Breed History
The ancestors of the Kuvasz came to Hungary from Tibet thousands of years ago possibly from the Magyar tribes as far back as 2000 BC!...
There is some division on the origin of the name Kuvasz. Some argue that the word derives from the Turkish word kawasz, meaning armed guard of the nobility. Others believe it comes from the Magyar Ku Assa, meaning Dog of the Horse. These dogs were used by the nobility as guardians and as big game hunters. It is said that a pack of Kuvaszok (plural for Kuvasz) could bring down a wolf or bear. Matthias Corvinus I, king of Hungary from 1458 to 1490, is credited with developing the Kuvasz into the dog we recognize today. He kept a large kennel of Kuvaszok and, through selective breeding, did much to improve the quality of the dogs. Notorious for keeping a Kuvasz with him at all times, King Matthias I would often give the dogs as gifts to noblemen and foreign dignitaries. One such honoree was Vlad III the Impaler, better known as Vlad Dracula.Over the years, the nobilitys favorite breed fell into the hands of everyday farmers who used the dog as a livestock guardian. At this time, the breed name was changed to Kuvasz, which ironically translates to mongrel. The Kuvasz was introduced to the United States during the 1930s and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1935. The World Wars decimated the Kuvasz, but Kuvaszok in Germany helped to keep the breed from extinction. The Kuvasz is not commonly found in American homes.