Kuvasz: description of the dog breed, temperament, care

The Hungarian Kuvasz is an ancient herding dog breed. Its four-legged representatives are distinguished by enviable endurance, strength, large size and excellent working qualities. Thoroughbred Hungarian kuvasz is an excellent livestock guardian. Today we will take a closer look at this unique breed and learn how to properly care for it.

Dogs of this famous breed are very popular today. Their relevance is due not only to their attractive appearance, but also high level of intelligence... Kuvasz has its own point of view on everything. This is a mobile and active animal that cannot sit in one place for a long time.

Many people at first glance fall in love with these beautiful shaggy healthy men, however, buying a Hungarian kuvasz puppy should only be after a detailed acquaintance with all its characteristics and features. Let's consider in detail the description of the representatives of this breed.

• Adults in weight can reach 62 kg, if we are talking about a dog. Bitches are lighter - their average weight is 50 kg. The lower limits are 48 and 37 kg, respectively.
• Beautiful purebred dogs at the withers have an average height of 73 cm.
• Purebred kuvasses have a head shape characteristic only for them - it is large, bony, but no bumps are present on it. The nose is black, the eyes are almond-shaped, and the iris is usually dark.
• The bite of the kuvass must be correct. The jaws are well developed and very strong.The chewing muscles are strong and the teeth are white and large and set straight.
• Ears of a purebred Hungarian kuvasz will always be sharp and of medium size. At the very base, they are slightly raised, and at the ends they are slightly lowered along the muzzle.
• These dogs are distinguished by remarkably developed croup. They have developed and pronounced muscles. The rib cage of the kuvass is large and strong, the brisket in this area is well protruded.
• The belly of a healthy thoroughbred individual will not hang down. He should always be fit, neat. However, it is rarely possible to notice this due to the dense wool cover.
• Kuvasse paws are strong, have large and dense joints, they are characterized by correct angles. In moments of hasty movements, the elbows of the Hungarian dog never turn out, so the pet moves evenly and measuredly.
• The skin of these dogs is practically invisible, but a thick and dense undercoat with a dark gray shade is clearly visible.
• The tail is set low and looks down, but its tip is raised. When the animal is at rest, it reaches the hocks. The tail can rise, but it is not on the same level with the back.

Hungarian kuvasz is truly different chic wool... It is wavy and soft. There is a solid and fluffy undercoat. The length of the coat is moderate - 10-15 cm.

Often, the representatives of this breed are confused with the Commanders, but if you look at two different animals standing next to each other, any doubts will disappear. The Commander has a coat similar to dreadlocks, while the Kuvasz has a neater, short and straight coat.

The coat of Hungarian kuvasz will be neat and soft if it is properly cared for by the owners. The coat color is limited to a few standard options:

• pure white;
• dairy;
• shade of ivory.

Hungarian Kuvasz, like any other breed of dog, has its own strengths and weaknesses. Before buying such a puppy, you should consider all the features of the pet.

Consider the pros of the breed.

• An amazing combination of calmness and severity in the nature of these dogs can be attributed to their serious advantage. Such a pet will be balanced and calm, but at the right time he is able to demonstrate the opposite character traits.
• Kuvasi are independent animals, but this does not in any way affect the level of their obedience. A properly raised pet will obey its owner and follow all commands.
• Hungarian Kuvasz are considered one of the most loyal dogs. They remain faithful to their person throughout their lives, but they treat strangers with caution and with the utmost seriousness.
• Kuvasov are distinguished by restraint and endurance.
• Representatives of this famous breed can not only obey their master well, but also easily make the necessary decisions on their own.
• Many people get these dogs by falling in love with their good looks.

The disadvantages of Hungarian kuvasses are as follows.

• Medium aggressiveness - this is one of the most significant features that repel breeders from acquiring a puppy of this breed. Uncontrollable anger usually does not come from Kuvasz, but this does not negate the fact that dogs of this breed need competent education and training so that they can control their emotions.
• White coat color - another parameter of the breed, which is attributed to its shortcomings. Such a coat requires serious care, which not all breeders are ready to provide.
• Hungarian kuvasz needs proper education, but it is often difficult to achieve. It is difficult to train and train this pet for novice breeders, so this breed is rarely suitable for beginners.
• Kuvasa cannot be called a big lover of children. The dog does not always get along with them.
• Pets can demonstrate excessive aggression against not only strangers, but also other dogs. This can be a big problem when walking. Kuvasa should always be kept on a leash and not left unattended so that he does not get involved in a fight with another pet.
• Many people also consider the disadvantages that you have to walk a lot with such a dog, occupying her with active games with impressive physical activity. That is why it is not recommended to start Hungarian kuvasz for people who are not distinguished by their energy and high activity.

Initially, Hungarian kuvasses were bred specifically to guard and protect livestock and human dwellings. These dogs are distinguished by their pronounced a sense of territoriality. They are always ready to rush to protect the owner and his property.

These special character traits among the Kuvasz were welcomed for many years by nomads and herders. Animals with their harsh appearance and menacing bark scared away robbers or thieves.... Predators were also afraid of kuvasses, because, having such strength, the dogs could easily deal with them.

Such characteristics do not mean that Hungarian kuvasz behaves aggressively towards absolutely everyone. An intelligent animal can independently and quickly assess the degree of threat.

Breeders assure that kuvasses are distinguished by a balanced nervous system and psyche. But this does not prevent various horror stories from appearing again and again about how uncontrollable and inadequate they are. Unfortunately, there is some truth in these "fairy tales". Kuvasa cannot be left without early socialization and proper upbringing at a professional level. The dog will be extremely wary of all strangers and even arrange fights with other animals.

The owners should treat the pets of this breed with tenderness and love. The kuvasses respond to such an attitude in the same way. But rudeness and violence should be abandoned immediately, because such behavior on the part of the owner will lead to aggression and harshness of the animal, which ultimately will lead to bad consequences.

You cannot leave Hungarian kuvasz without constant communication. The dog should contact both his own kind and people in the environment. Thanks to such actions, the animal grows from an unsociable and distrustful into an affable and sociable four-legged friend.

Host attention is incredibly important, too. A person should not forget about this pet, leaving him alone with him. If you neglect this rule, the character of the pet can greatly deteriorate.

Kuvasz does not like monotonous work. This dog doesn't like public appearances either.

Kuvasz can get along well in the same territory with other pets. It could even be livestock or poultry.

Dogs treat children in a peculiar way. If the animal is familiar with the younger member of the family from an early age, it will treat it with care and warmth. Otherwise, the pet will try to keep away from the child. Hungarian kuvasses perceive big children as equals.

Dogs of the described breed need proper and conscientious care. Like most other working individuals, kuvasz is unpretentious and undemanding in matters of caring for it. The four-legged can easily tolerate various climatic changes and weather changes. Pets have a solid undercoat that does not allow them to freeze in low temperatures.

Many breeders are frightened off by the snow-white coat of dogs of this breed, because it requires constant and not the easiest care, which cannot be neglected, but this is not entirely true. Kuvass wool does not require frequent bathing procedures.

In a free environment, the pet will decide for itself when he needs to swim. If the animal lives in such an environment where its wool does not get dirty often, then experts advise bathing it no more than 4-5 times a year - this will be enough. For washing, use only a special shampoo intended for dogs with long hair. It is advisable to buy high quality branded products.

Kuvass wool does not need constant trimming or haircuts. It will only be necessary to comb out the animal. You will need to do this every day, because the chic snow-white coat of these pets is prone to the appearance of tangles. She often falls off, because of which the appearance of the pet suffers greatly.

The dog sheds 2 times a year. If the pet is kept in an apartment, this becomes a big problem for the owners, because light hair that has fallen out will certainly dot the floor.

Purebred Hungarian kuvasses are distinguished by strong curved claws. If the pet is kept in an aviary or other conditions where the claws are erased by themselves, then you will not have to resort to regular trimming. Taking care of the dog's claws is required in situations where the animal lives in an urban environment. It is important to keep the length of the claws on the dewclaws under control, as they are able to bend, leading to injury to the limb.

It is also important to monitor the degree of cleanliness of the ears and teeth of the animal. It is important to teach the puppy to inspect and clean these areas from an early age. It is necessary to monitor the purity of the eyes of the pet. If strange discharge or suppuration was noticed in the listed areas, then it is better to immediately go to the veterinarian and show him the dog. It's not worth wasting time, as well as making diagnoses on your own - this can lead to big health problems for your pet.

Hungarian kuvasu it is important to ensure optimal conditions of detention... A large and strong pet should be allocated a spacious free area. It is not recommended to keep it in a house or apartment. You can place kuvasa in a well-equipped aviary. The latter should be spacious.

Free content of such a fluffy big guy in the yard or in the local area is also allowed. It is not necessary to plant kuvas on the chain. If the dog does not have freedom of movement, it will suffer and yearn, and as a result, it will become completely ill.

You have to walk a lot with Hungarian kuvasz. Walking should be long and not lazy. The pet must be loaded with active games so that it can use up the accumulated energy. You should spend at least 2 hours a day on walks, especially if the pet is kept in a limited area.

Caring for the health and longevity of the Hungarian kuvasz is not only in daily walks and combing the fur, but also in the correct, balanced feeding. Dogs of the described breed are distinguished by well-developed muscles, they grow quickly and are active, therefore, for normal development, they need to draw up an optimal menu.

Kuvasov cannot be called demanding gourmets. They are unpretentious in matters of feeding and will be full and half the portion that large quadrupeds of other breeds consume. But this does not mean that the diet of these pets does not need to be given due attention.

For a pet to be healthy and live for a long time, proteins of animal origin must be present in the products that it consumes. It can be:

• meat with bones;
• cartilage meat;
• various fresh offal.

In order for the skeleton of a thoroughbred dog to eat the necessary "building material", it must be presented with fresh cottage cheese, fermented milk products and sea fish (river fish should not be given). It is enough for mature individuals to give these products 1-2 times a week, and for small puppies - more often.

Food from the table of the Hungarian kuvasz, like most representatives of other breeds, is prohibited. In no case should you give your dog fried, salted, pickled and rich treats. Sweets can cause great harm to the pet's body, so they should not be given even in small quantities. If the dog itself reaches for food containing sugar, then it must be removed to inaccessible places where it will not be able to reach and get through.

Many owners prefer to feed their purebred pets with ready-made dry food from reputable manufacturers. Such food makes it possible to significantly save free time, because a person does not have to cook a high-quality dish for a long time and select fresh, healthy products for the dog. If you want to feed your four-legged comrade with such food, then you must give preference only premium and super-premium products.

Many breeders recommend feeding Hungarian kuvasse with fresh and natural, and not ready-made industrial products. This is explained by natural food is more familiar to animals of the described breed.

Hungarian kuvasz cannot be left without socialization and proper upbringing. Experts say that dogs of this breed are easy to train and train. They quickly master new commands, because they have a sharp mind and quick wit.

Sometimes the learning process for such a pet becomes slow. This must be taken into account. The owner, dealing with such a dog, should properly stock up on patience and free time.

Kuvasz, like most representatives of other large breeds, mature for a long time. For this reason, it is important to pay due attention to the upbringing of the animal until it is 2-3 years old. A difficult transition period occurs at the age of 1-1.5 years. At this time, it is necessary to take the pet to specially designated areas, where he can both train and communicate. Socialization of the puppy, sufficient communication with people and other animals will do their job, and the animal will grow up sociable, quick-witted.

Kuvasz are versatile pets. If you provide them with the right upbringing and training, they not only show the properties of a guard inherent at the genetic level, but also become wonderful companions. The animal will carry out commands with pleasure and great dedication. The best encouragement for kuvasa is the praise emanating from the owner, but the pet will not refuse various delicacies either, of course.

As soon as the puppy turns 2-3 months old, it needs train daily. Classes should not be too protracted, long, or overwhelmed. The kid will need to be taught to wear a collar and a leash. The puppy must learn simple basic commands.

Regularly conducted exercises, carried out in a playful way, will quickly lead to the expected result. Rumors about the uncontrollability and inadequacy of the Hungarian kuvasz are the consequences of the owners' irresponsibility in relation to the upbringing of such an animal.

When keeping purebred Hungarian kuvasses, there are some useful recommendations to consider.

• Much attention should be paid to Kuvasu. If you do not have enough free time, you should entrust the education and training of the animal to specialists, or give preference to another breed.
• These dogs need timely vaccination and deworming from an early age. Further, these procedures will be needed as needed.
• If you suspect that your pet is sick, it should be taken immediately to the veterinarian. Don't waste time and make diagnoses yourself. This can lead to dire consequences.
• If the dog suddenly begins to behave strangely and inappropriately, does not respond to commands, demonstrates aggression and depression in behavior, this will not necessarily indicate her naturally nasty character. Your pet may be lacking essential nutrients. It is worth revising his diet.
• There is no point in teaching kuvasa to guard, since all the abilities for this in this breed are inherent in nature.
• Females of this breed are ready to meet a male already in the first heat, however, it is impossible to knit kuvasses so early.
• It is impossible to seriously restrict the freedom of kuvasz. If you do not follow this recommendation, the animal will become homesick or even get sick.
• Kuvasses are susceptible to various diseases. These include eye diseases (progressive retinal atrophy), hip dysplasia, thyroid pathology. It is necessary to monitor the health of the pet and visit the veterinarian from time to time to be aware of the condition of the kuvasz.
• Do not shout at Kuvasz if he learns new commands for a long time. This is normal for this breed. Screaming and physical impact will only ruin the relationship between you.

For a more detailed description of the Kuvasz breed, see the next video.