Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs German Coolie - Breed Comparison

Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs German Coolie - Breed ComparisonGerman Coolie is originated from Australia but Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla is originated from Hungary. Both German Coolie and Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla are having almost same height. German Coolie may weigh 26 kg / 57 pounds lesser than Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. German Coolie may live 3 years more than Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. German Coolie may have less litter size than Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. Both German Coolie and Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Hound dog
undefined
Australia
Hungary
Height Male:
40 - 60 cm
15 - 24 inches
57 - 64 cm
22 - 26 inches
Height Female:
38 - 58 cm
14 - 23 inches
52 - 59 cm
20 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
15 - 24 kg
33 - 53 pounds
45 - 50 kg
99 - 111 pounds
Weight Female:
13 - 22 kg
28 - 49 pounds
43 - 48 kg
94 - 106 pounds
Life Span:
16 - 18 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
5 - 10
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Australian Koolie - German Koolie - Coulie - German Collie
Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla • Hungarian Wire-haired Pointing Dog • Drotzoru Magyar Vizsla
Colors Available:
Black, Red, merle
russet to golden sand
Coat:
smooth and comes in short or medium lengths
harsh, hard and loose fitting
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Social
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

german coolieThe German Coolie is misnamed as it is an Australian bred dog and often called the Australian Koolie or Coolie. This Australian breed is more often just called a Coolie. The breed is a typical herding breed and a working dog that needs a job all the time. They have been a favorite of Australians since the late 1800’s when local dogs were bred with British working dogs.

Although all Coolie’s are not the same. Within the breed there is a lot of variation. This is because the Coolie was bred individually for different regions in Australia. In a very different writing the Koolie Club of Australia does not define the Coolie breed on confirmation as all other purebred dogs are defined. Instead the Coolie is defined by ability to work. In light of this most Coolie breeders state that the Coolie is a breed and the variations you see among regions are types within the breed.

As a herding dog, the Coolie brought a lot of skill to the Australian farmers and sheep herders. The Coolie will round up the sheep and bring them back to their enclosure at the shepherd’s command. They are upright, silent, working dogs. Not only do they herd sheep they are important at sheering to “cut out” the sheep or assist in the close quarters of lambing.

In Queensland North and New South Wales, the Coolie is medium boned, tall and agile ready to herd cattle over a long stretch of miles. In the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales and the Hunter Valley Region, the Coolie is shorter and thicker in order to be able to get cattle that are lying low out from the gullies and dense bush. The Coolies found in Victoria are the smallest of all.

No matter where they live and work, the Coolie is bred to help the workers there, the farmers, the stockman, and the grazier. All Coolies are adaptable and very agile. They all have a strong willfulness to accomplish what they are asked to do. The ancestors of these various Coolie was the British Collie – a smooth coated, blue merle. This Collie was crossed with the Black and Tan Collie from the Scottish Highlands. It is believed that these are the same Collie breeds that came to Australia to create the Heeler.

The name may come from the German immigrants working in South Australia and unable to pronounce Collie incorrectly they called the dogs German Coolies. There is also a fraction of German breeders who believe that the German Tiger dog was brought to Australia in the 18th century and then when the Collies came they were bred together. Many Coolie breeders have records showing that the breed has been in Australia for at least 160 years. It is also believed that the Border Collie and Kelpie (Blue Heeler) were mixed into the breed at sometime as well.

No bench standard exists for the German Coolie even though there is the Koolie Club of Australia. The mission of the club is to protect, preserve and promote the breed. The Australian Sporting Register was recognizing the Coolies in 2004. They are eligible to participate in the Australian National Kennel Council sanctioned sporting trials. They participate in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria through the individual states sporting register. Here they participate in herding, jumping, obedience, agility and tracking.

Several other recognitions as a herding breed soon followed. The Australian Shepherd Club of America, the American Herding Breed Association, were followed by recognition from others as well. They are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

hungarian wirehaired vizslaIn 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.

Description

german coolie puppy - descriptionWith their strong ancestry among the family of collies and herders, the German Coolie shares the look of collies and shepherds. Even though they differ from region to region and there is no actual standard, they are medium sized dogs with blue or brown eyes or even one of each. The ears are folded over on top when relaxed but they are rigid and straight when he is more alert. The nose is either chocolate or red depending on the color of their coat.

They can have either a long, medium or short coat but most owners want the short coat that is smooth as well. The coat can be one color – red/chocolate or black; Bi – red/white or black/white; Tri – solid black or red with white and brown; Tri merle -merle with white and brown; Merle – red merles and blue merles. Regardless of color, the German Coolie has the look of a collie or German Shepherd.

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.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

german coolie dog - characteristicsYes, they can be very friendly with children is they are socialized and supervised.

Special talents

They have enough stamina to work for 14 hours a day.

Adaptability

They are very adaptable. They can be calm and steady when working a mother and baby lamb and then be able to forcefully move steers, bull, rams or weathers.

Learning ability

The breed is highly intelligent, and their learning ability is excellent because they want to please you.

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.

Health Problems

german coolie puppies - health problemsThis is a relatively healthy breed without many genetic disorders found in purebreds due to the 160 years they have spent fairly isolated and allowing natural selection to take its course.

Blindness/Deafness

In Merle dogs there can be deafness and/or blindness. If you breed a solid to a merle you can eliminate that.

Joint Issues

These are not inherited but rather acquired due to the immense amount of jumping and running.

  1. Allergies
  2. Minor skin allergies are possible in some.
  3. Seizures

Rare but it does occur and can be fatal if not treated

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.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

german coolie dogs - caringBreak meals into 3 a day feeding a high quality dry puppy food designed for dogs of his size. 11/2 to 2 cups per day.

Feeding the adult

Break meals into 2 a day feeding a high quality dry adult food designed for dogs of his size.

Points for Good Health

Traditionally good health. Great energy, intensity and devotion to work and owner.

Games and Exercises

This is an energetic dog that loves to work and needs to work. Regular routine exercise is needed daily. He needs to be stimulated mentally and physically. Find him a job. Make sure he knows what you want him to do. They work well with a human partner in games such as agility, tracking, flyball and herding. They need a large yard and a lot of play time. They are not couch potatoes and would be unhappy if they were stuck in a house or apartment

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.

Comparison with other breeds

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