Kuvasz

The Kuvasz is a large dog, slightly longer than tall, and has dark, almond-shaped eyes, dropped ears, and a long, furry tail. This dog is strong, sturdy, and well-muscled. This ancient breed is recognized and registered in nearly all major cynology associations and has a full breed standard in place.

Care and grooming

These dogs do not require too much care and grooming. The Kuvasz’s coat is naturally without a scent and repelling water as well as dirt, so there is no reason you should bathe them too often. Bathing them regularly can cause more problems because their coat will lose its natural protective oils and will only make your dog get dirty quicker and more often.

You should get your dog used to grooming, especially brushing as early as possible. They have a thick coat, and regular brushing should be a must.

FUN FACT: Kuvaszok lose a lot of their hair during the summer. Still, they can have trouble in extreme heat. Make sure your Kuvasz always has access to fresh water and plenty of shade.

Keep in mind that, except for dirt, this dog sheds a lot of hair also. These dogs shed heavily, especially during shedding seasons (in the spring and the fall).

FUN FACT: A lot of people clean their dog’s coat by sprinkling talcum powder or cornstarch into the coat and then simply brush the dirt out of the coat.

The rest is basic care – trim your dog’s nails regularly, trim the fur between the toes, brush the dog’s teeth, and occasionally check (and clean) the dog's ears.

Energy level

Kuvaszok were bred as working dogs, and they love to have a job. These dogs are used to be active all day long. Make sure to give your Kuvasz dog enough daily exercise. Moderate daily exercise is enough for these dogs, but as Kuvasz are massive dogs they are not suited for apartments without access to a large yard surrounded by a solid fence.

Long walks during the day and the possibility to play and roam around some more around the yard are an ideal combination for this breed. If not exercised properly (and left alone for too long), Kuvaszok can get destructive or aggressive.

This dog grows fast and may develop joint problems, so never over-exercise a young, growing puppy.

Behavior and socialization

The Kuvasz is an extremely intelligent but challenging breed. The Kuvasz is slow to mature, strong-willed, and can be aloof and unresponsive to the owner’s commands. This, combined with their size and strength, makes these dogs not suited for an inexperienced owner. The owner/trainer must be positive, persistent, and consistent.

This dog responds well to praise and rewards, especially to tasty treats. These dogs were genetically predisposed to be leaders, so the owner must establish himself as a leader from day one. Socialization is an essential part of the training. Exposing the dog to different sounds, sights, animals, and people helps him to become well-adjusted. This dog can be overly-suspicious, timid, or aggressive if not socialized properly, especially with new people. Towards other animals, they are often dominant or aggressive.

They have a strong instinct to drive away any animal that does not belong to their flock (family). They also have strong territorial instincts; they are extremely devoted to their family and are fierce in protecting the family and their property. If they were raised together, the Kuvasz will be highly protective and gentle with the family’s children. However, dogs this big should never be left unsupervised with small children.

FUN FACT: These dogs bark on anything that they consider to be a threat. They have deep, booming barks that can drive you (and your neighbors) crazy.

Health problems

The Kuvasz has a lifespan of 10-12 years. They generally live a long and healthy life, but, as all the breeds are, the Kuvasz is also prone to certain health conditions. These health conditions are

• hip dysplasia, 
• osteochondritis dissecans (OCD – a joint disorder often seen in young, fast-growing dogs of larger breeds),
• bloat, 
• von Willebrand's Disease (an inherited blood clotting disorder),
• progressive retinal atrophy (PRA - an inherited disease of the retina), etc.

Kuvasz breeders

Always buy a puppy from a reputable breeder who will answer all of your questions, and will show you health clearances from the puppy’s parents and siblings. An important thing to do if you are interested in this breed is that you have to make sure that a Kuvasz fits your lifestyle. It is a specific breed with a specific character and needs, and you have to make sure that you have sufficient time to invest in raising your dog.

FUN FACT: For a dog so large, the Kuvasz needs surprisingly little food.

World Dog Finder team

This dog breed might as well be the oldest of old Hungarian dog breeds. The other two are, of course, the Komodor and the Puli. Some canine historians believe that the Kuvasz arrived with the old tribes that invaded Hungarian territories nearly 12 centuries ago. Some disagree and say that these tribes simply adopted dogs that were already there when they invaded.

Their name most likely derived from the word “kawasz” a Turkish word that roughly translates to “bodyguard”. This is the most widely accepted theory, although there is another that claims that their name comes from the Sumerian expression “ku assa”. That expression referred to dogs that were used as guardians and “ran alongside men and horses.”

We still cannot be entirely sure about their origin, but we know that by the 15th century, these dogs had an impeccable reputation as guard dogs among Hungarian royalty and noblemen. The most famous among them was King Matias I. He was an old Hungarian king that was crowned in 1464, and at that time, he was only 15 years old. From a very young age, King Matias I was considered a wise military strategist and king.

His army was one of just a few that managed to fight off the Ottomans and expand Hungarian territory. The young king had a difficult time even at his palace and was betrayed by his family many times. He couldn’t trust anyone. The only thing he put his trust in was his loyal Kuzasz. It is said that he used to take his dog everywhere he went and felt safe as long as his dog was with him.

King Matias I was so fond of these dogs that he organized large kennels that were home to hundreds and hundreds of Kuvasz dogs. He had many uses for them except the guarding of people and estates. These dogs were also used for hunting and guarding livestock. He even used them as official gifts when guests and emissaries from other countries came to visit. Because of that, the Kuvaszok became very popular across Europe.

One of the most famous noblemen that came to visit King Matias I was the aforementioned Prince of Wallachia, Vlad Dracula. Vlad became a vassal to King Matias I and had a complicated relationship with him over the years. At one point, Vlad was imprisoned by King Matias. He remained locked for many years. After his release, Prince Vlad married a relative of King Matias, and as a wedding gift, he gave Prince Vlad and his bride two Kuvaszok.

After the death of King Matias I, this breed couldn’t keep its high position among the nobility and royal families. They were, however, still used for guarding duties.

This breed was mostly a working breed until the 1800s when breeders started getting interested in them and decided that they would standardize the breed and take control of the quality and breeding. 40 years later, these dogs became the most popular large breed across the western part of Europe as well as Hungary.

The hardest time for this breed, like many other dog breeds, was during World War II. We already mentioned that this breed nearly went extinct as many of them were killed by Nazi soldiers for trying to defend their families and property.

At the end of the war, less than 30 pureblooded dogs were left in their native land. The Soviets that occupied Hungary weren’t too keen on dog breeding as they saw it as a hobby of the rich. The Soviet socialist regime used to punish breeders because they viewed them as aristocrats.

Hungarian people staged a large revolution in 1956 and freed themselves of the Soviets. Slowly the life conditions became better, and the quality of life returned to Hungary. With that, these dogs started to regain their former glory, and their numbers were once again on the rise.

Breeding Clubs across the world have been set up, and the breeding process was carefully conducted. However, the consequences of the decimation of this breed weren’t left unnoticed, and the remaining gene pool was extremely small. Some breeders decided to introduce different breeds to the Kuvasz to avoid inbreeding and to save this breed from extinction. 

Their first public dog show participation was in 1883 when the famous Count d'Esterházy, a Kuvasz enthusiast and lover, decided to show two dogs at a Vienna dog show. A year later, the first breed standard was put in place.