Kuvasz vs Komondor - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Looking like a giant mop, and sometimes being referred to as 'mop dogs' the Komondor, known also as the Hungarian sheepdog, hails from Hungary.

The dog was brought to Europe centuries ago so he is a well established breed. It has been declared as one of the country's national treasures.

He is a dog related to many other dogs such as the Pulim the Ovcharka, the Bearded Collie, Old English Sheepdog and others.

The Kuvasz is an ancient dog breed from Hungary. It is believed that the dog is the oldest of the ancient Hungarian dog breeds, and in fact a fossilized skeleton dating back to the 9th century, and almost identical to the modern Kuvasz, was found near Keszthely.

During the 15th century the Kuvasz became very sought after, being found in royal courts. Puppies were given as royal gifts. Later the popularity of the breed waned and then it was found in its traditional role of guarding livestock.

As Kuvasz numbers dwindled, breeding efforts were started but it is believed that other large dogs such as the Great Pyrenees were used with the Kuvasz to continue with the breeding programs.

In 1884, the first Hungarian standard for the breed was written. It was in 1966 that the Kuvasz Club of America was established.

Known for his unique long corded, singular white coat, the Komondor, a molosser dog, is large. Females start at 64cm in height and both males and females can reach up to 76cm in height.

This unusual coat of theirs is wavy and actually forms cords or dreadlocks as the dog matures. You can't easily see the dog's face because of all the hair.You also can't see the tail easily, in fact you might think he hasn't got a tail as it is obscured by the hair. The tail is medium length and held low.

He has a large head, dark brown eyes, and floppy ears. The coat is certainly going to require grooming even though the dog doesn't shed much. His body is robust and well muscled with the body being slightly longer than the height of the dog.

Temperament:

The Komondor has been a dog used for guarding livestock, and while his character is calm and balanced, when the livestock is threatened, he can show another side – more aggressive – as he defends his flock. He makes an excellent watchdog.

He is an affectionate dog with his human family, being a gentle playmate of children. He is slightly reserved and wary of strangers, and is willing to guard and protect his human family from them.

He is also good with other family pets. When you look at him you might think of him as not being very energetic, but he is an athletic dog, fast and powerful. Because of his size and speed, it is best to have him trained and socialized as he can be obstinate. Training him makes him obedient.

The beautiful Kuvasz is a large, muscled dog standing at 65 – 76cm in height and weighing 35 – 52kg. He has a double coat of dense white hair which can be straight or wavy.

It is natural for the dog to lose most of the long coat during the Summer months. In other words this dog has a seasonal coat.

The nose is black, the eyes brown and alert, the ears are of medium length and floppy and the tail is carried long and low.

Temperament:

The Kuvasz is an intelligent dog who will benefit from training and socialization. It is always wise to have large dogs like this trained because just his size can cause problems if he isn’t obedient.

He is also described as a clownish type of dog which means he’ll entertain and amuse you. Certainly he is playful as a puppy but he calms down quite a bit as he grows into maturity. He is independent, and those who have owned such a dog report that he can be loving and loyal with his human family, wanting to guard and protect them. Others will say that he tended to be aloof, even with his human family.

Used as working dogs, the Kuvasz has learned to be independent and they will need a firm, strong owner who is also fair with them, otherwise they just do their own thing. They’re active dogs and because of their size they won’t suit city living where there is a tiny garden.

The Komondor is known for his strong guardian characteristics, especially with his human family. He is loving and loyal towards them while being wary of strangers.

True, his coat can make people think twice before making this dog a pet, but if you're game and ready to attend to his coat, he can make an excellent family pet. They're fine with other pets too, and he is also an intelligent dog, capable of being easily trained.

He needs a good deal of exercise and can become noisy and destructive without the right amount of stimulation. If you do your part with the Komondor and provide him with a loving, caring home, he will be an awesome pet and guard you with his life.

Kuvasz are guarding dogs, they’re intelligent and loyal, making them excellent family dogs with the right training and socialization.

They’re able to get on well with other pets in the home as well as children. He is a beautiful dog and another bonus is that he isn’t particularly high maintenance.

As is common with many other large-breed dogs, he will have a shorter lifespan than what you’d get with a smaller dog breed, but if you feed him high quality food, exercise him and involve him in your activities, this large dog can become a wonderful friend and protector for you.

The Komondor is a healthy dog breed who can live to be 10, 11 or 12 years if you look after him well. There aren't any known genetic disorders prominent with the dog, but it pays to know about some of those that could strike -

Entropion:

This is an irritating eye problem where the eyelash rubs up against the eyes.The result can be scratching of the cornea and eye infections. It is an eye problem which can be corrected with surgery.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a serious genetically inherited disorder and common in large dog breeds. It is caused by a malformation of the hip joint. It can cause problems for the dog, weakening the hip and making it incapable of supporting the weight of the dog.

It also leads to pain for the dog, difficulty with moving and even total lameness. Weight, size of dog, age and genetics are all factors which can increase the dog's likelihood of developing hip dysplasia.

Whimpering, lethargy and refusing to put weight on the leg are common signs of hip dysplasia and your vet will go ahead with ways to relieve the pain and symptoms of your Komondor.

The large Kuvasz is a healthy dog breed that with good care can reach 12–14 years of age. Being the large dog that he is, he may well be prone to bone and joint problems. It is why good nutrition is so important for this dog - feeding him the best food with vitamins and minerals.

You know the saying ...you are what you eat... and this applies to dogs too. Good food can help to ward off serious illnesses. Big dogs like this often have to contend with hip dysplasia which can be both painful and debilitating as well as eye diseases.

Entropion:

This is where the eyelid of the dog rolls inwards, causing irritation and pain for the dog. There is also Ectropion, where the eyelid rolls outwards.If you see your pet has a red eye which is watery and which has pus, visit your vet. Entropion surgery will correct and repair and condition.

Grooming:

The Komondor is most certainly not a low maintenance dog with that extraordinary coat.Before the dog turns 1, the coat begins to form its cords. These cords can become discolored and matted, In fact the cords will need to be separated to keep the dog clean and free of matted hair.

For those who keep the dog as a pet and who don't want him to be a show dog, he can be trimmed, otherwise the coat and its maintenance could turn out to be a real issue.

Of course once the distinctive coat has been sheared, he loses that typical and recognizable Komondor look.

Check his ears on a regular basis for wax- and dirt buildup so as to prevent ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked regularly to prevent tartar buildup and if you don't have the time or the knowledge to keep his teeth clean and maintained, take him to the vet as the teeth-treatments they do there will promote healthy teeth and gums.

Grooming:

The coat may be fairly long and thick but it doesn’t require any special kind of grooming. A good brush twice a week will be adequate and will help with getting rid of stubborn knots and matting.

He is a seasonal shedder and this frequent brushing will make sure the coat remains groomed and shiny.

General Care:

The Kuvasz is a hardy breed who just loves the outdoors. He is a dog that doesn’t do well in the heat. Make absolutely sure that he has a cool, sheltered spot where he can lie down. Ensure that there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water available to him.

Diet:

There is quite a bit of conflict and controversy regarding nutrition in dogs. The idea is to keep it simple. If you buy a commercially manufactured dog food, check the ingredients on the packaging.

You want to be sure your pet is getting vitamins and minerals in instead of preservatives, fillers and colorants. Try and give him some home made food too such as some chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables. You can mix this into his dry kibble occasionally with a little bit of raw meat too when you have.

Avoid feeding your dog things such as chocolates, nuts, onions, sweets and chips.