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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