Slovensky Cuvac: Livestock Guardian Dog Breed
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If you are looking for a livestock guardian dog that is also gentle with your other household pets and your children, you may want to consider the Slovensky Cuvac. Known as a particularly gentle and friendly breed, this dog is excellent for homestead families.
Does the Slovensky Cuvac make a good livestock guardian? Yes, the Slovensky Cuvac is an excellent livestock guardian who has been bred to do the job efficiently. They are gentle with their handler(s) as well as with the animals they watch over. Although quite rare, they are fierce when necessary, loyal always, and one of the most effective guardians out there.
Does the Slovensky Cuvac make a good pet? Yes, Slovensky Cuvacs make wonderful family companions to those who are able to provide them with plenty of exercise, consistent training, and socialization. This breed is not meant for apartment living or small spaces and also shed quite a bit.
Interested in Slovensky Cuvacs and want to learn more about their temperament, tendencies, and history? Well, I’ve laid it all out for you in this article! And for information on how to train livestock guardian dog breeds with positive methods, check out a review on my favorite training program here.
Other Names: Slovakian Chuvach, Slovak Cuvac, Slovensky Tchouvatch
Slovensky Cuvac at a Glance
| Characteristics | Slovensky Cuvac |
|---|---|
| Male Size |
Height: 24-27.5" Weight: 80-97 lbs |
| Female Size |
Height: 23-25.5" Weight: 68-82 lbs |
| Barking Frequency | Can be frequent, especially at night |
| Fencing Required | High and strong |
| Exercise Needs | Moderate-high |
| Human Aggression | Suspicious of strangers, aggressive toward intruders, gentle with children |
| Other Dog Aggression | Can be high if not properly introduced or if not socialized |
| Training | Early socialization recommended, can be challenging to train |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Grooming | Moderate-high |
| Lifespan | 11-13 years |
| Age to Maturity | Unknown (most LGDs take ~2 years) |
| Cost (in U.S.) | $800-$1200 |
| Food Requirements | 1705-4280 cal/day |
| Health Problems | Hip and elbow displasia |
| Similar Breeds | Kuvasz, Polish Tatra |
| Availability (in U.S.) | Uncommon |
Slovensky Cuvac Personality/Temperament
The Slovensky Cuvac has been described as independent, lively, dominant, intelligent and agile. These dogs tend to be less reactive than other livestock guardian breeds and are very affectionate with their family and children. This breed is well-suited to being a working dog or a loyal family companion.
Slovensky Cuvac Livestock Guardian Dog Traits
Many livestock guardian dog breeds roam or will chase predators down. However, the Slovensky Cuvac typically uses intimidation and barking to scare potential threats away. This means they tend to roam less than many other livestock guardian dog breeds.
Always alert and watchful, these dogs are fearless and will attack if they feel it is necessary. In fact, Slovakian literature has said that this dog was capable of slaying a full-grown wolf all by itself! But, they have the knowledge and wisdom to know when not to fight as well. Their ability to evaluate various situations is one of their best livestock guardian qualities. Also, just to be clear, I would never suggest running only one Slovensky Cuvac - see my article, How Many Livestock Guardian Dogs You Need.
In addition, Slovensky Cuvacs are known to be quick on their feet and highly agile, which is quite noteworthy considering their size and bulk. Their keen sense of smell and hearing is also helpful in detecting predators.
Slovensky Cuvacs are suspicious of strangers and will show aggression towards unfamiliar humans or animals. If properly introduced and socialized, they should not pose a threat.
Interestingly enough, the Slovensky Cuvac has been noted as a “dual-purpose” dog as they have passed AKC-worthy herding tests in addition to their already obtained working dog status. In their home country they were always used as both herd and guard dogs, but in 2009, they were finally given the “official” distinction of having the ability to successfully perform both jobs.
Unfortunately, for us here in the United States, fewer than 100 dogs have been imported to North America. The hope is to increase this number in the upcoming years as these dogs truly are an excellent livestock guardian breed.
If you are thinking of getting Slovensky Cuvacs for livestock guardian purposes, you may also be interested in:
Slovensky Cuvac Pet Traits
Joseph and Maya Schön call this dog the “Rolls Royce of Dogs.” In the late 1980s, they were the only known breeding kennel in North America, located in New York. Joseph once said, “These dogs are so beautiful that they always attract attention. Wherever we go, people stop us and comment on the breed’s beauty” (quoted in A Celebration of Rare Breeds by Cathy Flamholtz).
Their polar bear-like appearance makes them an attractive and desirable dog. In addition to their obvious beauty, Slovensky Cuvacs are known for their sweet nature with their families and their instincts to love and protect everything around them. However, there are some things to take into consideration prior to purchasing a Slovensky Cuvac.
First, these dogs are not meant for apartment-living. They are an active dog who do best on farms and ranches or with families that have a large fenced yard. They also love to play with children and enjoy their companionship. This breed does tend to bark – you’ll want to make sure your neighbors are aware of that prior to purchasing a Slovensky Cuvac.
For more on barking and controlling barking, see my article, Train Your Dog to Stop Barking: When You Don’t Want Fido to ‘Speak.’
Secondly, Slovensky Cuvacs can have quite a lot of energy if they are not working as livestock guardian dogs. Hiking, swimming, and jogging with this breed can help provide the exercise they need. If you find your dog still has a ton of pent up energy – most love to play hide and seek, learn agility-type activities, participate in obedience training, play fetch, and can also be trained as therapy dogs.
Lastly, Slovensky Cuvacs will require quite a bit of training – more than your average pound pup. They are independent thinkers and will need a knowledgeable trainer. They are very sensitive to praise, which means they are particularly well suited for positive training methods! If you want to learn how to obedience train your dog using positive training methods, check out the online program, Brain Training for Dogs (affiliate link). This program is perfect for people who want to raise a livestock guardian dog as a pet. If you want to know why, see my review article here.
Socialization from an early age will also be incredibly important with this breed. They are traditionally very reserved towards strangers and do not trust unfamiliar humans or animals. Though protection and loyalty are desired qualities in a dog, the Slovensky Cuvac’s instincts are on overdrive in those aspects. You’ll want to make sure they are properly introduced to any newcomers to prevent any unwanted aggression.
When well-trained and socialized, the Slovensky Cuvac is one of the most obedient and polite livestock guardian breeds out there.
If you are thinking of getting a Slovensky Cuvac as a pet, you may also be interested in:
Slovensky Cuvac Livestock Guardian Dog History
Place of Origin: Slovakia
Traditional Livestock Guarded: Primarily sheep, but also cattle, goats, and poultry
Traditional Predators: Wolves, bears
Slovensky Cuvac Livestock Guardian Dog Lifestyle
Slovensky Cuvacs have been guarding and herding sheep (and often cattle) for centuries. Their history is documented as far back as the 17th century, although it is likely they were used for this purpose even before that time. These dogs escorted sheep flocks alongside their shepherds from the winter lowlands into their summer pasture camp (traditionally called a salase). There, the Slovensky Cuvac dogs guarded their flock and/or herd as the shepherds made cheese and milk during the day.
Typically, this breed guarded against wolves and bears, which was a primary concern in the Carpathian Mountains. During the first half of the 20th century though, these large predators greatly declined. At that time, the dogs were still employed, but their duties shifted mostly to herding and droving rather than guarding.
Fun Fact: “Cuvac” is actually a specific shepherd’s command that tells the dog to go ahead of the herd and stop it from moving!
Slovensky Cuvak Additional History
After the decline of large predators following World War I, the need for Slovensky Cuvacs deteriorated. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, as industrialization began to progress, and into the time of World War II, summer grazing and sheepherding declined as well. With it, the Slovensky Cuvac population took a nose dive.
Luckily, before this happened, one wonderful man, Dr. Antonin Hruza, noted the beauty and importance of this breed and set out to rescue the dogs from extinction. In 1929, he performed a comprehensive study of the breed, which helped him stimulate quite a bit of interest in the breed. In 1933, he formed a club with himself as president. Members of the club assisted in searching for current Slovensky Cuvac owners and dispersed information on the proper care of the breed.
World War II presented its own challenges - with the former Czechoslovakia country occupied by hostile Germans. Luckily, some breeders of the Slovensky Cuvac were able to resume their efforts to preserve and repopulate the breed after the war.
During the 1950s and 1960s, the predator load was still relatively low. So, at this time, Slovensky Cuvacs were chained up at farms or summer pastures to warn their owners of human thieves. Because of this, the dogs were no longer bred primarily for working dog traits. Therefore, some of their traditional livestock guardian instincts may have been diminished, and common knowledge of how to train the dogs was mostly lost.
With the resurgence of large predators in the Carpathian Mountains in recent years, a renewed interest in the dog has taken shape. Members of the club are working to help Slovensky Cuvac owners to properly train the dogs to guard livestock as much of the knowledge and tradition has been lost.
With the right training and working conditions, many of these dogs still do have good instinctive traits and can be excellent livestock guardians. The hope is to continue this education and breeding to bolster both the population of dogs and the interest in them as working animals.
Other Slovensky Cuvac Jobs
In addition to being home and livestock guardian dogs, Slovensky Cuvacs have been employed as both service dogs and search and rescue dogs. They are very powerful swimmers and are reported to have saved many people from drowning. In Slovakia they have also been used for big game hunting and border patrol.
Slovensky Cuvac Appearance
Slovensky Cuvac Size
The Slovensky Cuvac ranges in size – the larger type originates from mountainous regions while the smaller dogs come from the lowlands. Today, most Slovensky Cuvacs are of the larger variety.
Height: 24-27.5 inches (male), 23-25.5 inches (female)
Weight: 80-97 lbs. (male), 68-82 lbs. (female)
For more on LGD breed sizes, check out my article, Livestock Guardian Dog Sizes.
Slovensky Cuvac Colors
The Slovensky Cuvac is white in color. Occassionally, yellow shading will appear around the ears.
Slovensky Cuvac Coat
Slovensky Cuvacs have a thick, double coat. The rough, often wavy top coat assists in keeping the dog dry and warm. It is typically 2-6 inches long. The dense undercoat, roughly half to two-thirds the length of the top coat, provides insulation from both extremely hot and cold temperatures. However, these dogs are not meant for humid climates – they are highly uncomfortable for them.
Males have a ruff that forms around the neck – females have this too, although far less prominent.
Slovensky Cuvac Head
Slovensky Cuvacs have very large heads with brown, oval-shaped eyes and black noses. Their mouth, eye rims, and palates are also black in color. Their ears tend to be high-set, triangular in shape, and hang against the head.
Slovensky Cuvac Body
The Slovensky Cuvac is a powerful and well-muscled dog. They have deep chests and are athletic in appearance.
Slovensky Cuvac Tail
The Slovensky Cuvac has a long tail that is fluffy, but does not have a feathered look. Other than when they are excited or alert, their tails are carried low.
Slovensky Cuvac Grooming
When it comes to grooming, Slovensky Cuvacs require less daily maintenance than most livestock guardian dog breeds. They need to be brushed every week with a comb (Amazon link) and a pin brush to prevent matting and keep their natural oils evenly dispersed.
During their seasonal sheds, however, these dogs do need a daily brushing. Their wool-like undercoat does take quite a bit of time to brush through. During times of shedding, plan to spend at least an hour or two loosening and brushing out their loose fur. A deshedding brush can really help with this as well.
Typically, Slovensky Cuvacs do not need to be bathed very often. However, when they are shedding, a warm bath every few days can help speed up the process (not recommended for working dogs, but helpful for pets).
If your Slovensky Cuvac is a working dog, nail trimming won’t be too much of an issue. Their nails tend to file themselves down naturally. Do check periodically to ensure they are not splitting, cracking or overgrowing. If your Slovensky Cuvac is a family companion, their nails will need to be trimmed regularly.
The hair between Slovensky Cuvacs’ foot pads does need to be trimmed on both working and non-working dogs – this can be done with a simple pair of grooming scissors (like these on Amazon).
All dogs’ ears need to be cleaned and checked weekly to prevent unwanted infections. This is especially important for working Slovensky Cuvacs as they are exposed to more dirt and debris that can cause buildup.
Every dog should have their teeth professionally cleaned at least once per year. Preferably, you’ll also brush their teeth yourself every few days to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
For everything you could ever want to know about grooming Slovensky Cuvacs, check out my guide, Grooming Slovensky Cuvacs: The Ultimate Guide.
Slovensky Cuvac Diet/Eating Habits
The caloric needs of the Slovensky Cuvac will greatly depend upon their size and their activity level. Males will require anywhere from 1925 to 4280 calories per day, whereas females will typically need to consume fewer – between 1705 and 3770 calories per day. See the table below for more specific estimates:
| Slovensky Cuvac | Light Activity | Moderate Activity | High Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 1925-2565 | 2220-2995 | 2590-4280 |
| Female | 1705-2265 | 1965-2640 | 2295-3770 |
The Slovensky Cuvac should be fed high-quality dog food with healthy proportions of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. This will ensure your working dog has enough energy to properly perform his or her duties. It is essential to closely monitor non-working dogs’ caloric intake and weight as they are more prone to obesity.
For advice on how to properly feed your Slovensky Cuvac, check out these resources:
Slovensky Cuvac Lifespan
Slovensky Cuvacs typically live to be 11 to 13 years old. This will greatly depend upon the conditions in which the dog is living, the health of the dog, and the care the dog is given. Working dogs who live in harsh conditions may not live as long as pampered house companions. On the other hand, a working dog who is in great health might live longer than an under exercised, obese pet Cuvac. It really just depends.
However, dogs who have been fed a well-balanced diet, have had proper dental care, and regular veterinary visits should live a full, long life.
The age of maturity of the Slovensky Cuvac is undocumented as far as I can tell. A good rule of thumb is to always supervise your livestock guardian dog with its charges until it is 2 years of age. However, individual dogs always vary. Make sure to continue to supervise until you are 100% sure.
For more information on livestock guardian dog lifespans, what to expect from puppies, and how to care for older dogs, see my article, What is the Lifespan of a Livestock Guardian Dog.
Slovensky Cuvac Cost
Slovensky Cuvac dogs typically cost between $800 - $1200 in the United States. However, they can be quite hard to find, availability definitely impacts the average price of this breed. Puppies from higher quality breeders or those being imported can cost much more.
If you are interested in adopting a Slovensky Cuvac from a rescue, check out my article, Rescue Livestock Guardian Dogs – Should You Get One?
Slovensky Cuvac Health Problems
Although the Slovensky Cuvac breed is typically very healthy, they can develop hip and/or elbow dysplasia, common concerns with nearly any large dog breed.
Livestock Guardian Dogs Similar to the Slovensky Cuvac
The Slovensky Cuvac is often mistaken for a Great Pyrenees or a Kuvasz. They are similar in appearance and share many of the same wonderful livestock guardian dog qualities, but are separate breeds. They are also closely related to the Polish Tatra Sheepdog, which originated to the north of Slovakia. For more information, see my article on the Polish Tatra Sheepdog.
You May Also Be Interested in:
Brain Training for Dogs: The Best Online Obedience Training Program for Livestock Guardian Dogs
The Ultimate Obedience Training Program for Pet Slovensky Cuvacs: Brain Training for Dogs
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