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Kuvasz History
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The ancestors of the Kuvasz came to Hungary from Tibet thousands of years ago, and may have been introduced to Hungary by the Magyar tribes as far back as 2000 BC. There is some division on the origin of the name Kuvasz. Some posit 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; a pack of Kuvaszok 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, these guardians of the nobility fell into the hands of commoners, who used the dog as a livestock guardian and changed its name 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 an uncommon pet in American homes today.
