• General Characteristics
• Temperament
• Suitability as a Companion 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

• Selecting and Raising a Kuvasz
• Outdoors or Indoors?
• Training and Socialization Requirements
• Care and Feeding
• Grooming and Coat Care Requirements
• Exercise Requirements

The Kuvasz today usually finds himself in the role of family companion and self-appointed guardian of home and property. His working instinct as a guard is simply transferred to his new home. His family, including other animals within the "family", and property, will all be protected from intruders and possible threats. It is up to you, as the owner, to direct his guardian instincts appropriately. That means early socialization with other people, both adults and children, and continuous reinforcement of that socialization throughout his life. It also means that you should formally introduce your dog to friends and newcomers every time they come to your home or come on to your property. Your dog will quickly accept close friends of the family, but will be suspicious with new people or casual acquaintances. Remember, that a guard dog that loves everybody, is of little value as a guard. All of the guardian breeds are naturally suspicious of strangers and will sound the alarm when a stranger comes to your home. They usually settle down quickly once they realize that there is no threat and that the stranger is welcomed by the family. Guarding comes natural to the Kuvasz. To expect him, or train him, not to guard is contrary to the essence of the breed!

There is a real sense of security living with a well behaved guard dog, such as the Kuvasz. Sarcany and Ocsag (1987) claim that the Kuvasz tops the list of all guard dogs because of their courage, loyalty and daring. Guarding of property, estates and homes is a natural for the breed without any special training. The breed's devotion is extreme and they are very gentle with their family. They adore children (assuming that they have been raised, or socialized with them), love to be in their presence and are very protective of them. Once again, that protectiveness may very well mean some supervision, especially when neighbouring children are playing and rough-housing with your children. Living with a guarding dog provides tremendous rewards and security but also implies considerable responsibilities from the owners. A well secured fenced area is a must, as is socialization and basic training. You need to think of situations from your dog's perspective that could trigger a guarding response. In some respects you need to be as protective of your dog as he is of you and your family. Don't put your dog into a situation where arousing its protective instinct could be to the ultimate detriment of your dog.

The Kuvasz is blessed with a great deal of good sense that can be shaped through socialization and basic training. A sound Kuvasz doesn't possess the hair-line trigger of uncontrollable aggression that some overly sharp lines of other breeds possess. However, an unsocialized, untrained Kuvasz, or a temperamentally unsound dog, could present very real aggression problems to anyone trespassing its territory. That may be natural, but it is the dog that pays the ultimate price should it bite. We can't afford a bad reputation with mounting vicious dog legislation in many jurisdictions. Look after your dog and he will look after you.

There is a natural range in the degree of aggressiveness within various lines of Kuvaszok. All should be effective guardians, but some lines are sharper (aggressive) than others. Choose your breeder wisely and always check out the behaviour of the parents and other breeding stock. It takes a skilled, confident and knowledgeable owner to handle a sharp dog. The calmer dog with a slower fuse is a preferable companion for most families. And remember you will still be given the protection that the Kuvasz is so noted for.

The Kuvasz is an ideal family companion provided you understand what he is and what he is not. His devotion, affection and gentleness is fanatical, while providing you with protection to the point of self-sacrifice. If you are responsible, have deep affection for dogs and experience with guarding breeds, then maybe the Kuvasz is for you. If the match is right, and you provide him the socialization, training and fenced security that he needs, you will be rewarded with a lifetime of devotion and love. We can attest to that fact.

Our Kuvasz, Shadow, has an exemplary, outstanding temperament. He is easy-going, admired by our neighbours and a friend to all of the neighbourhood children. They all seem to know Shadow, and he, in turn is always happy to greet them. Yet in spite of his happy demeanor with the neighbourhood children and neighbours, he is still an effective and sensible guard. How can this be? Is he contrary to the nature of the Kuvasz that I described? I think that there are several factors that make him the wonderful companion that he is. First, he comes from good breeding (Brantwood Kennels) where sound, stable temperament is a top priority. Second, he is not a bully or alpha by nature, but rather, gentle and easy-going, a characteristic that fitted our family situation beautifully. Third, we have had lots of experience with large guardian breeds, notably German Shepherds and have extensive training experience. That is to say, we knew the importance of socialization, of setting firm, but fair rules and how to train our dogs in a rewarding manner. We also had an older well-behaved dog that served as a good mentor, or role model, and a young child with plenty of friends to naturally help in the overall socialization process. The combination of sound breeding, selecting the right temperament for our family, and responsible ownership has resulted in a Kuvasz that is a source of great pride and a delight to showcase anywhere. So yes, the Kuvasz can be an outstanding companion.

By now you should be fully acquainted with the breed, what it is and what it isn't and fully prepared to give your dog the care, training and love that is needed. This should be a lifetime commitment, not a spur-of-the-moment decision. It is also assumed that you have taken the time to visit reputable breeders, have seen the parents in their home environment, and have a pretty good understanding about their temperament. The Kuvasz Club of Canada and other Kuvasz breed clubs can help you to find breeders, as can the advertisements of the Annual Dogs in Canada and Dog World Magazine.

Other sources include the listings from the Livestock Guard Dog Association from Hampshire College, Amherst, MA.

There are several good publications on selecting and raising a pup which should be read prior to getting a pup. Again, the book by David E. Sims and Orysia Dawydiak (1990) on Livestock Protection Dogs - Selection, Care and Training is highly recommended. This excellent book covers several of the livestock guarding breeds, as well as how to select and train a pup for working (livestock) environments. Their comments on selecting and training a pup also have much relevance to the companion dog, particularly since they are addressing the unique qualities and temperaments of livestock guarding breeds. Another fine book is "The Art of Raising A Puppy" by The Monks of New Skete (1991). The breeder can also help to match the pup to your own family situation.

Don't be surprised if the breeder asks you many questions about how you intend to raise and train your pup. Not everyone should own a Kuvasz and a good breeder knows this and will not place a pup with people who do not understand the breed, or are not prepared to properly care for the breed. A good breeder will be evaluating you as a prospective owner, just as much as you will be evaluating the breeder. In turn, the breeder should let you see the dogs (and not just in the Kennel) and spend some time, under supervision, with them. You should ask about written health, temperament and working guarantees and references. Remember that you are purchasing a living animal and faults and health problems can occur in the finest of breedings. What is important is that the breeder will help you and back his pups from any genetic defects. Luckily, the Kuvasz is a robust and healthy breed compared to many of the highly popular breeds. That does not, however, make him immune to health or genetic problems.

The breeder will probably expect you to sign a non-breeding agreement, or contract, for most companion dogs and should encourage you to spay or neuter your dog at the appropriate age (see your veterinarian).

Altering your dog will not affect his ability as a guard, or as a devoted companion. Dogs should only be bred by competent breeders and even then, only the best dogs, exemplifying true Kuvasz working character and sound conformation, should be used. Breeding should only be done, in my opinion, to maintain (or improve) the integrity of the breed, not for mere profit or sentiments. A successful breeding program demands knowledge of the breed, and a long-term commitment (financial, emotional and adequate facilities) to your dogs and the successful placement of pups.

When selecting a pup, it is probably best to avoid the most dominant (or assertive) pup or the shyest (most submissive) of the litter. Independent, dominant pups have already established themselves as the leader, or alpha, amongst their littermates. They will tend to want to assume a leadership role in their adopted family and will likely challenge their owners from time to time for the alpha position.

This is perfectly natural, but can be daunting and frightening for a novice or inexperienced owner.

They can be great companions and guardians with the right owner, or a nightmare for a soft, lenient owner. Leave these dominant pups to experienced guard dog owners and trainers. The overly submissive, or shy pup, on the other hand will need a great deal of confidence building and socialization to bring out his potential. There is however a difference between real shyness (which includes fearfulness) and reserve. Kuvasz are typically reserved in nature, as are most of the livestock guards. A pup that sits back at first and observes and then approaches you with confidence is showing reserve. This type of pup is quite normal and will likely be quite responsive to positive training techniques and with proper socialization will be an absolute pleasure to own! A pup which tries to hide, or shows fear, is shy. Shyness is not desired in the Kuvasz, or for that matter in any breed. Avoid the shy pup! Puppy behaviour will vary between these two extremes and for most owners, pups between the two extremes are probably the best choice. A knowledgeable breeder can help you select the appropriate pup for your own home environment.

Both sexes are equal companions. Many books recommend the females as being easier to train, more docile and more devoted. That however, has not been my experience. The sex of the pup matters little other than your own personal preference. Males tend to be larger, heavier and definitely masculine in appearance. The females are slighter in build, smaller and distinctly feminine. They do look different and each has its own appeal. Both sexes are excellent guards and both are very devoted, loyal companions. You can have very gentle, docile males and very stubborn, fierce females and vice versa.

What is important is the temperament of the pup (degree of dominance) and the temperament of the parents. Selecting the appropriate temperament of the pup for your family is far more important in my view than the sex of the pup. Again, the breeder can help you in this regard.

Before bringing your pup home, you should decide whether your pup will be an indoor or outdoor dog. The Kuvasz is a natural outdoor breed with a coat that can withstand the severest of winters. However, he should have a well-built shelter that he can use to escape harsh conditions. It should be large enough that he can stand and comfortably lay in. The floor should be raised above the ground and well insulated with some type of bedding material (straw or cedar shavings, etc.). The kennel, or yard, should be securely fenced and the dog should not be chained or tied for long periods of time (preferably never), as this can create both frustration and bring out aggressiveness. Fresh water should always be provided, as should shade in the summer. Kuvaszok tolerate, but do not do well in the heat. Shade and an area where they can dig cool holes where they can rest is ideal. The digging behaviour during periods of heat is natural and is their way of cooling down. Providing an area where they can dig seems more reasonable than discouraging a very natural (and understandable) behaviour. If your Kuvasz is destined to be an outdoor dog, make a purposeful attempt to integrate him into your family activities and socialize him with others. Your Kuvasz cannot be a fine companion if it is continually confined to a corner of your property.

Whereas the Kuvasz is a natural outdoor dog, he is also a social being! Sharing your house with your Kuvasz is the ideal for an urban companion dog. Presumably you chose a dog because you wanted a companion, then let your dog share your house with you. A The Kuvasz that shares all of its time with the family, indoors and out, will be a better companion and will truly become part of the family and will be a happier dog. It will be with you to protect you against any intruder and will provide you with an unmistakable sense of security. A dog kenneled outside cannot help you from an intruder!

There are also some practical problems with having an outdoor dog in urban environments. The Kuvasz is generally quiet, but it will sound the alarm at any strange noise or when anyone, or a dog, walks by or steps onto his property. They are typically even more alert at night as befits a livestock guardian, forever on guard against potential predators. That behaviour may be quite fine and desirable in the country, but it is not appreciated by neighbours in urban environments. In the city, it might be better to keep your dog indoors at night where your dog can protect you. It can also prevent problems with your neighbours!

If you have two or more dogs, you may want to rotate them between being outdoors and indoors. In this way, property and home are always under guard and your dogs still get a strong sense of family bonding. Again be respectful of neighbours and monitor and correct any unnecessary barking!

Training for the home companion is highly recommended and should be coupled with on-going socialization! Positive rewards and encouragement reap highest rewards. There are several fine books on the subject such as the works of the Monks of New Skete (The Art of Raising a Puppy; How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend); Carol Lea Benjamin's book, Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog; Brian Kilcommons' How to be Your Dog's Best Friend and the considerable works of Ian Dunbar (Syrius Puppy Training). Take the time to familiarize yourself with these books and others prior to starting any formal training or selecting a professional trainer. These books also give excellent advice on raising a pup, housetraining the pup and the effective use of a "crate". Remember that your new pup is much like an adopted baby that needs reassurance and loving acceptance into its new home.

Contrary to many earlier books on dog training which recommended training at about 6 months, we recommend training from the time you first bring your puppy home. That doesn't mean formal obedience training for a young pup, but there is still a great deal that you can do. Learning the meaning of NO(!), sit, stay, down, stand, recall (Come!), and the release command, can all be accomplished with pups before the age of 6 months. This also means learning to accept a collar and a leash, which are prerequisites for training. Puppies are like babies and small children. They have short attention spans and accordingly, your training sessions should be brief at first (5 minutes at a time for an 8-10 week old pup) and gradually building as your pup's attention span increases. Always be positive, encouraging and rewarding to your pup and always end on a positive note. It should be an enjoyable, not a fearful experience for your pup! By 6 months of age your pup should be able to do all the basic exercises of companion dog (sit, down, stand, sit-stay, down-stay, recall and heel, at least on lead).

Your dog may not be perfect, but should perform these exercises quite well at least under a few distractions. I know, because I have accomplished this with my own dogs, as have a great many others! Good performance under distractions and off-lead work can be formally worked upon after the magical (formerly) 6 months, as can more advanced work.

The Kuvasz is very sensitive to praise and blame and does not perform well under traditional heavy-handed approaches which work reasonably well with other guarding breeds (Rottweilers and German Shepherds). Basic training to Companion Dog level is highly recommended. Regardless, the dog must clearly recognize you as the "alpha". Being too soft and lenient will invite a challenge for alpha status. This is natural for dogs, particularly the dominant guarding breeds, but should be thwarted at puppyhood with assertive, but fair use of authority. This is seldom a problem with experienced dog owners/handlers but can be shocking and unnerving when a lenient novice is suddenly confronted with his pet displaying aggressive, dominant behaviour. This is why we suggest that first time owners of the breed should ideally have experience with other large guarding breeds first. It is not essential, but it frequently helps.

Being sensitive to praise and blame, a firm NO(!) is usually all that is required to stop unwanted behaviour. For a testy pup, you may have to reinforce this verbal displeasure with a shake by the scruff of the neck. Excessive force is not needed, just enough to get the message across and then let him think about it - give him the cold shoulder. Be consistent! Establish fair rules of acceptable behaviour and let your pup know when he violates those behaviours with firmness. For example, no mouthing or biting, no jumping up on people or furniture, no chewing of dangerous or valuable objects, etc. These rules and others are absolute and you must be consistent. Any behaviours that you don't want as an adult dog should not be allowed as a pup. It's common sense, but seldom followed by novices.

Try to get short training sessions in two or three times a day (more if possible) and praise your dog lavishly for doing the right things! Praise should be praise. Let your dog know that you are happy with his progress but don't go to such extremes that the pup loses concentration and gets silly. Every pup responds differently.

If you can, join a puppy obedience class. These classes are great on several fronts! They help to socialize your pup on other people, different surroundings and on other dogs. An unsocialized Kuvasz will not accept strangers (human or canine) and will likely act aggressively, or even worse, become a fear-biter. Puppy classes go a long ways towards socializing your pup under supervised conditions at a critical phase in your dog's life. It also helps lay the basic foundation for training and helps to establish you as the master, the alpha of the family. They also prepare you for more formal obedience training classes. It is well worth the investment.

Socializing the Kuvasz and other guarding breeds is absolutely essential if you want a well-adjusted companion. Consider the rapid development of a pup in human terms. If you were to isolate your new pup in your home or back yard with little or no exposure to the outside world for the first 6 months, it would be like isolating a child for a period of at least 5 years. How well adjusted would that child be? How would this child react to the outside world? How would the child react to school? The child would exhibit extreme fear and stunted behavioural development which might never be reversed. So why should we expect anything different for a pup? To effectively socialize your pup you have to expose it to different environments, including the car, and different people (adults and children) throughout his puppyhood and then reinforce it as an adult.

The first 4 months of a pup's life is critical for a dog's social development. Expose your dogs to a wide variety of positive situations (people, places, dogs, etc.) during this period, but be careful not to expose your pup to a frightening experience that may cause a lasting scare (notably during the fear period). Puppy classes are a great help. You should also invite friends and family to your home and let your pup visit them. Encourage the pup, but don't force anything on him. Let him know that friends coming over are entirely normal. Let him become friends. Likewise, walk your pup (once inoculated) in the park, etc. and talk with other people and encourage your pup to investigate. Introduce your pup to friendly dogs. Encourage supervised interaction. This will lay the foundation for a rewarding relationship and will not jeopardize your dog's ability as a guardian of home and property.

To summarize, your success in training and developing a companion that you can be proud of is dependent upon: selecting and matching the pup to your family situation; socialization, socialization and more socialization; establishing yourself and family members as the alpha in your dog's eyes; consistency in rules and training; continuous training from early puppyhood; fairness, encouragement and positive reinforcement; nurturing a respectful and loving relationship.

Frequent grooming and handling as a pup is important for control as an adult. The dog should tolerate nail clipping and ear examinations, etc. This should be done weekly, but you should go through the motions daily with your pup so that your dog will tolerate it as an adult. It not only helps you, but also the veterinarian! It is an important part of socialization. You should also make sure your dog is fully inoculated, treated for heartworm, and examined regularly for physical and health problems.

The Kuvasz has a very efficient metabolism and is not a large eater for such a large dog. He typically requires considerably less food than other breeds of comparable size. My Kuvasz, for example, has a much smaller appetite than my German Shepherds and it is also reflected in his smaller stool.

Dogs are carnivores which means that they are meat eaters. Their digestive tracts are naturally adapted to a diet of primarily meat, although some vegetable matter is quite normal, even for wild canids. High quality diets should typically use meat as the primary source of protein, rather than cereal or corn.

Certainly dogs can exist on cereal-based diets, but these diets are typically less digestible. All dog foods claim to be 100% nutritionally complete, yet they are not all equal. Examine the ingredients list on the bag. Again, high quality foods will be based upon animal protein (usually poultry, turkey or lamb meat, or meal) and this should be listed as the primary ingredient on the label. Ingredients are listed in descending order, such that the primary ingredient is listed first, with trace elements listed last. Typically, although not always, you get what you pay for. A high quality diet, based upon the age of the dog and energy demands of his lifestyle, is the key. For the first 10 months or so of his life, a high quality puppy food, fed twice per day is desired. An adult maintenance food can then be substituted and fed either once or twice a day. Working Kuvasz, or Kuvasz living in harsh environments, may be fed a higher protein "performance" diet. The older dog should be fed a "senior" diet to reduce protein intake and stress on the kidneys. This advice is not unique to the Kuvasz, and should be supplemented with advice from your veterinarian. At any rate, keep an eye on your dog, its general condition, stool and behaviour in relation with diet. Your dog's overall condition in relation to its diet, is a good indicator of food quality. Once you find a good diet, stay with it.

Don't kill your dog with kindness. Obesity is a major problem with companion dogs (as with their owners), reflecting over-eating and too little exercise. A Kuvasz in good health should be lean and in hard-muscle condition. The breed was not meant to be a "couch potato". Do not overfeed your dog and maintain a regular exercise regime. Observe the condition of your dog, its muscle, coat and stool.

Your dog's overall condition will let you know whether you are feeding and exercising it appropriately.

The Kuvasz coat needs minimal care aside from brushing, preferably using a pin brush. Bathing is not recommended as it destroys the unique "dirt-shedding" characteristics and protective, weather-resistant oils of the coat. Certainly the dog can be bathed, but not frequently, nor is it normally required.

Most people expect that a great deal of effort is needed to keep the coat so white. They are often amazed to hear that it is self-cleaning and seldom needs bathing! Brushing however is recommended on a regular basis to keep the coat in good condition and to remove loose hair. This is especially important during the shedding season!! You should also be prepared to trim eyebrow hairs with blunt scissors.

Those hairs can grow long and curl into the eyes. Otherwise, it takes little effort to maintain the coat in good condition.

Teach your dog to stand on a sturdy box or table about knee high. Do not have a puppy jump up or down because of the risk to hips and joints. Once he is feeling secure on the table, brush, comb, fondle and talk to your pup. A few treats will also help. Loving, caring, fondling is also good for you. It relieves stress and deepens the bond between you and your dog. Daily short grooming sessions are preferable to long weekly ones.

The combings, which can be substantial during the shedding season, can be kept and spun. The resultant yarn makes very warm caps, vests, mitts, etc. These knitted goods are especially attractive because the undercoat fur gives an angora-like sheen to the knitted or woven product.

The Kuvasz in proper condition should be lean and hard-muscled. The breed has amazing stamina and endurance, being capable of trotting for distances of 30 km without tiring. It also exhibits amazing speed and agility when needed. Obviously, to achieve such conditioning your dog should be given the chance to run, jog and go for long walks. A working Kuvasz, gets exercise as part of its normal routine. Family companions and home guards will need supplemental exercise. If your dog is to be given the freedom to run, it should be under your supervision and in areas where the dog is not at risk to cars, etc. It also implies that you have trained your dog and have control. If your dog is not trained or will not return on command, do not let it run loose! Effective training provides your dog with greater freedom!

A fenced area is vital for the Kuvasz. It represents safety for your dog, peace of mind for you and gives your dog a sense of duty - to look after property and home. Often prospective owners say: "but we have 10, 50, or more acres, giving him plenty of running room". A Kuvasz must know his sense of property, or else he will set his own limits which could extend well beyond your own property and get him into trouble. A fenced area secures the boundary of his territory. A Kuvasz can cover distances with ease and without fences he may find the road. No dogs can cope with traffic! After road tragedies, breeders often hear: "The driver was speeding....he must have seen my dog". If the dog causes an accident, the owner can find himself financially responsible, in addition to suffering the loss of a loyal companion. Trouble often awaits dogs running free in the country. Responsible ownership demands that you have a secured place for your dog where it will not be hurt. Provide a fenced area for your dog, take the time to reinforce its sense of property and by all means train your dog.

Although the Kuvasz has great endurance and is capable of impressive speed, the breed is not hyper or overly active. The breed is very easy to live with in the home and although its presence is felt, it is never in the way or demanding. Your dog will greet you from time to time and then retire to a quiet place in the house, or to a vantage point on your property. Although large and athletic, its daily exercise requirements and demands are probably less than many of the smaller, more active herding breeds.

The Kuvasz is a robust, healthy, outdoor-type of dog that can handle all of the exercise (once in shape) that you could possibly want to give him. If you are an active outdoors type, take your dog with you! Hiking, walking, or even jogging (in cool weather) will be welcomed activities. His size and strength make him well suited to carrying his own pack (and food) if you are into backpacking, or serious hiking.

Well designed dog-packs are now commercially available in outdoor stores. Even weight-pulling as a sport is quite conceivable, as is cart-pulling with appropriate harnesses. Integrate your dog into all of your activities and you will have a great companion, a natural protector and a loving, rewarding relationship!

One of the greatest sorrows of owning a dog, or for that matter any pet, is the fact that their lifespan is much shorter than ours. The Kuvasz, however, is relatively long-lived compared to many large breeds of dogs and can be expected to live into his early or even mid teens. Nevertheless, special care will be required throughout the later years of your dog's life. Hearing and eyesight will typically become weaker and arthritis, or other joint problems, may also set in. The older dog will need more rest and should be given good shelter from the extreme heat in summer and the extreme cold in winter. This is not unique to the Kuvasz, but is true for all dogs. The time will come when you may have to consider euthanasia for an older pet that is in pain, or is succumbing to disease. Be kind to your companion, care for your dog and when needed, provide your friend an escape when its quality of life is no longer there. Death is natural and so is grieving. The magnitude of grief that we experience is simply an indication of how much we cared for and loved our pets. The circle of life will continue and we will have been enriched by experiencing it and we can take solace that we provided our canine companions with a quality life.

A sometimes overlooked, or postponed obligation of owners and breeders is to provide for their dogs in case of the legal owner's death. It is something that we often don't think about, but the consequences to your dogs can be drastic. The owner's wishes in regard to the dogs should be clearly expressed in a will and sufficient funds allotted for those wishes to be carried out. Obviously this should be discussed and agreed upon with the individuals who will become legal guardians for your dogs. The care of several Kuvaszok, or even one, cannot be lightly assigned to anyone. The foregoing may sound grim, but what could be sadder than beloved companions unprovided for and devoted friends unable to carry out your wishes. Think of your dogs as part of your family and treat them accordingly, even in the event of your death.