The Wire Haired Vizsla a medium-sized, active dog with a harsh, wiry coat that is a golden sand to russet colour. They have a distinctive moustache and hairy eyebrows. They have a noble and graceful appearance and give the impression of great stamina. Adult dogs stand at approximately 58-62cm and adult females 54-58cm. They weigh 20-30kg.
The Hungarian Wire Haired Vizsla enjoys being outdoors and is ideally suited to a country-dwelling family. They are very affectionate and loyal and naturally protective of their loved ones. They will happily be both family and working dogs in one. They are quick to learn and eager to please, but are very sensitive, so it's especially important that training is fun and gentle
Prints dating back 1,000 years show Magyar hunters (early settlers in Hungary) with dogs and falcons. These dogs were very similar to the Wire Haired Vizsla dog breed of today. When the Magyars went to other countries they took their dogs with them, which led to crosses with other breeds, but it was almost wiped out by the two World Wars. The breed only exists today because some were smuggled out during this time. Recent selective breeding developed the Vizsla dog breed as an all-round hunter, pointer and retriever. The wire-haired variety was developed in the 1930s and is becoming more popular with hunters, as it can withstand colder climates and cold water better than the short-haired variety.
The Hungarian Wire Haired Vizsla is a relatively healthy breed, with few widely recognised health problems.
The Wire Haired Vizsla requires plenty of exercise and needs to be kept active; an adult dog needs two-plus hours of exercise daily. As you'd expect, given his HPR background, retrieve games (on land and in water) are popular with him, though he will take to most canine pursuits – such as agility – with enthusiasm.
Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food.
This coat requires weekly grooming attention. The wire coat on the neck and body is up to 4cm in length. The undercoat is thicker in the cold months. Facial hair forms a small beard on the chin and the eyebrows are dense. Any dead or loose hairs can be removed by hand plucking.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children , all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
