Hungarian Vizsla vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison

Hungarian Vizsla vs Italian Greyhound - Breed ComparisonItalian Greyhound is originated from Italy but Hungarian Vizsla is originated from Hungary. Italian Greyhound may grow 26 cm / 10 inches shorter than Hungarian Vizsla. Italian Greyhound may weigh 23 kg / 50 pounds lesser than Hungarian Vizsla. Italian Greyhound may live 5 years more than Hungarian Vizsla. Italian Greyhound may have less litter size than Hungarian Vizsla. Both Italian Greyhound and Hungarian Vizsla requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Hound dog
undefined
Italy
Hungary
Height Male:
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
56 - 64 cm
22 - 26 inches
Height Female:
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
51 - 60 cm
20 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
18 - 25 kg
39 - 56 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
9 - 10 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 4
6 - 8
Size:
Small
Medium
Other Names:
IG, Iggy
Hungarian Vizsla Hungarian Pointer Magyar Vizsla
Colors Available:
grey, tan, Fawn, chocolate and black., reddish
solid golden-rust color in several shadings
Coat:
Short and smooth
short, smooth, dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Energetic, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Social
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

italian greyhoundThe Italian Greyhound is an ancient breed, a purebred originating in Italy but with evidence to suggest it was also to be found in Turkey and Greece.

It's a small breed dog that became popular with Italian royalty in the 16th century. Over the centuries, the dog's appearance has remain unchanged, although breeders tried to make it even smaller, leading to problems with the health of the dog.

Towards the end of the 1800s, it was fortunate that breed fanciers implemented breeding programs to restore the dog's look's and strength. The American Kennel Club registered the Italian Greyhound in 1886. Today the dog is a wonderful companion dog.

hungarian vizslaThe Hungarian Vizslas existed in the land that is now Hungary, the Pannonian Basin, at least since the 10th century when they were shown on etchings. It is thought that their descendants were various pointers, the extinct Turkish Yellow Dog and the Transylvanian Hound. The Vizsla is a hunting dog with the word being Hungarian for pointer. In 1937 the Carmelite Friars under orders from King Louis I of Hungry. The breed was isolated for centuries in the Basin by the aristocracy and land owners.

The Magyar people of the area developed the breed for hunting as both pointers and retrievers. They were excellent at hunting rabbits and water fowl. With a terrific sense of smell and boundless stamina and energy, the were prized as family and companion dogs as well. This was unusual for a hunting or working dog. Their size made them appealing as well. They were small by comparison to other hunting dogs both pointers and retrievers.

Easy to train, the Hungarian Vizsla works in water, forests and fields. They are able to retrieve in the water as well as on the land. Throughout their history, the breed outlasted the Turkish Revolution, the Hungarian Revolution World War 1 and World War 2, as well as the Hungarian People’s Republic Communist State. Things were a little dicey for the Vizlas several times beginning in the 1800’s when German Shorthaired Pointers and English Pointers were introduced into the area. The next time was after World War II. Fearful of what this Communist state would mean for the breed, some were smuggled into the United States and Austria.

At that time there were only a dozen or so Vizslas in all of Hungary. Their numbers were brought back from that small breeding stock. This history did result in several different strains grew into their own breeding stock. There are Vizslas in Czechoslovakia, Romania, Serbia and Austria. There developed separate lines that became separate breeds in the Wirehaired Vizsla and the longhaired Vizsla which is very rare.

After World War II, the Hungarian Vizsla came to the United States and the Vizsla Club of American was established as a first step toward AKC (American Kennel Club) recognition. This was attained in 1960. Rex del Geisimino came to the U.S. in 1951 and he was able to respond to commands in both German and Hungarian. Vizslas also came to the United Kingdom in this time frame. There are now about 4500 registered with the KC (Kennel Club of Great Britain). A Vizsla won the distinctive Crufts Dog Show in Great Britain, as Best in Show.

It is believed that this gentle, sensitive and affectionate hunter was part of the original breeding stock or the Wirehaired Vizsla, the Weimaraner and the German Shorthaired Pointers. The Hungarian Vizsla is intelligent and social. The need your attention as well as a lot of exercise to avoid destructive behavior born of boredom. They want to be with you and they can be very protective of you.

Description

italian greyhound puppy - descriptionThe sweet Italian Greyhound is much like the regular Greyhound, just smaller but every bit as sleek, elegant and fine-boned. He stands at between 33 and 38cm at the withers and weighs just 3 to 7kg. He is slender and elegant.

He has long, fine-boned legs and his short, smooth coat makes him easy to groom too. The coat comes in a number of colors such as fawn, tan, grey, reddish, chocolate and black.

Temperament.

Described as sweet, intelligent and playful, the Italian Greyhound adapts easily to life in the city or to country life.

He is easy to train too, and even though he is small and amicable, it is still a good idea to have him trained and socialized as he is just a simple pleasure to have around then. He just loves the company of his human family and becomes a gentle friend to other dogs, to children in the home and to the elderly.

He is a frail toy dog, and he needs to be constantly watched over that he isn’t handled roughly by disrespectful children or from bigger pets. He is an active breed and will love to be played with and join you on your walks. Even though he is such a frail, fragile looking dog, he has a feisty, stubborn, defiant side to him and that is why training and socialization becomes important. He will be reserved around strangers.

hungarian vizsla puppy - descriptionThe Hungarian Vizsla has a light build, a short coat, and a distinctive bearing. They are medium in size and muscular, lean dogs looking a lot like the Weimaraner. They are also close in appearance to the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Redbone Coonhounds. They are more muscular and leaner than the Rhodesian Ridgeback and Weimaraner.

The Vizsla has a reddish nose and their nails and eyes should also be reddish or blending with the color of their coat. They have docked tails in the American standard but not in the United Kingdom, as docking is banned there. If he has a tail, you can see it flying through the air as he runs through the rough land to retrieve fowl.

They have a domed skull with a tapered muzzle that is shorter or equal to the skull. They have eyes that are contrasted with the coat and of medium size. The ears of silky, hang close to the face and the tips are rounded. The coat is rust in color with many shades. He also has a deep chest and hound like face.

Characteristics

italian greyhound dog - characteristicsIf you’re looking for a sweet, gentle canine friend, the Italian Greyhound promises to be just that. They just crave human companionship and are eager to please.

He isn’t the ideal playmate for children, simply because he is frail and can get hurt easily in rough play.

Small he may be, but he is intelligent and alert, and he will bark to warn you of strangers. They are essentially indoor dogs, and when you bring one of them into your home, you’ll be rewarded with a devoted, loving and loyal canine friend.

Children friendliness

hungarian vizsla dog - characteristicsChildren friendliness - The Vizsla is very good with children.

Special talents

Special talents - They are both excellent pointers and retrievers.

Adaptability

Adaptability - They are not very adaptable in living arrangements as they are much more suited for the country than the city.

Learning ability

Learning ability – The Vizsla is a very intelligent breed and easy to train. His learning ability is very high.

Health Problems

italian greyhound puppies - health problemsYour small Italian Greyhound isn’t a sickly dog breed, and in fact, with the right care, he can live to be between 10 to 14 years of age.

As with any dog breed however, there will be some more common conditions to watch for in the Italian Greyhound. Some of these are epilepsy, hyperthyroidism and periodontal disease.

Epilepsy:

There are different types and causes of seizures, and there are actually no definitive tests for epilepsy. One seizure isn’t enough to make a diagnosis and more than one seizure is usually recorded before a diagnosis can be made and treatment prescribed.

These treatments don’t cure Epilepsy but rather control the symptoms and keep the dog seizure-free so that they can have a normal life.

Seizures are not all the same – some are life-threatening and advice from the internet can’t be looked upon as adequate. With a dangerous disease such as epilepsy, excellent and qualified veterinary help will be required.

Periodontal Disease:

Gum disease can be terrible for your pet. Apart from bone loss and loss of teeth, your pet will experience pain. Periodontal disease may well be common in dogs, but it can be prevented.

Once an animal has eaten food, particles of food, saliva and bacteria form plaque over the teeth and this doesn’t only cause damage to the teeth but to the entire immune system.

This disease can cause inflamed gums and loss of teeth. It is important to brush your pet’s teeth with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste.

The truth is, periodontal disease can cause more problems than just tooth pain which is bad enough. Dogs with gum inflammation may be at higher risk for heart- and kidney disease too. If you’re worried about your dog, take him in to your vet for an oral examination and teeth cleaning.

hungarian vizsla puppies - health problemsThe Hungarian Vizsla has a series of health issues that include:

  • Hip dysplasia – can cause arthritis or lameness.
  • Epilepsy – can be treated but not cured.
  • Cancer of various types – some treatable others fatal.
  • Sebaceous Adenitis – a skin disorder marked by inflammation. This only occurs in young adult dogs.
  • Ear Infections

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

italian greyhound dogs - caringThe Italian Greyhound has a short, smooth, satin-type coat which is easy to maintain. Gently brush him once or twice a week, being careful not to press down hard as he has frail, bambi-like legs.

He also sheds little, making him a low maintenance breed. Because of the short coat, take particular care of him in the Winter and don’t allow him to become overly cold.

Diet:

Your Italian Greyhound will require a diet rich in nutritional value, and if your particular dog is quite active you will need to feed him about 450 calories a day and sometimes more.

Each dog is an individual and will have different dietary needs. If you feed your pet a top quality commercially manufactured food, read the packaging for guidance on food portion sizes.

Speak to your vet if you are unsure how to feed your dog so that his food and the amounts you feed him contribute to his good health. He must always have access to fresh, cool water.

Feeding the puppy

hungarian vizsla dogs - caringFeed two to four cups per day of a high quality dry dog food. Break this up into three or four meals. Don’t free feed your puppy.

Feeding the adult

Feed two to three cups per day of high quality dry dog food. Feed in two servings.

Points for Good Health

The Vizsla is an athlete with high energy.

Games and Exercises

The Hungarian Vizsla needs at least 30 minutes of exercise every day and maybe more. He needs a large yard or open field, but daily brisk walks will do if that is all that is possible. He needs to be stimulated intellectually as well and enjoys fetch, jogging with you, lure coursing, field trials, tracking and scent work, confirmation, agility, barn hunt, dock diving, rally, and obedience.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Italian Greyhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Italian Greyhound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Italian Greyhound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Italian Greyhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Italian Greyhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Italian Greyhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Italian Greyhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Italian Greyhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Italian Greyhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Italian Greyhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Italian Greyhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Italian Greyhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Italian Greyhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Italian Greyhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Italian Greyhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Italian Greyhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Italian Greyhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Italian Greyhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Italian Greyhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Italian Greyhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Italian Greyhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Italian Greyhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Italian Greyhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Italian Greyhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Italian Greyhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Hungarian Vizsla vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Hungarian Vizsla vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Hungarian Vizsla vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Hungarian Vizsla vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Hungarian Vizsla vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Hungarian Vizsla vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Hungarian Vizsla vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Hungarian Vizsla vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Hungarian Vizsla vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Hungarian Vizsla vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Hungarian Vizsla vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Hungarian Vizsla vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Hungarian Vizsla vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Hungarian Vizsla vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Hungarian Vizsla vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Hungarian Vizsla vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Hungarian Vizsla vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Hungarian Vizsla vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Hungarian Vizsla vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Hungarian Vizsla vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Hungarian Vizsla vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Hungarian Vizsla vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Hungarian Vizsla vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Hungarian Vizsla vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Hungarian Vizsla vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison