Dog Breeds :: Kuvasz

Owning
Your Kuvasz will need lots of exercise. The Kuvasz sheds all the time. Because of his natural guarding instinct the Kuvasz will be very protective of his family and very suspicious of strangers.

Temperament
A spirited dog of keen intelligence, determination, courage and curiosity. Very sensitive to praise and blame. Primarily a one-family dog. Devoted, gentle and patient without being overly demonstrative. Always ready to protect loved ones even to the point of self-sacrifice. Extremely strong instinct to protect children. Polite to accepted strangers, but rather suspicious and very discriminating in making new friends. Unexcelled guard, possessing ability to act on his own initiative at just the right moment without instruction. Bold, courageous and fearless. Untiring ability to work and cover rough terrain for long periods of time. Has good scent and has been used to hunt game.

Did you know?
In the fifteenth century the Kuvasz was kept in the court of King Matthias, who claimed to trust only his Kuvasz dogs and not people. Known in many countries, it was in Hungary that the Kuvasz developed into the form in which he is seen today. He still is a big dog, but he is not the giant of ancient times. According to von Stephanitz, the great German authority on all Central European breeds, the Kuvasz is related to the Komondor, which had been brought from the Russian steppes by the Huns. Its name in Turkish means "safekeeper." The word Kuvasz comes from the Sumerian word Kuassa. This word has been found inscribed in cuneiform on boards excavated from a number of ancient Sumerian cities. The oldest is about 7,000 years old. The first letters, KU, are from an old Sumerian word for dog, kudda, which means the animal that gives the tail. Assa means horse. The Kuassa was a dog that guarded and ran alongside horses and horsemen.

AKC Recommends
The American Kennel Club recommends that anyone interested in a breed should take the time to thoroughly learn about that breed, talk to responsible and knowledgeable breeders and seek out the resources of the AKC national club formed by individuals devoted to preserving and protecting their breed for future generations. The AKC offers links to the official national Club of this breed - the club's officers, breeder referral, and breed rescue contact persons.