Living With a Kuvasz

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

Living With a Kuvasz

Our life with Kuvasz began more than 33 years ago, when the first perfect, white fluff ball entered into our family of 2 adults, 2 young children, a cat, a rat and some birds. At the time my husband was a marathon runner attracted to the idea of a dog who could effortlessly run long distances. We both were intrigued with a breed that could be good with children, was an exceptional guard and was able to act on his own initiative. I smile at that last phrase, for it has been the key to many interesting moments in our lives as Kuvasz owners.

Our first Kuvasz puppy, like all those that followed, was easily housebroken, clown-like in play and an early candidate for socialization. I had met Kuvasz who had never left their homes and though exceptional guardians, they were also quite difficult to manage in a modern world where dogs must be driven to the vet and handled by strangers. The most experienced breeders were right: In our present-day world, one must socialize a Kuvasz pup to everything one will want them to experience in adulthood. We were off to classes and out into the world immediately.

A Kuvasz is a very smart dog, but not necessarily a dog that will do 20 repetitions of the same activity. One must be creative, firm, fair and positive while training a Kuvasz. Kuvasz can learn to work happily but will shut down in response to tireless overtraining or abuse. A Kuvasz wants a job and is happiest when in the middle of things, watching the family or livestock and keeping an eye on its property. This is an animal that needs time, attention, training and a securely fenced environment.

Perhaps most interesting are the many things one does not have to teach a Kuvasz. Somewhere in the first year of life, the young Kuvasz will begin guarding, which translates into growling and barking at any person or thing that is new and different. Our first Kuvasz barked madly one morning while staring out the window into the front yard. When we looked, we saw that a large, fallen limb was the object of his consternation.

Years later, we were awakened in the middle of the night to a wild barking episode. My husband and I took turns going downstairs to investigate and seeing nothing, told the dog to hush. This Kuvasz, who was normally silent at night, quieted for a moment, until the racket began again; there he stood, barking at a door that linked house to garage. After the third or fourth time, royally annoyed with this barking critter, we finally paused and listened carefully. Faintly, we heard the slightest whooshing sound and upon opening the door, we saw a lake of water. A pipe had broken and water was flooding the garage and would soon flow into the house! We were saved by a dog that acted on his own initiative, even when told to hush.

A Kuvasz’s ability to act without direction can be striking. At one of our large parties, with lots of dogs and children, a few of them unfamiliar with one another, a six-year-old girl suddenly leapt up, screaming and ran across the yard. A Kuvasz bitch that had no experience with children took off after the shouting child. As we adults called to the child to stop and called to the bitch to drop, Disa, our 4-year-old male, in-charge Kuvasz raced and grabbed the bitch solidly by the tail, pulling and holding her until the humans could intervene.

In our long line of Kuvasz, we’ve had soccer-playing Kuvasz and those who want nothing to do with a ball; keen hunters and those who watch squirrels and birds as if they were part of their flock. None of ours has wanted to swim (others do), though visiting Flat-Coated and Golden Retrievers have bounded into the pool to be watched by our Kuvasz as if some other species. All our Kuvasz have liked playing what famous Kuvasz breeder Aino Andres calls “doggie dress up”: rolling in every dead and disgusting thing, happy to disguise themselves. We have learned to be ever vigilant in finding any dead things on the property to spare ourselves this canine party game.

Our Kuvasz are interesting beings. Often described as reserved, that is more their public face. With family and accepted friends, they are sweetly loving and often quite engaging, silly and full of tricks. There is an old Hungarian saying that the master’s friends are the dog’s friends and the master’s enemies the dog’s enemies. It has seemed true with all our Kuvasz; they enjoy our friends’ attention, yet suspiciously keep watch of any new person.

Our Kuvasz have been gentle with children but the children were taught to be gentle and respect our Kuvasz. Kuvasz are by nature quiet and relaxed in the house and yet will spring into action at any change in the environment. No one enters our property without the sound and fury of barking dogs.

Our Kuvasz have been stoics. I have seen many very sick, elderly dogs suffer end-of-life illness with little sign that anything is wrong. Their stoicism means that a deteriorating condition can be overlooked; thus, we owners must be vigilant in watching for subtle changes.

Our Kuvasz have been great teachers, showing patience and forgiveness when we‘ve made mistakes and showing joy in simple pleasures, whether walking, climbing and running about the land; driving off a fox or deer; smelling flowers; eating an occasional bee; sunbathing; smiling; or lying upside down in complete and utter relaxation.

Our Kuvasz, the ancient Hungarian livestock-guarding breed, is not for everyone. This is a dog that will fill the boss spot in a family if there is insufficient human leadership. For the right family or individual, the Kuvasz is a remarkably engaging, sometimes challenging, noble friend.

In an ever-present cloud of “Yes, they do shed,” Kuvasz owners find themselves with dogs that work as livestock guardians and do Agility, Obedience, Rally, Tracking, Conformation, Therapy, Carting and more. But most important, they are wonderful family members.

And so, these many years later, my husband no longer runs, the children are grown and I’m a bit slower. Yet thanks to wonderful, dedicated breeders who have long persevered to improve and maintain this magnificent breed of herdsmen and kings, a handsome male Kuvasz—Rebel Ridge Big Easy Music, CD RN CGC (Jazz)—gets us up and walking, throwing things, playing silly dog games, competing in dog sports, cuddling and driving hither and yon. Through it all, he connects us to an ancient community of Kuvasz and their enthusiasts.