Dog
Group:
Working 
Kuvasz Champions
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Pronunciation:
KOO-vahz
Breed Description:
The Kuvasz breed of dog is a majestic, well-proportioned white sheepdog with a very handsome head. (Some standards accept an ivory coat, but it is usually not preferred.) The stop is well-defined, but not abrupt. The muzzle tapers slightly to a black nose, but is not pointed. The lips and inside of the mouth are black. The ears are folded and close to the head, and the eyes are almond-shaped and dark brown. The medium-boned body is slightly longer than it is tall. The Kuvasz is muscular, but not bulky. He is light-footed and agile for his size. The lower abdomen is tucked up. Though the coat is white, the skin is generally dark. The more dark pigment in the skin, the better. The coat is medium-length, either straight or quite wavy, with a thick undercoat. It forms an abundant mane around the neck and chest. The coat is much fuller in the winter. The hair is short on the head and feet, but on the body and legs it is wavy and can be as much as 4-6 inches (10-15 cm.) long. The tail of the Kuvasz breed of dog, which is carried low, is raised when the dog is excited. The back of the legs are feathered. Dewclaws on the rear legs should be removed, but those on the front legs should be left natural.
Temperament:
The Kuvasz breed of dog is an intelligent and curious dog. Bold, determined, brave and fearless. Easy to housebreak. This livestock guardian is very territorial with strong protective instincts. It makes an excellent guard dog. It is an outstanding herder and defender of the flock against wolves. This is not a breed for everyone. His large size and strong protective instincts demand extra owner care and responsibility. He will fiercely defend his people and territory. The Kuvasz breed of dog is devoted to his family, forming a strong bond with them, though the Kuvasz is very independent and may even be stand-offish with his owners if he does not see them as being stronger minded than himself. If the dog is going to live with children, it is best, if possible, to select a Kuvasz pup and have the dog raised with the children. The children need to be taught how to be pack leaders. The Kuvasz breed of dog is usually gentle and patient with his own family's children, but may not be trustworthy with others. To prevent accidental injury, do not leave this dog unsupervised with small children and their friends. Individuals vary in sociability, but for the most part, the Kuvasz is quite reserved with and even suspicious of strangers. This breed must be extensively socialized early in life to combat his extremely protective temperament. He should be trained firmly by an experienced, dominant person, and should be taught to accept the family's welcome guests. The Kuvasz is not an easy breed to obedience train, as he was bred to work independently of men. He is willful with meek or passive owners. Do not treat this dog harshly. They instead need a calm, but firm, confident and consistent handler who has an air of natural authority to them. Young dogs may test authority frequently. All family members should be taught how to handle the dog. It is highly advisable to accustom the puppy to handling strangers, both for your veterinarian's sake and if you wish to show the dog. Choose a puppy carefully - after seeing both parents, if possible. Some lines of Kuvasz are much more easy-going than others. Though puppies can easily accept other animals, adult Kuvasz are quite combative and may resent intrusions of a new canine or other animal into the household, but they can also be very gentle with other pets and livestock. Be sure to supervise and teach your Kuvasz that the newcomers are part of the family. Do not leave the new dog alone with an adult Kuvasz until you are absolutely certain they will not fight. Male to male aggression is common. If you wish your Kuvasz to be a livestock guardian, special training is necessary. Consult an expert to learn how to train your dog. From the age of 6-7 weeks, the puppy should spend most of his time with the animals he will later be called upon to guard, so he can form a strong bond with them. The biggest key to training a Kuvasz is to understand the nature of the Kuvasz breed of dog as an independent guardian. It is very important NOT to use harsh training methods. As an example, a police dog trainer would be exactly the wrong kind of trainer to use. They make terrible police dogs because they are too independent. They judge, not you, what force is necessary in any situation, based on what they believe. That comes out of instinct, and then what they are "taught." They are really remarkable judges of how forceful to be in a situation. You need to "teach" Kuvasz, you don't "train" them. This does not mean physically forceful; you must understand that "impression" is what creates dominance. The same Kuvasz who will drive off a wolf, bear, etc., without hesitation, will stand by in the field, helping a ewe deliver lambs and making sure the lamb can find its mother. The key to successful introduction into livestock guarding seems to be an experienced older dog to guide the puppy. If not, then the owner will have his work cut out for him during the first six months to a year. You will need a lot of patience and some guidance from other people with experience. Once bonded to the livestock, the Kuvasz breed of dog will make sure that nothing can ever harm them. That is their nature. It is the details along the way to that balance (the growing up process) that is stressful for the owner.
Height:
26 to 30 inches
Weight:
66 to 136.5 pounds
Health Problems:
The Kuvasz breed of dog is prone to hip dysplasia. Check with your breeder to make sure the parents have hip clearance. Some minor issues are osteochondritis dissecans (a disease causing lameness from inflammation of the shoulder joints), hypertrophic osteodystrophy, skin problems and allergic reactions. This breed may drool and slobber.
Living Conditions:
The Kuvasz breed of dog is not recommended for apartment life. They are fairly active indoors and do best with at least a large yard. Do not leave this dog alone in the backyard for long stretches of time, as he may become destructive. Vigorous exercise should help with this. The Kuvasz breed of dog should never be left outside all tied up, for this could lead to viciousness. It will do best in a large enclosed yard. It especially enjoys cold weather and can live outdoors in temperate to cold climates as long as it has a doghouse and fresh water, but will do best if allowed access to both the house and yard. The Kuvasz's thick coat makes him very uncomfortable in warm weather or humid conditions; he should always have plenty of shade and fresh water.
Exercise:
The Kuvasz breed of dog needs vigorous daily exercise. If they are not actively working as a flock guardian, they need to be taken on a daily, long brisk walk or jog. While out on the walk, the Kuvasz must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. Exercising should help with chewing or digging problems - in hopes that it will tire the dog out.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 12 years
Grooming:
The thick, medium coat of the Kuvasz breed of dog should be brushed weekly. Avoid bathing this breed, as the coat naturally sheds dirt and bathing will remove the oils that give the coat this property. The more you bathe this dog the more it will need to be bathed! Instead of bathing, the dog should be brushed frequently. Some people rub talcum powder or cornstarch into the coat and then brush it out again as a cleaning strategy. Check behind the ears for matting. In cold climates the Kuvasz breed of dog will only shed seasonally, but in warmer climates, it will most likely shed all year around.
Origin:
Some authors claim that the Kuvasz breed of dog has been known since the age of the Huns. Others describe it as a sheepdog that accompanied the Turkish refugees and their flocks fleeing the Mongols into Hungary in 1200. Its name in Turkish means "protector." The Kuvasz had its great moment of splendor in the fifteenth century in the court of King Matyas I, who lived from 1458-1490. The King claimed to trust only his Kuvasz dogs and not people. The Kuvasz were often given as royal gifts. At the death of the King, the Kuvasz returned to being a sheepdog throughout the medieval period. Many of these dogs were trained to hunt big game such as bear and wild boar. The first written reference to the Kuvasz comes in the 16th century. Later the Kuvasz breed of dog became popular as a village flock guardian. The breed may have contributed to the development of several similar looking sheep guard dogs, such as the Polish Tatra Sheepdog, the Marema Sheepdog, the Great Pyrenees and the Anatolian Shepherd. Hungarian herdsmen took their cattle, along with their guard dogs, to sell in several foreign lands. Along the way, their dogs may have bred with local dogs. Some animals may have been left behind when their jobs were finished. By the end of the Second World War, only about thirty members of the Kuvasz breed of dog remained in the world. The dedication of several breeders resulted in the resurrection of this noble breed. Today this beautiful dog serves primarily as a companion and home guardian, in addition to its historical flock-guarding role. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
