9th century Carpathian dog breed
If you want a versatile hunting dog that will excel as a pointer as well as a retriever, you should definitely take a closer look at the Hungarian Vizsla. The Hungarian name is known to cause some confusion for English speakers and a multitude of different spellings are circulating on the net as well as offline, e.g Vizla, Viszla and Wiszla.
The Vizsla is one of the oldest dog breeds and can trace its ancestry back to the 9th century when it was used as a hunting dog by the people inhabiting the Carpathian Basin.
The Vizsla loves to work together with its owner and is known to excel in obedience competitions. It is a capable pointer and also has a neck for retrieving. It is therefore a highly versatile hunting dog that can carry out a wide range of tasks. It is not necessary to use harsh punishments or even tough language when training a Vizsla dog, and punishing your dog can actually make it insecure and less apt at carrying out your commands.
When a Vizsla fails to carry out a command, it is often because it does not understand exactly what to do. Just like any other dog the Vizsla can naturally be mischievous at times, but it is generally a very obedient dog.
The Vizsla is still a rare and unusual breed, especially outside Hungary, and it is therefore not popular among the owners of puppy mills. The general dog health of the breed is naturally influenced by this, since the vast majority of Vizsla breeders are dedicated lovers of the breed that does not breed primarily for money.
