• 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 is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost dogs of defense. He is a sensible guard and with proper bonding is totally reliable and safe with livestock. His intelligence, independence and good sense as a guardian make him highly valued as a farm and ranch dog in the management of livestock of all types. He has been successfully used to guard sheep, cattle, horses, and even ratites, such as emus. The job of livestock guardian is his heritage. That is what he was bred for throughout the ages and it is those same qualities that make him highly valued as a family and property guardian.

Maintaining the working, guarding character of the Kuvasz is essential if we are to preserve this ancient, noble breed. The following sections will examine the need for livestock guardians in today's society and will explore the character of the Kuvasz as a fine representative of the ancient livestock guarding group.

The need for livestock guardians is probably as great today, at least in some regions, as it was in historic times. Certainly, the raising of sheep and goats have declined on a global basis as other fibres have become available, competing with, or replacing wool. Nevertheless, there are still many regions, even in North America, which are still very active in livestock ranching. Only recently has the concept of using livestock guarding dogs been seriously considered as a means of reducing livestock losses to predators. It has seen much greater progress in the United States, where both the United States Department of Agriculture (Predator Control) and Hampshire College in Massachusetts, have actively researched and promoted the use of livestock guards as an important part of livestock management. The use of livestock guard dogs in Canada is significantly lagging behind the United States, yet it has equal applicability here, or anywhere else.

In North America, the primary predator in most livestock producing areas is no longer the wolf or bear. True, wolves and bears remain predators in some of the more northern and remote livestock rearing areas. Occurrences of livestock losses to these predators are relatively rare and would require special considerations. Nevertheless, livestock guarding dogs have proven quite successful against Wolves, Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Bobcat and Cougar. A minimum of two dogs, and preferably more, are needed which act as a team, or pack, when confronting such large predators. Just as with people, there is strength in numbers. However, in most of our sheep rearing areas it is coyotes, feral or stray dogs, and dog/coyote hybrids (coy-dogs) that are the primary predators. Sheep losses to these predators can be substantial and very costly.

Typically, one thinks of coyote problems as being restricted to the great sheep ranching areas of the mid-west and west, but it is also a problem in the east, including southern Ontario where coyotes are often referred to as "brush wolves". For example, losses of sheep to coyotes and dogs is a major problem in several Counties of southwestern Ontario (including Gray, Bruce and Halton, among others), evoking strong anti-predator sentiments among sheep farmers. The fact that feral and free ranging dogs are frequently a major problem to livestock, makes it even harder for farmers to believe that livestock guarding dogs can actually be a solution to their problems!

Calls for major culling of coyote populations through such means as increased hunting, trapping and the return of the bounty system have been made. Fortunately, more and more people are realizing that predators serve an important ecological function by suppressing populations of rodents, lagomorphs (rabbits and hares) and deer from overgrazing their habitats and by keeping these populations healthy and fit. Further, from an ecocentric and historic perspective, predators have every right to coexist with us. That means that we must find ecologically sensitive approaches for managing predator-livestock interactions that do not automatically result in the killing of predators. We need effective techniques for discouraging predators and at the same time we must learn tolerance to coexist with them.

So then, is there a need for livestock protection dogs? Clearly, there is. Livestock protection dogs represent an ideal solution to an age-old problem. We simply need to "import" an ancient "old-world" solution to an on-going animal husbandry problem. These dogs guard both property and animals, forcibly discouraging predators from preying on such easy prey as sheep (or other livestock), thereby forcing them to utilize their natural prey-base. It would only take a few unfortunate encounters before the predators would get the message and start searching for easier prey. The very presence, or scent, of these protection dogs would probably be sufficient to discourage, or at least minimize, any further interaction. The result means fewer livestock losses, only offending animals are "targeted", and predators and people learn to co-exist in the same environment. This is not a high-tech solution, but it is effective and is ecologically, as well as ethically, sound. We need to promote the wise use of our breed, and others, for this age-old task. We need to promote tolerance of predators and encourage ecologically sensitive approaches for managing their interactions with livestock and people.

The use of livestock guard dogs is relatively new in North America and is still a rarity in Canada, yet it continues to thrive in parts of Europe. Romania, for example, has one of the largest bear and wolf populations in all of eastern Europe and they are also a major producer of sheep. Losses to sheep are minimal and not considered a problem, largely because of the traditional use of livestock guard dogs (Leslie et al. 1995).

The use of guard dogs in North America received a major boost in the mid 1970's when Ray and Lorna Coppinger began to seriously investigate the effectiveness of livestock guard dogs for reducing predation. They began the Livestock Guard Dog Project at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts and imported many working dogs of various breeds from Europe. They placed the dogs with ranchers, helped to develop practical training advice and monitored the effectiveness of the dogs. The dogs have proven to be very successful in reducing predation losses and consequently their program has expanded considerably. They have since formed the Livestock Guard Dog Association which maintains an active registry of working dogs and performance data. The Kuvasz is among the 12 breeds currently being used for such purposes. They have had such success with their program that the program has expanded internationally and they have since taken their dogs and/or information to Argentina, Namibia, Slovakia, England, Italy, Canada and Switzerland (Lorna Coppinger, pers. comm.). Their return to Europe may seem odd, but several areas of Europe have lost the traditional skills of livestock management.

The success of the Hampshire College work in the eastern United States is complemented by a similar program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the western States. Roger Woodruff and Jeffrey Green have been conducting similar studies throughout the western and mid-western States. They now estimate that more than 50% of the sheep ranchers in the mid-west and western States are using livestock guard dogs. The dogs are not infallible, but the results have been very impressive, even on open range land.

All of the breeds are effective if bonded to livestock at an early age. Although the success rate among breeds did not differ, there were however, some behavioural differences in degree of aggressiveness (or likelihood of biting) towards people or strange dogs, with the Great Pyrenees being less aggressive in these situations. Great Pyrenees also tend to mature more quickly than the other livestock guards.

Of the breeds in current use through the USDA program, the Great Pyrenees is most common (57%), followed by the Komondor (18%), the Akbash (8%) and the Anatolian Shepherd (7%) with other breeds making up the remainder (Green and Woodruff 1993). This is largely a function of availability and cost of working dogs, not ability of the breeds per se. Unfortunately the Kuvasz is poorly represented in these statistics, yet there is much anecdotal evidence demonstrating that our breed is very much the equal of any of the other guarding breeds. The breeders of the Kuvasz need to reassert their breed as a respected member of this ancient working group.

The Kuvasz is blessed with considerable intelligence and independence of spirit and is expected to possess good sense when interpreting real threats. They are expected to think for themselves with little human contact during their working duties. They will survey their territory and watch over stock and may develop their own routines for watching over their charges. This independent trait is a great asset for the working livestock guard, but may be a source of frustration to the companion dog owner.

This is an essential behavioural trait of our breed and the related livestock guarding breeds and must be preserved. This does not mean that they are not devoted to their human family. The Kuvasz forms very strong bonds with his family, yet retains a strong sense of independence and dignity.

The breed is powerfully built, fast and agile, with remarkable courage in attack. What he doesn't have in size (some of the other breeds such as the Great Pyrenees and Akbash may be a little larger), he compensates with agility, speed and daring in attack. As stated by Sarkany and Oscag (1987), Hungarian authorities on the Kuvasz: "To carry out his work, a Kuvasz needed a good sense of smell, powerful teeth, eagerness in attack, never fading courage and, above all, steel-like muscles....They had to win the fight with the wolf, so they had to excel their enemy in agility and speed". Bigger does not mean better (soundness does). There are no differences in the guarding abilities of males or females, proving that size is not the key factor. Nor are there any real differences between intact versus neutered animals (Green and Woodruff 1993). In fact, there are benefits of having neutered dogs in that they are never out of commission, or distracted when the bitches come in heat, leaving the flock unattended. This has been confirmed by the studies of the USDA and Hampshire College.

So how effective is our present Kuvasz as a livestock guard? Many of us feel that the Kuvasz has retained the essential instincts and aptitudes to be a superior guard. Certainly, the breed has not been overly popularized, with all the associated health and temperament problems that inevitably occur.

He remains an essentially robust, healthy, natural breed. All of the livestock guards have well developed, ancestral guarding instincts, whether they be guarding stock, people or territory. It is the view of the Kuvasz Club of Canada that working stock, show stock and breeding stock must be the same.

That has been the basic tenet of Joy Levy, President of the Middle Atlantic States Komondor Club, Inc. for many years and we wholeheartedly agree. A pup of sound breeding should perform equally well on the range, as a home companion and guardian, or as a show dog (Levy 1995). Several breeders of fine working dogs do not have stock themselves, yet the pups are successfully raised as livestock guardians, while their littermates successfully fit into family life or "show" life. Catherine de la Cruz, a well respected Great Pyrenees breeder, has similar convictions and has demonstrated the full versatility of her own breed and breedings. The key is to maintain proper temperament and physical soundness. When you have that, the Kuvasz, or any of the livestock guardians, will excel at their traditional work, and apply those same well-developed instincts to the protection of your family and property.

We have heard several stories about the Kuvasz successfully protecting sheep, ratites (emu and other large flightless birds), cattle and other farm animals from predators. He is also very adept at working with horses and was in fact historically known for both guarding and working with war horses. The Kuvasz has been a premier working dog for centuries and continues his work with little or no fanfare or acknowledgment. The following highlight just a few examples of successful Kuvaszok at work. These examples demonstrate the versatility of the Kuvasz as a livestock guardian. Kuvaszok have proven equally adept as guardians of small farms in the east, to large ranches in the west and have proven to be capable, hardy guardians of flocks in free-range conditions in semi-wilderness country. He has been used successfully against coyotes and dogs and has proven his worth against such large predators as wolves, bear (black and grizzly) and cougar. His working heritage and guardian instinct remains strong. Several of these stories were conveyed to me by Dorothy Grosart, who has contributed greatly to the Kuvasz in Canada.

Dorothy Grosart informed me about one of her dogs that was placed as a working farm dog in northern Manitoba. This dog proved very successful in his duty of protecting against his historical adversary, the wolf. A wolf pack had moved into the area, causing local farmers considerable concern for their livestock. The dog had actually engaged the pack, while protecting the flock and a fight ensued. The dog was injured in the fight, but did recover. No animals were lost and the wolves apparently moved on, possibly frustrated by the encounter. The dog remained an effective guardian.

Dorothy also provided the following excellent example of Kuvasz "Matt" performing his age-old duty of livestock guardian on the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Andre Peter Kirk. The Kirks raise sheep on their property near Powassan in northern Ontario where wolves, coyotes and black bears are natural predators. Mr. Kirk, a respected dog obedience trial judge and dog fancier, wisely chose the Kuvasz as a guardian for his flock. Kuvasz "Matt" was about two years old when he went to the farm in 1990. Matt was immediately put with the sheep and there was no problem. Matt lives with the sheep in the barn and stays with them in the field. He lies across an open gateway which connects two fields and keeps a careful watch over his charges. When he sees fit, he stretches, rises and herds the sheep into the other field and then lies down again in the gateway. Matt does not worry about the fact that he is not suppose to be a herding dog. He knows where he wants his charges to be. The Kirk's have never lost a lamb to predators since the arrival of Matt. Their neighbour, who does not use dogs, loses sheep every year.

The Kirk's also have Border Collies which are herding specialists. They claim that their Borders can accomplish in 3 minutes what would take them 45 minutes. The Border Collies do the herding, while the much larger Kuvasz provides the protection and in Matt's case, the occasional herding. This is an excellent example of working dogs performing the work for which they were created. Not only are the sheep well protected and the Kirk's investment secured, but the predators also continue to survive unpersecuted.

Dorothy provided yet another example of the Kuvasz' watchfulness and guarding ability. Some 20 years ago, a group of Kuvasz exhibitors were gathered in Calgary for a booster show. Charles Fabo, the importer and owner of the legendary Ch. Budagyongye Opal, drove three visitors to the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Cyfra. There they met Csabagyongye Betyar, a Kuvasz who was acting as a guardian of home, property and livestock. Betyar, self-taught, made daily rounds of the farm's boundaries, then took up a position on the farm balcony, or a rise at the front of the farm. From that vantage point, he kept an eye on the driveway, the highway, the fields and the livestock. He was in control and nothing escaped his observation. He could chase off stray dogs or coyotes and sound the warning of visitors approaching the house. He was quite accepting of visitors welcomed by his owners. His style of making the rounds (scent marking), and positioning himself on a vantage point to watch over his charges, property and family, characterize the essence of the working Kuvasz. They may not be busy as in highly active, but they are forever watchful, loyal and ready to protect should the need arise.

Another fine example of Kuvaszok excelling in their traditional role as livestock guardians was provided to me in a letter (dated January, 30, 1998) from Hugh Anderson of Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He writes that the guardian Kuvasz is alive and well in British Columbia and is considered, together with the Great Pyrenees, to be the livestock guard of choice by some of the largest sheep operations in B.C. He went on to write: "I live on Vancouver Island in the Alberni Valley surrounded by mountains. Our family has 120 acres on the Beaufort Mountain range. We raise sheep and cattle and our area has bear, wolves and cougars, just to mention a few predators. There are wild dogs, as well as household dogs, who occasionally kill livestock. Our family had two Great Pyrenees on the farm and currently we have a 3 year old male Kuvasz (Beck) and a 2 year old female (Wea). Neither have been in our home and they are used as guardian dogs for the livestock and our property".

Mr. Anderson goes on to say that "I am a bit of a purist in that I strongly believe that a dog bred for a specific purpose should be used for that purpose and the Kuvasz, given a livestock protection role, is excellent in that role and develops into a healthy physical and mental dog. I estimate our dogs travel 10-15 miles per day, patrolling the property and investigating possible intrusions. This is important because of the size and strength of the Kuvasz and the need to work to release their tremendous energy.

We have noted that our Kuvasz as they mature take their responsibility more and more serious. They do not require training to guard, they do it naturally. It would be helpful if young dogs had an older dog to follow by example, but they have the natural instinct to guard and it just takes a bit longer to assume their responsibilities".

Hugh Anderson summarized that "all and all, I find the Kuvasz a faithful friend, an excellent companion and a superb guardian. We have watched our young dogs chase bears off the property and more amazingly, not allow Turkey Buzzards to land on our property when our ewes were lambing". Mr. Anderson's dogs are CKC and AKC registered, and are fine working dogs. His male is from strong Hungarian lines and he plans to selectively breed and place his pups in good working homes. Clearly, the Kuvasz has retained his ancient working aptitudes and thanks to people like Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, the breed's working character can be tested and perpetuated.

The Kuvasz was historically used to guard against large predators such as the wolf and bear. His ability has not diminished as he continues to be an effective guardian against these large predators. Green and Woodruff (1989) described the following encounter between a Kuvasz and a Black Bear. In this case a single Kuvasz (male, 1.5 yrs.) was used for guarding 80 sheep (Minnesota). The bear apparently attacked the flock during the night. The dog fought the bear and was successful in driving the bear away from the flock. The dog was injured (several incisors were knocked out) during the fight, but the injuries were not life-threatening. One ewe was injured, but none were killed. The bear apparently moved on and the dog survived to continue his duties.

Yet another example was cited in The Candle (1994, vol.18), the Newsletter of the Kuvasz Fanciers of America. In this case, a single female Kuvasz was successful in eliminating sheep predation from a cougar on the farm of Evelyn Elledge of Placerville, California. The cougar had been making nightly raids killing sheep prior to the use of the Kuvasz. What is even more remarkable was the fact that the Kuvasz was rescued as an adult from an animal shelter and subsequently bonded to the sheep as an effective guardian. The dog was bred by Shasta Kuvaszok. This proves that even adults, not previously raised with livestock, can with nurturing, become effective livestock guardians!

In British Columbia, sheep are actually used as a silvicultural technique following large forest clear-cuts. The grazing of sheep in these fresh clear-cuts, reduces competition from forbes and herbs and other broad-leafed plants, thereby increasing the success of young conifer seedlings. These openings are attract bears seeking berries and the use of sheep also attract numerous other predators including wolves, coyotes, grizzly and black bears and cougars. The clear-cuts are often large, on open, unfenced, and rugged terrain. Similarly, the flocks are also large, each typically numbering over 1500. These flocks present a strong attraction for predators. The management of such flocks requires the need for dogs for both keeping the flock intact (herders) and for their protection. Once again, the Hungarian Kuvasz has demonstrated his superb working aptitudes as a rugged guardian in these remote semi-wilderness conditions.

Dennis Loxton, the owner of Loxton Sheep Co. Ltd, which specializes in the use of sheep for forest vegetation management, had the following to say about the use and value of dogs to his operation (Business Logger, October 1997): "We select breeds that are tough enough to survive and keep on working". For herding dogs he prefers Australian Kelpies in addition to the Border Collie. His guardian dogs include the Great Pyrenees and the Hungarian Kuvasz. For each flock of 1500, or more sheep, he has about 5 or six herding dogs and an equivalent number of guardian dogs. Skeptics never believed that his operation would work because of the large population of bears, but his guard dogs have proven them wrong. He goes on to say: "The Great Pyrenees and the Hungarian Kuvasz are my two favourite guardian breeds. The Great Pyrenees is a bruiser. He's a big muscular guy who stands his ground and he says: Get lost! The Hungarian Kuvasz is a faster animal, and he says: Get lost, here I come and I am going to bite you. The Kuvasz will run out and attack right now. The Pyr will stand his ground between the predator and his sheep. As a guarding dog team, together they are pretty well foolproof." Just how successful has his guarding dogs been? In his seven years in the vegetation/sheep management business Loxton has lost only 5 out of the thousands of sheep he has managed. Those losses were on two separate occasions and to large Grizzlies that were malnourished and desperate for food. However, under most situations the dogs have proven highly effective against these large predators and act as a coordinated guarding pack to drive off the predators. The success of his operation is remarkable and it is largely attributed to the hardiness and working ability of his dogs.

Dorothy Hinshaw Patent has written an engaging children's book chronicling the life of "Maggie, A Sheep Dog" (Patent 1986). Maggie is a Hungarian Kuvasz that dutifully performs her job of protecting the sheep of Richard and Shelley Knight on a ranch in Montana. This is an excellent book, well illustrated, showing how she goes about her duty as a flock guardian, constantly on the look-out for coyotes. It is another true example of a Kuvasz performing its traditional work and it is described in a simple, yet very effective manner suitable for children. Maggie's brother is on the neighbouring ranch performing the same traditional duties. For Kuvasz fanciers, it is a nicely illustrated publication, well worth picking up.

A touching story of selfless protective behaviour was exhibited by a Kuvasz (appropriately named Matthias) owned by the Finbow family in British Columbia (Kuvasz Club of Canada Newsletter, Spring 1995). The dog saved a small child (in his family) that was in the path of a charging horse. The dog immediately charged the horse and stopped him in his tracks, saving the 3 year old boy. Neither the horse, nor the dog were injured, but a human life was saved! The action was instinctive, quick and decisive. Kris credits her Kuvasz, Matthias, with saving her son's life. She went on to say her Kuvasz had been criticized by some as being too friendly (i.e. not aloof enough) because of his happy demeanor in dog shows. Yet Matthias has proven himself to be loving, kind, intelligent and brave. "He acted on pure Kuvasz instinct, had perfect timing, tremendous aggression towards the 1000 pound charging horse and acted without thought to himself; all to protect my son" (ibid.). Matthias is a working farm dog, a family companion and a well-socialized show dog, all in one, demonstrating the versatility of the Kuvasz!!

In all but the British Columbia examples, only a single dog was used for guarding. Two or more dogs would certainly increase the odds in favour of the dogs and should be considered essential for large operations, or when dealing with large predators, as described for the B.C. operations. The bottom line is that our breed still exhibits pronounced protective and defensive behaviours that are consistent with the group of livestock guardians. At the same time they are gentle, devoted and totally reliable with stock and their human family. This is the essence of the Kuvasz. This is the working character that we should be striving to preserve in all of our breeding programs.

Good livestock guardians are not hyper dogs. They are typically very calm and are quietly accepted by the stock in their charge. They do not herd or drive stock and accordingly have low "prey drive", in sharp contrast to the smaller herding breeds. They will often be seen quietly walking around the perimeter of the flock or resting from a vantage point, where they can survey the flock and territory under their charge. Their calm deportment contrasts the high activity levels of the herding dog. Their duty is simply to protect. Accordingly, they must be attentive to the flock (or herd, etc.) and not harm them. They will typically mark their territory, letting other predators know of their presence.

Should some threat appear, they will sound the alarm, barking to let the intruder know that a larger and more powerful dog has staked claim to the territory. If that fails, aggression heightens with initial bluff displays followed by chasing and full blown attack. It is an effective "mark-warn-chase-attack" sequence which gives the intruder every chance to escape before any physical confrontation occurs and it has been remarkably effective throughout the millennia.

A good livestock guard is very gentle with the animals under his charge and has strong protective instincts towards all animals (livestock or people) that he has bonded to. This is believed to be an extension of extremely strong paternal and maternal instincts that have been selected for throughout the millennia. They frequently have very strong instincts to protect young animals (and children by extension), and there are several reports and pictures of bitches suckling young lambs or calves, or attempting to clean new-born lambs. An overly aggressive dog, or a dog which rough-houses with young stock can be a liability. Selection pressures for an effective livestock guard favours a calm, gentle dog that is attentive, reliable and protective of his extended family. Even the look of a flock-guardian's face is one of gentleness. The drop-ears and soft expression are almost puppy-like, eliciting calmness amongst the animals in their charge. Contrast this "soft" expression with the "sharp" features and erect ears of many of the herding breeds which tend to facially resemble predators.

Sheep react nervously to the herding breeds, while showing calmness with the flock-guardians.

Much has been said about the desirability of aggressiveness (hardness or sharpness) and size in livestock guards. There continues to be debates even among Kuvasz fanciers as to the degree of aggressiveness that should be inherent in the breed. It is the contention of the Kuvasz Club of Canada that aggressiveness should only be evident when there is a real threat. An overly aggressive dog is not necessarily a more effective guardian and in fact, may be a liability to the owner. Some dogs interpret anything out of the routine as an absolute threat and expend considerable energy in investigative wanderings and aggressive gesturing. Hyper aggression towards people can be a real problem, with the dog paying the ultimate price should it become a biter. We believe that a good livestock guard should investigate anything out of the routine, but should only show aggression when confronted with a real threat. They will and should "mark" their territory, providing olfactory warnings to interlopers of their presence, but even then, they should always be attentive and near the flock, ever ready to protect should the need arise.

A few more comments on hardness or aggressiveness are warranted. Historically Kuvasz and Komondor were noted for their aggressiveness and willingness to attack and that included people (Sarcany and Oscag 1987). Dogs were used to protect against thieves and were even pressed into war duty. Today in North America, overly aggressive or sharp dogs are considered a liability and untrustworthy in most family or farm situations. Does "hardness" convey courage or simply hyper aggression? As always, it is a matter of degree. A "softer" dog, that is totally safe with stock and family, that can be aroused by a threat, is the ideal in our opinion. Courage and self-confidence, coupled with good sense in sizing up a real threat is what is needed, not a trigger-happy attack dog. Remember the North American context and anti-breed legislation! An overly aggressive dog is not necessarily a more capable protector and may be a personal liability and detract from our breed image. Sharp strains of Kuvasz do exist, "hard" dogs are often preferred in Hungary, but we prefer the softer dog which has retained good discriminatory powers for real threats. He provides all the protection of the sharper lines but without the liability!

He can be a formidable guard of stock and home, but retains a sense of calmness, gentleness and self-confidence and is totally trustworthy with his extended family. In our view, that type of temperament is still consistent with true Kuvasz character and is a better fit for our North American culture. The Kuvasz is adapting to changing times, while still retaining true guarding character.

Several advocates of working dogs believe that the only source of good dogs are from the parents of working dogs. They are, after all, proven performers. On the other hand, many fine livestock guardians come from breeders who do not have "stock" to work their own dogs. Yet the dog's basic guardian instincts can be effectively channeled to guard whatever its "family" may be, be it livestock or people and property. Clearly this is a divisive controversy which needn't take place provided we breed for correct character and sound conformation. There are many fine examples of highly successful livestock guards that have been purchased from reputable breeders whose breeding stock are not "working" dogs.

This is true for Kuvasz, Komondor and Great Pyrenees, all registered dog breeds. Not all breeders live on ranches and have stock for their dogs to protect. Yet they are breeding for the correct characteristics and the dogs quickly extend their well developed guarding instincts to protect whatever they are bonded to. These breeders fundamentally believe that working stock, show stock and breeding stock MUST BE THE SAME. That means breeding for the total dog - structurally sound with the stamina and correct instincts to be superb, trustworthy, guardians of stock, family and property. It can be done and several breeders have proven it. However, it can also be said that not all show dog breeders are selecting for, or are interested in, true working character. Conversely, not all pups from working parents will be successful as livestock guards, any more than children are guaranteed to possess the same aptitudes and skills as their parents. What is more important, is that you understand correct temperament for the breed and visit well established kennels dedicated to preserving the working heritage of the breed. You should look for reasonable guarantees against genetic defects, and on-going commitment to their pups long after the sale. See the parents, judge their character and ask for references. Has the breeder sold pups to working homes? Have they been successful workers? Can the breeder give you reliable training advice? The rest is up to you - correctly channeling the inbred guardian instincts of your dog(s) to protect both animals and property. That also means providing guidance and basic training during the critical puppy and adolescent period.

For those of you that are convinced that pups from working stock is the only answer, I refer you to the work of Ray and Lorna Coppinger and their Livestock Guard Dog Association (Hampshire College, MA) which registers working dogs and the work of Jeffrey Green and Roger Woodruff, Livestock Guard Dog Specialists with the USDA (see Appendix for addresses).

1. Sims and Dawydiak (1990) in their excellent book, Livestock Protection Dogs (OTR Publications)
2. Green and Woodruff (1993) in their USDA publication, Livestock Guarding Dogs: Protecting Sheep from Predators;
3. Lorna and Ray Coppinger's Livestock Guard Dog Association, Hampshire College Box FC Amherst MA 01002. They have produced several publications and their association is dedicated to the registry of working dogs and provides a forum for communicating results and performance records.
4. Publications prepared by Jay Lorenz (1986, 1989) of the Oregon State University Extension Service on the use of livestock-guarding dogs.
5. Publications from the various livestock guard dog breed clubs. Besides the Kuvasz Club of Canada, valuable information and advice may be found from Komondor News, the Newsletter of the Middle Atlantic Komondor Club Inc.; Choban Chatter, the Newsletter of the Anatolian Shepherd Dogs International, Inc.; as well as Akbash Dogs International, among others.

1. Introduce young pups (6-8 weeks) to the flock (usually young lambs within a pen), and withdraw human attention to ensure that the pups completely bond with the animals. The intent is to have the pups socialized upon the animals that they are expected to protect, rather than upon human companions. In this scenario, the dogs bond primarily to the livestock, and receive little human contact, outside of the master who provides basic needs (food, water).
2. Socialize the pup with people at an early age (6-8 weeks) so that it will be gentle and non-threatening with children and adults. At the same time, introduce the pup to gentle members of the flock (usually lambs or adults used to dogs) to extend its family circle or bonding process. The pup should still be left in the pen with stock, but the socialization process with people continues. Grooming and basic training to establish control and respect is encouraged, even though the pup spends most of the time with the animals that it will eventually protect. As the pup grows older (4 to 6 months), it is transferred to the main flock, with supervision, until reliable. The preferred outcome is that the dog will prefer to stay with the livestock that it has bonded to, but will happily greet its master, protect home and property and accept the presence of non-threatening strangers.

The former approach is often recommended, but in my view, it has definite problems. Certainly the dog will treat the animals that it has bonded to as an extended family and will provide protection as it matures. This process is often recommended for range animals which must be with livestock in remote locations for days at a time with minimal or no human contact. It is the method of choice used with great success by the Loxton Sheep Co. of British Columbia. Automatic feeders, or feed dropped off at strategic locations, further reduces human contact. The lack of socialization often results in very aggressive behaviour (or sometimes shyness) around people that the dog does not know. Some breeds tend to be more people aggressive than others. The Komondor, Akbash, Anatolian Shepherd and Kuvasz can all be people aggressive if insufficiently socialized. These breeds are naturally suspicious of strangers and will sound the alarm even when socialized. Aggression can be even more pronounced without socialization. The Great Pyrenees, in contrast, tends to be less people aggressive and hence perhaps more suitable for this approach. Depending upon the breed and the individual nature of the dog, a trespasser unwittingly disturbing stock could find himself confronted by an enraged dog and perhaps be bitten. During former periods of cattle rustling, and thievery, such behaviour may have been condoned, or even desired. Today, such behaviour is frequently regarded as a liability, even though the dog was simply following his guarding instincts. Other problems arise when taking the dog to the veterinarian for medical care or annual boosters. An unsocialized dog can present very nasty challenges and problems for the veterinarian and experience considerable stress and trauma from being handled.

I feel that the second approach makes far more sense for most farm and ranch conditions. The dog will naturally protect all of the animals under its charge and be far more accepting of human contact.

Socialization will not diminish the guarding instinct, but it will let the dog know that not all people represent a threat. Your family will be a part of the dog's extended family and he will be gentle and protective of you, your children and the stock. On neutral territory, such as at a vet clinic, the dog will be far calmer and accepting of human contact and examination. It is, in my view, the best of both worlds! Similar views have been expressed by Ruth Webb (1991) of Anatolian Shepherd Dogs International, Inc.; Catherine de la Cruz, a Great Pyrenees breeder; and Joy Levy, President of the Middle Atlantic States Komondor Club, Inc. They have all experienced considerable success using this balanced approach for training livestock guard dogs. In fact, several have reported dogs that can do it all! These dogs work and stay with the livestock, yet are devoted to their human family and may even be groomed and shown in conformation. A temperamentally and physically sound dog, with proper socialization and training, can adapt to any situation, work, home or show! They represent the "total" dog that we are striving to preserve.

Dogs destined to be livestock guards should ideally be bonded to livestock from early puppyhood as described. However, this does not mean that adults, not bonded on stock as pups, cannot become effective livestock guardians. There have been several cases where mature adults have successfully bonded to livestock and have effectively carried out their guardian duties. It requires time and patience, but if you introduce the dog to the stock, the dog will often recognize the animals as part of his extended family that must be protected. Several instances have been cited of adults making a successful transition to livestock guarding with the encouragement and early supervision of the owners.

I previously cited the instance of a rescued adult female Kuvasz (from an animal shelter) that successfully protected sheep from nightly raids by a cougar and yet another instance of an adult male that immediately took to his role of guarding sheep. Similar instances have been reported by owners of Great Pyrenees and Komondorok. These breeds are natural guardians and once they've bonded to their new family and territory, it only stands to reason that they will guard them from any intruder. It can be done, but demands patience and careful supervision at the start. All else being equal, I would still recommend starting with a pup as previously described.

Other generic comments are worth noting on the training of livestock guards. First, is that you should love dogs and want to work with your dogs to reinforce what you expect of them. Kuvaszok are natural guardians, but like all dogs, need nurturing especially through the adolescent stage when they are most apt to get into trouble. Be firm, consistent and fair in dealing with the dog and maintain control! Walk the dog on lead around the pasture that it will be guarding so that its territory is well understood. Mend fences to discourage the dog from straying or going near roads. Encourage the dog to stay with the flock (or herd or whatever animals it is to protect) and discourage play around your home.

It has a job to do! Go to the dog if you want some down-time play. Be affectionate, but reinforce that the dog should stay with the animals. Discourage rough-housing with the animals! This is most apt to occur when the dog is an adolescent and is looking for a playmate. A firm NO(!) in a disapproving voice should be sufficient, followed with careful monitoring of the situation before it develops into problem behaviour. Encourage the dog to chase stray dogs off the property and discourage play behaviour with strange dogs. In many areas the problem is stray dogs harassing livestock, rather than wild predators.

Anything harassing stock should be regarded as a threat and you should encourage the young dog to give chase. Work with your dog, nurture good behaviour and reprimand poor behaviour throughout puppyhood and the adolescent period. Your dog will quickly catch on, direct his guarding instincts appropriately and will provide you with years of loyal, faithful service as an adult. Your older, experienced dog will, in turn, also help to train future young pups to fall into the appropriate guarding pattern.

Conversely, a poorly trained adult will be a poor mentor for any young pups. That is all the more reason to take the time to work with your first livestock guardian! The publications by Marilyn Gribble (The Hungarian Komondor) and Henny Adams (The Diary of Maggie) provide good, practical advice on the raising of livestock guards (available through the Middle Atlantic States Komondor Club, Inc.).

Although these publications concern Komondorok, their advice is equally applicable to the Kuvasz, or other livestock guardians.

The Kuvasz is slow to mature. As an adult the Kuvasz is very serious about his guarding behaviour, however it may take a year or more for the guarding behaviour to really emerge and it may take 3 years or more for the dog to fully mature. German Shepherds, in contrast, mature much more rapidly and show guarding behaviour at a much younger age. Don't expect miracles from a young dog. Have patience and your patience will be well rewarded.

The type of operation that you have will also influence training technique, pup selection criteria (i.e. degree of reserve or independence), and number of dogs required. In the east, where sheep and cattle are typically raised in fenced farm pastures of varying sizes, the advice previously given holds true.

The dogs should naturally stay with the flock or herd and you should make strong efforts to reinforce his sense of territory by walking him around the fenced pasture and reprimanding any attempts to escape fenced areas. Open range conditions, more typical of mid-western and western Canada and United States, require very independent dogs that are strongly flock-oriented (Green and Woodruff 1993). You will need self-feeding (and water) containers that are livestock-proof, but not dog-proof! You will have to establish a feeding pattern and location. Nurturing and working with the young dog is critical for the development of a mature, independent, effective guardian. It can be done, but again requires patience and fostering of appropriate behaviour during the adolescent years.

The ideal operation works as a team on open-range conditions with a Shepherd (rancher), typically on horseback, and both herding dogs such as the Border Collie or Australian Kelpie, and livestock guardians such as the Kuvasz. The herding dogs keep the flock, or herd together and drive the animals under the direction of the shepherd. The guarding dogs serve one function only and that is to protect! They are most active at night when predators are most active. Once properly bonded and trained (desirable behaviours reinforced and undesirable ones discouraged) the role of the shepherd becomes diminished.

There are several successful operations where flock and dogs are on open range for several days at a time without human presence. The dogs stay with the flock, providing continuous protection. An integrated team approach for livestock management, wherein the shepherd, or rancher, actively oversees and manages his operation in the field and checks his stock and dogs daily for health and injury problems seems the ideal approach. The Loxton Sheep Company in British Columbia is an excellent example and model of such an operation Again, the older, experienced guard dogs can be invaluable for the training of future pups and adolescents, minimizing your future time investment.

The Kuvasz has proven adept at working in virtually all of the situations described, from small farm operations, where the dog is a dual purpose livestock/family (and property) guardian, to remote wilderness situations guarding large free ranging flocks against large predators. The Kuvasz is a hardy, intelligent working breed with well developed guardian instincts that can be adapted to a wide variety of circumstances. The goal of the Kuvasz Club of Canada is to preserve those characteristics within the breed.

Other responsibilities associated with the use of livestock guardians include the spaying and neutering of non-breeding animals to minimize inter-male aggression and to ensure that livestock are protected year-round (dogs and bitches will be distracted from their guarding duties when the bitches are in oestrus). It also means frequent visits to check the health of your guardians and to check for any injuries which can occur on open range conditions, as your dogs fend off predators from injuring your stock. Remember, these are faithful working dogs facing hazardous, potentially life-threatening conditions every day. Your dogs will naturally protect their flock (or other animals) to the point of self-sacrifice. Accordingly, they deserve the best of care, nurturing and feed that you can give them!!

Working dogs are exposed to many more life-threatening hazards than the typical companion dog.

Mortality rates of adolescents (up to 2 years) can be quite high, especially if they are not nurtured or trained, or in the company of an older experienced dog. It is up to you, the owner, to give the necessary care to ensure that they live healthy lives and positively contribute to your operation. Once through the difficult adolescent stage, your dog(s) should provide many years of devoted, reliable service. When your dog is old, give him the benefit of a comfortable retirement, either as a companion, home dog or more restricted activities with animals around the barn.

A Kuvasz, or similar breed, can be a very important part of your livestock operation! The dog will be happy performing a traditional task that his ancestors have been performing since the dawn of civilization. Your efforts will be rewarded through fewer livestock losses and the addition of a very noble and devoted member to your family and operation! Predators will coexist in a richer and healthier environment. That age-old relationship of dog serving man in the protection of people and their livestock will have finally reasserted itself. Finally, livestock guards should be just one component (albeit an important one) of your overall livestock and predator management program. Treat your dogs well and fairly and you will be rewarded with a lifetime of devoted service!