Kuvasz

70-90 lbs
26-28"
Tibet
Hungarian kuvasz, Hungarian Sheepdog

This breed of dog was originally developed to protect the livestock on Hungarian farms and ranches. It is an adaptable protector of sheep flocks, horses and cattle. The white coat was said to help distinguish the dog from the wolves at night. In contrast to its white coat, the Kuvasz has dark skin. It has a brave and protective nature; it is affectionate, intelligent and extremely loyal to its owner. It is a very independent worker if it has lots of space to wander and stock to guard. Denying this breed its exercise and adequate mental stimulation can result in negative, destructive behavior. They ideally need a long walk each day to wear out their natural energy. These dogs need to be socialised well when young and trained to respond to its master rather than being left to make its own decisions. They are gentle and patient with young children in the family but may become concerned and over protective if others come over to play. They are also tolerant and gentle with other family pets but will think nothing of eradicating trespassing animals. These dogs need a strong alpha (number one) owner, not a passive person who leaves them to take charge. 

purpose Purpose
guarding
history Date of Origin
1300s
ancestry Ancestry
shepherding dog

Kuvasz Health

Sketch of Kuvasz
Average Size
Male Kuvasz size stats
Height: 28-30 inches Weight: 100-115 lbs
Female Kuvasz size stats
Height: 26-28 inches Weight: 70-90 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Congenital Heart Defect
Minor Concerns
  • Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
  • Osteochondritis Dissecans
Occasional Tests
  • Hip
  • Heart
  • Skeletal
  • X-Rays
  • Physical Examination

Kuvasz Breed History

The Kuvasz originated in Tibet, but it was the people of Hungary who developed it into the breed it is today. History describes it as a sheepdog that travelled with the Turkish refugees and their flocks during the time they were fleeing the Mongols and taking refuge in Hungary in the year 1200. The name Kuvasz translates as ‘protector’. The dog became very popular to the fifteenth century King Matyas. He claimed that he trusted his Kuvasz dogs more than his people. When he was pleased with someone, he often gave the recipient a gift of one of his dogs. During his reign between 1458 and 1480, the Kuvasz was a royal dog and enjoyed a pampered life. After the death of King Matyas, the dog returned to being a flock guardian throughout the medieval period. Because of the nomadic nature of the Hungarian herdsmen, the Kuvasz travelled with them and are said to have contributed to the development of the Great Pyrenees, Maremma Sheepdog, and the Anatolian Shepherd which are all flock guards. Due to their decline in popularity after their royal status, the Kuvasz numbers declined, and by the end of World War 2, the breed was almost extinct. Luckily, a devoted handful of breeders worked hard to bring the breed back from the brink of extinction to the safe numbers we see today.


Kuvasz Breed Appearance

The Kuvasz is a bold, fearless dog, well used to protecting a flock or its family. It is a beautifully shaped dog, with a muzzle that is in proportion to its head. With a well-defined stop, black nose and deep brown almond shaped eyes, this breed has a medium boned body that is slightly longer than its tail. The tail is carried low normally, but when excited is slightly raised. The strong neck has a mane of hair that reaches the chest area, with shorter hair on the feet and head. The skin is heavily pigmented, and the coat can be wavy or straight with a thick, dense undercoat. The Kuvasz is a real beauty of a dog, elegant and impressive in build but does have a strong nature, and needs a strong, confident owner to be the pack leader.

Appearance of Kuvasz
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Kuvasz eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Kuvasz nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
white Kuvasz coat
White
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Kuvasz wavy coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Kuvasz Breed Maintenance

This dog needs a lot of exercising if it is not a working dog. They are not recommended for apartment living because of their active nature and this hybrid is best in a large, well fenced yard. If they are not exercised enough or are left alone in a small yard for long periods of time, they can become quite destructive or even aggressive. They love to have access to the home to be with their family but will guard the house and family with its life, and unless they are well socialised when young, any stranger is suspicious and the Kuvasz will decide for itself whether to take action or not. These dogs need a strong leader to guide them and respond best to teaching, not training – especially not harsh training. The coat is relatively easy to care for, although it is not advisable to bathe them too often or it will remove the natural oils that give the coat its natural ability to shed dirt and almost self-clean. It will require regular brushing though, to keep the coat from matting and assist with shedding. If they are a drooler, their mouth may just need a quick wipe now and then. 

Brushes for Kuvasz
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Kuvasz requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Kuvasz Temperament

The Kuvasz is a good family dog if it has an experienced owner who knows how to handle an intelligent dog with strong territorial and protective instincts. These dogs have been bred to think for themselves, to assess situations and make decisions on their own, so they need early socialising and training when they are puppies to get the best out of them. They respond well to encouragement and reward in training but will resent harsh training. These dogs are devoted to their family although they may seem a little standoffish at times. It is just the nature of the breed. They can be reserved with strangers, and because they are a big dog, it is advisable not to leave them unsupervised. Dominance level does vary from dog to dog, but this breed will always have that inbuilt need to guard and protect. Puppies should be handled a lot by a variety of different people and strangers to socialise them, and they should not be allowed to jump up on humans or bite and chew on them. Getting them used to the lead at an early age is desirable. Young adult dogs do tend to push the boundaries at times, which is why this breed needs a calm but firm experienced owner. Special training is needed if they are going to be a flock guard dog, it is always good to have a senior dog who is experienced teach the young learner. While they can be a handful, they are loving and devoted, and many owners value them extremely highly for their intelligence and companionship.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
12 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Kuvasz Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$2.00 - $2.25
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$60.00 - $67.50
food bag monthly cost

Kuvasz Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of Kuvasz at six months
Male Kuvasz size stats at six months
Height: 26.0 inches Weight: 87.5 lbs
Female Kuvasz size stats at six months
Height: 25.0 inches Weight: 60.0 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of Kuvasz at 12 months
Male Kuvasz size stats at 12 months
Height: 28.0 inches Weight: 100.0 lbs
Female Kuvasz size stats at 12 months
Height: 27.0 inches Weight: 70.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of Kuvasz at 18 months
Male Kuvasz size stats at 18 months
Height: 29.0 inches Weight: 107.5 lbs
Female Kuvasz size stats at 18 months
Height: 27.0 inches Weight: 80.0 lbs

Top Kuvasz Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Kuvasz breeders of 2024.
Top Kuvasz breeder Szumeria Kuvasz
Szumeria Kuvasz
Farmington, Minnesota
Top Kuvasz breeder Aegys Kuvasz
Aegys Kuvasz
Statesboro, Georgia

Kuvasz Owner Experiences

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