Kuvasz Fanciers of America

Presents

THE

HUNGARIAN KUVASZ

It is our great pleasure to introduce you to one of the oldest and most fascinating dog breeds in the world, Canis familiarus undulans hungaricus, the "Hungarian wavy-coated dog." A proud and highly intelligent dog, the beautiful white Hungarian Kuvasz is first and foremost a bold and powerful guardian. This intensely self-assured, strong-willed breed has performed for thousands of years as a livestock protector, bodyguard, and steadfast companion.

 It is important to do as much research as possible before bringing a Kuvasz into your life. If the Kuvasz is wrong for you but you insist upon having one anyway, prepare yourself for misery, for the Kuvasz you buy on impulse will steal your heart and then break it when you have to find it a better home. Many people are still grieving, years and years after giving up their beloved but ill-chosen Kuvasz. Yet if this magnificent guarding dog is right for you and your family, being loved and protected by a Kuvasz will be the most wonderful and unforgettable experience you will ever have with an animal. 

 In these FAQs, we'll tell you about the history of the Hungarian Kuvasz and the challenges the breed faces today. We'll talk about selecting, raising, and training this most unique of all breeds. And we'll answer some tough questions about the Kuvasz as honestly as we can. If we talk you out of buying a Kuvasz, that's okay. Remember, the decision to invite a Kuvasz into your life is only the first of many choices the Kuvasz owner will need to make; some delightful, some difficult. We want to help you make those choices the right ones for you and your Kuvasz.

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HISTORY

The Hungarian Kuvasz is a member of the American Kennel Club's Working Group. The plural of Kuvasz [KOO-voss] is Kuvaszok [KOO-voss-SOCK]. Descended from the Arabian wolf, the Kuvasz may be the most ancient of all dog breeds and is considered to be the ancestor of the Tibetan Mastiff. Great Pyrenees, Samoyed. Maremma, Anatolian Shepherd, Akbash. Karabash, Tatra, Cuvac, Shar Plantnetz, and other breeds of Asiatic origin. Archaeological evidence places a dog of Kuvasz appearance in what is today North Iraq in 6600 BC, although the Kuvasz is thought to have existed as early as 9000 BC.

Several implausible theories have been published regarding the origin of the Kuvasz and its name. Although the version published by the American "parent" club, Kuvasz Club of America, claims that the Kuvasz is of Sumerian origin, this hypothesis is historically and culturally impossible and has been dismissed for at least thirty years. Factually, the breed borrowed its name from the ancient farmers of Russia, the Chuvash, who nurtured the Kuvasz for centuries and contributed many words pertaining to agriculture to the Hungarian language. 

The Kuvasz arrived with nomadic tribes in Hungary's Carpathian Basin in 896 AD. It was used and bred first by herdsmen and shepherds, and later by Hungarian nobility. The kuvasz is mentioned in the Toldi stanza of the three hundred year old Epics of the Hungarian Plain by János Arany. This poetry is based on written sources, medieval chronicles, and oral family history. It is translated by Anton N. Nyerges. 

The most notable benefactor and breeder of the Kuvasz was the renowned and beloved King Mátyás, who ruled renaissance Hungary from 1458 - 1490. According to legend, King Mátyás kept at least one Kuvasz beside him at all times for protection from assassins. He also used packs of Kuvasz for hunting large game on his estates. Specially selected puppies from the king's breeding kennels were given to favored noble visitors.  

Returning Harvesters 1881 Oil on canvas, 94,5 x 131 cm Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest DEÁK-ÉBNER, Lajos (1850, Pest - 1934, Budapest)

Centuries after the reign of King Mátyás, the Kuvasz remained the most popular of the unique native Hungarian dog breeds. Rural folk pooled their money and bought pairs of these expensive dogs to protect their entire village from bandits. In early twentieth-century Hungary, Kuvasz police dogs replaced foreign, less formidable breeds.

Countess Nákó 1855 Oil on canvas, 127 x 106 cm Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest AMERLING, Friedrich von (1803, Vienna - 1887, Vienna)

Sadly, a noble heritage and many devoted admirers could not protect the Kuvasz from the devastations of two world wars. Many heartbreaking accounts are told of these courageous dogs gallantly protecting their property, livestock, and families only to be shot by invading soldiers. Of those few who escaped slaughter, most later died of starvation in postwar food shortages. Hostile ethnic groups in neighboring countries massacred hapless local Kuvaszok for being "Hungarian.' When breeders within Hungary were able at last to salvage the breed in the early 1950s, only twelve surviving Kuvasz could be found in the entire country, and all registration records had been destroyed

Tibetan with his "deer dog" in the 1930's

 

Search for references to "kuvasz" in these articles about Hungarian culture:

Symbols of the Hungarian National Identity

Fact Sheets On Hungary

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HUNGARIAN TYPE

Prior to World War I, the Hungarian Kuvasz was a fashionable breed not just at home but also abroad, and many were exported to Germany. As wars and bitterness separated the two countries, the German population of Kuvaszok became isolated from its Hungarian source. Lack of communication led to confusion. The hallmark undulans wavy coat of the Kuvasz was erroneously believed to indicate a Komondor-Kuvasz mongrel, leading to a pathetically ironic series of blunders. German breeders almost certainly introduced Great Pyrenees dogs into their Kuvasz breeding programs to "remedy" what they misinterpreted as type faults, resulting in straight coats and byproduct Great Pyrenees structure and appearance. Compounding the problem, desperate Hungarian breeders imported and used a few phenotypically correct German Kuvasz during their efforts to salvage the breed after World War II. Within a few years, the Hungarians realized that their indiscriminate use of German Kuvasz had created a new problem: compromised type. Through judicious breeding. most of the damage was ultimately corrected and the historically typical Kuvasz is thriving again not just in its native land, but also in Germany and other countries. Dr. András Kovács discusses this in his paper "The Kuvasz".

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 ONE KUVASZ

Q: When I went to an American Kennel Club dog show, I became very confused. The dogs competing in the Kuvasz ring looked like two or three different breeds. Are there several varieties of Kuvasz?

A: There is only one real Hungarian Kuvasz and it cannot be intelligently mistaken for any other dog breed. Bred to chase, fight, and trot all day, it is a big, tall dog, but not a giant breed: its body is wolflike and rectangular, with lean musculature, medium bone size, and long legs. Traditionally an outdoor sentry, the Kuvasz has an insulating double coat, harsh on the outside, soft and woolly beneath. A natural, unexaggerated breed, there is no dewclaw removal, tail-docking, ear trimming, or other alteration to its appearance.

Although white animals are revered as benevolent spirits in Hungarian folklore, the creamy-white color of the Kuvasz coat evolved for more pragmatic reasons. Historically, the journey of the Kuvasz across Euroasia closely followed the journey of the domesticated sheep. To be accepted rather than feared by sheep, the Kuvasz was bred to be sheep-like not just in size and general appearance but also in color.

Furthermore, for its own safety the Kuvasz on guard had to be visible to the herdsman at night, in order to distinguish it from wolves or other predators. Finally, the medium-length coat of the Kuvasz was more than practical: it was beautiful. Wavy, harsh, odorless, and non-matting, its coat repelled dirt and water, requiring no special care to remain attractive. In conjunction with its contrasting dark, weather resistant skin pigmentation, this rough yet luminous coat made the Kuvasz not just a hardy worker, but an object of pride and admiration.

The Hungarian Kuvasz has an elegant, wedge-shaped head, whose distinguishing length is nearly half the height of the dog at the withers. The bridge of the muzzle is level, the top skull is flat, the ears are high-set and triangular, and the eyes are dark and slanted. Seen in profile, the planes of the bridge of the muzzle and the top of the skull are identical, and there is a characteristically subtle, almost invisible curve rising from the muzzle through the gentle forehead to the top of the skull.

 A sexually dimorphic breed, the male Kuvasz is masculine and when mature develops a "lion's mane" around the chest; the female Kuvasz is feminine, with a more finely chiseled head and smaller bone size. The minimum height at the top of the shoulders of the male is 26," with a weight of 90 pounds. The minimum height of the female is 24," with a weight of 70 pounds. However, many Kuvasz are considerably taller and heavier, occasionally reaching great size. Unlike other Kuvasz breed standards, there is no upper limit on height or weight in the American Kennel Club standard. 

1980 photo of Charles Fabo with the outstanding sire Am./Can. Ch. Budagyongye Opal, B.I.S. and his daughter Csilla

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HISTORY OF THE STANDARDS

During its glory days, the Kuvasz gained favor in the United States. It was accepted for registry by the American Kennel Club in 1931, but due to the Depression and World War II, puppies were infrequently produced and the population failed to stabilize until importation resumed in the 1960s. However, obtaining a Kuvasz from behind what was then Hungary's Iron Curtain presented substantial difficulties for North Americans. Importing a less-than-typical Kuvasz from Western Europe was much easier, and most Kuvasz in Canada and the United States during the period prior to 1970 derived primarily from German and Austrian bloodlines. 

Judge examining the bite at a 1970's dog show in Hungary

 There are three Kuvasz standards used worldwide: the current English translation of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) standard provided by the Hungarian Kennel Club, Magyar Ebtenyésztök Országos Egyesülete (MEOE), and used everywhere except Canada and the United States, the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) standard, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) standard.

Although the breed was in virtual infancy in the United States in the 1970s and almost all of its owners were newcomers to the breed, Kuvasz Club of America was formed, recognized as the "parent" Kuvasz club by AKC. In 1974 a standards committee of KCA was allowed to formulate, and control the Kuvasz breed standard, the ideal by which kuvasz would be judged in the AKC show ring for decades to come. This version deviates from the Hungarian breed standard in several significant ways. It sanctions the improper straight coat first produced in Germany, yet by generic definition [Canis familiarus undulans hungaricus], a straight-coated dog cannot be a Kuvasz. It describes the transition from the muzzle to the top of the skull - the stop - as "defined." in direct opposition to the Hungarian FCI standard description of virtually no stop at all. It corrupts Kuvasz body structure and rear joint angulation, condones a weak bite, and until 1995 disqualified the natural creamy white color of the coat.

Contrary to its promise to "protect" Kuvaszok and "bring their natural qualities to perfection," the Kuvasz Club of America AKC Kuvasz standard was clearly modified to describe the dogs its authors owned in the 1970s rather than the true Kuvasz of Hungary.

Although the Hungarians and modern-day Germans have demonstrated that old type faults can be corrected, several breeders in Canada and the United States have chosen to perpetuate them instead. Dogs produced by these breeders usually have long straight coats which are often made unnaturally white and voluminous by bleaching and blow-drying. Their bone size is large, with square body shape, excessive rear joint angulation, and shortened legs. Instead of the harmonious wedges and parallel planes of the true Kuvasz head, theirs are coarse and unbalanced, with broad muzzles, prominent foreheads and domed skulls. Ears are low-set, and bizarre sideburns sometimes extend from the cheeks. Some of these 'Pyrvasz' dogs are born with double dewclaws, and most can easily be mistaken for Great Pyrenees of equally poor type. Dogs of this appearance would be disqualified and barred from breeding in Hungary. However, American dog judges are required to consult only the AKC standard when selecting their winners. No wonder we see "different breeds" competing in the Kuvasz show ring.

A real Kuvasz does not look like a cuddly teddy bear: it looks tough, alert, agile, and ready for action... like a wolf.

Our hope is that as the international kuvasz community shares more information about their dogs through the Internet and by attending international shows, the kuvasz owner in North America will demand dogs that are true to traditional Hungarian type. Combined with the modern diagnostic tests to eliminate genetic diseases, our breed will face a bright future if nurtured by clubs, breeders, and owners dedicated to preserving what the ancient Magyars have given us.  

A working dog in Hungary today Notice the dog is chained to the tree and wears a collar of iron spikes	The photographer gets too close

 PERSONALITY

The Kuvasz is bold, strong-willed, arrogant, clever, independent and manipulative, and is not suited for the nonassertive owner. For thousands of years, it has been used for predator control and as a bodyguard. Because of these traditional duties, the Kuvasz personality is unique. Training techniques and care will differ according to the purpose the dog will serve.

 

If the Kuvasz will be a companion (and this includes the show dog}, early obedience training and vigorous socialization are critical. If your lifestyle is too busy to allow you ample time to pursue these activities with your puppy, the Kuvasz is not for you. It is a one-family dog, fiercely loyal and devoted to its owners, but aggressively territorial and suspicious of strangers. The Kuvasz is very strong, very fast, very tough and very stubborn, yet with its own family is calm, playful, clownish, and affectionate.

 Despite its rugged exterior. the Kuvasz is extremely sensitive and forms deep and enduring emotional attachments to its loved ones. For this reason,. ownership of a Kuvasz must be considered a serious and permanent commitment, and care should be taken to include the companion Kuvasz in family home life and activities.

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Q: How hard is it to obedience train a Kuvasz?

A: Kuvaszok are deviously clever and will attempt to modify or neutralize your training efforts if you bore them with mindless repetition. Use your imagination to vary your practice routine, and persevere! Although they prefer to have their fun in activities of their own invention, Kuvaszok are highly intelligent and are intriguing to train if the owner is more stubborn and persistent than the dog. Due to their independent and imperious natures, Kuvaszok aren't candidates for obedience stardom like Golden Retrievers or Border Collies, but they can excel if they are motivated. Some are motivated by praise and some are motivated by food. Some are eager to please and are devastated by a stern vocal reprimand; others are as cooperative as a dirt clod. Consistency, patience, a sense of humor, and a generous reward system are the most effective tools when training a Kuvasz. Harsh or unfair training methods will not be tolerated or forgotten by this proud dog, who will always associate training with punishment and misery if handled unjustly.

It is essential that you begin obedience training your puppy prior to six months of age in a GROUP class. Puppies are ready to train in a sanitary environment when they are eight weeks old. Private in-home training or "boarding school" are not suitable for the Kuvasz personality and won't accomplish the desired objective. Your puppy needs to learn to obey you, not a stranger, and needs to learn to behave politely around other dogs. And you need to learn how to properly train your Kuvasz. 

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HEALTH CONCERNS

Almost all Kuvasz live long, healthy lives. But like all large dog breeds, the Kuvasz is at risk for orthopedic diseases like hip dysplasia (HD) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), both of which commonly result in mild to severe lameness and arthritic remodeling of the hip, shoulder, or knee joints. Excessive weight gain, the addition of Vitamin D and/or calcium to the diet, and skeletal or muscle injuries in growing puppies increase the likelihood of occurrence and severity of both these conditions. Because the Kuvasz has a long body and a deep chest, it can be subject to gastric or splenic dilatation and volvulus (bloat), and sensible lifestyle management is essential. Von Willebrand's Disease (vWD, similar to hemophilia), eye disease, deafness in Kuvaszok from German bloodlines, and hypothyroidism are well known inherited disorders in the Kuvasz, but can and must be eliminated by careful breeding. Although rare, hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), a severe inflammatory joint disease, is also a significant health risk.

 BUYING A PUPPY

Kuvaszok are almost never sold in pet shops because they do poorly as commodities in wholesale breeding operations ("puppy mills"). Without human affection, socialization, and a job to do, they can develop emotional problems and become depressed or unmanageable. However, there are several large-scale North American Kuvasz breeders, and you should seriously question whether puppies who grow up in a kennel environment have had enough interaction with loving human beings to develop into normal adult dogs. Most breeders agree that heredity contributes 10%; upbringing, training and socialization contribute 90% to the mental soundness of your Kuvasz.

When shopping for a puppy, insist on meeting the dam and the sire if he is on the premises or nearby. THIS adult Kuvasz is the dog you will be living with for many years; it is NOT that adorable little snowball you see in the puppy room.

 Puppy buyers should make sure that both parent dogs are x-rayed and certified free of hip dysplasia by Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) at no earlier than two years of age. Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in Canada also examines hip x-rays, but issues certificates to younger, immature dogs; an OVC certificate should be considered preliminary only and should not be considered a valid hip clearance in a dog x-rayed at less than two years of age. Good breeders also certify their stock free from thyroid disease, vWD, eye disease each year by Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF), and deafness by BAER testing if carrier Cigany vom Felsenmeer appears in their dog's pedigree. Optigen has recently made a blood test available for the hereditary form of the eye disease Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Any breeder should enthusiastically endorse these tests and willingly provide you with proof of all certifications; if not, go elsewhere.

When selecting a Kuvasz puppy, take your time and compare what breeders have to offer for the price they are asking and the demands they are making. Be prepared to place a cash deposit to reserve a puppy and to wait for up to a year for that special litter from a quality breeding. You should expect to pay about $1000 for a pet and about $1500 for a show-potential puppy. Some breeders may ask higher prices; if so, compare pedigrees and the track record of both the breeder and the parent dogs. Ask for references. Many Kuvasz share similar ancestors and exorbitant prices are no guarantee of a better puppy.

While the initial cost of a quality puppy may seem high, your Kuvasz will hopefully be with you for almost fifteen years and its purchase price is small compared to the cost of caring for it throughout its life. Your Kuvasz will need a good-quality dog food, routine veterinary care and vaccinations, flea, tick, and intestinal worm control, and heartworm prevention. Vet bills for unexpected medical emergencies must also be taken into consideration. Your Kuvasz will outgrow several collars and happily destroy dozens of toys, and will require grooming tools, first-aid supplies, leashes, and a big crate for traveling. If you decide to show your Kuvasz, expect to spend thousands of dollars obtaining that championship or obedience or agility title.

Some breeders may insist on co-owning your puppy, force you to breed your female, and demand a number of future puppies back or unlimited future stud services. If a breeder seems to place priority on profits instead of the welfare of you and your Kuvasz, go elsewhere. Find a breeder who impresses you with knowledge of the breed, a cooperative attitude, ethical practices, and concern for the future of your Kuvasz and your satisfaction. Good breeders sell puppies whose health and temperament are guaranteed with a written sales contract, permanently id their puppies tattoos or microchips, answer your phone calls and emails promptly, and want their puppy back at any age if you are no longer able to keep it.  

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YOUR NEW KUVASZ PUPPY

Q: Can I leave my puppy alone all day while I go to work? 

A: If you have purchased your puppy as a companion from a good breeder, it should be no less than eight weeks old and well on its way to being housetrained by the time you bring it home. Good breeders make sure that puppies have the opportunity to follow mom outside to eliminate. Kuvaszok want to be clean and live in a clean environment. Your job is to help your puppy learn the layout of your home and how to get outside to an acceptable area in your yard.

If no one is home during the day to supervise, you will want to confine your young puppy in a safe (no electrical cords, furniture, carpet, shoes, etc.), sheltered area or crate for no more than eight hours a day. Puppies have small bladders and it is shamefully cruel to keep them in crates beyond their limits of endurance.

A well-fenced yard, a doggie door, a Kuvasz-friendly house that has trash and dangerous or valuable objects well out of reach, a big spin-proof bowl of clean water (many Kuvasz prefer the toilet...) and a cool, comfortable place to sleep work best for the owner who will be gone all day. Remember that a bored, lonely dog will find ways to "entertain" itself; two dogs are usually happier than one.

Bear in mind that the Kuvasz was never meant to live out its life in a crate or kennel run. There are many rueful stories about the confined Kuvasz who barked helplessly while the family home was gutted by burglars. Your Kuvasz needs the freedom to protect you and your possessions.

THE FAMILY KUVASZ

 Q: I want a dog who is well-behaved around children and guests in my home. I know socialization and training are required, but can a Kuvasz adapt to my hectic lifestyle? 

A: If you are choosing a dog primarily for your children, Collies, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers are also big, intelligent, and beautiful - and are much better choices for the average family. Choose a Kuvasz to protect your children, not as a playmate for them. The Kuvasz is first and foremost a bold, aggressive protection dog. It is especially gentle and forgiving with children; however, children must also be trained that a dog is not a toy and must be treated with kindness and respect. Parents who feel that children should be allowed to abuse, torment or insult a dog without repercussions should not buy a Kuvasz.

Even so, most Kuvasz will cope with behavior from children that would not be tolerated from adults, and many Kuvasz will assume the role of babysitter if not active playmate of the family children. However, other neighborhood children may present problems if they, too, have not been trained to respect your dog. As we all know, children at any age often lack the ability to foresee the consequences of their actions, and many children deliberately tease and injure each other not to mention any nearby pets. Children must not be left unsupervised with any animal, including the family Kuvasz.

How would you feel if a neighborhood child grabbed your plate of barbequed ribs and threw it on the floor, or hit you with a baseball bat, or slapped your toddler? Would you retaliate? Unfortunately, many people assume that dogs have a higher pain threshold, better judgment, more patience, and less dignity than human beings. Not so! While a dog may be perfectly justified in barking, growling, seizing a wrist with its teeth, or biting when hurt, frightened, or defending its family, your neighbors and other parents will not agree. We live in a very ruthless and litigious society. If you are not absolutely sure that your children and their playmates will behave like little ladies and gentlemen around your Kuvasz, use your common sense and confine the dog... or better yet, the kids.

To make a very gross, WORST CASE analogy, think of your Kuvasz as a loaded gun lying on your kitchen floor. Can you assure yourself that your children and their friends won't touch it? Is the adult supervision in the home sufficient to ensure that the children will not have the opportunity to touch it? Are you sure that the adults will ALWAYS lock it up if they can't supervise the children 100% of the time? Like a weapon, your Kuvasz brings you protection and peace of mind. Both deserve your utmost respect.

Your Kuvasz will develop the intelligence, emotions, playfulness, cleverness, stubbornness, and mischievous nature of a six-year-old child. Some are very protective, loving, and mellow, while others are very protective, loving, and total brats who steal socks out of the hamper, shoes out of the closet, dish towels off the kitchen counter, and remote controls and cell phones where ever they can find them ("If I can reach it, it's a dog toy!").

Like a child, if you have carefully trained and socialized your Kuvasz, it will be polite, well-behaved, and even gracious around your guests. One Kuvasz will bark and lunge at strangers from behind his fence, but when his owners assure him, 'This person is okay with us and you can relax now," he runs to get one of his toys to drop at the visitor's feet. They didn't train him to do this, he just does. 

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THE LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN

Q: I live in a rural area. Coyotes and loose dogs are killing my livestock. How do I train a Kuvasz to guard my animals? Will it herd my sheep? 

A: As a guard, the Kuvasz usually does not herd, but instead works at a distance from the livestock, watchful for trouble and ready to frighten, chase, or if challenged, kill predators. When properly selected, the instinctively protective companion Kuvasz can easily perform a dual role as a family pet and a part-time livestock guardian, alternating between the home and the livestock. Try to find a breeder who raises puppies around livestock and who knows which pups display the temperament required in a livestock guardian. Remember, the Kuvasz is the only member of the old Euroasian guarding breeds who was also developed as hunting dog,. A puppy who chases may keep you from starving if you get lost in the woods, but you don't want a natural-born hunter harassing your livestock. Both temperaments and combinations of them are normal and natural and both will appear in every Kuvasz litter. But a breeder who sells Kuvasz puppies indiscriminately as livestock guardians does a disservice to you, your livestock, and the breed.

Whether it will be used as a part-time or full-time livestock guardian, the puppy should be raised with gentle animals who will not intimidate or injure it. If the puppy is intended to be a full-time livestock guard, it should be introduced to its duties at around six weeks of age, and should receive minimal contact with human beings until bonding with the livestock is complete at about fifteen weeks of age.  There are many different methods and training philosophies and the Livestock Guardian Dog Association is available to advise you.

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RIGHT DOG FOR YOU

Q: My spouse is apprehensive about owning a guard dog. Will a Kuvasz obey all our family members, even if some don't like it or are afraid of it?

A: Everyone in the home needs be in agreement about bringing a Kuvasz into the family. Although Kuvaszok are usually very tolerant of children, a jealous child can create severe problems by covertly abusing the dog: does your child want the dog, too? Your clever Kuvasz will quickly recognize hostile individuals and may test them relentlessly. If some members of your household leadership structure (pack order) are not willing to interact with and assert dominance over the Kuvasz, the dog may feel justified in moving up the hierarchy to assume dominance over them. If anyone in the home is fearful or dislikes disciplining and controlling a guard dog, do everyone including the dog a favor and don't buy a Kuvasz.

Q: Do They Shed?   A: Resistance is futile.

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TELL ME MORE...........

Q: Will I need a personal trainer to keep up with my dog?

A: Although they are athletic and can be superb runners, swimmers, backpackers, and carting dogs, Kuvaszok are not hyperactive and adjust to your lifestyle easily. If you are very active, they will be able to keep up with you, then sleep soundly for hours. If you like to do nothing, they will do that with you too, and then sleep soundly for hours.

Q: Will my Kuvasz bark at insects, birds, and the wind ?

A: Some do. Some will sleep at the foot of the bed and bark only enough to alert the family, then stop. Others prefer to sleep outside to guard their kingdoms. They bark to alert, and then keep barking... Just because why not?

Remember that a guard dog is supposed to bark. The Kuvasz style is "prevention by intimidation," and almost all threats can be neutralized by a blood-curdling bark. One Kuvasz stood up on the bed at 2 AM and barked out the window. Her owners told her to be quiet and go back to sleep, which she obligingly did. The next morning they discovered that their car had been broken into and the radio stolen. They'll listen to their Kuvasz next time.

Most Kuvasz sound off only for good reasons, but a good reason in your dog's opinion may be the UPS truck, cyclists, evil joggers, or the iguana next door. Be aware that your Kuvasz will also protect the houses next to yours. the house in front of yours. and the house behind yours. If your neighbors cannot accept a moderate amount of barking, don't buy a Kuvasz. If you buy one anyway, be prepared to experience a relationship you never wanted with your local animal control officer, otherwise known as your worst nightmare.

Q: My house has a nice view and I don't want to block it with a fence. Is it true that Kuvaszok don't wander?

A: The Kuvasz is a guardian dog, bred to instinctively protect anything within its territory. Without a clearly defined boundary like a fence, your Kuvasz will vigorously expand its territory, and the possibilities are endless... Your Kuvasz is not "roaming;" it is conquering new frontiers and enlarging its kingdom. Not only does this go over poorly with your neighbors, but the only car that comes down the road all day WILL run over your unfenced dog.

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SO YOU WANT TO BE A DOG BREEDER

Q: I intend to breed my Kuvasz to recoup the money I spent buying it, okay? Kuvasz breeders must make megabucks. Besides, I want to show my kids the miracle of birth.

A: If your AKC Kuvasz was sold as a pet, it almost certainly has non-breeding, limited registration status, and your breeder should have advised you to spay or neuter your dog. If your Kuvasz was sold as show-potential, you have much to think about and do before you should even consider breeding. Ask yourself if your dog has any superior characteristics which can contribute to the improvement of the breed. If you don't know what superior characteristics are, you are not knowledgeable enough to be a breeder.

Do you have enough money ($1000.00 and up) to afford a service for your female Kuvasz from an excellent stud dog and to transport her to and from him? Have you shown your Kuvasz, and did it ever win? Did it finish its championship? If you intend to produce livestock guardians, is your Kuvasz an outstanding livestock guard? If your dog can't beat the competition in the show ring or in the pasture, it lacks the qualities necessary to justify breeding it. The Kuvasz gene pool is small, and even when one mediocre dog is bred, it has significant impact upon the breed as a whole. What kind of impact do YOU want to make? How do YOU want to be remembered?

If you do decide to breed, you must first obtain all the essential hip, eye, ear, thyroid, and blood certifications your Kuvasz requires, as well as determine that the prospective mate has them, too. At least $1000. in tests for each dog. Next, are YOU prepared to be a dog breeder? Most Kuvasz have very large litters. Do you enjoy staying up all night? How about losing that big promotion at work because you had to stay home on midwife duty? Are you prepared to watch your Kuvasz die trying to give birth? Are you prepared to watch little puppies die? Are your children prepared to witness every aspect of "the miracle'- or bloody nightmare - of birth? Are you prepared for a doggy cesarean or a litter of sick puppies and a $5000.00 vet bill? Like to buy dog food by the ton? Like to spend thousands of dollars on advertising? Like to trim 280 toenails a week? Who will be responsible for (yuck) puppy janitorial?

Will you have the time to be a loving and compassionate human role model for the puppies? Will you have the time to help them, to play with them, to teach them, to reassure and comfort them when they cry?

Are you ready to spend all your remaining time carefully interviewing hundreds of potential buyers in order to find the right homes for your puppies? Are you ready to be insulted by people you turn down? Are you ready to be insulted by people you didn't turn down? Do you have time to be a twenty-four-hour support system, doggy psychologist, canine behavior therapist, and scapegoat for all your puppy buyers? How many questions did you ask your dog's breeder? If you produced a litter of ten puppies, could you answer ten times the questions you asked as a novice owner? Would you be able to pay your phone bill? Is anyone else in the household expecting to be able to use the phone too?

Would you enjoy discovering that weird people you've never heard of are experts on your breeding program and are saying horrible, nasty things about you? Would you like being a travel agent on hold for hours trying to find airlines that will still ship puppies? How about driving 200 miles to the airport at three in the morning? What if nobody wants to buy one? Do you have the room and resources to care for fourteen six-month-old Kuvasz puppies? Are you ready to assume lifelong responsibility for every puppy you produce?

Will you be able to take back every dog you bred regardless of what age and what mental or physical condition it is in when it is returned to you?

So much for the megabucks. Bottom line: most good Kuvasz breeders rarely break even, financially or emotionally. It is much less expensive to buy or adopt a Kuvasz than to breed one. Your kids can discover the miracle of birth in safer, less costly, less painful ways. If you really want to breed Kuvasz, do it right and do it for one reason only: love.

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KUVASZ FANCIERS OF AMERICA

Kuvasz Fanciers of America, Inc,  a California Non-Profit Corporation and 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was founded in 1985 in response to the degeneration of correct Kuvasz type in North America. KFA is dedicated not just to the preservation and promotion of the true Hungarian Kuvasz, but also to the support of ethical breeder conduct, rescue of Kuvaszok in distress, public education, and sponsorship of Kuvasz events and activities. From 1985 until 1996, the voice of KFA was The Candle published by Valerie Traylor. This internationally distributed newsletter was devoted to the Kuvasz, Kuvasz fanciers, and Kuvasz rescue. We hope to publish an online newsletter when our treasury is no longer needed to fund kuvasz rescue efforts. KFA's volunteer rescue network has been instrumental in rehabilitating and finding new homes for abandoned, abused, and other, victimized Kuvasz. Most of these dogs are healthy, attractive individuals who adapt rapidly and with gratitude to loving new owners. All of these activities are supported entirely by your tax deductible donations and from fundraising projects such as Hungarian Kuvasz Book and English Translation
and Kuvasz Art for Rescue.

Kuvasz Fanciers of America believes that the ancient Hungarian Kuvasz must remain vital and unspoiled. Many breeds have been so damaged by show ring ambitions and breeder ego that they no longer resemble their ancestors and cannot be used for the tasks they originally performed. With public awareness and concern, we can prevent this from happening to the Kuvasz. Driven to near-extinction by two World Wars, the Kuvasz was salvaged by a handful of courageous Hungarian fanciers determined to save their unique national breed for posterity. KFA salutes those who preserved and those who continue to protect this remarkable dog, a living messenger from ages past and mysterious civilizations forever gone. We hope that you will join us in our continuing mission to safeguard the heritage, function, and noble character of the majestic Hungarian Kuvasz, and carry its proud legacy into the future.

 

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Neil H. Berger, President, Kuvasz Fanciers of America
PO Box 280322
Northridge, CA 90328
818-772-9364
email: NHBerger@pacbell.net