Type the name of the breed you're looking for below
[wpdreams_ajaxsearchlite] Don't see the breed your're looking for? Click here and let us know!
Breed Characteristics
1 paw - breed exhibits the least amount of this characteristic
5 paws - breed exhibits most amount of this characteristic
[fbcomments]
Kuvasz
| Other Names | Hungarian Kuvasz |
| Country of Origin | Hungary |
| Weight | Males: 100 - 115 lbs. (45 - 52 kg) Females: 70 - 90 lbs. (32 - 41 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 28 - 30 in. (71 - 76 cm) Females: 26 - 28 in. (66 - 71 cm) |
| Coat | The medium-length, double coat is shorter on the feet and head, but on the body and legs it is wavy and can be as much as 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long. The skin is heavily pigmented. The coat can be anywhere from wavy to straight. The undercoat is thick. |
| Colour | White and ivory |
| Litter Size | 6 - 9 puppies with an average of 8 |
| Life Span | 10 - 12 years |
| Origin & History | Around 2000 B.C., the Magyar tribes moved along the recently established trade routes of the steppes, gradually leading them to the Carpathian Basin in Hungary which they conquered in 896 A.D. With them came Kuvasz-type dogs, which primarily served as livestock guardians. In 1978, the fossilized skeleton of a 9th Century Kuvasz-type dog was discovered in Fenékpuszta near Keszthely, a discovery which was remarkable in that the morphology of the skeleton was almost identical to a modern Kuvasz. If accurate, such a discovery would mark the Kuvasz as among the oldest identifiable dog breeds as only a few breeds can be dated beyond the 9th Century. After the Magyar settlement of the Carpathian Basin, the tribes converted to a more agrarian lifestyle and began to devote more resources towards animal husbandry. Whereas the Komondor was used in the lower elevations with drier climates, the Kuvasz was used in the wet pastures of the higher mountains and both were an integral part of the economy. Later, during the 15th Century, the Kuvasz became a highly prized animal and could be found in the royal court of King Matthias Corvinus. Kuvasz puppies were given to visiting dignitaries as a royal gift, and the King was said to have trusted his dogs more than his own councillors. After the king's death, the popularity of the breed among the nobles waned but it was still frequently found in its traditional role of protecting livestock. By the end of World War II, nearly all the Kuvasz dogs in Hungary had been killed. The dogs had such a reputation for protecting their families that they were actively sought and killed by German and Soviet soldiers, while at the same time some German officers used to take Kuvasz dogs home with them. After the Soviet invasion and the end of the war, the breed was nearly extinct in Hungary. After the war, it was revealed that fewer than 30 Kuvasz were left in Hungary and some sources indicate the number may have been as few as 12. Since then, due to many dedicated breeders, Kuvasz breed have repopulated Hungary. However, as a result of this near extinction, the genetic pool available to breeders was severely restricted and there is conjecture that some may have used other breeds, such as the Great Pyrenees, to continue their programs. The issue is further clouded by the need to use an open stud book system at the time to rebuild the breed. Possible origins of the breed name: The word most likely comes from the Turkic word kavas meaning guard or soldier or kuwasz meaning protector. A related theory posits that the word may have originated from the ancient farmers of Russia, the Chuvash, who nurtured the breed for generations and contributed many words to the Hungarian language. |
| Personality | The Kuvasz is intelligent and can be a good family dog if it has an owners who know how to display a natural, firm authority over it, is socialized, trained thoroughly, and raised with children from the start, but it is not recommended for most families. The Kuvasz was bred to be a livestock guardian and therefore is very territorial with strong protective instincts. It is an outstanding herder and defender of the flock against wolves. They make excellent guard dogs and are easy to housebreak, but they are large in size and with their protective instincts extra owner responsibility is required. This breed will fiercely defend his people and territory. The Kuvasz is devoted to his family, forming a strong bond, however if it does not see the humans as being stronger minded than itself, it will be stand-offish even with them. 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. While the Kuvasz bonds well with children in the family, other children need to be monitored. You do not want the Kuvasz to believe he needs to protect your child from another should the children get into a scuffle. It is recommended to not leave them unsupervised. As with all canine animals, the dominancy level varies from dog to dog, even in the same litter. However this breed is in general more dominant than most because of its inbred flock guard abilities. This means they will be prone to being reserved with strangers and extra care needs to be given in extensively socializing them, most effectively when they are still puppies. Puppies should be handled a lot by strangers. Owners should never let the puppies jump on or chew on humans. They should be taught to heel on a lead right from the start and learn to enter and exit all door and gateways after the humans. While puppies will easily accept new humans and animals, as the dog grows this will change. Adolescent dogs will test authority often. This is why it is very important to establish leadership right from the start so you are able to communicate with the young dog that it is not to fight with new animals that enter onto the property and is to accept unknown humans. You cannot train out the guarding instinct in this breed; it will guard your home if they feel a valid threat, however you can teach it to respect your authority. This breed is bold, brave and fearless. They were bred to work independently, which means they are not easy to obedience train. Training should never be harsh, but rather needs to be calm but firm, by a confident experienced, dominant person. The handler needs to have an air of natural authority to them. This dog needs to be controlled with the mind, not the hand. The dog will be looking for a leader and owners need to be stronger minded than the dog. They will be willful with meek or passive owners. All members of the family need to be taught how to handle the dog right from puppyhood. Owners need to teach the dog to accept welcomed guests and to look to the owner for leadership, rather than the dog expecting the owners to look to him for leadership. The biggest key to training a Kuvasz is to understand the nature of the breed as an independent guardian. It is very important NOT to use harsh training methods, but rather calm, firm methods. Kuvasz that are going to work as flock guards need special training. An expert should be called in to assist if you are not familiar with the process. Puppies that are about 6 weeks old should not live inside the home with the humans, but rather with the flock they will be called upon to guard, so they can form a bond. When they are raised to work as the flock guardian they were bred to be they will be very reserved with strangers and territorial. A police dog trainer would be exactly the wrong kind of trainer to use. A police dog type of temperament is not what the Kuvasz is. 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" the Kuvasz, you don't "train" them. This does not mean physically force; you must understand that "impression" is what creates dominance. The same Kuvasz that will drive off a wolf, bear, etc., without hesitation, will stand by in the field, helping a ewe with a lamb’s delivery 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 is going to make sure that nothing, ever, can 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. |
Care Requirements
| Health | While the Kuvasz doesn't normally suffer from much in the way of congenital disorders, being a large dog, there is some incidence of Hip and joint disorders. However, the most common cause of problems among this breed is the result of owners Feeding them as much as they want or with too rich of food. Vitamin or coat supplements are also a major cause of development problems. They were bred to grow up on what could be a starvation Diet if up in the mountains with a flock. This, coupled with the intense amount of growth these dogs achieve in the first six-months of their lives, can cause the bones and connective tissues to develop abnormally. Any owner who sees signs of lameness in their dog, from as early as four months, should bring him or her to the vet immediately to determine if it's simple Growing pains or something far more serious. Growing pains: during the first year, your Kuvasz will grow faster than any human ever has. Because of this, there are often real growth pains, such as those any fast growing teenage boy destined to be tall can describe. Hip displaysia: a good breeder should be able to Show you certificates and X-rays that demonstrate both parents are free from this disorder. The first signs of a serious form could appear as early as 4 months. Bloat: it is recommended that you feed your Kuvasz twice a day to keep them from literally twisting their stomachs when they eat to much at a time. |
| Grooming | The thick, medium coat of the Kuvasz 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 it will only shed seasonally, but in warmer climates, it will most likely shed all year around. |
| Exercise | The Kuvasz needs vigorous daily exercise. If it is not actively working as a flock guardian it needs to be taken on a daily, long brisk walk or jog. While out on the walk the dog 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. |
| Other Considerations | The Kuvasz is not recommended for apartment life. It is fairly active indoors and does 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 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; it should always have plenty of shade and fresh water. The Kuvasz is one of the most famous Hungarian dog breed. In the film Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, Delilah is a female Kuvasz. |
