Vizsla (Drótszörü)

Hungarian Wirehaired Pointer is a versatile gun dog that must be able to work in the field, forest and water, having the following typical qualities: an excellent nose, firmness on the point, excellent retrieves and determination to remain on the scent even when swimming, which he manifestly enjoys. He copes with difficult terrain as well as extreme weather conditions. As he is intended to be an efficient hunting dog, gun and game shyness, unwillingness to point and retrieve, as well as a dislike of water are undesirable. Because of his easy going nature and his adaptability, he can easily be kept as a companion dog in the house.

FCI-Standard N° 239 

HUNGARIAN WIRE-HAIRED POINTER (VIZSLA) 
(Drótszörü Magyar Vizsla) 

Origin: Hungary.

Utilization:

A versatile gun dog that must be able to work in the field, forest and water, having the following typical qualities: an excellent nose, firmness on the point, excellent retrieves and determination to remain on the scent even when swimming, which he manifestly enjoys. He copes with difficult terrain as well as extreme weather conditions. As he is intended to be an efficient hunting dog, gun and game shyness, unwillingness to point and retrieve, as well as a dislike of water are undesirable. Because of his easy going nature and his adaptability, he can easily be kept as a companion dog in the house.

FCI-Classification:

• Group 7 Pointing Dogs.
• Section 1 Continental Pointing Dogs.
• With working trial (Field and Water Trial) 

Brief Historical Summary:

• The Hungarian Wire-Haired Vizsla was created by cross-breeding the Hungarian Short-Haired Vizsla with the German Wire-Haired Pointer during the 1930‘s. His breed characteristics are identical with those of the Hungarian ShortHaired Vizsla.

General Appearance:

• A lively, russet gold hunting dog of dry and lean but more robust construction compared to the Hungarian Short-Haired Vizsla. His appearance embodies his qualities as a multi-purpose pointing dog, endurance, working ability and an easily satisfied nature. 

Important Proportions:

• The body length slightly exceeds the height at the withers.
• The depth of the brisket is slightly less than half the height at the withers.
• The muzzle is slightly shorter than half the length of the head. 

Behaviour / Temperament:

• An affectionate and intelligent dog, selfconfident, easily trained, which cannot bear rough treatment. He keeps contact with his handler, is passionate in his quest, is stubborn, has a good nose and is staunch on the point.  

BODY STRUCTURE

1. Head 

• CRANIAL REGION:
• Skull: Moderately wide, slightly domed. A slightly pronounced groove runs from the moderately developed occiput towards the stop. The superciliary ridges are moderately developed.
• Stop: Moderate. 
• FACIAL REGION:
• Nose: Broad and well developed with nostrils as wide as possible. The colour of the nose harmonises in a dark shading with the coat colour.
• Muzzle: Blunt, not pointed, with powerful jaws, strongly muscled. The bridge of the nose is straight
• Lips: Tightly fitting, no pendulous flews.
• Jaws/Teeth: Powerful jaws with a perfect, regular and complete scissors bite, the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws; with 42 healthy teeth according to the dentition formula.
• Cheeks: Strong, well muscled.
• Eyes: Slightly oval, of medium size, well fitting eyelids. Intelligent and lively expression. The brown eye colour harmonising with the coat colour, as dark as possible preferred. 
• Leathers: Set on at medium height, a little backwards, hanging closely to the cheeks, ending in a rounded V shape. Slightly shorter than those of the Hungarian Short-Haired Vizsla. 

2. Neck

• Of medium length, harmonising with the overall appearance. The nape very muscular and slightly arched. Tightly fitting skin at the throat.

3. Body

• Withers: Pronounced and muscular.
• Back: Solid, well muscled, taut and straight. The vertebral spines should be hidden by the muscles.
• Loin: Short, broad, tight, muscular, straight or slightly arched. The loin is well attached.
• Croup: Broad and of sufficient length, not cut off short, sloping slightly to the tail. Well muscled.
• Chest: Deep and broad with well developed well muscled and moderately arched forechest, sternum extending as well back as possible. The sternum and the elbows should be at the same level. Last ribs moderately arched. Ribs carried well back. Underline: Elegant, tight, arching towards the rear, slightly tucked up.

4. Tail

• Set on at medium height, strong at the base, then tapering. In countries where tail docking is not prohibited by law, the tail may be shortened by one quarter to avoid hunting hazards. If the tail docking is prohibited, the tail reaches down to the hock joint and is carried straight or slightly sabre like. On the move, it is raised up to the horizontal. The tail is well furnished with dense coat.

5. Limbs

• FOREQUARTERS:
  • General appearance: Viewed from the front, straight and parallel. Viewed from the side, legs vertical and placed well under the body. Good bone, well muscled.
  • Shoulders: Long, sloping and flat, well attached shoulder blade. Elastic when moving. Strong, dry muscles. Well angulated between shoulder blade and upper arm. 
  • Upper arm: As long as possible, well muscled.
  • Elbows: Close to the body, however not tied in, turning neither in nor out. Well angulated between upper arm and forearm.
  • Forearm: Long, straight, sufficiently muscled. Bones strong, but not coarse.
  • Pastern joint: Dry, sinewy.
  • Pastern: Short. Only very slightly sloping.
  • Forefeet: Slightly oval, with well knit, sufficiently arched, strong toes. Strong brown nails. Tough, resistant, slate grey pads. The feet are parallel when standing or moving. 
• HINDQUARTERS:
  • General appearance : Viewed from behind, straight and parallel. Good angulations. Strong bone.
  • Upper thigh: Long and muscular. Good angulation between pelvis and upper thigh.
  • Stifle: Well angulated.
  • Lower thigh: Long, muscular and sinewy. Its length is almost equal to that of the upper thigh. Good angulation between lower thigh and metatarsus.
  • Hock joint: Strong, dry and sinewy, rather well let down.
  • Metatarsus: Vertical, short and strong.
  • Hind feet: Similar to forefeet. 

6. Gait / Movement 

• The typical gait is an animated, light-footed trot, elegant and far reaching, with much drive and corresponding reach. Not exhausting gallop when working in the field. The back is firm and the topline remains level. Pacing is undesirable.

7. Skin

• Tightly fitting, without folds. The skin is well pigmented.

8. Coat

• Hair: Wiry, close lying, strong, dense and not glossy. Length of outer coat 2-3 cm; dense, water repellent undercoat. The outline of the body must not be hidden by the longer coat. By its hardness and density, it should provide as much protection as possible against weather conditions and injuries. The lower parts of the legs as well as the undersides of chest and belly should be covered with shorter, softer and slightly thinner hair; the coat on the head and on the leathers is shorter and, at the same time, a little darker, however, not soft and dense. Pronounced eyebrows accentuate the stop. These and a strong, not too long (2-3 cm), as harsh as possible beard, on both sides of the muzzle, underline the determined expression. On both sides of the neck the coat forms V-shaped brushes. 
• Colour: Various shades of russet gold and dark sandy gold (semmelgelb). The leathers may be a little darker, otherwise uniform in colour. Red, brownish, light yellow or lightened colour shadings are undesirable. A little white patch on the chest or at the throat, not more than 5 cm in diameter, as well as white markings on the toes, are not considered faulty. The colour of the lips and of the eyerims corresponds to the colour of the nose. 

9. Size and Weight

• Height at withers:
  • Dogs: 58 - 64 cm
  • Bitches: 54 - 60 cm
• It is ineffective to increase the height at the withers. A medium size should be aimed at. Overall balance and symmetry are much more important than the mere measurable size. 

10. Faults 

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportions to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. 

11. Dosqualifying Faults

• Aggressive or overly shy.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• Strong deviation from the sexual characteristics.
• Atypical head.
• Spotted (butterfly) nose.
• Pendulous or dribbling flews
• Under- or overshot mouth. Wry mouth, including all intermediate forms.
• One or more missing incisors and/or canine and/or premolars 2- 4 and/or molars 1-2; more than two missing PM1; the M3 are disregarded. Not visible teeth are assessed as missing ones.
• Supernumerary teeth not in line with the others
• Cleft palate, harelip
• Light yellow eyes. Very loose eyelids; ectropion, entropion. Distichiasis (double row of eyelashes)
• Pronounced dewlap.
• Dewclaws
• Very faulty movement.
• Thin coat, lacking undercoat. Long, soft, silky, shaggy, crinkle or woolly coat. Lacking brushes on the legs
• Dark brown or pale yellow colour. Particoloured, not uniformly coloured. White chest patch larger than 5 cm.
• White feet
• Lacking pigmentation either on the skin or on the lips and eyerims.
• Any type of weakness in temperament.
• Deviation of more than 2 cm from the above mentioned heights at withers. 

N.B.:

• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.