Success has crowned the three-year long effort of the ardent fanciers of the Magyar Vizsla to gain American registration recognition for this breed, Field Dog Stud Book authorities have had the first importations by Frank J Tallman of Kansas City, Mo., in the fall of 1950. Although it was relatively easy to authenticate the background of the breed in Hungary and other European countries, with references to its early history available in ravages of World War II many of the pedigree records of registration bureaus in Europe have been destroyed. Wholly or in part, and this necessitated long months of search to establish definitely the bloodlines of individual specimens brought to this country. The fact that some of the data may exist in satellite nations behind the Iron Curtain must await a lifting of the present ban. Fortunately, contacts were possible with canine authorities in some of the countries that enabled certification of breeding records for a sufficient number of generations to assure accurate pedigree data in FDSB files.

The Magyar Vizsla or Hungarian pointer as it is frequently called, achieved recognition as a breed a long time ago, but like some of the other sporting dogs of separate European countries, the breed was never popularized in an American sense, but rather restricted to a certain group or club. In this respect, the Vizsla paralleled the Weimaraner, just as it also does to some extent in appearance, general characteristics and utility; in fact the Weimar pointer is said to have a place in Vizsla genealogy and there are European sportsmen who refer to the breeds as “cousins”.

Some students of the breed insist that the Vizsla was established before the “pointer of Weimar” came into existence and excerpts from early writings on dogs in Hungary tend to substantiate this, yet in modern times use has been made of an occasional outcross by the authorities in control of Vizsla breeding activities in Hungary and Romania.

The effort for recognition of the Vizsla, or Hungarian pointer, was initiated by Frank Tallman and the Kansas City sportsman with the assistance of the AMERICAN FIELD, organized the Vizsla Club of America and incorporated it under the laws of Missouri. Publicity which attended the importation of the first two Vizslas known to be brought to this country sparked the interest of other sporting dog breeders and before long others were successful in bringing representative Vizslas to the United States. The petition for FIELD DOG STUD BOOK recognition was not a request for a newly established breed, but merely authenticating the bloodlines of these dogs for registration purposes in an accredited all-breed American stud book. Throughout the years of investigating and checking, the officers of the Vizsla Club of America rendered the utmost cooperation to FDSB personnel. It is proper that the present roster be saluted: J A Hatfield, Minneapolis, Minn., president; H J Holt, Kansas City, MO, Vice-president; R W Hawkinson, St Paul; MN., and Charles F Hunt, Richton Park, Ill., secretary. The latter has been particularly energetic in recent months in marshalling needed facts for FDSB breed recognition for registration purposes. On the board of directors, with the officers are enthusiastic supporters like W A Olson, taken a leaf entirely from the Magyar Eblenyestok Orszagos Egyesulete (Hungarian Kennel Club) which protected Vizsla breeding and had control of matings but by different methods it hopes not only to protect the high standards of the breed but to bring about improvement. Because the Hungarian pointer, in common with other imported foreign pointing breeds, is suited as a close-working hunting dog for land and some water work, its sponsors intend to promote competitions along lines adopted by the German Shorthair and Weimaraner groups. The trials will be under the rules and regulations of the Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America and the AMERICAN FIELD, with special tests defined by the parent club to bring out the qualifications of the Vizsla.

It is notable that Thomas M Lunsford, well known professional bird dog handler of Ewing, Ill,. who has won important laurels in major trials with pointers and setters, had a pair of Vizslas placed in his charge two seasons ago, and he is firmly of the opinion that the Vizsla is worthy of development and can make an important place for itself in the shooting dog picture. The cinnamon-red or golden-rust colored dogs are a bit more lithe in appearance than the gray Weimaraner and not quite so large in stature. Vizsla breeders do not make any outlandish  claims for the abilities of the breed, but hope that in organized competitions the excellence of these dogs for hunting will be demonstrated.

There are between 75 and 100 pedigreed, mature Vizslas in the United States and a number of litters have been bred in this country. Club officials realize that the next few months may be critical in the development of Vizsla interest in this country, but have made creful plans so that the sporting dog public will be given only correct information, established facts about the breed. The first Vizsla registrations accepted by the Field Dog Stud Book are published in this issue.

Charles F Hunt, secretary of the Vizsla Club of America, wrote the following as a preface to the approved standard of the breed:

“The Magyar Vizslas- Hungarian pointers-honor their nomadic masters who roamed the Carpathian plains and valleys ten centuries ago. Herdsmen and hunters, these early Hungarians began the development of companion-hunting dogs to find, point and retrieve native game and to track wounded large game. Successive generations continued the development of the breed and by the Thirteenth Century, the beautiful golden Vizsla was a distinct breed, recognized and prized as a companion-field dog.

The Magyar Vizsla Club of America is guided by the authoritative Hungarian standard. In its endeavor to perpetuate the natural hunting instinct, the affectionate and protective disposition, the strength, intelligence and the golden beauty which is the proud heritage of the Vizsla.”

STANDARD FOR MAGYAR VIZSLA

General Appearance- Aristocratic, distinctive, dignified, distinguished; character and conformation of an eager hunting dog at once apparent in this medium-sized pointing breed: air of confidence and competence connotes ability to cover ground with celerity, fortitude to face punishing cover unflinchingly, courage to accept training; poise reflecting a tranquil temperament that accepts control cheerfully, yet no lck of initiative. The Vizsla depicts a dog of ample driving power, marked intelligence, instinctively fitted for the hunting field, well balanced throughout.

Coat- short and smooth, but dense to withstand water and weather. (Wiry or mouse hair a fault)

Color- Golden to rust-gold; solid; white markings (Dark brown or very pale yellow shades are to be faulted)

Head- Graceful, well-proportioned, classic development. The top is moderately wide with a slight furrow bisecting lengthwise into a moderate stop. The profile is prolonged to a mild arch to the muzzle which is straight- slightly longer than the skull- tapering but not pointed snipy) Nostrils are moderately open. Color of nose, dark brown but a lighter on chest and feet permissible, but nowhere else. Color to flesh color is objectionable) The flews tightly cover upper and lower jaws; are not loose or pendant. Jawbones are storng, well-developed; teeth white, with scissor bite. (Overshot or undershot is an essential fault.)

Ears- Thin, moderately low set, covered with silky hair; hound-like in appearance; fold close to the cheeks with rounded leathers and proportionately long

Eyes- Neither deep nor prominent, the eyeballs closely covered by the lids allowing no sight of the whites. Color should correspond to the hue of the coat. (A pale yellow is objectionable.)

Body- Muscular and well-proportioned. Smooth muscular neck of moderate length, arches and broadens into powerful shoulders which lay back 50 to 55 degrees to the body. Chest deep, reaching down to elbows with maximum depth maintained to base of eighth rib, then tucks up slightly under the loin section. Ribs are deep and well sprung. The back line is level; withers prominent, slightly arched loins, and moderate sloping croup.

Forelegs- Good bone, muscular, straight; elbows should be and move, parallel to the spinal column, not turned in or out. Feet are slightly turned out.

Rear Legs- Of good substance, muscular, straight when seen from the rear. Should maintain a straight column of bones with hocks turning neither inward nor outward, particularly when weight is applied. (Cow hocks are a fault)

Feet- Round and compact; toes well closed, somewhat like cat feet. Nails, short, pads tough. Dew claws must be removed from litters whelped after January 1, 1954. (Hare feet, wolf toes are objectionable)

Tail- is slightly below the level of the back; docked

Height- Males at withers 22 to 24 inches; females 21 to 23 inches

Weight- Males 45 to 60 pounds; females 40-50 pounds.

Gait- Light, graceful, smooth. Walk is smooth, sure. Approaching, the walking dog moves with legs relatively parallel but as speed increases in the trot or gallop the pads converge, with a straight column of bones, toward a line beneath the body’s center of gravity. As seen from the rear, the back legs start from a parallel position and converge, with a straight column of bones, as speed increases. Neither hocks nor elbows turn inward or outward from the line of leg travel. The back legs should move in the same line or plane as the corresponding front legs, stepping neither to the right or left of the front pad. Viewed from the side, the front legs should move first and slightly ahead of the rear legs to provide clearance for the latter and prevent side-stepping. The action should be smooth and coordinated with the drive of the back assembly balanced with the stride of the front.

Temperament- Lively, playful, inquisitive, gentle, demonstratively affectionate; eager to please and thus obedient; fearless with well-developed protective instinct. Extremely keen, intelligent, easily trained. Nervousness, shyness, viciousness should be heavily penalized. They are natural, instinctive hunters with choke-bore nose; take readily to water and are strong swimmers.