Hungarian Vizsla

The Vizsla, pronounced Vizh-la (zh as in vision), is a dog breed originating in Hungary. Vizslas are known as excellent game bird hunting dogs, and also have a level personality making them suited for families.

There are two prevailing theories pertaining to the Vizsla's history. The first, and most prevalent theory traces the Vizsla back to very early times in Hungarian history. Ancestors of todays's Vizsla were the hunting dogs used by the Magyar tribes living in the Carpathian Basin in the Eighth Century. Primitive stone etchings seem to validate this theory.

The other theory holds that the Vizsla is a product of the past century, having been the product of Weimeraners and other pointer breeds.

Vizslas are often mistaken for ridgeless Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and physically likened to Weimaraners, their German cousins.

The breed comes in either of two coat types: smooth or wire-haired. Male Vizslas typically weigh between 55 and 65 lbs (25-29kg), females 45-55 lbs (20-25kg).