The golden touch

YEARS ago, I was signing books at the Game Fair when someone came over with a wirehaired vizsla,’ recalls Giles Catchpole. ‘This striking dog, with its whiskery beard and a certain air of haughtiness, looked me right in the eyes as if to say, “Well, what do you reckon?” Immediately, I knew this breed was the one for me. I started looking for a puppy and ended up with Rizla, who was with me for 15 years. He was the most charming dog I’ve ever come across.’

‘Rizla the vizsla’, as he was affectionately known, certainly left big paw prints to fill, but his young successor, Todd, is up to the challenge, already displaying the endearing qualities of the Hungarian wirehaired vizsla (HWV) that won over Mr Catchpole all those years ago. ‘They’re