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AKC Vizsla Standard

  • General Appearance

    That of a medium-sized, short-coated, hunting dog of distinguished appearance and bearing. Robust but rather lightly built, the coat is an attractive shaded golden rust. Originating in Hungary, the Vizsla was bred to work in field, forest and water. Agile and energetic, this is a versatile dog of power, drive and endurance in the field yet a tractable and affectionate companion in the home. It is strongly emphasized that field conditioned coats, as well as brawny or sinewy muscular condition and honorable scars indicating a working and hunting dog are never to be penalized in this dog. The requisite instincts and abilities to maintain a “dual dog” are always to be fostered and appreciated, never deprecated.

  • Head

    Lean and muscular. Skull moderately wide between the ears with a median line down the forehead. Stop between skull and foreface is moderate. Foreface or muzzle is of equal length or slightly shorter than skull when viewed in profile, should taper gradually from stop to tip of nose. Muzzle square and deep. It should not turn up as in a “dish” face nor should it turn down. Whiskers serve a functional purpose; their removal is permitted but not preferred. Nostrils slightly open. Nose self-colored. Any other color is faulty. A partially or completely black nose is a disqualification. Freckles due to aging or sun exposure are not to be faulted. Ears, thin, silky and proportionately long, with rounded-leather ends, set fairly low and hanging close to cheeks. Jaws are strong with well-developed white teeth meeting in a scissors bite. Eyes medium in size and depth of setting, their surrounding tissue covering the whites. Color of the iris should blend with the color of the coat. Yellow or any other color is faulty. Prominent pop eyes are faulty. Lower eyelids should neither turn in nor out since both conditions allow seeds and dust to irritate the eye. Lips cover the jaws completely but are neither loose nor pendulous.

  • Neck and Body

    Neck strong, smooth and muscular, moderately long, arched and devoid of dewlap, broadening nicely into shoulders which are moderately laid back. This is mandatory to maintain balance with the moderately angulated hindquarters. Body is strong and well proportioned. Withers high. While the Vizsla may appear square, when measured from point of breastbone to point of buttocks and from the highest point over the shoulder blades to the ground, the Vizsla is slightly longer than tall. A proper proportion of leg length to body length is essential to the desired overall balance of the Vizsla. The Vizsla should not appear long and low or tall and leggy. Backline firm with a slight rise over a short and well muscled loin. The croup is gently rounded to the set on of the tail and is not steep, sunken or flat. When moving at a trot, a properly built Vizsla maintains a steady, level backline. Chest moderately broad and deep reaching down to the elbows. Ribs well-sprung and carried well back; underline exhibiting a slight tuck-up beneath the loin. Tail set just below the level of the croup, thicker at the root and docked one-third off. Ideally, it should reach to the back of the stifle joint and when moving it should be carried at or near the horizontal, not vertically or curled over the back, nor between the legs. A docked tail is preferred.

  • Forequarters

    Shoulder blades proportionately long and wide sloping moderately back and fairly close at the top. Upper arm is about equal in length to the shoulder blade in order to allow for good extension. Forelegs straight and muscular with elbows close. Feet cat-like, round and compact with toes close. Nails brown and short. Pads thick and tough. The removal of dewclaws, if any, on front and rear feet, is strongly recommended, in order to avoid injury when running in the field.

  • Hindquarters

    Hind legs have well developed thighs with moderately angulated stifles and hocks in balance with the moderately laid back shoulders. They must be straight as viewed from behind. Too much angulation at the hocks is as faulty as too little. The hocks are let down and parallel to each other.



  • Coat

    Short, smooth, dense and close-lying, without woolly undercoat. A distinctly long coat is a disqualification.

  • Gait

    Far reaching, light footed, graceful and smooth. When moving at a fast trot, a properly built dog single tracks.

  • Size

    The ideal male is 22 to 24 inches at the highest point over the shoulder blades. The ideal female is 21 to 23 inches. Because the Vizsla is meant to be a medium-sized hunter, any dog measuring more than 1 1/2 inches over or under these limits must be disqualified.

  • Temperament

    A natural hunter endowed with a good nose and above-average ability to take training. Lively, gentle-mannered, demonstrably affectionate and sensitive though fearless with a well developed protective instinct. Shyness, timidity or nervousness should be penalized.


    The foregoing describes the ideal Vizsla. Any deviation from this ideal must be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Deviations that impact performance and function should be considered more serious than those that affect only appearance.

  • Disqualifications

     Partially or completely black nose. Solid white extending above the toes or white anywhere else on the dog except the forechest. White extending on the shoulders or neck. A distinctly long coat. Any male over 25 ½ inches, or under 20 ½ inches and any female over 24 ½ inches or under 19 ½ inches at the highest point over the shoulder blades.

Approved January 13, 2009

Effective April 1, 2009

Breed History

The Vizsla (a Hungarian word that means “pointer”) is considered one of the oldest-known hunting dogs.


Having faced near extinction twice, the Vizsla has a long and colorful history. The breed is most likely a descendant of eighth-century Hungarian hunting dogs. In primitive stone etchings, the Vizsla is seen alongside a hunter and his falcon. Over a thousand years ago, Magyar warriors, who lived in the Carpathian Basin, bred the ancestors of the modern Vizsla to match their cavalry’s speed and strength. Later, Vizslas were the companion dogs of the early warlords and barons. For centuries, the landowning aristocracy jealously guarded the Vizsla, preserving their pure blood while developing the hunting ability of these “yellow pointers,” identified by the golden-rust coloration from tip to tail.


Selectively bred for hundreds of years by Hungarian noblemen, the breed survived the Turkish Occupation (1526–1696) but suffered a serious decline after the Hungarian Civil War (1848–49). A careful search of Hungary and a poll of Hungarian sportsmen revealed only about a dozen true-type Vizslas still alive in the country. From that minimal stock, the breed recovered. However, after two World Wars and the Russian Occupation, Vizslas once again faced extinction but were saved, in part due to the valiant efforts of Mrs. Elizabeth Mihalyi.


Mihalyi, a noted portrait artist, escaped from Hungary to Austria, saving her family’s Vizsla, Panni XV, from the Russian armies. In Austria, Panni was bred to Betyar, establishing the Panni-Betyar line, which the American Kennel Club recognizes as part of the Vizsla’s foundation stock.


The Hungarian, or Magyar Vizsla, represents one of the best in sporting dogs and loyal companions and has a solid claim to being one of the smallest of the all-round pointer-retriever breeds. Size is one of the Vizsla’s most attractive characteristics. Through centuries, the breed has maintained a unique position for a sporting dog, that of a household companion and family dog. After a hunt, the Vizsla is not content to be put in the kennel with other dogs. Instead, this breed reaches full potential only when accepted as a family member.


The various “strains” of the Vizsla have become somewhat distinctive as individuals have bred stock that suited their hunting style. For many years, the Austro-Hungarian Empire extended its influence over a large area; but frequent border changes reduced Hungary to a mere shadow of its former self. As a result, owners of Vizslas suddenly found themselves living in Czechoslovakia, Romania, the former Yugoslavia, Italy, Germany, Poland, or Russia.


When the Vizsla started arriving in the United States at the close of World War II, interest in and devotion to the breed increased. To gain AKC recognition, owners formed the Vizsla Club of America. As a result of registering foundation stock with the AKC, Vizsla owners were able to obtain official recognition in 1960; and the Vizsla became the 115th breed recognized by the American Kennel Club.


Today, the Vizsla is recognized as a superior canine companion and devoted family member, who is versatile in all areas of canine competition. The breed produced not only the first AKC Triple Champion but also the first Quintuple Champion in AKC history. The Vizsla is one of the top three breeds used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Vizslas worked with Search and Rescue in the aftermath of 9/11, and they enjoy continuing success in Seeing Eye programs.


Articles about the History of the Vizsla



       Source: www.vcaweb.org

Owning a Vizsla

Buying a dog is a long-term commitment and a major responsibility in time, energy, and sometimes money. Vizslas often live until the age of 12 to 14 years. Before buying a Vizsla or any dog for that matter, consider the following:


  • Who will feed, walk, and pick up after your new dog as a puppy and also as an older dog?
  • Can your home and lifestyle accommodate a dog? If you work long hours, frequently travel for business, or have a very active social life often away from home, perhaps don’t buy a dog. Dogs are social creatures and need human attention, affection, and quality time with family members.
  • Have you considered the energy requirements of a Vizsla and the effect that may have on your personal lifestyle? While they require less than some of the other sporting breeds, adult Vizslas still need a minimum of 45 to 60 minutes of vigorous daily exercise. Puppies will require 2 hours of play and exercise a day. Since dogs generally don’t run around a yard on their own, YOU will need to walk, run, jog, or hike each day with your Vizsla. If you’re not an active person, you should probably get a cat or a dog with lower energy and exercise requirements.
  • Are you looking for a guard dog? If so, don’t buy a Vizsla. While Vizslas have a protective instinct, they should not be aggressive.
  • Will you take time to socialize and train your new Vizsla? Proper training is essential for all dogs.
  • Have you budgeted for the cost of good-quality, nutritious food as well as veterinarians’ fees and training lessons?
  • Have you found a veterinarian and discussed your new dog’s medical care requirements?


        Source: www.vcaweb.org