The Vizsla is a breed of dog that was developed in Hungary. Once used only for hunting, the Vizsla is now also commonly kept solely as a companion.



An elegant, medium-sized sporting breed, the Vizsla stands between 21-24 inches and weighs in at 48-66 pounds. They have a short, solid rusty/gold colored coat that can be various shades, although white on the forechest and toes can occur. Their ears are thin, long, and silky. Traditionally, and where it is still allowed the tail is docked to two-thirds the natural length. There is a Wirehaired Vizsla, although it is considered a separate breed. Although rare, there is also longhaired variety, found mostly in Europe, but it is not recognized by any kennel club. Longhaired Vizslas can be born in either shorthaired or wirehaired litters.


The name Vizsla means pointer in Hungarian, and the word was first used to describe the crossing of the now extinct Pannonian Hound and the Yellow Turkish dog in 1510. It is believed that its ancestors were the hunting dogs of the Magyar tribes since the eight century. Stone etchings over a thousand years old exist showing a Magyar hunter with a falcon and a hound that greatly resembles the Vizsla. These dogs were jealously kept by the wealthy and aristocrats who kept the bloodline pure. This led to the breed that we recognize today being firmly established by the 1850s. As a result of war they were almost lost to extinction at various times throughout more recent years. At some point the blood of the German Shorthaired Pointer and English Pointer were likely added to the heavily depleted gene pool. Today the Vizsla is safely established worldwide as thriving breed.


Vizslas are an affectionate dog that bond strongly with their owners and family. Although they enjoy the company of children and love to play they can be a bit too much for toddlers. Generally they get along well with other dogs, but should be socialized at a young age. They are easy to train and eager to learn, but because they are highly energetic, if not given enough exercise Vizslas can become destructive.

The life span of a Vizsla is generally 13-14 years. They tend to be healthy and robust, but are prone to hip dysplasia.

Vizslas can live in an apartment, provided they get regular exercise and stimulation, however they do best with a yard. Even with a large yard they should be taken on walks or brisk jogs daily.

The short coat of the Vizsla calls for little grooming. They are average shedders.