Wirehaired Vizsla

The Wirehaired Vizsla is a Hungarian pointing breed — the same golden-rust colour as the smooth Vizsla under a harsh weatherproof coat, and a separate breed rather than a variety.

History

It was created in Hungary in the 1930s by crossing Vizslas with German Wirehaired Pointers, to get a dog that could work in cold water and heavy cover through a Hungarian winter, which the thin-coated Vizsla could not. The coat is the whole reason the breed exists.

Temperament

The breed is known for being affectionate, sensitive and closely attached to its people — a gun dog that wants to be in the house rather than the kennel. It is high-energy and does badly bored or alone.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and mental work, and gentle reward-based training; it is soft and shuts down under pressure. The harsh coat needs brushing and occasional stripping, and the beard and eyebrows want attention.

Health

Known tendencies include hip dysplasia, epilepsy in some lines and inherited eye conditions. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.