PONSONBY GUNDOGS

About the breed:-

To see a Hungarian Vizsla for the first time is an unforgettable sight. They are a beautiful creature to look at, with their rich russet gold coat.

They are a medium sized Hunt Point Retrieve gundog, and should be one of the smaller HPR gundogs.

They should be lively and intelligent, obedient but sensitive, very affectionate and easily trained. They were bred for hunting, for fur and feather on open ground or in thick cover, pointing and retrieving from both land and water.

This breed is a pleasure to own if his temperament suits you, and yours suit him.

He needs to be part of your life and your world. He likes to feel he is part of the family, and whether in the house, or out walking will not be long out of site.

He is happy to sleep in your bedroom, kitchen, or the kennel, but happiest of all to have company at all times.

His faithfulness is never questioned, such is his devotion to his family and his territory, and it can lead to over-possessiveness. He is creature of contrariness and fancies, his sensitivity and stubbornness difficult to understand and deal with.

It can affect his behaviour in every aspect, be he pet or gundog. He can cringe if spoken to harshly whilst firmly persisting on having his own way until you have asserted yourself in a particular manner, which he finds acceptable. BUT woe betide you if you do it by force. He can fold up completely as his stubbornness increases and it can undo months of training.

He finds it difficult to accept that not everyone likes to have their wrist held in his mouth, however gently, a habit vizsla’s have.

He does need discipline and, if not corrected, his assertion can lead to dominance. From an early age, he must know who is ‘boss’. Once that is established he accepts totally and would rarely challenge it except in fun.

He has a delightful whimsical nature, one minute stalking butterflies another rolling on the grass on his back with such joy and pleasure.

A Vizsla is not for everyone, he needs a great deal of understanding and tolerance and he will stretch your patience beyond its limits sometimes. Roar at him in temper and he will creep towards you as if beaten and will take time to forgive you, but he will never forget. Reward by hand and voice will get you everywhere, severe treatment, nowhere!

A good Vizsla will work for you in any capacity. He needs to use his brain, he is highly intelligent and the ease with which he can learn allows him a varied range of activities, hunting, working trials, agility, or showing.