Kuvasz vs Jagdterrier - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

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 as the German Hunt Terrier, the Jagdterrier hails from Germany and is a working terrier. In fact, the purpose of the Jagdterrier was for breeders to come up with an improved hunting terrier.

The dog was developed at the turn of the 20th century, so its not a particularly old breed. There were a number of breeders who broke away from the German Fox Terrier Club, dedicating themselves to creating this newer terrier.

The first Jagdterriers were created by mixing the Old English Fox Terrier with a number of Black and Tan Hunting Terriers. Other dogs used to develop the Jagdterrier were German Pinschers, Welsh Terriers and English Wirehaired Terriers.

Today he is considered a superb hunting dog.The German Hunting Terrier Club was was founded in 1926.

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 Jagdterrier is a tenacious hunter, taking on lots of wild creatures such as boars, badgers and even cougars.

He is of medium size standing between 33 and 40cm in height and weighing 7-10kg.

He has a coat of black and tan which can also be a dark brown shade or be a charcoal color. The Deutscher Jagdterrier is a compact, well-proportioned dog with a wedge shaped head and flat skull. The ears are set high and go up before they come down to form floppy ears. The tail has always been docked at about one third of the tail. These days it is often left long, being carried raised.

Temperament:

Active, athletic and alert, the Jagdterrier is also social, intelligent, strong-willed and confident. He is a serious hunter but can make an excellent pet, especially when trained and socialized.

He is energetic so he will require owners who are prepared to include him in all their activities. They are good around children, but their hunting side makes them long to be outdoors busy with exciting activities.

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.

Your Deutscher Jagdterrier is an intelligent dog who enjoys the company of his human family, particularly when they are active and can meet his high energy needs and his desire to be busy.

They are quite wary with strangers and this makes them alert watchdogs. They are affectionate and playful with children if the children know how to respect them. Because of their hunting skills, they can be a bit of a threat around small animals in the home.

He is a quick learner and responds well to training and socialization. He will thrive on living in the countryside, but wherever you live with your Jagdterrier, give him plenty of exercise, a warm, dry bed, good food and your love and devotion, and he'll respond by being a super pet and companion.

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.

You’re not going to be taking a sick Jagdterrier to the vet often as this is generally a healthy dog breed who can reach 13, 14 or 15 years of age with good care.

He may be prone to a genetic breed disorder known as Primary Lens Luxation. Sometimes people are given prescription eye drops to constrict the pupil ad help the subluxated lens from getting worse.

This is a painful hereditary condition that leads to blindness. It affects many breeds of dog, particularly terrier-type dogs.

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.

Diet:

Your energetic Jagdterrier will do well on a high-quality dog food, of which there are some good ones on the market.

If you do buy a commercially manufactured dog food, make sure that you read the instructions on the packaging so as to adhere to portion control. You can’t afford to have your pet becoming obese as this opens up a host of problems, and it can also shorten your dog’s life-span.

If you invest in high quality kibble, try to add in some nutritious and tasty home-made food such as cooked chicken, some brown rice or pasta and some vegetables. It is always wise to add in some raw meat from time to time as this promotes good health in your dog and prevents skin allergies.

Any diet for a dog should be in keeping with his age and his energy levels. Make sure your pet has constant access to fresh, cool drinking water.

Grooming:

Brush your Jagdterrier’s hair twice a week. It will keep the coat in tip top condition, but it also does your pet the world of good. He loves it when you take time out to be with him and to give him some special time. Brushing him also allows you to check him over for ticks and fleas.

Other grooming aspects for your dog will be to check on his nails and to clip them when they get too long. Ears should also be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and dirt and teeth should be checked as well. Dental disease can lead to a host of illnesses which can be detrimental to the heart and kidneys.

Exercise:

Every dog needs different forms of exercise to remain lean and healthy. Options for exercise for your Jagdterrier can be going on walks, swimming and play time in the backyard.