Abruzzenhund is originated from Italy but Vizsla is originated from Hungary. Abruzzenhund may grow 45 cm / 18 inches higher than Vizsla. Abruzzenhund may weigh 15 kg / 34 pounds more than Vizsla. Abruzzenhund may live 3 years more than Vizsla. Abruzzenhund may have more litter size than Vizsla. Abruzzenhund requires Moderate Maintenance. But Vizsla requires Low Maintenance
Abruzzenhund was established as an individual breed in the middle of the 20th century. They are descendant of the big, white Eastern sheepdogs which came to Europe 2000 years ago. Abruzzenhund is a mix of Turkish sheepdogs Akbash and Karabash, the Kuvac, Slovakian breed Hungarian breed, Komondor, and a French sheepdog Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Those dogs were much bigger than today’s breed. Abruzzenhund is still not very popular breed, but it is very common in Great Britain and Italy. They have been used as guard dogs, hunting dogs, and working dogs because they are very brave and strong.
The Hungarian Vizsla or Magyar Vizsla is a hunting dog developed in Hungry. It is the smallest of the pointer-retriever type breeds. They are loyal family dogs and hunt fowl and upland game. It was rare for a hunting dog to also be a companion and family dog, but the Vizsla is. The first time the Vizsla came to the attention of anyone outside its area was 1357 in a publication written for King Louis I of Hungary. They were kept mostly by barons and warlords and preserved without any interbreeding for centuries.
Through all the occupations, revolutions and world wars, the Vizsla survived. Still there were some points in their history where they were almost extinct. In the 1800’s English Pointers and German Shorthaired Pointers almost replaced them. After World War II they were almost extinct again with only a dozen or so left in the country.
Breeders across Hungry brought them back again. They were also bred in Serbia, Slovakia, Austria and Romania. They came to the states after the war and quickly were embraced. The Vizsla Club of America was formed so that they could be recognized by the American Kennel Club. This happened in 1960 and the Vizsla quickly became a champion in several AKC specialties.
The Weimaraner, the German Shorthaired Pointers, the Wirehaired Vizsla and other pointers were developed from the Vizsla and then used to re-establish the breed following World War II.
A height of Abruzzenhund variates between 60-73 cm, males are slightly bigger than females. While the weight is 30-45kg, again, males are heavier than females.
Abruzzenhund lifespan is between 11-13 years, but since these dogs don’t have any weaknesses and don’t tend to get sick, they can live longer with a proper care and adequate food and training.
Litter size of Abruzzenhund depends, but as any large breed, they usually have 6-9 puppies. And that is a very good considering size of the breed.
Abruzzenhund is not the only name of this breed. There are more names that you might hear. You can hear names like Maremma, Pastore, Abruzzese, Cane da Pastore, Maremmano- Abruzzese, Italian Sheepdog, and many similar names. Basically, they sound similar but there are differences.
Abruzzenhund is a friendly dog, but it is very powerful. Very strong jaw with a scissors bite makes them very strong. They have small but intelligent eyes, usually dark colored. The undercoat is dense, while the coat is white with segments of ivory to white yellow. Their long undercoat and coat make them winter resistant.
The golden/rust colored Vizsla is easily distinguished from other breed. They are a medium sixed pointer with a lean frame and light on their feet. They have long ears that are silky to the touch and well defined muscular structure. Their nose is a red color blending in with their coat color. Their eyes and nails also blend in with the color of the coat.
For the most part they are some shade of golden-rust, but today there are also some solid rust dogs as well. Officially the coat can be russet gold, copper-brown, or dark sandy gold. It cannot be mahogany red or pale yellow. The coat is dense, smooth, short and without an undercoat. They have docked tails as well.
Abruzzenhund is a very well-balanced breed who loves spending time with other animals and people. They have a very good temper. They love being around families, and they are very gentle with children. It is important to train Abruzzenhund properly because the dog of that size should be a leader. A human with a strong character should train this breed. Training is important because they tend to make their own decisions which can be bad sometimes.
The Vizsla have few health issues but the ones they do have are quite serious. They include:
• Cancer (Mast cell, Lymphoma and Hemangiosarcoma) – as will most dogs it can be treated but is still likely to kill the dog.
• Hip dysplasia is rare, but cases have been noted. Can cause lameness and/or arthritis.
• Sebaceous adenitis – rare skin disease found more often in cats or birds than in dogs.
They learn very quickly, but it requires strong will and constant training to keep them happy. They are great working dogs, and with the positive training, they are amazing. It is very important that they follow rules and to keep them in balance with training.
They can eat a lot of food, depend on their activity. High-Quality dog food twice a day for a grown dog is a must. While puppies should eat 3-5 times, smaller portions of food. The food is important especially for working dogs, they need up to 2000-3000Kcal per day. Abruzzenhund will enjoy eating meat with a lot of vegetables and oil.
They are not recommended for small house or apartment. They need big yard because they require a lot of space. During the winter they can be outside because of their coat, but during the summer they need to be in the shade with a lot of fresh water available anytime.
The coat should be brushed and groomed very often because they have a thick coat. There is a lot of dead and loose hair in it. During shedding, period takes even more time to groom your dog properly. They love and they need exercise. Mental exercise is important as physical. Every day walking, running, playing with other animals is an important part of dog's activity. When they get enough quality exercise, they will sleep in the house.
Feeding the puppy This is a very active dog and he need a high calorie diet as a puppy. Feed 4-5 cups in 3-4 smaller meals per day.
2.Feeding the adult Feed the adult high calorie food if you exercise her enough. Feed 3 cups of food twice a day.
4. Exercise They love to run but don’t’ overdo it until they are at least 18 to 24 months old. They stay very playful their entire lives and excel at AKC competitions. They are good at agility, field trials, scent work, obedience, conformation, dock diving, rally, lure coursing, track and barn hunt.