GROUP 5 - WORKING DOGS

Brief History
The Kuvasz is an ancient breed of livestock dog of Hungarian origin. Historically, the Kuvasz was used as a royal guard dog, and to guard livestock. There is evidence of Kuvasz type dogs as early at the 9^th century.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime.
The average life span is 10 to 12 years.

Temperament
The Kuvasz is a spirited dog of keen intelligence, determination, courage and curiosity. They are devoted to their family, but they can be suspicious of strangers. This is a bold and independent dog, needing confident, patient training.

General Breed Description
The Kuvasz is large in size and carries a dense, wavy, white coat. His impressive size and inert guarding instinct demand that socialisation and vigilant obedience training from an early age is vital.

Coat and Care Requirements
The dense white coat needs attention regularly to prevent mats. They usually shed coat twice a year and need more frequent grooming then. The coat is usually odourless and repels dirt and water, thus would only need bathing very occasionally.

Size
Height: Males 71 to 76cms, Females 66 to 70cms.
Weight: Males 48 to 62kgs, Females 37 to 50kgs.

Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about breed’s health and what health testing the breeder does. The Kuvasz is generally a healthy breed, however health conditions do occur occasionally.

Suitability
The Kuvasz is definitely not a good choice for first time owners. They need early and extensive socialisation and obedience training. At this time, there are no Kuvasz in Australia.

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/breed/detail/160