El Vizsla o Braco Húngaro: La raza de los Magiares - Por Bernard C Boggs (*)

 El Vizsla o Braco Húngaro: La raza de los Magiares - Por Bernard C Boggs (*)
El Vizsla o Braco Húngaro ha servido al pueblo húngaro durante más de 1.000 años.

La historia del Vizsla o Braco Húngaro está íntimamente ligada a la del pueblo húngaro. Los Húngaros eran un grupo étnico originario de Asia central, conformado por siete tribus de pastores nómades, que tomaron parte de una gran ola migratoria, junto a otros grupos asiáticos, hacia el oeste.

En el año 896 de nuestra era, bajo las órdenes del jefe Arpad, los Húngaros cruzan los Cárpatos por el Paso de Verecke, y conquistan la región que hoy ocupan Hungría, Austria y parte de Eslovaquia y Croacia. Llevaban consigo su ganado y sus perros.

Bajo el reinado de Istvan (coronado como Esteban I el santo), primer rey de Hungría (975-1038), las tribus húngaras dejan sus costumbres nómades y se establecen definitivamente en la región, adoptando el catolicismo como religión oficial y el Latín como lengua escrita.

Se conservan ilustraciones que datan del siglo XIV que muestran escenas de caza con perros que posiblemente se correspondan con el braco húngaro. El término VIZSLA fue utilizado ya en unos manuscritos del siglo XV para designar a un determinado tipo de perro.

De acuerdo a documentos de la época, la cría de Vizslas era un pasatiempo de familias aristócratas, aficionadas a la caza y la cetrería.

El aspecto actual del Braco Húngaro o Vizsla comenzó a definirse tiempo después, durante los 160 años que los Turcos ocuparon Hungría (1526-1686). Este pueblo invasor trajo consigo sus perros, algunos notables por el intenso color amarillo de su manto, que fueron cruzados con los perros húngaros.

El producto de esta cruza es el ancestro directo del Vizsla actual.

El apogeo de la raza tuvo lugar en el siglo XVIII, debido al popularización de las armas de fuego, y varias familias prominentes eran conocidas por su afición a la cría de Vizslas, como por ejemplo los Zay, Batthyany, Nadasdy y Kimlossy, fueron todos apellidos relacionados con esta raza.

Una vez que la raza estaba firmemente establecida, se cree que fue mantenida pura por varios siglos, quizá hasta fines del siglo XIX. Los Húngaros siempre procuraron mantener los Vizslas en Hungría, razón por la cual solo ejemplares machos eran enviados al extranjero.

Hay quienes afirman que ciertos cazadores alemanes, ante la imposibilidad de conseguir que los húngaros les enviasen hembras para cría, cruzaron machos Vizslas con perros rusos, originando así el Weimaraner. Esto puede ser una historia muy discutible, pero es seguro que cuando el Weimaraner o Braco de Weimar es reconocido como tal, el Vizsla ya era una raza bien establecida.

El época de oro del Vizsla llega a su fin a finales del siglo XIX, cuando se introducen en Hungría perros pointers ingleses y alemanes.

El Vizsla en el siglo XX

Hacia 1916 era muy difícil conseguir Vizslas de líneas de sangre reconocidas, lo que motivó a Tibor Turoczl a publicar un artículo en la revista de caza Nimrod (Nimrod Vadaszujsag), alertando acerca de la casi extinción de los Vizsla. Este llamado recibió casi inmediata respuesta de varios notables de la época, y como personalidades claves de este renacimiento de la raza podemos mencionar al Dr. Kalman Polgar, Elemer Petocz, Dr. Ferenc Korbas, Karoly Baba, Balazs Otvos y al conde Lazslo Esterhazy.

Este renacimiento del Vizsla fue perturbado por el Tratado de Trianón, firmado el 4 de Junio de 1920 en el palacio Grand Trianon de Versalles, Francia, por el cual se confirma la desintegración del Imperio Austro-Húngaro, y se divide la región según grupos étnicos, lo cual implica que Hungría pierde casi el 72% de su territorio a manos de sus vecinos Yugoslavia, Checoslovaquia, Austria y Rumania.

Esto dificultó mucho el trabajo de quienes bregaban por el resurgimiento de la raza, pero a pesar de esto, ese mismo año se funda, en la ciudad de Kaposvar, la Asociación de Criadores de Vizsla, que organizo el registro de pedigrees.

En 1935 el Vizsla es reconocido como raza por la Federación Cinológica Internacional, y en 1938 se exportan los primeros ejemplares a Estados Unidos.

Al inicio de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, había casi 5.000 Vizslas registrados en Hungría.

En 1944 la fuerzas alemanas ocupan el país, pero son expulsadas por los rusos en abril de 1945. Estos saquearon Hungría, y en poco tiempo la población de Vizslas se redujo a unos pocos cientos de ejemplares.

En 1947 comenzó el contrabando de Vizslas, principalmente por húngaros que habían podido huir del país antes del ingreso de las tropas del ejército soviético. Su intención era preservar la raza, llevando Vizslas a Italia, Francia y Estados Unidos, donde ha prosperado y ganado popularidad.

La raza llegó a Canadá y Holanda en 1953, a Dinamarca en 1956, y a Australia en 1973.

Bernard "Clif" Boggs es un Ingeniero Aeronáutico que creció en el seno de una familia de cazadores, y conoció la raza en 1961. A partir de ese año dedicó su vida a la cría de Vizslas. Fue socio fundador de clubes de la raza, y directivo de varios de ellos, y sus Vizslas ganaron decenas de premios en varios estados de los Estados Unidos.

En 1973 escribió The Vizsla, que probablemente sea el libro más completo sobre esta raza publicado hasta la fecha, y actualizado en 2000.
Ésta muy detallada y documentada obra de 340 páginas contiene capítulos con la historia de la raza, un detallado estudio del standard, genética, adiestramiento, caza, y todo lo que un amante de esta raza pueda necesitar. El libro está disponible solo en idioma inglés.¿Interesado en el libro? Puedes enviar un eMail a Sue Boggs o visitar su página web:
www.vizslabook.com.

Enlaces relacionados
 Criadores de Vizsla
 Clubes de Vizsla
 Standard de Vizsla

How to pick out a dog's coat

Winter is just upon us now and poor Natasha is in need of her first winter's coat. So it's time us girls do some shopping therapy! 

When we plan our own outdoor activities we are very selective in packing or wearing protective clothing needed to keep ourselves dry, warm and comfortable throughout our trip. Why should our Vizslas not receive the same consideration? A Vizsla's coat lacks an undercoat, making this type of dog completely unsuited to being an outdoor pet without protective wear. Just like us, if our dogs are left unprotected for extended periods of time they can suffer the chilling effects of the elements, losing their body heat at an accelerated rate.

Because my husband will be taking her out to hunt and  adventuring in the great outdoors we want to use protective dog clothing to keep Natasha Rose safe and warm. The main function of dog clothing, is to keep the dog dry and warm when the weather turns stormy and cold. Selecting the right dog clothing will also help us to protect her from cuts, scratches. Special protective dog clothing will keep her safe while bounces on the trail of a partridge or prances through parks that may be overgrown with sharp sticker bushes and splintering bramble.

How to Size Dog Apparel


First thing of course is to check out her girlish figure to see what size she is. To do that we measure with soft tape measure while the dog is STANDING UP

Size	Length
XXS	8"
Extra Small	10"
Small	12"
Medium	16"
Large	20"
Extra Large	24"

Sizing Coats, Sweaters, Shirts & Safety Vests:


Measure length of pet's back from the base of the neck to the base of the tail. If the measurement is between sizes, it is recommended going up one size. Also, if pet has a stout build, a deep chest, or is overweight, it's recommended going up a minimum of one size for proper fit. If the dog is long-backed, like a Dachshund, a smaller size is recommended.

Midriff Style Jackets and Shirts:


For shorter midriff style garments, measure the length of pet's back from base of neck to base of tail. Due to the unique styling of midriff garments, they may sit higher on the dog's back. 

What to look for in dog clothing

Today's newer styles of dog clothing now incorporate many safety features like reflective materials stitched into the outfits. They help to make your dog much more visible when the weather darkens the sky. This is an important safety consideration for the dog that is active outdoors.

A good fit is essential. Dog clothing like a dog coat, vest or dog boots must fit well so that it will remain securely in place throughout an active day of hunting or hiking and protects our dog from the elements and rough brush found on hunting and hiking trails.

How sensitive to the elements your dog is will depend a great deal on the weather conditions, how much time he spends outside and the type of coat he has. Shorthaired breeds, like Vizslas, tend to be more sensitive to direct rain and cold. Whereas the fur of thick-coated breeds are more prone to absorb lots of water.

The coat that we choose must be designed to keep our Vizsla warm while providing protection from wind and rain. While fleece dog clothing will definitely help her stay toasty warm, fleece alone is not the best choice for trail conditions. We will be on the look out for a dog coat with a combination of a warm fleece lining and a durable nylon shell to provide maximum protection and will help maintain her core body heat.

She will of course need a  raincoat too for those cold and rainy Chilean winters, designed for our active hound to enjoy a full range of motion. Important to check are the coat's leg openings to make sure they do not restrict our dog’s movement.Whether it will be designer chic, neon orange, woodsy camo or home made, the coat we choose will need to be one that has clean lines to avoid getting caught on things and covers her underside designed to give her enough room to do her business.

Where to purchase dog clothing:   Note sharing links that I have visited in no way constitutes a recommendation for their product.                                                                      

Voyagers K9 Apparel: Specializing in breed specific clothing

Cabela's Dog Vests Buyer's Guide:  Cabela's Dog Vests and Boots

Cabela's 5mm Neoprene Vest with Armor-Flex™ Chest Protector

Quick Spot™ Safety Dog Vest

Gun Dog Supply:  Hunting Dog Vests, Jackets, Coats, & Chest / Tail Protectors

Lone Wolf Dogwear: Custom made in the USA

 Neon orange ultrex coat

Club Reconocidos Chile para Magyar Vizsla/Braco Húngaro

What Chile needs is a Vizsla Club!
 ¡Lo que Chile necesita es un Club Mayar Vizslas/Bracos Húngaros!!
...And I think I'll be the one to help it get started! I'm not sure how I'll be going about it but I think I can do it. Just need people of like mind and dog and I think we'll be off and running.

 I just sent the Kennel Club de Chile an inquiry into this. Chile doesn't appear to have many officially recognized specie specific clubs within the Kennel Club de Chile.  So I wonder if it's a matter of too much "papaleo" or bureaucracy and/or cost. Of course my timing on this stinks as it's now Friday afternoon before a 4 day weekend...sigh. Patience will be tough. But in the meantime it will give me time to find all those like minded owners.

For starters, I have set up a Facebook GroupClub de Magyar Vizsla de Santiago de Chile
Eager to join are the owners of Natasha Rose's brother, Procyon Can d' Ijuma.

Procyon at 4 months

 There are the few selling puppies on the internet, but there doesn't seem to be many of them here in Chile.

Vendo linda perrita braco hungaro o vizsla, de muy temperamento con los niños por cambio de domicilio

And then there is someone looking for a girlfriend for their male, making a good start (but we'll not be making Natasha Rose a child bride just yet). 

There could be those random folks I happen to bump into, like the young man in the photographe class I met when curious as to why he was standing on the overpass with a group of 30 others. In the process of discovering that he was not a member of the paparazzi shooting the entrance of some super star into Santiago, I learned he happened to have two Vizslas among his collection of 6 dogs. 

So we have a good start. Now for the paper work and bureaucracy that is sure to ensue before we become more than just a random group of people of like mind and dog.

Expocan “Semana Santa” Valpariso - April 8, 2012

Result for Natasha Rose at Valpariso Exposition April 8, 2012

Natasha Rose with handler, Fernando Burgos

 Natasha Can d Ijuma ganando la raza y el grupo 7 en cachorros en la exposicion de Santiago de Chile con su handler Fernando Burgos, 

Exposicion 792 - As judged by Mr. Max Magder (Canada).

1º WEIMARANER - ANDROMEDA VON OBST

2°  426 MAGYAR VIZSLA - NATASHA ROSE

Exposicion 791 - As judged by Ms. Leyda Perez (Colombia).

1° 426 MAGYAR VIZSLA - NATASHA ROSE CAN D'IJUMA

2° 427 WEIMARANER - AND

See all results: http://www.kennelclub.cl/resultados_pdf/8292_FINALES3_791_792_793.pdf

Teaching Natasha Rose "Whoa"

We are beginning Natasha's classes in Whoa. Below are videos on how we are teaching her. I'll be adding record of her progress here too. Chile does not have a large Field and Gun Dog community as they have in the USA, though there are many who hunt with dogs.  There are no Field and Gun Trials here either. Jorge picked up a DVD from Gun Dog Magazine: Training Pointing Dogs. We also subscribed to the magazine to help us along the way with Natasha Rose. We also turned to good ol' Google and YouTube to help fill the gaps.

Below are some of the resources we found on the internet.

"Whoa isn't for birds"

Teaching a pointing dog to hold point and stand birds with style and intensity depends on a solid foundation of the "Whoa" command. This command is also a prerequisite to training a dog to back, be steady to flush & shot, and stop on running birds. It may even prevent a dog from getting snakebit or running in front of a speeding car.
It’s important to understand that the place to teach "Whoa" is not in the field on birds. That is teaching the dog to hold point. Training a dog to hold point should come after the dog is comfortable with "Whoa" and when it responds with excellence the first time the command’s given. Holding point, backing and -the icing on the cake-steadiness to wing & shot are all built on the yard command "Whoa." "Whoa" is simply a command, or cue, instructing the dog to stop where it is and stay put at that spot until instructed otherwise. Attempting to teach a dog "Whoa" by leading it on a check cord to a planted bird and giving the command prematurely can create disastrous results such as blinking. 

As with most commands, trainers use a variety of methods to teach "Whoa" and with varying results. An individual trainer’s patience and ability to read a dog is important in creating a stylish response to the command. Terms such as the "rope-and-sling" method and "’Whoa post" as well as training tools like flank hitches and prong collars are only a sampling of things that have developed through the years in connection with "Whoa" training. Personally, I have borrowed, tweaked and improvised in developing my approach to teaching "Whoa." I use a combination of the "Whoa" board, the "Whoa" table, barrel training, the suitcase handle and remote training collars. 

Association and reinforcement-both positive and negative-are powerful learning tools for dogs. I prefer to make the command "Whoa" a positive one. I have seen too many dogs cringe in anticipation of something bad happening when they hear "Whoa." This is the result of trainers either having followed the command with too harsh a correction or having corrected the dog before it completely understood what the command meant. In either case the dog now associates punishment with "Whoa." Because holding point, backing and steadiness to wing & shot are taught by association and repetition in conjunction with "Whoa," the association with the command must be positive or there will be no foundation to build on. 

Much of my advanced training, such as holding point and steadiness, involves a "Whoa" board; therefore, I want the dog’s initial exposure to the board to be positive. A "Whoa" board is simply a piece of plywood roughly 2 x 3 feet. I like a board that can be raised four to six inches, so that later the dog will have to step up onto it. In advanced training, I teach the dog to remain on the board while birds walk around it or flush from remote launchers. Because dogs are place-oriented, it is much easier to teach the dog to remain steady at a specific place before progressing to an open-field situation....

My "Whoa" table is simply a 12-foot-long, 12-inch-wide plank. The plank can be nailed to sawhorses to raise it to approximately waist height. I then place the dog on the plank. The plank is narrow, so the dog will not move its feet. As when the dog is on the barrel, I stroke its tail up, prevent its head from moving and soothingly repeat "Whoa." My objective is to teach the dog to stand tall, with head erect and tail high.

Everything I have done to this point has taught the stationary dog to stay put and be comfortable with the word "Whoa." I have not yet taught the moving dog to stop on the command. I only begin this next step after the dog is comfortable remaining still on the table and barrel. To teach a moving dog to "Whoa," I use a "suitcase handle," which is made by tying a snap on both ends of a 36- to 40-inch piece of check cord. I run one end of the cord around the dog’s flank and through the snap. I run the other end around the dog’s neck and through that end’s snap. The result is a slip lead around the dog’s abdomen and another around its neck. This way I can pick the dog up off the ground with my "suitcase handle."

Click here to read more

Video examples of teaching the command, Whoa

Using the "Whoa Table"



Practicing the Whoa on the table





Another technique is to use ropes to teach the dog "Whoa" means "Don't move a muscle!" This technique is not demonstrated on the Gun Dog DVD, though it is alluded to when they mention there are various methods to teach this command.


Using ropes to teach Whoa









Taking the Whoa to the ground




What this space for photos of Natasha Rose's training:

The Dilemma Between Breed Specific Laws and Dog Shows

File from the Wikimedia Commons

The FCI breed disposition characteristics for animals such as Dobermans and Mastiffs require the dogs to be friendly and calm; very devoted to the family it loves children.  Yet despite this, there is a trend in cities, counties, states, provinces and countries towards what is known as Breed-Specific Laws (BSL) in which a municipality bans or restricts the freedoms of dog owners with specific breeds of dogs considered dangerous. There are at least 50 breeds of dogs as well as mixed breeds that include targeted breeds named in the various laws in North America. Dogs that fall under these categories are not allowed into the locality or may need special entry authorization.

A recent example of how this plays out was experienced by a participant in Colombia's 2012 International Dog show unable to enter the country with his "dangerous" mastiff show dogs. The dogs remained in their crates at the airport until he was able to get officials of the Colombian Kennel Club to give special notification to the customs agents allowing the breeder a special entry for a limited time in the country.


According to the American Kennel Club, breed-specific laws are not the best way to protect communities. An owner intent on using his or her dogs for malicious purposes will simply be able to switch to another type of dog and continue to jeopardize public safety. The list of regulated breeds or types could grow every year without ever addressing responsible dog ownership. Deeds, not breeds, should be addressed. Breed-specific legislation is opposed by the AKC, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Animal Interest Alliance, National Animal Control Association, the ASPCA, and a host of national animal welfare organizations that have studied the issue and recognize that targeting breeds simply does not work.

• Breed-specific laws are hard to enforce. Breed identification requires expert knowledge of the individual breeds, placing great burden on local officials.
• Breed-specific laws are unfair to responsible owners.
• Breed-specific laws increase costs for the community. Shelter costs for the community could rise as citizens abandon targeted breeds, and adoptable dogs of the targeted breeds would be euthanized at the shelter.
• In some instances, breed-specific laws have been overturned on constitutional grounds. Because proper identification of what dogs would be included is difficult or impossible, the law may be deemed unconstitutionally vague. It may also be found to involve the taking of property without due process.
• Strongly enforced animal control laws (such as leash laws), generic guidelines on dealing with dangerous dogs and increased public education efforts to promote responsible dog ownership are all better ways to protect communities from dangerous animals.
• Since dogs must be unaltered to participate in conformation dog show and other performance events, many responsible dog owners will be forced to give up a sport that both they and their canine companions enjoy.

The International Association of Canine Professionals statement (2006) reads in part:

The International Association of Canine Professionals strongly opposes legislation which discriminates against dogs and their owners by labeling certain dogs as "dangerous" or "vicious" based on breed or phenotype. Breed-specific legislation does not protect communities nor create a more responsible dog
owner. Instead it negatively affects many law abiding dog owners and dogs within the targeted breeds.  

Breed or breed type is only one factor which determines an individual dog’s temperament. Many other factors also influence behavior. In the case of aggressive acts by dogs, factors may include, but are not limited to: genetic predisposition; irresponsible handling; lack of animal management; general care;
improper socialization and training; poor housing conditions; physical ailment, and lack of education and supervision.  

A common and serious error in the ‘assumption of risk by breed’ is the inability to identify individual dogs by breed, according to an established breed standard or breed type. Purebred dogs which are registered with national clubs may or may not fit the ideal standard for their breed. As dogs are further distanced from the "ideal" standard by phenotype, especially in mixed breeds, it may become all but impossible for accurate identification.  

Both the IAC and AKC recommend the creation and enforcement of  laws which protect
responsible dog owners, penalize irresponsible dog owners on an individual basis while at the same time promote the safety of all. The FCI includes specific requirements for temperament of various dogs


Learn more and view cities, states, countries with BSLs. Make sure you have the required permissions to travel with your dog if it should fall under restriction.



www.DogsBite.org,  A  pro BSL public education website about dangerous dogs -- specifically pit bull type dogs.  View lists of U.S. States and their cities with Breed Specific Laws

ASPCA- Breed Specific Legislation

History of BSL:  Breed-Specific Legislation in the United States. by Linda S. Weiss, Michigan State University College of Law (2001) 

Planning for International Dog Show Tours

Today my fancy turns to international dog shows. I am to wondering what it would take to schlep all the necessary equipment AND Natasha Rose to an international dog show- that is one outside of Chile. As we are North Americans living in South America, raising a Vizsla from Argentina and showing her in Chile you could say we already were very internationally involved and to  bring her to show in our home in the USA would qualify her as participating in an international show!

And to think I stress about overweight on my one suitcase!

I do this once and Jorge will never  complain again about my 4 suitcases for a 3-day weekend

Ohh thank goodness Natasha Rose only needs a damp towel and a little nose cream to make her beautiful.
Ok plus a little brown shoe polish to cover the bald spot on her coat she got from a romp in the woods.

Watching our Chilean handler, Fernando Burgos' American Akita, Kenzo Von Dabuso  place in the Colombian International Show Friday, March 16, 2012:


Watch live video from TV Ci-Sud on Justin.tv

and anticipating our Argentinean  breeder, German Rodriguez  showing his Vizsla,  Dukesa Wild Can D Ijuma today I want to learn more about the prepping and paying involved in bringing a dog across borders to show internationally.

So while I wait to watch today's expositions live--
Watch live video from TV Ci-Sud on es.justin.tv

I'm doing some investigation on the subject and will be collecting the information.  I will organize it later and set it up as a separate tab as I have planned for the gun dog info.

Please chime in here if you have any information,  insight, tips or warnings to add to my "research."

And best of luck to all in Colombia!