KUVASZ
AS PETS
For
whatever reason there is a real bias against female dogs. This may be
the only time you will find all feminine instead of all masculine
references.
I was ambivalent about gender before I adopted my
first Kuvasz. At present I have a sweet tempered and clever male named
Triumph, and a smart loving young miss called Phantom.
My big boy will be registered in the annals of
history as the very first cyberspace Best of Breed
winner, due to
his victory in the inaugural Virtual Dog Show. My pretty girl placed
third. I love them both and they love me, but some days that guy
can be very frustrating.
It is a generally accepted fact that males will test
your authority all of their lives. Males are also larger, they are more
prone to roam, and to fits of machismo with other dogs. Each of my
female
Kuvasz has been easier to train, more attentive and affectionate, as
well
as more subtly protective. Show people tell me the gender bias extends
into
the ring. I guess if you are planning to show a male is in your future,
if not ...
Kuvasz pets are what you make them. They are
extremely intelligent and learn very quickly. However for centuries
they
have been independent and in charge while fulfilling their roles
as
flock and livestock guardians. Therefore it is imperative you teach a
puppy
what NO means. Do not allow a Kuvasz puppy to do anything at
eight
weeks and fifteen pounds, that you won't be comfortable with when she's
seven
months and ninety pounds. Be firm, fair, consistent and patient. When
you
get to know your pup's personality you will know whether a harsh word
is
enough, or a scruff shake is required. You must be decisive and
confident
so the pup understands you are her leader, and that she is your
subordinate.
You should begin to handle the puppy as soon as you
bring her home. Lie her on her side, put one hand on her to keep her
from squirming away, and hold on to one of her front paws for two
minutes with your other hand. When you open your hand she should leave
her paw there
for ten seconds. Repeat this process with a back paw. Then massage her
gums
with your finger. Initial resistance is normal but you cannot allow
biting.
These exercises should be accomplished a few times a day. Have people
into
your home to perform them, especially children. Kuvasz need to learn
they
must submit to everyone, and
that
they are even beneath the goldfish in your pack. If she is a very tough
customer you may have to don protective clothing and lie down on the
floor
with her bundled up in your arms until she tires. When she does finally
submit,
pet and praise her. I have always enjoyed the kisses I get then instead
of bites with those needle teeth.
SOCIALIZE! SOCIALIZE! SOCIALIZE! You can never socialize a
Kuvasz too much. This must be a LIFETIME process. Fill your pockets
with treats and take her out to meet the world. Initially I use school
bus stops. I
give every man, woman, and child a treat to give the pup. When my grown
Kuvasz are with me, and especially when they are with Karen, they are
friendly with most people but discriminating with the wolves. These are
very intelligent dogs with amazing powers of intuition. Have confidence
in them and they
will have confidence in themselves and you. They are supposed to be
guardians
not attack dogs. The difference is, Kuvasz should ward off until they
have
no choice but to fight. Let me assure you, a fighting Kuvasz is very
unpleasant.
Search out loud noise and confusion. The more your
Kuvasz sees and hears at a very early age, the less likely she will
fear thunder, fireworks, trucks, traffic, hot air balloons, and home
appliances like vacuum cleaners etcetera.
Once the puppy has had all her puppy shots, take her
places where there are many other canines. If you do this when she is
small she will learn to play properly with all dogs. Consequently they
and their owners won't be afraid of her when she grows to be very
large. Moreover
she can learn from these playmates. Kuvasz supposedly don't like water,
but each of mine were taught to swim and fetch, and even learned some
obedience
basics by watching other dogs.
If you live in a cardboard box your Kuvasz pet
doesn't care as long as she can be with you. Kuvaszok should not be
tethered or
chained. As often happens with other dogs, especially guardian type
dogs,
it may frustrate them and make them very aggressive. However they
should
always be safely contained either by adequate fencing or even fencing
combined
with hot wire if necessary, to keep them from roaming and getting into
trouble.
But don't leave them in the yard or field all of the time, they don't
like
to be isolated either. Despite what some breed experts will tell you,
they
do not always need to be outside. Sometimes they like to be inside with
their
family.
WHAT FOOD IS BEST? That question has
certainly been one of the most worrisome I have had to consider.
Despite asking veterinarians, breeders, trainers, and a multitude of
other dog business professionals
which food was best for my Kuvasz, I was never really totally
comfortable
when the typical answer included processed dog food. In part that was
because
there are just so many differing opinions about the value or harm in
feeding
food out of a bag or out of a can, even if it is advertised as premium,
quality, balanced, natural, and the choice of top breeders or
veterinarians
and so on.
The
presence of chemical preservatives in dog food bothered me from the
very beginning. When I attended dog shows and similar canine events,
the many dog food
manufacturers and other caring nutrition hucksters didn't ever
allay
my fears. In fact, sometimes as I would trudge from kiosk to kiosk they
would assure me their food was the best and only food I should feed my
Kuvasz,
and that everyone else's food would probably make them sick or kill
them.
During
the course
of my ongoing research and scrutiny of dog food, I did find a
consensus: many breeders, the dog food industry, and veterinarians
suggest that large breed dogs should not have puppy food,
unless it is specially formulated puppy food for the larger breeds.
That is so their already rapid growth
won't be accelerated. I also discovered several small meals per day is
preferable to reduce the likelihood of bloat. The same as for people,
the small meals method has several health benefits including
the stabilization of weight.
Over the
years I read a couple of books about homemade and natural
food
diets, and I did add vegetables and such to Triumph and Phantom's dry
dog
food, but didn't really break from the detrimental processed dog
food
pattern. Then I saw Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst's
book Give Your Dog A Bone
discussed over and over on the Internet, read it, and made the decision
to completely change Triumph and Phantom's feeding
schedule.
Other
homemade and natural food menus can be found in the books; How To
Have a Healthier Dog by Dr. Belfield, Natural Health for Dogs
and Cats by Dr.
Pitcairn, Back to Basics by Wendy Volhard, and Dr. Ed Dorosz's Let's
Cook For Our Dog. Once again, you can easily obtain the books
mentioned
on this site and probably almost any other dog or cat related book or
video, by phoning the Direct Book Service at 1800 776 2665.
Ultimately you will have to decide what and how to
feed.
Climatic conditions will partially dictate how long
your dog's coat will be, and how frequently you will have to use a slicker and rake for basic
Kuvasz care. Use of the former with its wire teeth will deal with the
topcoat, and periodic use of the latter on an adult dog will remove
unwanted undercoat and make her look fabulous. If you live in a cold
region, during the winter months their coats require less maintenance,
and Kuvasz love cold weather. Of course wet and muddy conditions will
increase grooming requirements. But a little corn starch applied with
the soft side of a pin
brush and then brushed out, will whiten the coat and neutralize the
nasty smell she picked up shoulder rolling on whatever. If you have
handled her since you brought her home,
brushing, cleaning
teeth, and nail
clipping etcetera, do not have to be unpleasant experiences for
either of you, or
the groomer you take her to once a year for a trim. Be forewarned that
she
will always shed, however cleanup is easily accomplished with a lint
brush
and a good vacuum cleaner, and her coat won't be quite as hard to pick
up
as Labrador Retriever or Dalmatian hair. Kuvasz coats are also odorless
except when wet, and then they smell like wet wool.
It is the rare Kuvasz that is completely
obedient. To strive for that goal I would suggest you refer to Good
Owners Great Dogs by Brian Kilcommons, and The Art of Raising a
Puppy and How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend by the Monks of
New Skete. You might also read Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen
Pryor. That last book resource is touted as a behavioral guide to
training dogs, other animals, and people too! However even with the
help and advice of the professionals, don't
be surprised if your Kuvasz isn't perfectly attentive all of the time.
I
am not suggesting you don't try to train her or that she won't behave
at
obedience school. But you must realize despite her size she can
sometimes
still be a puppy mentally until three years of age. Moreover, when they
are
working in their livestock protection roles, Kuvasz are in charge and
decide
for themselves what they should do. Sometimes it's difficult to
overcome
their natural tendency toward independence.
I spend the first ten minutes of every single outing
practicing the obedience basics; heel, sit stay, down stay, and the
toughest of them all, come. I start short training sessions as soon
as I bring
the pups home, and find treat rewards to be consistently
effective.
A magical tool to ensure proper heeling is the prong collar. It
does
not hurt the dog, and is more humane than a choker despite its
appearance. Happy users call it power steering for big dogs. There are
also Promise
Halters and Haltis
available
as aids in teaching your dog to heel, and for general training
purposes.
Unfortunately many people think the halters are muzzles, and are
initially
afraid to meet dogs wearing them. For more information about the
Promise
Halter phone 1800 666 3647.
Sadly, Kuvasz are plagued by many of the hundreds
of genetic afflictions which haunt all canines. One of the most common
is
hip dysplasia, the bane of dogs over thirty pounds. Many unfortunate
Kuvaszok are also affected by front end problems like Osteochondritis
Dissecans (OCD) which occurs in the shoulders, and rear leg
difficulties like knee ligament failure and patellar luxation.
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD) the debilitating disease which
affects the bone
framework in puppies of the large rapidly growing breeds, and can
kill or permanently deform, is present in some Kuvasz lines. Deafness
sometimes occurs in predominantly white breeds like this one. Skin
problems are very common. There have also been cases of von
Willebrand's Disease (VWD), autoimmune illnesses, and
eye problems too. But if you are careful to buy from someone who is
reputable, competent, and demonstrates confidence in their breeding
program by offering a written and fair warranty in case of
genetic defect, hopefully
the preceding and myriad of other health nightmares won't be factors in
your dog's life.
In the event of sickness or a problem which is out
of the ordinary, I always get opinions from vets at different clinics.
I also frequently consult The Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
by
Carlson and Giffin. It is a useful lay person's guide to canine health
care.
You can expect to pay several hundred a year for ordinary veterinary
maintenance.
Finally, because they are large dogs they don't live
as long as we would like. I've been led to believe that good health
after ten years of age is a welcome bonus.
LIVESTOCK
GUARDIAN DOGS
or
BACK TO
CONTENTS