The Vizsla goes by the nickname The Velcro Dog because of its attachment to its preeminent owner (a characteristic found in the Weimaraner dog breed that strangely enough bears a striking resemblance to the Vizsla and the two dog breeds are often mistaken).

2010 could perhaps be named The Year of The Vizsla for the fact it was the first time ever that a Vizsla won Best in Show at the prestigious Crufts Dog Show in the UK. In fact the dog who won (Hungargunn Bear It’n Mind) is the record holder for best in show wins across all dog breed shows in the UK, blowing away the prior record which had stood for eighty years!

The Vizsla dog breed hails from Hungary and its ancestors were in fact the favored hunting dogs of the Magyar tribes who lived in that region circa the 10 century. However the first documented reference to the Vizsla occurred in the Illustrated Vienna Chronicle ( a 14^th century Hungarian Codex) compiled at the behest of King Lajos The Great in which the image of a Vizsla is readily apparent.

With such ammunition claims that the Vizsla dog breed arose from crossing the Weimaraner with various pointer breeds can be laid to rest once and for all! For all intents and purposes the Vizsla is a Hungarian dog dating several centuries back.

The Vizsla dog of yesteryear was held in very high esteem and regard by the land-owning aristocracy who went to great lengths to preserve the purity of the breed. However the breed did not always fare so well. By the closing chapter of the 19^th century the Vizsla dog breed was in serious decline, so much so that a survey was conducted to illuminate how serious the situation really was and the results were more alarming than anticipated.

The Vizsla Dog Breed Almost Becomes Extinct!

By the end of the 19^th century there were only a dozen or so Vizsla dogs remaining in Hungary! Following such a shocking revelation a concerted effort was made to rejuvenate the Vizsla dog breed and the few remaining Vizsla dogs were crossed with various Pointer dog breeds.

Such a crossing to revitalize the endangered Vizsla dog breed could perhaps explain the ludicrous claim by some that the Vizsla dog breed was developed in the 20^th century!

Okay admittedly the introduction of Pointer dogs to the genetic makeup of the Vizsla could be interpreted as basis for differentiating the modern Vizsla dog breed from that of the original Magyar dog but surely that is not excuse enough to deny this ancient breed its legitimate heritage!

After all the Vizsla is not the first dog breed (nor will it be the last) to have new canine genes infused into its genetic makeup either to restore the dog breed to its former prominence or (as in the case of the Dalmatian) to rectify a debilitating genetic disorder!

That late 19^th century dalliance with extinction was not the only setback the Vizsla dog breed was to suffer in the next 100 years. During the tumultuous World Wars of the 20^th century most of the specimens that remained in Hungary were destroyed. This was especially true during World War II!

Luckily though many fleeing Hungarians escaped with their beloved dogs and later when peace was restored enough of those dogs were returned to Hungary to re-establish Vizsla numbers in Hungary.

Article on Vizsla written by Kayye Nynne