Fun Kuvasz Facts For Kids

The Kuvasz is an extremely intelligent, famous among most fashionable large dogs in western Europe and Hungary in the 1920s and 1930s. As per history, the Kuvasz is originally from Tibet but was developed into a formal breed we know today in Hungary.

To keep these loyal dogs as bodyguards, King Matthias I of Hungary in the fifteenth century helped established this breed. He was known to trust these dogs more than his courtiers and soldiers.

They are mostly kept as large game hunting dogs or as guard dogs on farmlands to protect the livestock from wolves, but it has been decades since they were domesticated to stay in houses with people. The Kuvasz temperament is suitable to owners with previous experience with large dog breeds.

They can have a high energy level, very agile, and quick to protect their loved ones.

Their white double coat is medium length with wavy to curly type by appearance. Their body, slightly longer than its height with a fluffy tail, is a standout feature in this dog.

If you enjoy reading through these Kuvasz basic facts, do check out Stabyhoun and golden retriever Husky mix articles.

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Kuvasz Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Kuvasz?

The Kuvasz is a large-breed dog, mostly known as a guard dog with the scientific name Canis lupus familiaris.

What class of animal does a Kuvasz belong to?

The Kuvasz belongs to the Mammalia class. It means that the females of this species will have mammary glands and will produce milk for their puppies post reproduction.

How many Kuvaszok are there in the world?

There is no exact figure on how many Kuvasz are currently there in the world. These animals are categorized as Least Concern as of today.

Where does a Kuvasz live?

Over the last 60 years, these royal guard dogs were kept as pets in homes with families and other dogs. Traditionally, they were called 'guardian dog', but today, they make excellent family dogs.

What is a Kuvasz's habitat?

This Hungarian breed was originally used to guard livestock. However, after domestication, they are best suited in large open spaces around the house rather than apartments. Although they are active indoors, they need more outdoor space due to their large size.

Who do Kuvaszok live with?

Although this breed is traditionally known as a 'guardian dog', it has been over 60 years since it was domesticated and settles well in any household with preferably experienced dog owners. They are also kept on farmlands as livestock guardians for protection.

A Kuvasz is the most loyal breed to bring home, who loves to please people and can be well behaved with early socialization.

The only trait to be cautious of is that it can be suspicious of strangers, more so at night; hence, its barking could be an issue with your neighbors. However, this can be easily controlled with timely training.

How long does a Kuvasz live?

Like an average breed of dogs, a generally healthy Kuvasz's life span is 10-12 years.

How do they reproduce?

Just like most dog breeds, the Kuvasz goes through sexual reproduction. Its gestation period lasts 60-64 days, and Kuvasz can have a litter size of six to eight puppies a year.

These are commercially bred for trading purposes; however, if you would like to own one, look for a reputed breeder.

It is crucial to understand its parent's temperament, although it is difficult to guess which parent's temperament it inherited at the puppy stage. But a good breeder may help you understand this, which would only make your training easy.

What is their conservation status?

This dog breed is currently classified as Least Concern by conservation status. This dog was once close to extinction, with less than 30 Kuvasz left in Hungary by the end of the war; few believe that there may have been less than 12.

Having some dedicated breeders led to their population increase. In 1996, The Kuvasz Club of America was first created, and American Kennel Club granted Kuvasz the official breed club's status in 1993.

Kuvasz Fun Facts

What do Kuvaszok look like?

The Kuvasz is a big dog with a rectangular outline and body slightly longer than its height.

These sturdy dogs have good strength and agility; the coat is of medium length that is dense and wavy. Their eyes are almond-shaped, rounded ears, black nose, and lips with muzzle proportionate to the head, and its furry tail is carried low.

It is sometimes easy to confuse this breed with Great Pyrenees but to distinguish, look for gray, tan markings or reddish-brown on Great Pyrenees' coat, while Kuvaszok have just plain white coat.

How cute are they?

One of the best features of the Kuvasz breed is its mesmerizing dense white coat. They also sometimes popular as 'fashion dogs' for the looks. This protective, loyal dog makes a great companion to every house member.

How do they communicate?

Compared to other dog breeds, Kuvaszok bark moderately when they feel the need to alert their owner of strangers, threats, or hunger in general.

By nature, they tend to feel protective about their owners, so sometimes this barking can get excessive out of alarm. Such destructive habits emerge from not enough stimulation or human contact.

Understanding that this dog is an independent guardian, we need to teach the dog that we are in charge and use gentle and patient methods rather than harsh tones while training to bring down barking.

How big is a Kuvasz?

The male Kuvasz can be 28-30 in (70–76 cm), and a female can be 26-28 in (65–70 cm) in height. They are big dogs, very similar to that of the Great Pyrenees, but in comparison, Kuvaszok are slightly smaller than Great Pyrenees in height.

How fast can a Kuvasz run?

Undoubtedly, Hungarian Kuvasz is known for its strength, speed, and agility. This graceful and fast runner can act independently without instruction. It tends wanderlust, so it is essential to have well-done fencing around the yard.

How much does a Kuvasz weigh?

A male Kuvasz can be anywhere between 100-115 lb (45–52 kg) in weight, and a female can be between 70-90 lb (35–40 kg) in weight.

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male and female of the Kuvasz do not have specific names as such. In general, fully grown males are called dogs, and females are termed bitches.

What would you call a baby Kuvasz?

In general, any dog breed tends to take the common name puppy for their little one. Hence, a baby Kuvasz is also referred to as a puppy or a pup.

What do they eat?

The Kuvasz requires surprisingly less food than other large-breed dogs.

They do well with high-quality dog food with a daily recommended amount of 2.75-3.75 cups divided into two meals. The food that you provide to Kuvasz can either be homemade or commercially manufactured but should suit your Kuvasz age and weight as they are prone to overweight and bloating, so watch on the treats and daily calorie intake.

Multiple small meals help avoid these issues; talk to your vet to fully understand your furry friend's diet needs and how to avoid any unwanted health issues.

Are they slobbery?

The Kuvasz does not have an excessive drooling tendency, but they can be average droolers. The common reasons could include a health problem, so if you spot any difference in the drooling habit of the puppy, do contact your vet as early as possible to identify the underlying cause.

Would they make a good pet?

The Kuvasz is a great companion best suited to experienced pet owners.

Kuvasz is an instinctive guardian, so training of this dog needs to happen at the earliest to adapt to your household. They are to be supervised around children and other pets as they may not understand the play and tend to become protective.

Some may feel this dog breed is aggressive toward a stranger or other dogs, but with the proper early training and a commanding owner, this breed can be an 'easy keeper' with little daily exercise and grooming needs.

Their need for exercise will come down with maturity, and once a week, brushing with a pin brush suffices to bring the dirt off quickly, leaving its double coat clean.

While the coat offers good protection to keep them clean and dry, the cooler environment is highly suitable for Kuvasz as they have trouble in extreme heat from a thick coat.

Ensure there is plenty of shade and fresh water available at all times to combat warm climates.

Did you know...

Most people may have difficulty getting the pronunciation of this dog breed right. It is pronounced as 'Koo-vahz'.  Kuvaszok ('Koo-vah-sock') is the plural version of Kuvasz, which means 'armed guard of the nobility' in Turkish or 'archer' in Arabic.

In 1931, American Kennel Club officially recognized the Kuvasz breed, and currently, its popularity ranks 163 out of 197.

Personality and health problems

Generally, the Kuvasz is a healthy, working dog. They need minimal exercise daily,  and if that is overly done before they are fully grown, they may develop joint problems.

The Kuvasz is vulnerable to common health conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and heart conditions. Bloating could be another disorder, primarily seen in all large dogs; you can help ease this condition by giving small meals and avoiding exercise after food intake.

Getting your own Kuvasz

If you plan to get your own Kuvasz puppy, look for a reputed breeder, and it may cost you around $500-$1,300 on average; it could also go up to $2,000 for a top breed line with an excellent pedigree. Although there are several dedicated rescues and breeders, these puppies can be quite expensive.

This good-looking breed has a fearless temperament and goes to lengths to protect its owners. They tend to be aloof sometimes and work independently, so it could get challenging to train them.

It takes an authoritative, dominant trainer to teach obedience and look for his owner for leadership or command when required; this will bring down the dog's tendency to make its own decisions and wander away.

This strong-minded dog needs no harsh training methods but is controlled with the mind. All the family members should also be involved at the training stage to learn how to handle this dog right from puppyhood.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including bloodhound, or Snorkie.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Kuvasz coloring pages.

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