- Agility Introduction
- Competitions and results
The Hungarian Vizsla and Agility
Kate Cook
Agility, where dogs and owners run round an obstacle course against the clock, was
first introduced as a demonstration event at Crufts in1978 to entertain the crowds
between breed classes. The following year saw the introduction of the Agility Stakes
at International Horse Show at Olympia in London – this event is still seen as the
pinnacle in any agility crown, but is achieved by only a tiny minority. Dog agility has grown in the UK to the point where the most popular
Kennel Club shows regularly run ten or more rings a day, with anything up to 450
dogs running in each class; there are several week-long agility competitions with
literally thousands of dogs entered throughout the year, and several other unaffiliated
organisations are now organizing competitions around the country. It’s also gone
international in a big way, with several of our top handlers becoming professional
trainers who are much sought after in all corners of the globe.
My own introduction to the sport came in the early 90’s when I had my first terrier and wanted to do more than just obedience with her. My first vizsla, who joined a couple of years later, took to the sport with alacrity – having no fear whatsoever, conducting every round at breakneck speed with an awful lot of excited barking, and taking a huge amount of wrong courses! She was, however, a star despite my abysmal handling; winning cupboards full of trophies and rosettes over the years. She was also one of only 4 vizslas so far to make it to the dizzying heights of Olympia – and still the only bitch to do so. The first was Karen Cole’s Floyd (Mahogany Floyd), a firm favourite of mine who loved being centre-stage and acting the fool! Then came Andrea Russ’s lovely Chester (Gardenway L’Escargot), also a limelight-hog and a total gent; he was followed by my Hebe (Aurichalcum Enigma of Aurildis) in 2001. The latest vizsla athlete to win this crown was Paula Triggs’ Ross (Lowerdon Partner in Crime) last Christmas, who has been a consistent winner throughout his career. Ross is now 10 years old and still extremely competitive in Grade 6 (I should explain that there are 7 possible grades in agility to win your way out of – starting with the theoretically simplest courses at Grade 1; the competition to win out of each grade is huge). Other notable agility-winning vizslas over the years include Liz Stedman’s Chester (Tragus Coppermill) who qualified twice for the Pedigree ABC Final at Tatton Park, competed at Crufts in the ABC invitation event, qualified for Barbour pairs and twice for Agility Club pairs Final, and Mike Brooks with Anya (Nicael Maple), who has racked up the points year on year, making consecutive ABC finals, and has been a thoroughly consistent and competitive little bitch. Tessa Ventris has also consistently been a fixture of competitive agility for a great number of years with her Vereker dogs.
As a breed, vizslas tend to thoroughly enjoy agility. It gives them something to think
about, precious one-on-one time with their owner/handler, and is a great outlet for the
relentless vizsla energy and enthusiasm. I find that it teaches them discipline in a
more fun way than the perhaps more staid (excuse the pun) obedience, offers
fantastic socialisation experiences with dogs - and people(!) - of all shapes and sizes,
and gives them confidence to work with and away from their handler. The more
effusive of them tend to do agility in a very vocal way, but only usually when they are
working. Unlike the movement-driven collies that dominate the sport, vizslas mostly
tend to ignore everything else doing agility – making them much easier and more relaxing companions to have at a show in my experience.
When I started agility there were only a small handful of vizslas competing around
the country and I probably knew them all. Now, the popularity of this beautiful breed,
and their suitability to the sport means that there are quite a raft of ‘Ginger Ninjas’, as
they are affectionately known, competing to a very high standard all over the UK.
