Welcome to Salish Wirehaired Vizslas
Salish Wirehaired Vizslas is a family owned kennel in Washington state. Inspired by dogs exhibiting beautiful breed type, athleticism, and instinctual talent as hunters and sporting companions in sound health and spirit. While mostly breeding for ourselves and personal friends we occasionally have puppies and started dogs available. We enjoy exploring wild places, upland and waterfowl hunting, conformation showing, hunt testing, and scent work with our dogs. They are intertwined into and included in nearly every aspect of our lives and live with us in our home.
A lifelong connoisseur of all things animals, Tarah grew up on a farm in Washington showing horses and hiking with the family dog. She holds a BS in Equine Science and completed Colorado State University's Equine Reproduction Short Course. Her career has been spent working in the horse industry in breeding, training, farm management roles and as a Veterinary Technician. She maintains connections with other Wirehaired Vizsla owners and breeders around the world and attempts to travel to Hungary each year for mentorship and to see as many dogs as possible working in their home country.
The Wirehaired Vizsla
Developed in Hungary in the 1930's, the Wirehaired Vizsla was a product of hunters and falconers wanting to create a more substantial dog with a harsher wire coat to withstand hunting through field, forest, and water in the Hungarian winters. The first individuals were the result of pairings between a Vizsla and German Wirehaired Pointer by the de Selle and Csaba Vizsla Kennels. Through out the years of development it is said that Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Pudelpointer, Irish Setter, and even Bloodhound were potentially added. Narrowly avoiding extinction during WWII, The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognized the breed in 1966. Wirehaired Vizslas were imported to North America in the early 1970's in Canada. NAVHDA recognized the breed in 1986 and AKC in 2014.
The Wirehaired Vizsla is a medium sized, golden rust colored, versatile dog meaning they hunt, point and retrieve. Well versed in water, they have an exceptional nose for hunting and tracking both feather and fur and have a natural point and retrieve. Natural appearance is essential to breed type with the most distinguishing features being a weather resistant, dense wire coat and facial furnishings, specifically eyebrows and beard. Wirehaired Vizslas are intelligent, highly cooperative, loyal, sensitive and biddable, but cannot tolerate harsh handling. As a handler your job is to provide them with clear communication and the correct exposure to birds and hunting opportunities; their instincts will do the rest.
While generally healthy, the Wirehaired Vizsla is susceptible to certain health issues that affect many breeds. These issues are: Hip Dysplasia, Cataracts, Entropion, Epilepsy, Autoimmune diseases, and Cancer. While these are multifactorial diseases we feel it is important to screen our dogs and the results are carefully considered in our breeding decisions. Our dogs are screened for HUU and ECLE by DNA submission. Radiographs are submitted for hip and elbow dysplasia through OFA or FCI approved veterinarians. In addition to OFA we also try to evaluate dogs using PennHip. Eye exams are performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist. Cardiac exams are performed by a veterinary cardiologist. Many years of working in the veterinary world has kept health in the forefront of my mind. We think that there is nothing more beautiful than an athletic, functional animal and you won't find these qualities without good health.
