Kuvasz

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Breed Details

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Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Kuvasz is probably one of the oldest of all breeds. Some says that the Kuvasz has been known since 200 B.C., at the age of the Huns. Other says that it was used as a sheepdog and accompanied the Turkish refugees in Hungary when the Mongols invaded them in 1200.In the fifteenth century, the Kuvasz was often given as royal gifts.

The King Matyas is said that he only trusted his Kuvasz dogs and not humans. After the King's death, the dog returned to being only a sheepdog. Many have been trained to hunt bears and wild boars.

This breed may have contributed to several sheepdog breeds like the Great Pyrenees, the Anatolian Shepherd, the Marema Sheepdog and the Tatra Sheepdog.

After World War II, there was only 30 Kuvasz left in the world, but with the perseverance of many breeders, the Kuvasz has been repopulated in Hungary.

Color

They commonly come in pure white.

Coat

The Kuvasz's coat is very thick and wavy or straight. Short and smooth hairs cover the paws, muzzle, head and ears. The body and side of the thighs are covered with medium length hairs while the neck hairs are very long. Short hairs are found on the thighs and on the front of the forelegs to the elbow. The back of the forelegs have hairs of 2 to 3 inches long and the back of the thighs and the tails are covered with 4 to 6 inches hairs.

Personality

At first sight, this independent dog seems reserved. However, you need to establish confidence to discover a joyful and playing dog. Brave, loyal and devoted, the Kuvasz would die to protect his family or what's under its responsibility. Strong, bold, fearless and very territorial, this dog has a high protective instinct. That's why it's used as a herder or guardian of the flock. The Kuvasz is suspicious of strangers and will make his own decisions about who he will accept as a friend. This is not a god dog for children. It can be gentle and patient with the family children, but you may not leave it alone with children to prevent accidental injury. This breed usually doesn't accept other pets especially other male dogs.

Care

Before buying a puppy, you should check with the breeder to make sure that the parents have hip clearance because they prone to hip dysplasia. This breed can also have osteochondritis dissecans, a disease that causes an inflammation of the shoulder joints. You should also pay attention to hypertrophic osteodystrophy, skin problems and allergies. To avoid a matted coat, the Kuvasz should be brushed weekly. This breed doesn't need bathing. Bathing will remove the natural oils of its coat that normally sheds dirt. The more this dog is bathed, the more he will need to be bathed. Instead, it should be brushed frequently to remove dirt. In cold climates, it sheds twice a year. In warmer climates, it sheds all year!

Training

To calm its high protective instinct, this dog must be socialized at a very young age. This breed needs experienced trainers that know how to be firm and dominant. Suspicious of strangers, they should be taught to accept the family's friends. The Kuvasz has been bred to work apart of the men, so it is not easy to obedience train. This dog must never be treated harshly. The family members should all learn how to handle the dog. If you want to train it to livestock guarding, the key is to have an experienced older dog to teach the puppy.

Activity

The Kuvasz needs a lot of exercise to help stop him from digging all over the yard.