FCI Breedstandard
Origin and Purpose
The kuvasz is one of the oldest Hungarian working shepherd dogs. He came to the
Carpathian basin possibly with the migrant Hungarians, or with the Cumanians.
The kuvasz excels as a protection dog and is a good watchdog for property and
home. He has a keen sense of smell and can be used for tracking work.
Disposition
is lively but not easily excitable. His general exterior gives evidence to
untiring working ability. Loyal to his owners but very discriminating with
strangers. Extremely brave to the point of self sacrifice.
Head
The beautiful Kuvasz head denotes harmony, strength, and intelligence.The wedge
shaped head is elongated but never pointed. Skull is broad, forehead slightly
rounded. The longitudinal midline of the forehead is pronounced and continues to
the muzzle. Medium developed bony arches are above the eyes. Stop is gently
sloping to the muzzle. Top of muzzle is straight, tapered towards the nose but
is never snipey. Nose is rounded, black in color. Cheeks are wide and long, very
well muscled. The full set of teeth are well developed, powerful, regular, and
close in a scissors-like bite. Flews are tight, black with indented edging at
the corner of the mouth. Ears are set on the same horizontal plane as the top of
the head, bent at the base, close to the skull. The outer edge of the upper
third stand away from the head, the inner edge lie close to the cheeks forming a
rounded V-shape. When alert the ears may move slightly but never rise above the
head, cast backward or fold lengthwise. Eyes are slanted, almond shaped, dark
brown or black in color. Eyelids are black and tight.
Neck
forms an angle of 25-30 degrees with the horizontal, medium length, well muscled
and has no dewlap.
Forequarters
Position of the front legs is of medium width. Elbows neither in nor out.
Long, well muscled radius support the body in a definite straight line. Muscles
continue towards the foot with lean and strong tendons. Joints are dry, never
loose. Pasterns form an angle of 45 degrees with the horizontal. Feet are tight,
well padded cat feet, black or slate-gray in color. Very little hair between the
toes, the nails are well developed, black or slate-gray.
Body
Shoulders are long, withers are higher than the back. Medium long back is
straight and firm, loin is short and tight. Croup is slightly sloping, broad,
well muscled. The abundance of coat on the rear may give the appearance of being
higher than the front. Chest is slightly rounded, deep; ribs are long,
well-sprung. In profile the prosternum is ahead of the shoulders and is covered
with strong muscles. Stomach is tucked up.
Tail
is set low, a natural continuation of the sloping croup. It is carried low with
the last vertebra reaching to the hock joint. In repose it hangs down, the end
slightly lifted, not curling. In a state of excitement the tail may be elevated
to the level of the loin but never curl above the back.
Hindquarters
Rear limbs and the thighs are well muscled. Pelvis and the femur form an angle
of 90 degrees, the femur and the tibia form an angle of 110-120 degrees (stifle
angulation). Tibia and metatarsus form an angle of 130-140 degrees (hock
angulation). Metatarsus is broad, dry and powerful. Hocks are perpendicular to
the ground. Metatarsus is more steep than the metacarpus. Rear paws are somewhat
longer than the front paws but just as tight. Dewclaws, if any, are removed.
Pads are thick, nails well developed, black or slate-gray in color.
Size and Weight
Height at the withers are: males: 71-76 centimeters, females: 66-70 centimeters.
Relative measurement for different parts of the body is in percentage to that of
the withers: length of body: 104%, depth of chest: 48%, width of chest: 27%,
measurement of the girdle: 120% (also called circumference at the withers),
length of head: 45% length of muzzle: 42% of the head length, length of ears:
50% of head length, weight for males: 48-62 kg, weight for females: 37-50 kg.
Movement
The walk is slow, the trot is energetic, covers ground well. The kuvasz is able
to trot 25-30 km without tiring.
Skin and Coat
Skin is heavily pigmented slate-gray in color. Nose, eyelids, and flews are
black the foot pads are slate-gray or black. Preferred color for the roof of the
mouth is black, but dark pigmentation on slate-gray foundation is accepted. Hair
is medium coarse, wavy, slightly rough in texture and does not mat. Color is
white. The double coat formed by medium course guard hair has a fine, downy
undercoat. Head, ears, and paws are covered with 1-2 centimeter long, straight,
thick hair. The hair on the front of the forelegs up to the elbows and on the
hindlegs below the thighs are also covered with straight thick hair. The back of
the forelegs are feathered to the pastern with hair 5-8 centimeters long. Around
the neck there is a mane that extends to and covers the chest. The mane is more
prominent on the male kuvasz. Body, thighs, and upper forelegs are covered with
medium long (4-12 centimeters) thick, wavy coat which forms haircrests, swirls
and tufts. The entire tail is covered with thick wavy coat, 10-15 centimeters.
Faults
Too short or too long muzzle. Forehead more rounded. Underdeveloped bony arches
above the eye. Too much stop. Loose eyelids and flews. Cast back, twisted or
incorrectly folded ears. Long neck. Too wide chest. Loose shoulders. Light or
pink pigmentation of the skin. Light eyes. Poor pigmentation on the nose, flews
and eyelids. Roachback or swayback. Loose body structure. Yellow coat or
markings. Incorrect front or rear stance. Missing, crooked or uneven teeth. Coat
not wavy. Small size. Round eyes. Roman nose. Coarse head. Aggressive or
shy temperament. Long body. Flat chest. Light bone structure.
Disqualifications
Upstanding ears. Overshot bite. More than 2 millimeters undershot bite.
Entropion or ectropion eyelids. Very pronounced stop. Coat which mats. Short,
straight, stiff, splintery coat. Open coat with very little undercoat. Limbs
covered with long hair. Males smaller than 68 centimeters, females smaller than
63 centimeters. Tail raised higher than the loin or curled over the back in
repose. Coat color other than white. Cryptorchidism, monorchidism.