THE NOBLE
HUNGARIAN
VIZSLA
Having survived near eradication, the Vizsla has made its way into the hunting
world. Barely. By Jason Brooks, WHJ Field Editor
O
NE OF THE OLDEST KNOWN hunting dog breeds in the
world, the Hungarian Vizlsa comes from lineages as far
back as 650 A.D. Noted by several European countries
as a prominent hunting dog for the noble and kings, the
Vizsla was held as sacred in Hungary. With their notori-
ety for being great hunters, as well as a status symbol for Hungarian
wealth, several dogs were snuck into neighboring countries which
ended up saving the breed. When the country was invaded, the dogs
were often used as a pawn for retribution and were killed. Barely sur-
viving the Hungarian Revolution as well as World War I, their demise
was almost completed during World War II. In a ploy to draw Hun-
garians from hiding, German soldiers killed the dogs on site which
often drew out the owners to be captured. A few dogs that had been
raised in outlying countries like Romania, Austria, and Serbia along
with very few pure bred Vizslas in Hungary survived the war.
The first Vizsla made its way to the United States in 1950. Two
puppies ending up in Kansas City involving a deal brokered by the
US Embassy in Belgrade. The dogs came from Serbia and two years
later the first litter was born in the U.S. The breed wasn’t recognized
by the American Kennel Club until 1960 and ever since the breed
has become popular with hunters as well as earning its own status
symbol among the dog show circuit.
After settling down with a career, and being newly married, I
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