{"id":1315,"date":"2020-06-24T08:51:46","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T08:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/dogs\/?p=1315"},"modified":"2020-07-05T19:01:12","modified_gmt":"2020-07-05T19:01:12","slug":"hungarian-kuvasz-the-dog-with-a-big-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/dogs\/pastoral\/hungarian-kuvasz-the-dog-with-a-big-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Hungarian Kuvasz -The Dog With A Big History"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hungarian Kuvasz – Pastoral Breed<\/h3>
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Image: SasaStock\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Name<\/th>\nHungarian Kuvasz - Pastoral<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Size<\/th>\nLarge<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Grooming<\/th>\nWeekly at least<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Training<\/th>\nTricky<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Exercise<\/th>\nTwice Daily<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Origins<\/th>\nMost Likely Hungary<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Ok, you have had a few years experience as a dog owner, live in the countryside and like the outdoor life. Add to that you want a challenge, a dog which looks the part and one that has an interesting history? Well if that's you then a Hungarian Kuvasz is the dog to choose. With their striking thick white coats and surprising agility for such a large powerful dog, it is no wonder that they have been linked to Royalty since the middle ages and it is reputed that the original Dracula (no not Christopher Lee) Vlad Tempes<\/a> owned several during his reign. Anyway more on this later.<\/p>\n

Kuvaszok (the plural of Kuvasz) are not suited to living in a small house or flat and need company and loads of exercise. So if you are a city dweller who works long hours owning one is a definite no. Similarly, Puppies and younger dogs tend to not know their own strength so they are not suited to families with young children either. Having said that mature dogs (over 2 years old) tend to be a bit less boisterous. They don't like other dogs unless they have grown up with them and are art to the point of hostile to strangers. They need a firm yet kind approach to training as if they don't respect you they will just ignore anything you say and being rather intelligent they do need a bit of mental stimulation.<\/p>\n

So now you know the possible issues what's good about a Hungarian Kuvasz as a pet? Well, they are striking to look at being invariably white with long lush coats, and they are very protective of their owner and close family. Given their extra-long coats, you would think that they would be high maintenance however this is not the case. Their coat is quite coarse allowing any dirt to be easily brushed out and outside of Spring and Autumn they shed surprisingly little although do expect some clumps of fluff to hoover up.<\/p>\n

Anyway even if it's not the dog for you why not read on and learn a little more about this historied breed.<\/p>\n

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\"Hungarian

Image: La Su\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

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Quick Overview<\/h3>\n

Name:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Hungarian Kuvasz<\/p>\n

Size:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Large and Robust 28- 30 inches tall (71 - 76 cm)<\/p>\n

Weight:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 70 - 115 lbs (32 - 52 kg)<\/p>\n

Grooming:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Surprisingly easy for such a thick-coated dog think brushing twice a week as a minimum.<\/p>\n

Training:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Not for the faint-hearted or beginner.<\/p>\n

Exercise:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0As much as you can throw at them they have legendary endurance.<\/p>\n

Temperament:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Fiercely loyal towards their family but don't like strangers or other dogs be careful around children.<\/p>\n

Origins:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Hungary but some sources point to Tibet & even Ancient Samaria (now Israel)<\/p>\n

Lifespan:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a010-12 years not bad for a large dog breed<\/p>\n

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A Little History<\/h2>\n

As alluded to above - this is a dog with a history worth telling and even today there are various schools of thought regarding its origins. The most popular view is that they are an \u2018ancient\u2019 breed native to Hungary, dating back a thousand years or so, while others whilst others speculate that it may have originated further afield \u2013 possibly from central Asia or even China & Tibet<\/a>. What is not in doubt is that they are an ancient breed possibly as old as Hungary's other elder statesman dog breeds the Komondor & the Puli.\u00a0 The age of this breed is also a point of debate with some claiming they were introduced by the Magyar tribes who invaded Hungary around the 9th Century while other schools of thought have them dating back to around 1100 to 1300 BC. Who knows?<\/p>\n

What we do know is that they became very popular in the country during the middle ages and by the 15th century, the Kuvasz was held in high esteem thanks to King Mathias I (Corvinus) who used them as his personal bodyguards. They were hunting dogs in his court too and puppies were often given as ceremonial gifts to visiting dignitaries. It is also rumoured that Vlad Temopes who was closely associated with the King in the latter part of his reign was gifted puppies and may even have had his own kennel of Kuvaszok. His love of dogs is well documented so this is one rumour which has a grain of truth in it.<\/p>\n