The Hungarian Kuvasz is an ancient livestock guarding dog breed, originating in Hungary. The Kuvasz is a large dog with a dense, fluffy looking coat. It is usually white or cream colored with dark skin pigmentation. Kuvasz are similar in appearance to Samoyed dogs.

The dogs were deliberately bred by shepherds to have a white coat, to distinguish them from the darker colored wolves that preyed on the herds. They are related to the Komondor, another Hungarian breed that is white for similar reasons. Similarly to the Komondor, Kuvasz are believed to have been brought into Hungary from Central Asia over 1000 years ago.http://www.kuvasz.info/kuvaszdescription.htm

The Kuvasz is an intelligent dog, and are said to retain puppy-like qualities and humor throughout their lives. They are loyal and affectionate, but may be distrustful of strangers and are fiercely protective of their families. They are also stubborn, and so in spite of their intelligence, may be difficult to train. Obtaining professional training for them as puppies is recommended. They can also be vocal when warning their owners of potential threats, which might lead to disagreements with the neighbors. Although the Kuvasz should be brushed occasionally, they do not require special grooming. However, they do shed a couple of times per year and may lose quite a lot of hair at these times.http://www.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=DBD&breedPage=kuvasz.html

The Hungarian Kuvasz, like many larger dogs, is unfortunately prone to bone problems later on in life. They have a life expectancy of around 12-14 years and are generally healthy, however care and preventative measures should be taken when the dog is still young to prevent later problems. This can include special handling and nutrition, which should be discussed with an appropriate breeder or veterinarian. http://en.mimi.hu/dog/komondor.html

The genetic history of the dog must also be taken into account. When buying a puppy, certificates indicating the results of tests for the genes responsible for relevant bone diseases and for other possible conditions in the Kuvasz such as PRA (a condition that can cause blindness) must be obtained. http://www.kuvasz.com/kuvasz/care.htm

While the Hungarian Kuvasz is traditionally a guard and herding dog for livestock, it is often kept as a pet in modern houses. Confinement to an apartment or condo is not recommended since these dogs like being outdoors and enjoy moving freely. The dogs enjoy getting exercise. However, while they are puppies growing up, exercise should be moderate and not be to the extreme. The dogs are intelligent and obedient and are said to be great contenders during obedience shows, however they can be difficult for a beginning dog owner to train.http://www.kuvasz.com/kuvasz/care.htm http://www.kuvasz.info/kuvaszdescription.htm

The dogs in this video are Hungarian Kuvasz competing for a best in breed at the Westminster Kennel Club. While standards for these dogs are different in every country, Western countries such as the US and England tend to favor a straighter coat in the breed. To achieve this, they will be brushed to achieve this effect as can be seen in this video. In Hungary the dogs are preferred to have a curlier coat.