooth haired point- ers. So how does a dog that is of moder- ate size and moderate angulation cover lots of ground? The answer is with ener- gy and a robust, but rather light build combined with a unique topline allow the Vizsla to be far-reaching. The flex- ible topline allows the dog to gallop, gathering and then extending to cover the maximum amount of ground while leaping above the grasses, ears flying with an expression of pure joy. Despite the fact that the Vizsla is the most moderate of the smooth haired pointers, there is nothing moderate about the consternation caused by try- ing to understand the Vizsla topline. It is by far the topic that comes up most often among students of the breed, “Now explain the topline for me”. So let’s try. Imagine the line running from the base of the skull to the tail. It is made of gentle curves with no abrupt changes of direction. The line comes down the arched neck, passes smoothly over the high withers with their promi- nent muscling and blends smoothly into the level area over the thoracic ver- tebrae. Moving past the last rib, there is a definite muscular fullness over the loin, creating a slight rise, which ends at the pelvic crest. The croup is ever so gently rounded to the set on of the tail, which is carried at or near the horizon- tal. Remember, nothing should break

the flow of the line from tip of nose to the end of the tail. Let’s be clear about what is not a good topline. A flat topline lacks the characteristic rise over the loin and often has a high tail set. Conversely, another problem is a rigid, roached topline with a steep croup and a low tail set. Both these toplines, in their own way, contribute to inefficient move- ment. Remember to evaluate the tail set rather than just the tail carriage. High tail carriage or excessively curved tails spoil the continuous curve of the Vizsla topline. In the field when the Vizsla is on point, follow the line from the tip of the tail out the nose and you should be able to locate the bird. Now that we’ve described the per- fect topline, the dog should maintain that same picture while trotting, having neither a sloping topline nor one that runs downhill. The movement should be light, far-reaching and effortless.

There should be no excess motion, which would be a waste of energy. A Vizsla that is both moderate and well- balanced will be light on its feet and cover ground with amazing efficiency while maintaining a level topline with a rise over the loin and a gentle rounding to the croup. “What about tails?” That is another question that is frequently asked. Our standard says a docked tail is preferred. Tail length is a decision made by the breeder when a puppy is three days old. Docking is part art and part science, the desired result being a tail that reaches to the bend in the stifle. Much more important is correct croup angle and tail set because they effect movement and function. Let’s put the perfect topline into the ideal outline. Why is there such a size range? Historically, this differen- tiation in size is attributed to the vari- ety of terrains among regions of the

Robust, but lightly built. (Photo by Jessica Mackey)

268 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , M ARCH 2017

Hungarian Empire, not only the plains but also the mountainous area of what was Czechoslovakia. The ideal male is 22 to 24 inches and 21 to 23 inches for the bitches. The allowance outside the ideal range is anything but moderate with a one and on half inch allowance on either end for both dogs and bitches. The Vizsla should appear square. However, when measured from point of breastbone to point of buttocks and from the highest point over the shoul- der blades to the ground, the Vizsla is slightly longer than tall. It should never be leggy and shallow chested, nor long and low. The withers are high, the rib- cage carried well back and the tuck-up slight. There should be perfect balance between the moderately angulated front and the moderately angulated rear. This is important, because with a short-backed breed there is no room underneath the dog to compensate for mismatched angles. The angles must be moderate and perfectly balanced to obtain a far-reaching gait. While this is an area where Vizslas are having difficulty—exaggerated rears paired with short, straight upper arms—the answer is not to match the straight front with a straight rear but rather to strive for a dog that is moderate on both ends. This breed should be moderate, not mediocre. Finally, the Vizsla is set apart from other breeds by its golden-rust color which is thought to have been chosen by the original Hungarian breeders to blend with the grassy plains in the Car- pathian basin. The Vizsla is self-colored with the color of the eyes, the pigment of the eye rims, lips and nose, and the toenails all blending with the color of the coat ranging from russet gold to dark sandy gold. And for a last bit of history: those lighter shadings over the sides of the neck and the shoulders that give the appearance of a saddle are named for Count Esterhazy, one of the people responsible for preserving the breed in Hungary. There is nothing moderate about the amount of joy and boundless energy a Vizsla brings to life. Thank you to all the preservation breeders who care about the health of the Vizsla and who have maintained the characteristics of the breed, so that the Vizsla today is rec- ognizable as a descendant of the dogs pictured in the 650-year-old Illustrated Vienna Chronicle .

(Photo by Jessica Mackey)

(Photo by Christina Freitag)

Color of the Vizsla in the field. (Photo by Jessica Mackey)

270 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , M ARCH 2017

VERY VERSATILE VIZSLA By Marion Coffman

A sk any Vizsla owner what was the first AKC TRIPLE CHAMPION and they will proudly tell you, “A Vizsla.” Ask them what was the first AKC QUADRUPLE CHAMPION and they will also tell you, “A Vizsla.” Th is elegant, rust-colored breed came to the US in the 1950s after their homeland, Hungary, had been torn apart by Russian, German and Communist invasion and control. Beauty combined with brains soon had the Vizsla gaining a respected place as an all-around sporting dog, adaptable and comfortable in a variety of tasks. His easy care and eager willingness to please make him an ideal companion. A close-working natural retriever, pointer and a hunting companion that worked on upland game birds, the Vizs- la soon made an impression on the field trainers and trials. He is a beauty to watch quartering field and suddenly go on a staunch point for a bird. He points by instinct, had an extrasensory nose, a soft mouth and a keen willingness to please. Th e breed has over 150 dual Champions and responsible breeding programs and has promoted the original use of the breed as a companion in the field.

Th e Vizsla had also gained popularity in the conformation show rings with his eye-catching coat, far-reaching gait and his dignified carriage. He stands out in a sporting group just by his attitude alone and has garnered many top awards. He is a joy to exhibitors and spectators. And loves the applause and attention. He is a top choice for owners who want an all-around breed and is a favor- ite for trainers in Obedience and Agility where his skills at jumping and retriev- ing always draw an enthusiastic, sup- portive crowd. He enjoys showing o ff to an audience and always displays a sense of humor while performing given com- mands and exercises. But he is sensitive and soft and a hard hand or a harsh voice of any kind will shut him down. Flyball is a game played by highly energized dogs that are ball-crazy and the Vizslas love the noise and enthusiasm and excite- ment. Rally trials are the bridge between regular obedience trials and the Canine Good Citizen and is a good confidence builder for the young Vizsla because it is a close bonding exercise between the dog and his owner. From a loving, a ff ectionate, protec- tive companion in the home, to becom- ing a gentle and sensitive therapy and

“HE IS A TOP CHOICE FOR OWNERS WHO WANT AN ALL-AROUND BREED and is a favorite for trainers in Obedience and Agility where his skills at jumping and retrieving always draw an enthusiastic, supportive crowd.”

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“THE LIST OF FUN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR VIZSLA IS ENDLESS. He does not do well as a kennel dog but only as a companion in the home and a MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.”

service dog visiting nursing homes and the ill and lonely, to helping disabled, blind, hearing impaired and comforting disturbed or handicapped children, this breed has provided physical and emo- tional benefits to not only healthy indi- viduals but also the sick and emotionally ill. He can sit quietly in a classroom of children and listen as they read to him, while equally enjoyed by the families as a hiking, swimming, boating, jogging and camping companion. Th e list of fun things to do with your Vizsla is endless. He does not do well as a kennel dog but only as a companion in the home and a member of the family. In the last 20 years, the Vizsla has been increasing used at airports for drug or bomb detection, mold sni ffi ng and a search and rescue dog for cadavers and live bodies in times of disasters. But this breed is not for everyone. He will become bored and find mischief on his own, so needs early crate and obedi- ence training. With his above-average intelligence, ability and willingness to learn, consistency is a must. He is a prob- lem solver, thinking and creative dog and understanding the breed is important. Th at intelligence will be both a joy and a challenge. Th e standard calls for him to be “demonstratively a ff ectionate” but more than anything he is needy. A very socially oriented breed he needs to sit in your lap, chair and bed. Needs to be hugged and praised and rewarded. Your life will be di ff erent when you own a Vizsla because he will have to be a part of everything you do. Vizslas are very adaptable to almost anything, even apartment living. But they do need daily exercise. A walk around the

block twice a day is not usually su ffi cient for a young dog so he will need a park or a dog run as often as possible. A tired dog does not get into mischief and his energy has to be channeled into correct behavior patters in order for you to keep control over a dog that is wonderful “con artist”.

BIO Marion Co ff man

has had Vizslas for 45 years. She had top winning Best in Show records and is proud to be the breeder of the first AKC Triple Champion. Th rough the years Marion has

served in capacities of treasurer, field tri- al secretary, news editor, obedience and breed handling instructor. As a member of the VCA since 1969, she served as their club Historian for 7 years. Almost every dog she has kept during those years had a breed Championship and some kind of an obedience title and Marion is still active in training and trialing. She strongly believes in obedience training with a Vizsla as it offers a very strong bond with your dog. It also makes it a whole lot easier to live with an active, intelligent and active breed. Marion authored many pamphlets and articles on whelping, breeding and puppy rearing. Th ose pamphlets were the basis of her interest in actually writing a complete book for the beginning owners of Vizslas. Th at developed into writing two editions of “Versatile Vizsla”, published by Alpine Publishing—she hopes will be the guide- posts for many years into the future.

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A Survey on the VERSATILE VIZSLA CAROL BROWN

This is a tough question because I believe in judging “the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts” thus it is difficult for me to say what faults I for- give on a given dog. Since Vizslas are gun dogs and are expected to work all day in the field I will not forgive poor movement. I believe an unsound moving Vizsla can’t be of correct type but a sound moving Vizsla may be of correct type. 3. How has the breed changed since you became involved with it? Do you see any trends you think are moving the breed in the wrong direction? In my opinion the breed is becoming too fine boned. In addition, the movement is becoming unsound, especially the rear movement. 4. Is there anything Vizsla handlers do you wish they would not? I think a lot of handlers, when gaiting the dogs, move them too fast. A lot of this is to cover up poor movement. When asked to move the dog again, but slower, you see the inefficient gait. 5. Have you participated in the field with Vizslas, and if so, how has that influenced your evaluation in the ring? I have not competed with my dogs in field trials but have observed, on several occasions, field trials not only for Vizslas but also Golden Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Watching the dogs work at field trials in my opinion makes the words in standards become alive because it gives me the ability to appreciate/understand why specific things are in the standard. It may only be a coincidence, I have judged a lot of national specialties once but I have judged three nationals twice and they are Vizslas, Golden Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay Retriev- ers. In Vizslas I believe unsound movement is detrimental in the field. 6. How do undocked tails affect your choices? The Vizsla standard states the tail is docked one third off. Since I must judge by the standard, I would consider an undocked tail as a fault. However, an undocked tail in my opinion would be a minor fault. BRITT E. JUNG

1. What five traits do you look for, in order, when judging Vizslas? What do you consider the ultimate hallmark of the breed? The traits I look for in Vizslas are: size, moderate angles, tail set and horizontal carriage, depth of brisket/substance and proportion.

2. What faults do you find hard to overlook? The faults I am most likely to overlook are slightly longer body, harsh face/expression and higher tail carriage—if I have to! 3. How has the breed changed since you became involved with it? Do you see any trends you think are moving the breed in the wrong direction? Any traits becoming exaggerated? Since we became involved with Vizslas 35 years ago, I have seen them lose substance and depth of brisket, become over angled in rear and straight in front, and tail carriage moving ever upward. Height has gone up and down, depending on whether judges are currently measuring. 4. Is there anything Vizsla handlers do you wish they would not? Handlers constantly stack Vizslas as a Weimaraner, with sloping top line and sweeping rears and with the tails held at a 1 o’clock position, not the correct 3 o’clock position. (Vizslas are just off-square, level top line and tail on or near the horizontal.) Many handlers move their dogs too fast. As a moderately-angled dog, they should be moved moderately. RICHARD HILDERMAN

1. What five traits do you look for, in order, when judging Vizslas? What do you consider the ultimate hallmark of the breed? The five traits that I feel are important in evaluating Vizslas are: sound and effi- cient movement without wasted motion; proper head piece and neck that enables

1. What five traits do you look for, in order, when judging Vizslas? What do you consider the ultimate hallmark of the breed? When I first look at a class of Vizslas, I’m looking for the breed typical outline. That’s number one. Outline starts at the tip of the nose and goes to the tip of the

the dog to pick up and efficiently carry pheasants; cor- rect size; adequate substance to develop the necessary muscle mass to be “robust”; correct tail carriage. The ultimate hallmark of the breed would be a combination of these five traits. 2. What shortcomings are you most willing to forgive? What faults do you find hard to overlook?

tail and is largely what defines the breed. It includes the topline and the underline, fore chest, substance, and

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