Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison

Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Cretan Hound - Breed ComparisonHungarian Wirehaired Vizsla is originated from Hungary but Cretan Hound is originated from Greece. Both Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla and Cretan Hound are having almost same height. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla may weigh 20 kg / 45 pounds more than Cretan Hound. Both Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla and Cretan Hound has almost same life span. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla may have more litter size than Cretan Hound. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla requires Low maintenance. But Cretan Hound requires Moderate maintenance

History

hungarian wirehaired vizsla - historyIn the 1930’s some breeders noticed that the Hungarian Vizsla produced some dogs with more water, cold weather and ground cover protection because they had a much thicker coat than most of the breed. One breeder decided to cross one of these females with a German Wirehaired Pointer, thus producing the first Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. There were now three types of Vizsla – the smooth coated, the longhaired, and the wirehaired. The longhaired is very rare and can be either smooth or wirehaired. It is also believed based on anecdotal evidence that the original Wirehaired Vizsla was also mixed with the Bloodhound, Pudelpointer, and Irish Setter during World War II. Many kennels started breeding the Wirehaired Vizsla at this time.

This rare longhaired is not recognized by any official club or organization while the smooth and the wired are recognized as two separate breeds. There are only a few longhaired Vizsla and they are only found in Europe. The Wirehaired Vizsla was recognized in 1986 by the FCI in Europe and in 2014 by the AKC (American Kennel Club).

Like their cousins the smooth Hungarian Vizsla, the wirehaired version is a natural hunter and easily trained. They are great retrievers as well as pointers in the water or on the land. Their wirehair coats offer them more protection than their smooth coated cousins. They love to swim and are very good at it and will even use your back yard pool if it is available to them.

The wirehaired Vizsla came to North America in the 1970’s and was recognized by the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) in 1977, The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) by 1986 and in 2006 by the United Kennel Club (UKC). The Australian Nation Kennel Council offered recognition in 2007 prior to their entrance into the AKC Foundation Stock Service. They began showing the breed at AKC events in Performance and Companionship, prior to their full AKC recognition in 2014.

These gentle hunting dogs became great family dogs as they love children and just want to be with their people. Falconers have recently taken up the breed because their temperament is suited to this work as well. There are only about 400 to 450 Wirehaired Vizslas left in the United States and few thousand across the globe.

cretan hound - historyAlthough the Cretan Hound or the Kritikos Lagonikos is recognized in both Greece and Germany, the hunting dog breed is from the island of Crete, Greece. The dog’s history goes back thousands of years. It is an ancient breed and some believe it is one of the oldest hunting breeds in Europe.

The Cretan Hound has been bred as a working dog, combining sight and scent to track down their prey. Today it is still a rare dog breed that you won’t easily find outside of Crete.

Greece kennels recognize this dog as well as some European kennels, but it isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Description

hungarian wirehaired vizsla puppy - descriptionVery much like his cousins, the Wirehaired Vizsla is a noble looking breed. He is lean and muscular with a noble head and moderate skull line. Their muzzle is just a little shorter than the skull and the end is squared. They have powerful jaws and a broad, wide nostrils. The nose is brown, and the eyes are slightly darker than the dog’s coat color.

Low set ears are long and hang near the cheeks. With a strong, long neck and muscular shoulders, the Wirehaired Vizsla certainly looks the part of a hunting dog. Her chest is a little deep and the breastbone is prominent. She has round paws with short nails. Of course, her coat is wiry and dense. The undercoat is water repellent. He has an intelligent and lively facial expression.

Their ears are long but proportionate to the head and body. Their upper teeth overlap the lower teeth. Finally, the tail is thick and usually 1/3 docked. The tail is mostly carried in a horizontal position while walking or running.

cretan hound puppy - descriptionKnown for its extraordinary scent abilities as well as its speed, this dog has always been used as a hare hunter because of these skills.

It’s a slender dog of medium to large size and stands at about 60-68cm in height and weighs between 20 – 30kg. It is lean, strong, muscular and swift with a body that is inclined to be longer than tall.

He is slightly heavier than other scenthounds and his ribs aren’t seen. The head is wedge-shaped and the ears drop down, are folded back or can be semi-erect. The eyes are dark and the tail is long and curves upwards with longer hair being found on the tail.

The coat is short and smooth, and coat colors of the dog are varied and can be fawn, sandy, grey, white, black or brindle, and it can be tri-colored too.

Temperament:

The Cretan Hound is alert to sight, sound and scent and when it senses prey, the tail moves in a circular way and the dog becomes rigid for a while before he is off on the hunt.

He is a gentle, intelligent dog, reserved around strangers but making an excellent family pet as he gets on well with all his human family members as well as pets in the house. With good training and socialization, the dog becomes more relaxed around strangers.

He isn’t an aggressive dog, and while he is alert to sounds and smells, he doesn’t make a particularly good watchdog.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

hungarian wirehaired vizsla dog - characteristicsVery good with children as long as he gets enough exercise.

Special talents

Very athletic

Adaptability

A puppy could live in an apartment in the city, but the adult dog needs a yard and is better off on a farm.

Learning ability

Very smart, very responsive, high learning ability.

cretan hound dog - characteristicsThe Cretan Hound is an energetic, curious dog, but when it comes to being a family pet, he is affectionate and gentle.

He is a reserved dog around strangers. He likes to be busy and will love his walks and games with his human family members. He is smart so is readily trained and he likes to be obedient and to please.

The Cretan Hound will live in harmony with other dogs in the home and they’re also patient and good around disciplined children who have learned to respect animals.

Provide your Cretan Hound with his fair share of love and attention and he will go out of his way to be a loyal and loving family friend.

Health Problems

hungarian wirehaired vizsla puppies - health problemsMostly healthy but the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla does have some inherited dispositions to:

  • Hip Dysplasia: can cause lameness and arthritis.
  • Dysphagia – Megaesophagus: Causes drooling, problems swallowing and muscle – entropy
  • Food allergies and intolerances
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Both Ectropium and Entropion: curling of eyebrows out and in.
  • Idiopathic Epilepsy : Unknown origin. Can cause seizures.

cretan hound puppies - health problemsThe Cretan Hound is a healthy, robust dog breed, but even so, he can suffer from some common health problems that other dogs are also susceptible to. Some of these are hip dysplasia , cancer, ear infections, bloat and cherry eye.

Remember that if you don’t want your dog to have puppies, they can actually benefit health-wise from being spayed or neutered. Doing this for your pet can prevent a number of health issues later on down the line.

Make sure too, that your puppy receives his vaccinations in a timely fashion so as to avoid terrible, life threatening illnesses such as parvo and rabies.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

hungarian wirehaired vizsla dogs - caringFeed high quality food for medium to large breed puppies. Feed 3-4 time a day 1-2 cups.

Feeding the adult

Feed high quality food for adult medium to large dogs. Feed 2x a day 2-3 cups.

Points for Good Health

Great stamina and very athletic breed.

Games and Exercises

The Wirehaired Vizsla is a working dog and needs serious daily exercise. He will be full of energy and excitement if he doesn’t get enough mental and physical stimulation. He needs a family that can walk a mole or two every day or jog with him. He easily becomes neurotic and high-strung if his energy is not dissipated. Excels at Field Trials, Competitive Obedience, tracking and Barn Hunt.

cretan hound dogs - caringYou’re certainly not going to have to do too much grooming with the Cretan Hound as he is a low maintenance breed.

The dog is a short haired breed and an average shedder, so a good brush twice a week will keep the coat free of loose hairs and maintain the condition of the hair.

As with all dogs, the nails as well as the ears must be checked and attended to. The veterinarian can advise you on how to keep his ears clean and free of infection, as prodding around without knowing can damage his ears.

Exercise:

This Cretan Hound has high activity needs. He is energetic and also hard-working, and you’ll need to be taking him on long walks and providing him with some highly energetic playing sessions. Throw ball for him and take him with you when you go jogging or cycling.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Hungary
Greece
Height Male:
57 - 64 cm
22 - 26 inches
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
Height Female:
52 - 59 cm
20 - 24 inches
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 50 kg
99 - 111 pounds
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
Weight Female:
43 - 48 kg
94 - 106 pounds
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
3 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla • Hungarian Wire-haired Pointing Dog • Drotzoru Magyar Vizsla
Kritikos Lagonikos, Kressa Kyon, Ntopio
Colors Available:
russet to golden sand
grey, Fawn, sandy, tri-colored , white, black or brindle
Coat:
harsh, hard and loose fitting
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pharaoh Hound vs Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  2. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  3. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  4. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  5. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Hungarian Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  6. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  7. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  8. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Bavarian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison
  9. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  10. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  12. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison
  13. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison
  14. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Basset Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  15. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  16. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison
  17. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Chippiparai - Breed Comparison
  18. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs English Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  19. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  20. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Grand Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison
  21. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Hamiltonstovare - Breed Comparison
  22. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Beago - Breed Comparison
  23. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Kanni - Breed Comparison
  24. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Lithuanian Hound - Breed Comparison
  25. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Hungarian Hound - Breed Comparison
  26. Pharaoh Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  27. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  28. Hungarian Vizsla vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  29. Redbone Coonhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  30. Norwegian Elkhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  31. Santal Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  32. English Coonhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  33. Podenco Canario vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  34. Dunker vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  35. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  36. Podenco Andaluz vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  37. Podenco Galego vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  38. English Foxhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  39. Estonian Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  40. Grand Griffon Vendeen vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  41. Hamiltonstovare vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  42. Kanni vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  43. Lithuanian Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Hungarian Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  45. Hygenhund vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  46. Norrbottenspets vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  47. Cretan Hound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  48. Cretan Hound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  49. Cretan Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  50. Cretan Hound vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds