Kuvasz

General Information - Kuvasz

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History

Kuvasz in Turkish means protector. The Kuvasz was mainly known as a sheepdog throughout the medieval period. Many of these dogs were trained to hunt big game such as bear and wild boar. The first written reference to the Kuvasz comes in the 16th century. Later the Kuvasz became popular as a village flock guardian. The breed may have contributed to the development of several similar looking sheep guard dogs, such as the Polish Tatra Sheepdog, the Marema Sheepdog, the Great Pyrenees and the Anatolian Shepherd. Hungarian herdsmen took their cattle, along with their guard dogs, to sell in several foreign lands. Along the way, their dogs may have bred with local dogs. Some animals may have been left behind when their jobs were finished. By the end of the Second World War, only about thirty Kuvasz remained in the world. The dedication of several breeders resulted in the resurrection of this noble breed. Today this beautiful dog serves primarily as a companion and home guardian, in addition to its historical flock-guarding role.

Temperament

The Kuvasz is a courageous dog with great intelligence. Because of its size and ancestral work, it needs early socialisation and training. It does have a special affinity with children and will be quite protective; it forms a strong and devoted bond with its family.

Upkeep

The Kuvasz needs daily exercise and enjoys a long walk or good run in a safe area. It especially enjoys cold weather and can live outdoors in temperate to cool climates. It does best when allowed access to both house and yard. Its coat needs brushing one or two times weekly, more often during heavy shedding periods.

Kuvasz

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - Kuvasz

Translated by: Mrs A Mitchell from the French & German versions. Please

General Appearance: The Kuvasz is a tall dog. This breed's pleasing appearance denotes both nobility and strength. The various parts of its body are well proportioned, not too long and not too short. Musculation is dry, bone structure strong but not coarse. Angulations are dry. Legs stand straight. Deep chest with slightly sloping croup indicating great endurance for work. Rectangular in form - almost square. Strong teeth. Its white coat with thick, wavy hair is a characteristic of the breed.

Characteristics: The thick, wavy, white coat.

Temperament: It is a faithful dog, affectionate but not demonstrative [not fawning]. An excellent guard, with a very keen nose. In the past it hunted wolves and wild boar. It is of undoubted courage and boldness.

Head and Skull: The head of the Kuvasz, full of nobility and strength, is one of the most attractive features of the breed. It is elongated without being angular, of moderate width and of fair length. Moderately pronounced frontal extends to the foreface. Eyebrows moderately pronounced with slight stop. The foreface is broad, long and strong with straight muzzle, narrowing towards the nose but not becoming snipy. The nose is black, as are the eyelids and lips.

Eyes: Set obliquely; almond shaped; dark brown in colour; occasionally the expression may be not over friendly. Eyelids must be tight.

Ears: The ears, in the shape of a V, are set high on a horizontal line. Their upper third stands slightly away from the head at the base and then lies flat and close to the head for the rest of their length. When the dog is alert, the ears are raised without being pricked.

Mouth: Strong, well:developed and regular teeth. Scissors bite. Tight, well closed lips to the corner of the mouth. The roof of the mouth is dark, the tongue bright red.

Neck: The neck forms an angle of 25-30% from the horizontal; it is of medium length or rather short, strongly muscled. No dewlap.

Forequarters: Forelegs straight and vertical. Long upper arms with dry muscles attached to the wrist by strong tendons. Angulations are dry. Pasterns are at angle of 45% with the horizontal.

Body: Deep chest, neither too deep nor too rounded. Long, sloping shoulders. Well placed elbows, neither loose nor too tight. The withers are long and prominent above the topline. The back is of medium length and short coupled. The slightly sloping croup is strongly muscled and broad; the very thick covering of hair often gives the illusion of a croup raised above the back. The brisket is well let down, long but not too broad. The prominent forechest is formed by the sternum and the well developed muscles which are attached to it. The underline is well tucked up.

Hindquarters: The hind legs are long. The angle of the upper thigh and the hip bone is about 90%, the angle of the stifle joint is from 110 - 120% and the angle of the hock joint is from 130 - 140%. Upper and lower thighs are strongly muscled. The hock joint is broad, long and powerful. The rear pastern is vertical.

Feet: Round, tightly closed. There is a little hair between the toes. Supple pads. The hind feet are longer than the front but also well closed. Nails are strong and slate grey in colour. Dewclaws must be removed.

Tail: Set low and continuing in line with the croup, reaching to the hocks where it forms a slight hook; it must not be ringed. When the dog is excited, it lifts its tail above the back.

Gait/movement: The walk is slow and purposeful. The trot is sidelong [crabbing] and energetic. The Kuvasz is capable of trotting without strain for a distance of 25-30km.

Coat: The head, ears and feet are covered with short, straight hair, lying flat and close, about 1-2cm [1/2 -1 in] in length.
The coat is also short on the front and sides of the front legs as well as on the insides of the hind legs. On the body, back of the legs and the tail, it is wavy and of medium length (4-14cm [2-5 ½ ins]). It forms crests, waves and whirls but does not felt. The texture is rather harsh. The undercoat is woolly and finer than the topcoat. Around the neck the coat forms a ruff which extends like a necktie as far as the chest. The legs have feathering about 5-8 cm [2-3ins] in length. The whole length of the tail is covered with abundant, wavy hair, longer on the lower side (10-15cm [4-6ins]). Puppies have a shining, thick, wavy or smooth coat.

Colour: The skin is well-pigmented and steel grey in colour. The pigmentation of the stomach must be even and dark. Pigmentation in patches is tolerated. The coat is white. Ivory is tolerated.

Size: Height at the withers - Dogs 73 - 75 cm [28 - 29 ½ ins]. Bitches 66 - 70 cm [26 - 27 ½ ins]. The relative measurements of the various parts of the body, expressed as percentages of the height at the withers, are as follows:

	Standard	Acceptable
Length of the body	104%	108-110%
Depth of chest	48%	52-58%
Width of chest	28%	-
Circumference of chest	120%	125-130%
Length of head	45%	-

The length of the muzzle corresponds to 42% (often 50%) of the total length of the head, the length of the ears to 50% of the length of the head.

Weight: Dogs 40 - 52 kg [90 - 115lbs]Bitches 30 - 42 kg [70 - 95 lbs]

Faults: Any departures from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportions to its degree.

• Soft constitution. Distrustful expression.
• Short muzzle; skull too domed. Eyebrows insufficiently developed.
• Yellow eyes. Loose eyelids and hanging lips.
• Ears lying flat and close to the head or thrown back.
• Long neck. Broad chest, wide shoulders.
• Insufficient pigmentation of the skin (light grey). Coat yellow or flecked with yellow.

Serious Faults:

• Stop too pronounced.
• Erect ears
• Under or overshot.
• Ring tail, carried above the loin when relaxed.
• Wiry or felty coat.
• The whole colour other than white. Height at the withers - Weight above 60kg [135lbs] less than 65 cm [28ins] for the male and less than 60 cm [24 ins] for the female (leads to de-registration [in the country])

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normally developed testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.