Kuvasz
Description
The Kuvasz early history is linked with that of a nomadic tribe of people called the Magyar from Tibet who traveled to the Carpathian Basin in Hungary, and conquered that region in 896. Guarding the flocks the Magyar brought with them was a Kuvasz type dog. The Kuvasz male stands between 28 to 30 in. tall and weighs between 100 and 115 lbs. Female Kuvasz stand between 26 to 28 in. tall and weigh between 70 and 90 lbs. They have a ultra thick coat that can be wavy or straight, and comes in one color…solid white.
Temperament
The Kuvasz is the guardian of his flock. He is extremely independent, and intelligent. Very courageous he makes a wonderful guard dog. The Kuvasz is not the Right dog for everyone, and he is most certainly not the dog for the first time dog owner or inexperienced dog owner. He will devote himself to his family and will defend them at all costs. This dog needs a large amount of socialization very early on if your going to have any success with him at all. The entire family will need to be strong pack leaders even the children in order for the dogs to know who is in charge. They will get along with their family but may not with anybody else…this includes other children as well. The Kuvasz was bred to work without any involvement from man and this makes them very hard to train. You will need to be calm, but strong when dealing with him.
Grooming/Exercise
The Kuvasz should be brushed on a weekly basis with a good stiff brush. This will help to keep his coat and skin healthy. The Kuvasz doesn’t really require washing as his coat seems to shed dirt. Washing him will destroy his coat making it necessary to wash him more often. The Kuvasz needs large amount of exercise. Long daily walks with you in charge as the pack leader. He cannot live in the city and it should never even been considered to live in a townhouse or apartment. He needs room to roam and will not tolerate being left tied up, and needs to be with his people, and have room to run.
Health
Life Expectancy is 10 to 12 years.
Possible Issues
- Hip Dysplasia (check the lineage of parents)
- Osteochondritis Dissecans (inflammation causing lameness in the shoulder joints)
- Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
- Skin Issues
- Allergic reactions
