Muscular Vizslas are eager hunters

By Marty Metzger
North Forty News

The Vizsla is an AKC- and UKC-recognized gundog breed growing in popularity but still fairly uncommon in northern Colorado.

These avid hunters originated in Hungary and first arrived in the United States in 1950 when a bitch, Sari, and her two pups, Tito and Shasta, were imported.

Pronounced veezh-luh, the breed is a solidly built, muscular, medium-size dog. Males generally measure 22 to 24 inches and weigh 45 to 65 pounds. Females are somewhat smaller at 21 to 23 inches and 40 to 55 pounds. Coat color ranges from golden-rust to deep red. Vizslas can be either smooth or wirehaired, the latter sporting a water-repellent undercoat and bushy eyebrows and beard.

In the field, these eager hunters make both excellent pointers and retrievers. They happily take to the water but perform equally well on land. This versatility can be traced far back in Hungarian history. Ancestors of the modern smooth-coated Vizsla were toy-size rat hunters in the Carpathian Basin during the 9th century. The Wirehaired Vizsla is a 1930s cross between smooth-haired individuals and the German Wirehaired Pointer (some sources hint at further infusion of other breeds, such as the Griffon).

Vizslas seek human attention and, if denied, can become destructive, hyperactive or display repetitive, undesirable behaviors, such as excessive licking. The breed's temperament is lively, loyal (called Velcro dogs), gentle and sensitive.

One area dog owner who eagerly expounds on Vizslas' merits is Windsor resident Butch Gehr-man. He and wife Tammy own two, although the dogs, Zeke and Jasper, show obvious partiality to him over her.

Gehrman said his father had a Vizsla in the early 1960s, so when Gehrman acquired Zeke (now 5 1/2) and Jasper (now 5) as pups, he already had some knowledge of the breed. Although he considers the two neutered males primarily pets, he does occasionally take them hunting and said they will point.

"They both constantly hunt--flies, grasshoppers, shadows," said Gehrman. "They bring birds in through the pet door and turn them loose in the living room."

The Gehrmans once had a minor mouse problem that Jasper and Zeke happily resolved. Gehrman had trapped one, which turned out to be a mother. During the night, the dogs captured her five babies and neatly stacked the tiny bodies in the living room.

Their distinct personalities shine forth, with Jasper being the more "Pleeze, I wanna sit on your lap" love bug. Zeke's sire was imported from Hungary and passed on a strong hunting instinct.

Gehrman described the Vizslas' temperament, noting they seem a bit fearful or cautious and will back away from things they fear. Perhaps this explains their tendency to stay close to the house. They're excitable around new people, and they're chewers.

"Hide your shoes!" Gehrman warned. One time, after new phone books were thrown into the yard, he found dog-chomped pages and pieces of yellow pages in bushes for years.

Another incident Gehrman recalled with a chuckle was when both dogs got skunked during the night. He gingerly escorted the pair to the downstairs bathroom for a much-needed wash and rinse. The big, powerful canines (Jasper weighs 68 pounds and Zeke 78 pounds) both pushed against the wall during the forced scrub-a-dub session, breaking it. Gehrman had to replace both wall and tile.

In 2006, Gehrman took the dogs up to Gould to hunt grouse. Zeke and Jasper disappeared into the trees for a while and, upon return, brought along a bull moose. The large critter had an angry bead on the dogs and stopped a mere 20 yards short of Gehrman as the dogs gleefully returned to him, proudly retrieving their prey.

He said his Vizslas are attached "to my hip" and go wherever he goes. He once received a black eye during a short trek when Zeke and Jasper raced out to go along and crashed into him.

Gehrman said the breed is sometimes called "roo-roo" dogs for the unique sound they make. Zeke is a frequent talker, Jasper more reserved.

Colorado Vizsla enthusiasts have several options for participation in breed activities. The Rocky Mountain Vizsla Club serves members from metro Denver and northern Colorado. Events range from field trials, hunt tests, obedience, agility, conformation and rally to hiking and snowshoeing. The club offers a breeder referral program, established to assist prospective or current owners with locating responsible Colorado breeders.

The nonprofit Colorado/Wyoming Vizsla Rescue Group based in Fort Collins actively seeks to find homes for Vizslas, be they shelter dogs, strays or those whose owners can't keep them. All dogs are spayed or neutered prior to placement. Additionally, any health problems are addressed and treated, so financial assistance is always welcome.

CWVRG President/CEO Rita Prindle can be contacted at 568-9042 or at spunki_61981@yahoo.com. Prindle said CWVRG is in need of foster homes, and anyone interested should call her for details.

Prindle and husband, Rick, own Red Sage Vizslas in Wellington and have been active breed aficionados for more than 37 years.

More information about Vizslas is available online at www.coloradovizsla.org or www.akc.org.