The Hungarian Kuvasz©

written by Steve Hounsell
President, Kuvasz Club of Canada


Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction
  • General Characteristics
  • Temperament
  • Suitability as a Companion Dog
2.0 Breeding the Kuvasz
3.0 Heritage and Historical Development
4.0 The Kuvasz as a Working Dog
  • Need and Use of Livestock Guard Dogs
  • Kuvasz as Livestock Protectors
  • The Working Kuvasz: Anecdotal Records
  • Characteristics of an Effective Livestock Guardian
  • Obtaining a Kuvasz for Livestock Protection
  • Training a Livestock Guardian
5.0 The Kuvasz as a Companion Dog and Property Guardian
  • Selecting and Raising a Kuvasz
  • Outdoors or Indoors?
  • Training and Socialization Requirements
  • Care and Feeding
  • Grooming and Coat Care Requirements
  • Exercise Requirements
6.0 Summary
Selected Bibliography
Appendix 1: Official Breed Standard for the Kuvasz (Canadian Kennel Club)
Appendix 2: Selected Livestock Guard Dog Association Breed Clubs
Appendix 2: Selected Livestock Guard Dog Associations and Breed Clubs
Akbash Dogs International/
Orysia Dawydiak, Registrar
R.R. 3 Union Road
Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Canada C1A 7J7
(902) 672-3036
Publications available and excellent advice on working dogs.

American Kuvasz Association
Rt. 1, Box 281C
Amherst, VA 24521
(702) 849-3007

Anatolian Shepherd Dogs International, Inc.
Karen Sen, President
P.O. Box 966
Clarksville, TN 37041-0966
(615) 647-0586
Publication: Choban Chatter

Great Pyrenees Club of America
Catherine de la Cruz
Coordinator of Rescue service
4445 B Old Gravenstein Hwy South
Sebastopol CA 95472
(707) 829-1655

Komondor Club of America
Robert Willcockson, Predator Control
Program Chairman
802 West 3rd
Yankton SD 57078
(605) 665-2400

Kuvasz Club of America
Patricia Zupan
2706 Garfield St.
Wall Township, NJ
07719

Kuvasz Club of Canada
Steve Hounsell, President
2057 Harvest Drive
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L4Y 1T7
(905) 276-4462
steve.hounsell@rogers.com
Publication: Quarterly Newsletter


Kuvasz Fanciers of America
Gary Eastman, President
P.O. Box 2794
Grass Valley, CA 95945
(916) 268-9462
Publication: The Candle

Livestock Guard Dog Association
Lorna Coppinger
Hampshire College
Box FC
Amherst MA 01002
(413) 582-5487
Numerous publications available; on-going research and a registry of all livestock guarding breeds.

Middle Atlantic States Komondor Club, Inc. Marion J. Levy, President
102 Russell Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 924-0199
Publication: Komondor News and numerous excellent publications.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Animal Damage Control (ADC)
Livestock Guarding Dog Project
Roger A. Woodruff
720 O'leary St., NW
Olympia WA 98502
(360) 753-9884

USDA/APHIS/ADC
Livestock Guarding dog Project
Jeffrey S. Green
12345 W. Alameda Parkway, #313
Lakewood, CO 89228

USDA/APHIS/ADC
Livestock Guard Dog Project
Jay Lorenz
Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97330 (503) 754-4531
USDA/APHIS/ADC
Livestock Guard Dog Project
Jim Luchsinger
Kansas State University
Call Hall, Room 124
Manhattan KS 66506
(913) 532-1549