Non-Sporting Dogs

The Komondor. Used as a guard dog for sheep and cattle in Hungary for centuries, this large, shaggy white dog with its matted or corded coat that virtually disguises it from head to tall tip, is a tough, corageous guardian. It is a hard worker who spends most of the time outdoors where the heavy coat protects it not only against the weather but from attackers. It is a big dog with a minimum height 25 inches. Colour always white and eyes dark. Tail long and reaching to the hocks but raised to level of the back when the dog is excited. It has no sense of humor if it feels the herd or its human family is being attacked. The Komondor's ancestors arrived in Europe with the invading Huns. They are now seen in many parts of Europe.

The Kuvasz. This dog's ancestors were huge beasts who apparently came from Tibet. Hungarian nobles bred the dogs for boar hunting and guardian duties on their estates as far back as the fifteenth century, and these white animals with long, somewhat wavy coats have been unexcelled farm and quard dogs ever since. Present specimens range in height from 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder. A methodical dog, the Kuvasz appears to estimate people as either friends or enemies on first acquaintance, once it has decided what category they belong in it neither forgets nor changes its mind. The dog thus requires careful upbringing as a pup and affectionate handling as an adult if it is to be a good family companion. Coat long on neck and croup but shorter and slightly wavy on sides. Tail reaching to below hocks and thickly covered in hair. The skull is broad, slightly defined stop. Eyes dark brown. Ears hang close to the head.