This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, December 2021 issue.
Quotes from the AKC Official Standard of the Wirehaired Vizsla: “GENERAL APPEARANCE: Originating in Hungary, the Wirehaired Vizsla was developed by hunters and falconers who desired a sturdy, versatile hunting dog able to withstand harsh winters in the field, forest, and water. The Wirehaired Vizsla is a distinguished, versatile hunting dog of medium size, bred for substance and a dense wire coat. Balanced in size and proportion…” The AKC parent club, the Wirehaired Vizsla Club of America, when submitting the standard for AKC’s acceptance into the FSS group, tried to stay true to the FCI standard that the fathers of the breed wrote.
In developing this breed, the Vizsla was still being used in the pedigrees into the 1960s. The purpose of the Wirehaired Vizsla was to have a dog with the same characteristics as the Vizsla, except to be of sturdier build, with more substance, and a hard, protective wire coat. The Vizslas that were in Hungary at the time of origin for the Wirehaired Vizsla were not the Vizslas that you are accustomed to seeing here in the United States. These dogs had more bone and substance. The picture of Argo Lesan Selle (left), born in 1955 and used in the Wirehaired Vizsla pedigrees into the 1960s show the typical size and type of Vizslas in Hungary. The appearance of the Wirehaired Vizsla is one of durability, a dog that is able to hunt all day in all types of terrain.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE: The Wirehaired Vizsla is a medium-sized hunting dog; however, overall symmetry and balance are more important than mere measurable size. The ideal male adult (over 12 months of age) is 23 to 25 inches at the highest point over the shoulder blades. The ideal female adult (over 12 months of age) is 21 1/2 to 23 inches. Because the Wirehaired Vizsla is meant to be a medium-sized hunter, any dog measuring more than 1 inch over or under these limits must be disqualified…”
The acceptable height range for the males is 22-26 inches, the females’ range is 20 1/2-24 inches. This is a 4-inch spread for the males and a 3 1/2 inch spread for the females, which is very possible to see in the ring today. As the standard says, the mere measurable size is not to be considered as much as the balance. Add to this the substance for durability and the coat for function in harsh weather. I don’t think the origin of the breed’s standard was to limit this breed to a specific terrain. The Wirehaired Vizsla is an all-around hunting dog, developed for the falconer and walking hunter to hunt fur, feather, and blood trails in the fields, forest, and water. A 26-inch dog would be more efficient in a spacious field with tall vegetation, while a 22-inch dog could better maneuver the dense vegetation of a forest. Therefore, a dog or bitch at either end of the acceptable standard height should be considered correct. What we would like for the judges to see is a working/versatile hunting dog that walks into a show ring.
