Judging the Kuvasz

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, October 2013 issue.

Judging the Kuvasz

Having lived with smaller dogs as a child, I was ready for something impressive and laid-back as a teenager. I bought my first Kuvasz pup in 1970 from summer earnings as a Hungarian high-school student. I was attracted to the breed because of their regal look and strong presence. I had always liked a calm, collected, and quiet dog. The beauty of the Kuvasz’ dark eyes and facial pigmentation, contrasting with the white coat, was as striking then as it is now. As a young woman, I admired the confident, protective work ethic of my Kuvasz. I was most thankful when my 8-month-old dog offered protection against an aggressive stranger on one of our long evening walks.

The Kuvasz is an ancient breed brought to the Carpathian basin from the Asian steppes by the nomadic tribes that invaded the area around 900 to 1000 A.D. The Kuvasz may have derived from large Tibetan dogs traveling with these tribes. They probably mixed with the local dog population as they migrated from East to West. The adaptable Kuvasz easily changed roles from an able horse dog to an excellent guardian of sheep and cattle as their tribe’s society transitioned from a nomadic to settled way of life.

A judge looking to evaluate the breed must be a confident person who can deal with the protective nature of the breed. As the Kuvasz is an excellent judge of a person’s emotional state, they react to even a hint of suspicious behavior. Anyone who is insecure dealing with large, protective dogs should not judge the breed. Although most experienced breeders will train and condition their dogs to the show ring, we have many novice exhibitors whose dogs should be approached with patient confidence.

As I mark an entry coming into the ring, I search for that regal look and presence that first led me to fall in love with the breed.

The Kuvasz is a large dog with a soft and intelligent expression. It is well balanced, well muscled, and sturdy, with good substance and no hint of coarseness. Gait and movement are free and must be efficient, with no wasted effort.

Dogs are ideally 28 to 30 inches at the withers, with bitches between 26 to 28 inches. When judging dogs that fall above or below the ideal height guidelines, one must take into consideration other factors that determine the dog’s quality. Disqualifications are dogs smaller than 26 inches and bitches smaller than 24 inches.

Viewed from the side, the animal should show a horizontal rectangle, slightly deviated from the square. When judging the breed, the horizontal profile in relation to the height and length of leg must be in balance.

A critical aspect of judging a Kuvasz is the head, which is the most beautiful feature of the breed and must have correct proportions. The length of the head is slightly less than half the height of the dog at the withers when measured from the tip of the nose to the occiput. The width of the head is half the length of the head. I am looking for a wedge-shaped head, with clean planes and smooth lines.

Dark, almond-shaped eyes should be slightly slanted and set back between the plane of the muzzle. Ears are V-shaped, with a slightly rounded tip that should cover the eye when pulled forward. The wide part of the ear should be about level to the eye.

The skull is elongated but not pointed, with a refined stop that is not abrupt but shows a gradual rise in the forehead above the plane of the muzzle. Cheeks are flat, with bony arches above the eyes, and the skin is dry. The mouth and lips are black and are not pendulous; the nose is large and black.

The back is muscular and hard, with broad, well-sprung ribs. The top line presents a smooth, continuous line from the neck to the croup, with an arched neck at the crest set smoothly into high, well-muscled withers. The tail is set and carried low as an extension of the croup to complete a graceful outline.

A manual examination of the Kuvasz’ structure is imperative as the true outline can be obscured by coat. Coat type can be either straight or wavy but must be a double coat consisting of a fine undercoat and longer guard hair of medium-coarse texture. The facial and leg hair is short and smooth, transitioning to medium-length body hair and longer hair for the mane, tail, and leg feathering. As the Kuvasz is a working dog, excessively long hair should be penalized.

The skin is heavily pigmented, black or slate, the darker the better, with black pads and nails. The coat is white. The judge should part the hair to determine the true color of the coat. There are different shades of white and stains can occur. The Kuvasz should be shown at a trot on a loose lead. He carries his head and tail relatively low.

The Kuvasz shows great intelligence and an ability to act alone in any situation. A one-family dog, they are highly sensitive to praise or blame and are courageous and bold. In the show ring, a Kuvasz with a correct temperament is not shy or aggressive, but I will give some allowance for a young dog.

To briefly review the essence of the Kuvasz, it is a large, strong, elegant dog with a moderately proportioned head and body; a balanced and easy gait; a calm, self-assured nature; and a soft, intelligent expression. It should be presented with a natural, untrimmed coat and appearance.