Description

This big dog has almond shaped eyes, floppy ears, and sturdy, muscular build. Despite their size, they are elegant and move swiftly, with a gliding, tireless trot. The Kuvasz is neither bulky nor skinny, but perfectly in between these extremes. These dogs exude strength and endurance. The chest protrudes slightly; the back is strong and slightly sloping towards the tail, with higher shoulders.

Origin: Hungary

Look

The Kuvasz has a characteristic fuzzy white coat. The outer coat of guard hairs is more waterproof, and the dense undercoat is fuzzy to keep the dog warm. The fur can be curly, straight, or somewhere in between.  The fur on the head, paws, muzzle, and ears is shorter, while the longer fur on the neck forms a huge fuzzy mane. The forelegs are feathered on the back, with shorter hair on the front. The Kuvasz usually sheds his/her beautiful long coat in hot weather, and only cold weather will bring back the dense white hair. This breed sheds heavily, and need proper brushing and grooming to keep their coats in good condition.

Health

While generally a healthy and long-lived breed, the Kuvasz can suffer from one or more of the following health issues:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Bloat
• Osteochondritis dissecans
• Von Willebrand’s Disease

At Newdoggy.com, we recommend that you buy your dog from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines.

Learning

Who’s clever? This dog! The Kuvasz is a very intelligent dog, originally bred to guard and protect livestock. They are also independent, brave, very determined, almost to the point of stubbornness, and are incredibly loyal and loving to their family. The downside of these traits is that the Kuvasz can be difficult to train. It’s best to start early with this breed, and to be patient, as the Kuvasz matures slowly and is very sensitive. Puppy classes and early socialisation are very beneficial for these dogs.

Temperament

Like many livestock guardian breeds, the Kuvasz is independent and stoic. They think for themselves, and can prove stubborn at time: this is not a dog for a novice. Firm but sensitive training, paired with early socialisation, will help your Kuvasz to grow up to be a good canine citizen. Their loyalty and courage can make them over-protective of their family, and it’s important to teach them not to be aggressive to strangers. Even a well-trained Kuvasz tend to be aloof and reserved with strangers: they reserve their affection for their family. With their family, the Kuvasz reveals his/her softer side and is playful, sweet, and even goofy at times.

Living with

As mentioned before, this is not a dog for a first-time owner. They are independent and bold, and need firm but patient training to get them to be their best selves. With the right handling and socialisation, the Kuvasz will reward you with loyalty and affection. The Kuvasz is a loyal guardian, and make a fantastic watchdog, though their tendency to bark may be annoying. Older dogs are gentle with children, but a younger Kuvasz may be too rough for little children to enjoy playing with. The Kuvasz tends to be protective, so teach him to respect visitors and new people. The Kuvasz is not very dog friendly, and will probably be happier as the only pet. They have a lot of stamina, and need to be exercised properly: this is not a dog that can be tossed into the back garden to exercise itself. Daily walks and playtime will keep your Kuvasz fit and happy.