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Kuvasz Puppies for Sale
Kuvasz
(Hungarian Kuvasz)
Aidan, the Kuvasz
Photo Courtesy of Kilde's Kennel
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Pronunciation |
KOO-vahz |
Description |
The Kuvasz 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 dog 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, 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. |
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Temperament |
The Kuvasz 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 is devoted to his family,
forming a strong bond with them, though the Kuvasz is a very independent breed
and may even be stand-offish with his owners. If the dog is going to live with
children, it is best, if possible, to select a Kuvasz pup from Kuvasz parents
who love children. The Kuvasz 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
personality. 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, but also quite sensitive to criticism. Do not treat this dog
harshly. 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
breed as an independent guardian. It is very important NOT to use harsh training
methods. Just FYI as an example, 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" 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 with a lambs
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. |
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Height, Weight |
Height: Dogs 28-30 inches (71-76cm.) Bitches 26-28
inches (66-71 cm.)
Weight: Dogs 100-115 pounds (45-52kg.) Bitches 70-90 pounds (32-41kg.) |
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Health Problems |
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. |
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Living Conditions |
The Kuvasz 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. 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. |
Exercise |
The Kuvasz 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. Exercising should help with chewing or digging problems - in hopes that it will
tire the dog out. |
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Life Expectancy |
About 10-12 years. |
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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. |
Origin |
Some authors claim that the Kuvasz 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 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 Kuvasz
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. |
| Group |
Flock Guard, AKC Working |
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Recognition |
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, CKC, NKC, KCA, AKA, ANKC, APRI,
ACR |
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CKC = Continental
Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération
Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American
Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel
Club
CKC = Canadian
Kennel Club
NKC = National
Kennel Club
KCA = Kuvasz
Club of America
AKA = American
Kuvasz Association
ANKC = Australian
National Kennel Club
APRI = American Pet Registry
Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry |
Kuvasz Shirts!
Aidan, the Kuvasz with one of the male pups
Photo Courtesy of Kilde's Kennel
Nic with his Kuvasz guardians Beauty and Aidan
Photo Courtesy of Kilde's Kennel
Photo Courtesy of Kilde's Kennel
Photo Courtesy of Kilde's Kennel
Photo Courtesy of Kilde's Kennel
This is Tirza standing over Remi as a puppy.
Photo courtesy of Steve Kovacs.
This beautiful Kuvasz is named Denali.
Photo courtesy of Dogs & Designs.
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This is Denali at 8 weeks.
Photo courtesy of Dogs & Designs.
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