Priority health schemes and tests
The Kennel Club's Assured Breeders must use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice. All other breeders are strongly advised to also use these.
- Hip dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)
- Eye screening scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS)
- Elbow dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)
- Eye testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) (BVA/KC/ISDS)
Important health schemes and tests
We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.
- Bitches not to produce a litter under 2 years of age
- Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period
- Check inbreeding calculators
Find out about a particular dog's results
Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.
You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.
Have any questions about health in your breed?
If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact yourbreed health co-ordinator.
Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.
To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email:
The Breed Health and Conservation Plans
Our breed health and conservations plans (BHCPs) use evidence and data to help us understand the health issues found in each pedigree dog breed. These plans help breeders and owners identify health and welfare problems and use information, health tests and health schemes to avoid passing on those problems to future puppies. They also support and provide breeders with tools and specialist expertise to help manage genetic diversity, understand the impacts of close breeding, and find the best ways to preserve the population of their breed.
Working together for the breed
We’ve worked with breed clubs and breed representatives to gather all available evidence to help us determine the priority concerns for the breed and decide how we can work together to manage and reduce these problems.
Breed priorities
The current key priorities for the breed are:
- Unregulated over breeding
- Autoimmune illnesses
- Epilepsy
- Cancers
How we plan to make improvements
We’ve agreed the following list of actions with the breed clubs to improve the health of the breed. Both parties are committed to working on these areas and will review these on a regular basis to ensure the actions remain focussed and relevant to the breed’s health.
Breed Club actions include:
- The Breed Clubs to continue to engage in research regarding Viszla inflammatory polymyopathy (VIP) and autoimmune disease, with The Kennel Club to assist in recruitment of dogs where needed. – IN PROGRESS
- The Breed Clubs to continue to collect information for dogs affected by VIP into a central database. – ONGOING (the breed have an online open registry where owners and breeders can report whether any of their dogs have been affected by VIP. This can be found here)
- The Breed Clubs to continue to encourage hip and elbow scoring in breeding stock. – ONGOING (the breed have hip and elbow screening as requirements under the Assured Breeders Scheme, and Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) in place for hips. With increased testing it is hoped EBVs may be able to be produced for elbow dysplasia as well)
Our actions include:
- To continue to monitor epilepsy and autoimmune disease research and any projects where the breed could be included.
- To keep the breed informed as to the breed-specific epilepsy research, now hoped to be undertaken at The Kennel Club Genetics Centre, University of Cambridge.
- To investigate sharing the reporting database for breed immune-mediated concerns on its website. (a link to the open registry can be found above)
The full evidence base is available at the discretion of the breed clubs, however if you would like to seek access to the full report, please contact our health team here.
Health (The Kennel Club)
How do I use this information?
Breeders should be mindful of the top priorities in their breed and ensure they are working to reduce and eliminate the presence of these diseases when choosing to breed their dogs.
Puppy buyers should also be aware of these issues and be sure to ask their breeder how they are contributing towards the above actions, and whether any of these problems have been seen in their breeding lines.
FAQs
The Vizsla's ancestors were hunters and companions for the Magyar, a nomadic tribe that eventually settled in what is now known as Hungary. He is believed to be descended from the ancient Transylvanian Hound and the now-extinct Turkish yellow dog. Later, the German Shorthaired Pointer and Pointer were added.
At what age are Vizslas fully grown? ›
How long until Vizslas are grown adult dogs? Vizslas are pretty much physically fully grown at 1.5-2 years old.
Do Vizslas bond with one person? ›
Characteristics of the Vizsla
In fact, they are so devoted that they are often referred to as “Velcro dogs” because they cling to their family. As outgoing pets, they can become attached to one person who looks after them the most, or they can bond with everyone in the family.
What is the intelligence ranking of the Hungarian Vizsla? ›
Coren and the judges he worked with did acknowledge that training can play a big role in working intelligence. According to the study, the Vizsla ranks number 25 for working intelligence.
Do Vizslas like to cuddle? ›
They can be very affectionate and tend to shadow their loved ones with little understanding of personal space. Many Vizslas love body contact and cuddles, but every dog responds differently.
How do I know if my Vizsla is purebred? ›
A Vizsla will always have a reddish colored nose that blends with the coat color. If it is black, brown, or any other color, it isn't a Vizsla. If it has black around the nose or the eyes, it isn't a Vizsla, at least not a pure Vizsla.
At what age do Vizslas calm down? ›
By the time your Vizsla is 2 years old, then the dog will be ready to be a big brother/sister to a baby. This means that by the time your child is a toddler, your Vizsla will be past the hyperactive "zoomies" stage.
Is it better to get a male or female Vizsla? ›
Intact males tend to be much easier to manage than females as they do not experience cycles, so care is the same all year round. While both have nervous tenacities, females are more prone to anxiety, so they are best suited for owners who will not leave them alone for long periods.
What is the life expectancy of a Hungarian Vizsla? ›
The Vizsla dog breed is generally healthy and has an average lifespan of 10-14 years. That said, they are susceptible to some health issues. Pet parents can prevent these conditions by getting their puppy from a reputable Vizsla rescue or a breeder who responsibly tests their dogs.
What are the negatives of Vizslas? ›
Time and Energy needed
More than most breeds, Vizslas are a bit like tiny humans in that they take TIME and ENERGY. They'll give you back so much love, but you need to put in the time and energy first. They demand it, and you will see this under no uncertain terms.
Age is one of the most common reasons for pets going gray. This is a very similar process to the one we see in humans as we age. However, unlike humans, dogs don't tend to go gray throughout their entire coat. The majority of graying will happen around the muzzle and face.
Why do Vizslas lick so much? ›
Obsessive licking can be a sign that they are stressed or anxious, or could suggest that they are in pain, feeling nauseous, uncomfortable or itchy. Licking is soothing to dogs and may help to make them feel better. Dogs can sometimes lick themselves so much that they damage their skin.
What is a fun fact about Vizslas? ›
They're the Ultimate Camouflage Dogs
Vizslas are always golden rust-colored, with no variation in their coats. They have a similar brown eye color, which blends in with their coat. Their even brown tone makes them great at camouflaging, which comes in handy when hunting.
What dog has the highest IQ? ›
1. Border Collie. What Makes This Breed Smart: A remarkable capacity to quickly learn new words and commands. The border collie tops the list of smartest dogs, and it's no wonder.
What are Hungarian Vizslas prone to? ›
Common health problems in Hungarian Vizslas
Some of the conditions Hungarian Vizslas may develop include: Hip dysplasia – where the hip joint doesn't fit together perfectly, which will eventually lead to arthritis. Before breeding, dogs should be screened by x-rays through the BVA/Kennel Club Hip Dysplasia Scheme.
What is a Vizsla mixed with? ›
Vizsla-Golden Retriever Mix (Golden Vizsla)
Imagine the regal Vizsla and the gentle Golden Retriever combined into one adorable package. That's the Golden Vizsla for you! This Vizsla mix is known for its friendly and affectionate nature, making it a great family companion.
How did the Vizsla breed start? ›
The Vizsla's ancestors are believed to be the dogs of the Magyar tribes who settled present day Hungary thousands of years ago. Archeologists have found stone etchings that depict the Magyar hunter with his falcon and his dog: the canine that would become the Vizsla.
Is a Weimaraner the same as a Vizsla? ›
The Vizsla and Weimaraner are close cousins and share similar interests in hunting. They are similar in appearance, and both have high energy. However, they were developed in different countries. Vizslas are Hungarian dogs, while Weimaraners are German; one did not come from the other.
What is a mix of Vizsla and Weimaraner? ›
A combo of the Vizsla and Weimaraner, the Vizmaraner is a unique designer breed. Both parent breeds were bred for hunting and tracking, so it's no surprise that the Vizmaraner loves the outdoors. These dogs often combine the size and loyalty of the Weimaraner with the intelligence and energy of the Vizsla.
