Kuvasz puppies

About the Kuvasz

The Kuvasz is a Hungarian livestock guardian, white so that a shepherd could tell them from a predator at dusk. This is a large dog, 31.8 to 52.2 kg and 66 to 76 cm, with a medium double coat that is far easier to keep than it looks. Guardians are bred to work without instruction and it shows: a Kuvasz is affectionate and steady with their own family, suspicious of strangers on their ground, and slow to grow up mentally as well as physically.

They need daily activity and a securely fenced space, and the growing puppy needs that exercise controlled so the joints are not loaded before they are ready. Weekly brushing covers the coat, with a bath now and then. Barking at the boundary, particularly at night, is normal for the type. They rate middling with children, so supervise and socialise widely from the start. A high trainability rating does not make a Kuvasz obedient: expect a dog that makes their own call rather than one that takes orders.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Kuvasz puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
• Autoimmune thyroiditis, screened by a thyroid blood panel
• Progressive retinal atrophy, found at an ophthalmologist eye examination and by DNA testing where available
• Patellar luxation, detected on orthopaedic examination
• Cardiac conditions, screened by auscultation and echocardiogram
• Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in large deep chested dogs

Your Kuvasz puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Kuvasz.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 31.8 to 52.2 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 52.2 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other giant breeds

More on the Kuvasz

Previous: Kromfohrlander · Next: Labradoodle

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Kuvasz breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/kuvasz/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Kuvaszprince, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.