Slovak Cuvac vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison

Slovak Cuvac vs Basque Shepherd - Breed ComparisonBasque Shepherd is originated from Spain but Slovak Cuvac is originated from Slovakia. Basque Shepherd may grow 9 cm / 3 inches shorter than Slovak Cuvac. Basque Shepherd may weigh 15 kg / 33 pounds lesser than Slovak Cuvac. Both Basque Shepherd and Slovak Cuvac has almost same life span. Both Basque Shepherd and Slovak Cuvac has almost same litter size. Both Basque Shepherd and Slovak Cuvac requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
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Spain
Slovakia
Height Male:
47 - 61 cm
18 - 25 inches
59 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Height Female:
46 - 59 cm
18 - 24 inches
59 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
17 - 29 kg
37 - 64 pounds
31 - 44 kg
68 - 98 pounds
Weight Female:
17 - 36 kg
37 - 80 pounds
31 - 44 kg
68 - 98 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
11 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 9
6 - 8
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Basque Herder, Basque Sheepdog
Slovak Chuvach, Tatransky Cuvac
Colors Available:
fawn, yellow orange or copper coat with other shades being red, blue and black
White
Coat:
smooth and soft to rough and coarse
Thick, medium length, wavy
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

basque shepherdThe Basque Shepherd is one of the oldest dog breeds. With this Spanish dog, you’ll find paintings dating back 12,000 years ago. The Basque Shepherd is known as a landrace breed, which means the dog hasn’t gone through the same selective breeding programs as what other breeds have. Landrace breeds have more variations in appearance and temperament than regular breeds.

The Basque Shepherd has 2 distinct varieties, the Gorbeiakoa and the Iletsua. The smooth-haired Gorbeiakoa has a softer coat that is fairly short while the rougher-haired Iletsua has a lighter coloured coat, and unlike the Gorbeiakoa, the ears are not typically erect.

Even though this is an ancient breed of dog, only the Royal Canine Society of Spain recognizes the breed with the two varieties, and in January 1996, the two breeds - Iletsua and Gorbeikoa – were recognized.

slovak cuvacLooking quite a bit like the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, the Slovak Cuvac is a large dog that has served as a guard dog. The Slovensky Cuvac is still used on sheep farms as he isn’t afraid of wolves and bears and will take them on if needs be.

Records of this dog have been kept since the 17th century already, and when the breed started dying out, a certain Dr Antonin Hruza put in efforts to revive the dog.

The registered breeding of the Slovensky Cuvac was established in Czechoslovakia and a club for the dog was established in 1933. A written standard was established in 1964. The dog is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

Description

Two Varieties

basque shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Basque Shepherd is a strong, well proportioned dog with brown eyes and medium sized ears, which sometimes have folds. This medium-to-large dog has a beautiful fawn coat of medium-length hair that can be straight or slightly wavy. He has a long feathery tail that will wag readily when he sees his owner. You’ll find other colors for the Basque Shepherd shared between the two varieties - a yellow orange or copper coat with other shades being red, blue and black. His hair is shorter on the head and he doesn’t battle with hair over the eyes.

An Intelligent Breed

The Basque Shepherd is a highly intelligent dog and also very energetic. Of the two different kinds of Basque Shepherd, it is the Gorbeiakoa which is the more outgoing. The dogs will require a firm owner and they thrive on the discipline when it is combined with lots of with lots of exercise and activities.

The Basque Shepherd is generally friendly with people, if not a little reserved with strangers. He gets on well with children and other pets in the home, although socialization and training will be necessary to bring out their best.

slovak cuvac puppy - descriptionThis is a large dog standing at between 59 and 70cm in height and weighing between 31 and 44kg.

The neck is broad and has quite a bit of fur around it. The head is large, the eyes dark brown, the double coat is white and thick and medium length. The eyes are brown, the ears medium length and floppy and the tail long and furry.

He has well-muscled limbs and is fairly agile for such a large dog.

Temperament:

This is a robust dog, used to spending time outdoors keeping watch over livestock. When he is invited into the home, he is gentle and well behaved, more so when he has been trained and socialized.

He is loving and loyal towards his human family and will get on well with children in the home. He isn’t the brightest dog but you can still have him trained.

Characteristics

basque shepherd dog - characteristicsThe dog is well suited to being a family pet, loving to spend time with family, being a people-oriented breed. He gets on well with children as well as other pets in the home, but can be reserved with strangers.

He doesn’t have an aggressive nature, and yet he does what it takes to protect his beloved human family.

He is full of energy, hardy and tough. He loves his human family and wants to be included in all their activities. He is energetic though and as a responsible dog owner, you want to make sure that your Basque Shepherd has enough space to run.

slovak cuvac dog - characteristicsYour playful Slovak Cuvac is an affectionate dog, wanting nothing more than to be totally involved in his family’s life.

He is social and loving and also makes an excellent watchdog. He’s a big dog so think carefully before you bring him into your home. Many dog owners like the look of a big dog and forget that it costs a lot of money to feed a big dog and to pay for vet fees.

This big dog is wanting to be part of your family and not just to be discarded when you find that he is costing you too much.

Health Problems

basque shepherd puppies - health problemsBecause this is an ancient breed, the Basque Shepherd doesn’t have to contend with genetic health problems such as more modern breeds. Just like other dogs though, he could be prone to certain conditions such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, ear infections and cancer. As a larger breed, he may also be prone to bloat.

Chronic Ear Infections

Breeds with floppy ears, such as the Basque Shepherd will be more prone to developing ear infections. To prevent infection, keep his ears clean and dry. If you’re unsure, the vet can guide you how- and what to do.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a disease which is common to other dog breeds too and not just the Basque Shepherd. This condition affects the hip joints and can result in chronic pain for the dog and also lameness. Checking your dog’s weight is important and the pain can be managed with medication.

slovak cuvac puppies - health problemsThis is a healthy dog breed, but as with many large dogs, hip dysplasia is a threat. Hip dysplasia is always reason for concern as the condition can reduce a dog’s quality of life.

It is distressing seeing your once active pet becoming reluctant to play and move around.

Canine hip dysplasia is a common skeletal condition. It can strike any size dog but is more prevalent with large dogs. The ball and socket of the hip doesn’t fit properly and deterioration sets in resulting in loss of function of the joint.

You will need to get your dog to the vet who will perform a physical exam and discuss treatments to alleviate the pain your dog can experience.

Caring The Pet

basque shepherd dogs - caringThis is a medium to large breed dog and he should therefore be fed a high quality food which has been formulated for medium to large breeds. Because he is a herding dog, you might want to also look at an active-dog or working-breed formula to supply him with that much needed energy.

Grooming

The Basque Shepherd’s coat is lush and long with either straight or wavy hair. Regular brush at least twice a week will maintain the coat, get rid of loose hair and prevent fleas.

Training

The Basque Shepherd is an intelligent breed that will respond well to socialization and training. He is a breed that loves sports too because of this very high energy levels. You need to be careful with the Basquae Shepherd around small children, not because he is aggressive in any way, but because he is highly active, and his exuberance and boisterous antics could see him unintentionally knocking over small children.

slovak cuvac dogs - caring◆The thick white hair will require regular grooming to keep it free from burrs and dirt. He sheds so this brushing will help him to look more groomed.

◆The nails should be trimmed regularly and the ears too should be checked for redness and infection. You’ll need to look inside his mouth too as a rotting tooth can cause havoc within his body. A rotten tooth can also cause him tremendous pain and he has no way of telling you this.

◆Have your pet spayed or neutered if you don’t want any puppies. This is better for your dog’s health in the long run too.

◆Your Slovak Cuvac is going to need a lot of exercise as they have always been used to roaming the mountains watching over livestock.

◆This is a big dog so if you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure its for large, energetic dogs. There are good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market – just make sure you buy the best one for your pet to enhance health and longevity.

Try and give him some home made food too. Healthy food which won’t jeopardise his digestion is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. These can all be chopped up and small portions mixed into the dry kibble twice a week as a treat.

Try and include some raw meat occasionally. Your dog will thank you for not giving him exotic people foods which can do lots of harm. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Slovak Cuvac vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Slovak Cuvac vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Slovak Cuvac vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Slovak Cuvac vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Slovak Cuvac vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Slovak Cuvac vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Slovak Cuvac vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Slovak Cuvac vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Slovak Cuvac vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Slovak Cuvac vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Slovak Cuvac vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Slovak Cuvac vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Slovak Cuvac vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Slovak Cuvac vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Slovak Cuvac vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Slovak Cuvac vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Slovak Cuvac vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Slovak Cuvac vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Slovak Cuvac vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
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  21. Slovak Cuvac vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Slovak Cuvac vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Slovak Cuvac vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Slovak Cuvac vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Slovak Cuvac vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Basque Shepherd vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Basque Shepherd vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Basque Shepherd vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Basque Shepherd vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Basque Shepherd vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Basque Shepherd vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Basque Shepherd vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Basque Shepherd vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Basque Shepherd vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Basque Shepherd vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Basque Shepherd vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Basque Shepherd vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Basque Shepherd vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Basque Shepherd vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Basque Shepherd vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Basque Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Basque Shepherd vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Basque Shepherd vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Basque Shepherd vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Basque Shepherd vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Basque Shepherd vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Basque Shepherd vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Basque Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Basque Shepherd vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Basque Shepherd vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison