| Kuvasz: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Kuvasz personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Kuvasz, including these excerpts:
"A cuddly white fluffball as a puppy, the Kuvasz matures into a bold, spirited dog, determined to protect those who are dear to him, even to the point of self-sacrifice.
This rugged breed deserves a roomy home with a spacious, securely fenced yard in the suburbs or country. He is content with daily walks and regular opportunities to stretch out for a romp, but he does play hard and needs room to amble about and patrol his territory.
Kuvasz are polite with accepted strangers, but rather suspicious and discriminating in making new friends. He needs early and ongoing socialization if his territorial instincts are to remain under control.
Kuvasz are gentle and patient with the children in his own family, but may become concerned and overprotective when neighborhood kids join in. Similarly, he may be amiable with the pets in his own family, yet think nothing of eradicating trespassing animals.
As a livestock guardian, it is part of this breed's genetic makeup to lead. You must establish yourself as the alpha (number one) so that he will turn the decision-making over to you.
He feels compelled to announce every strange person and sound, and his deep bark may disturb the neighbors, especially at night when he is most vigilant."
History
Hungarian rulers kept Kuvasz as personal bodyguards. His name comes from the Turkish word kawasz, which means "armed guard of the nobility." Later he was used by the village commoners as a livestock guardian.
Size
26-30 inches and 70-115 lbs |
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Kuvasz
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- Is large and rugged, resembling a majestic white bear
- Will protect your horses, llamas, sheep, goats, or chickens
- Can be found with a strong protective temperament, or a more easygoing mellow temperament
- Tends to be serious and steady, rather than playful and silly
- Is quiet indoors and content with moderate exercise
A Kuvasz may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- A very large dog who takes up a lot of space in your house and car
- A heavy dog who wants to sit on your feet, lie on your lap, and lean his weight against your leg
- Destructiveness when bored or left alone too much
- Aggression or fearfulness when not socialized enough
- Aggression toward animals who don't belong to his family
- Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
- Providing six-foot fences and lots of supervision to prevent wandering
- Deep booming barks, especially at night when he hears a sound
- Heavy shedding
- Legal liabilities (increased chance of lawsuits)
A Kuvasz may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Kuvasz... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing the proper balance of exercise. Young Kuvasz need enough exercise to keep them lean and healthy, but not so much that their soft growing bones, joints, and ligaments become over-stressed and damaged. Adult Kuvasz need more exercise to keep them in shape, but not in hot or humid weather for fear of overheating. The proper amount of exercise can be difficult to regulate in giant breeds.
Since you have to minimize their exercise, young Kuvasz can be very rambunctious. They will romp with uncoordinated gawkiness all over your house. You need to substitute extra quantities of companionship and supervision. Otherwise, left alone, young Kuvasz become bored and destructive -- and their powerful jaws can literally destroy your living room.
| Kuvasz are most satisfied when guarding livestock. You can substitute pulling a cart or sled, or backpacking, or a similar canine activity, but if you simply want a pet for your family, I do not recommend this breed. Kuvasz were never intended to be simply household pets. |
- Providing enough socialization. Kuvasz need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then they can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally. Without careful socialization, they may be suspicious of everyone, which could lead to biting. Some Kuvasz go in the opposite direction -- without enough socialization, they become fearful of strangers, which can lead to defensive biting.
| If you have small children, I do not recommend a Kuvasz puppy. Young Kuvasz (up to about three years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people. There can also be problems if a Kuvasz tries to protect his own children from other children, which could lead to tragedy if kids are simply roughhousing and the Kuvasz decides to stop it. With such a massive dog, you can see the potential risk. |
- Animal aggression. Most Kuvasz will treat the pets in their own family as members of their flock. But they have strong instincts to drive away animals who do not belong to their family. Many Kuvasz are dominant or aggressive toward dogs they don't know. Many do not get along with cats. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, handling, or management of this breed, it is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.
| To keep your Kuvasz in, and to keep other animals out, fences should be high, with wire sunk into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality locks. |
- Heavy shedding. Kuvasz shed a LOT. You'll find hair and fur all over your clothing, upholstery, carpeting, under your furniture, on your countertops -- even in your food. Frequent vacuuming will become a way of life. Make sure you're REALLY up for this.
- The strong temperament. Kuvasz are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They can be manipulative, and some are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
| To teach your Kuvasz to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Kuvasz Training Page discusses the program you need. |
- Noise. Unless you live on a farm or ranch away from close neighbors, Kuvasz should never be left outside in your yard, unsupervised. Their booming barks will have your neighbors calling the cops to report the nuisance -- or perhaps letting your Kuvasz out of his yard so he'll wander away.
| Frankly, most Kuvasz are "too much dog" for the average household. This is a serious working dog with tremendous strength. Very few people really have the knowledge or skills necessary to manage this breed, or to provide the activities that keep him most satisfied. |
| Not all Kuvasz are alike! |
- There are energetic Kuvasz, and placid Kuvasz.
- Hard-headed Kuvasz, and sweet-natured Kuvasz.
- Serious Kuvasz, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Kuvasz, and Kuvasz who love everyone.
| If you acquire a Kuvasz puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
| If you're considering an adult Kuvasz... |
There are plenty of adult Kuvasz who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2008 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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