The Supermodel!

Hungarian Vizsla

Majestic     -     Demonstrative   -     Agile

The copper coloured Vizsla is the supermodel of the canine world. Sleek and athletic with a beautiful face and rich, russet coat, the Vizsla is a very old Hungarian breed, and is an excellent pointer and retriever. It is also a very good swimmer, though may take some persuasion to venture into the water. It has no undercoat so is no fan of the cold and is not a dog that can be left outside. Like the Weimaraner, it was bred for nobility and as a highly prized animal it would have been kept inside with the family, so it is incredibly dependent on human company. In fact, it is so devoted to its owners that it likes to be in constant physical contact, hence the nickname ‘velcro dog’
Taken from 'A Dog's Life' by Hannah Dale

Today I decided to put that supermodel ability to the test, and took Xena upstairs to my studio area where I have studio lights. As she is not allowed upstairs and has never been up there before, I expected her to do her usual crazy thing of running around terribly excited and I did not think I would be able to get any photos of her. Imagine my surprise when she calmly followed me upstairs, sat perfectly still in front of the lights, and let me take photos of her. Oh yes, a supermodel indeed! (Not so much a swimmer, pointer or retriever at this stage!)

That summary of this breed is very accurate. I have never known a more human orientated dog before - I cannot even go to the loo by myself, I get followed everywhere. She is very tactile and is not content to be sitting near me, but prefers to be sitting on me or at least one part of her body touching mine. They are all the same in this respect, it's a very distinctive feature of the breed.

I am reading a book called Lilac Girls which is set during WWII and covers the horrible history of the 'rabbits' of Ravensbruck concentration camp. It was appalling how inhumane prisoners, mainly Jews, were treated at the hands of the Nazis during the war. Ravensbruck inmates were all women and mainly Polish. Very appropriate reading this during this week to commemorate the 75th liberation of the prisoners of Auschwitz.