Samoyed vs Kuvasz - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Samoyed vs Kuvasz - Breed ComparisonKuvasz is originated from Hungary but Samoyed is originated from Russia. Kuvasz may grow 16 cm / 7 inches higher than Samoyed. Kuvasz may weigh 22 kg / 49 pounds more than Samoyed. Both Kuvasz and Samoyed has almost same life span. Both Kuvasz and Samoyed has same litter size. Both Kuvasz and Samoyed requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
undefined
Hungary
Russia
Height Male:
65 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
48 - 60 cm
18 - 24 inches
Height Female:
65 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
48 - 60 cm
18 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
35 - 52 kg
77 - 115 pounds
16 - 30 kg
35 - 67 pounds
Weight Female:
35 - 52 kg
77 - 115 pounds
16 - 30 kg
35 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
4 - 8
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Hungarian Kuvasz
Sammy, Bjelkier, Smiley
Colors Available:
White
White
Coat:
Medium length to long, wavy or straight
Medium length, thick
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
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
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

kuvaszThe 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.

samoyedThe Samoyed is a large breed of dog; a spitz-type dog, with a thick, double-layer coat. The dog was used to help with herding and to also haul sledges for the Siberian Samoyede people.

The Samoyed has been used in polar expeditions, including Sir Ernest Shackleton's journey to the Antarctic. They’ve put up with a lot of hardships on these journeys and some of them have lost their lives on these expeditions.

The first standard for the breed was adopted in England in 1909, and in 1923 the original Samoyed Club of America was established.

Description

kuvasz puppy - descriptionThe 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.

samoyed puppy - descriptionThe Samoyed is a large herding dog standing at between 48 to 60cm in height and weighing 16 – 30kg. He has a thick, double layer coat that is silvery white.

The top layer is fairly long and coarse. The dog sheds heavily once or twice a year, but the dog is described as being hypoallergenic.

The ears of the dog are typical spitz-like – erect. The eyes of the dog are almond in shape and while they are usually brown, they can sometimes be blue too. The tail is long and curls over the dog’s back. When these dogs sleep in the snow, you might notice the tail is folded so that it covers the dog’s nose.

Temperament:

The Samoyed is a friendly dog, to such an extent that you wouldn’t call him a good watchdog. They’re friendly dogs with happy expressions on their faces. They make great family pets and will get on well with children as well as other dogs in the home.

Like all dogs, the Samoyed will need early training and socialization to make him obedient and well rounded. He is intelligent and can easily learn a few basic commands.

Characteristics

kuvasz dog - characteristicsKuvasz 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.

samoyed dog - characteristicsThe Samoyed is a gentle, easy going dog that gets on well with everyone, loving children and being prepared to be friendly towards other dogs too.

His friendliness makes it that he doesn’t make a good watchdog. He is intelligent and can be trained to obey basic commands.

He loves plenty of exercise, after all he has always been a working dog. Apart from the coat which will require quite a bit of upkeep, the Samoyed is prepared to come into your home and make you a splendid pet and companion.

Health Problems

kuvasz puppies - health problemsThe 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.

Some of the common canine diseases your Samoyed can succumb to -

Diabetes:

samoyed puppies - health problemsDogs can get diabetes just like people can. Diabetes is becoming more common in dogs as people try and feed their dogs ‘treats’ such as chocolates, biscuits and ice-cream.

Fortunately diabetes is manageable. Certainly, if you discover signs of diabetes in your pet, get him to the vet. The typical symptoms of diabetes in dogs are increased urination, increased thirst and weight loss. Cataracts and blindness can also occur.

Glaucoma: 

Glaucoma is when there is increased pressure in the eye. It can be hereditary or secondary where there is decreased fluid in the eye because of other eye diseases. Symptoms include pain and even vision loss. It can be treated surgically or with eye drops.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is an inherited condition in dogs where the thighbone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Some dogs will even have lameness in both rear legs. The vet will want x-rays to diagnose hip dysplasia. Unfortunately arthritis can also develop.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

kuvasz dogs - caringThe 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.

Grooming:

samoyed dogs - caringThe coat of the dog is super thick and in the Spring, the dog sheds a lot. Samoyed dog owners will need to be regular with their brushing routine with these dogs as the coat can easily tangle. Some people just prefer to get their Samoyed to a professional groomer.

Exercise:

This is a working dog, used to working hard in all kinds of conditions. He doesn’t take kindly to being bored with nothing to do and he howls and barks till you take him on a walk. He requires regular exercise such as hiking, ball games, running and swimming. It is why this dog isn’t suited to life on a small property in the city. He requires a large garden or farm and lots of exercise.

Diet:

If you want your Samoyed to be healthy so that you’re not constantly at the vet, provide him with top quality food. It is always useful and convenient having commercially manufactured food but you want to vary the diet just a bit by providing some homemade food too.

If you boil chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots in a pot you can chop it all up and freeze it and feed portions twice a week to your dog. Warmed up it can be added to his dry kibble and be a wonderful tasty treat for him. Every now and then you can also include some raw meat which can be beneficial for his skin. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Comparison with other breeds

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