The Slovakian Chuvach is a large and powerful dog from the Carpathian Mountains

When a dog's breed has its roots in the depths of earthly history, this in itself is an exceptional indicator not only of his physical characteristics, but also of the strength of his spirit. Ancient breeds of dogs differ from new breeds in that they have already passed the test of time, which has put everything in the right place: character, health, intelligence, attitude towards humans and their smaller brothers.

The Slovak dude belongs precisely to this category. Like all ancient dog breeds, with very rare exceptions, he was originally a close friend of man, his assistant and, of course, a shepherd. Who has this big white dog never had to herd? And cows, and sheep, and geese... And he did his job well. Such a strong dog could well protect the herd from serious predators.

How is the Slovak dude doing today, in our modern world? And is it possible to buy such a puppy? Or should we be content with only his photographs and videos? After all, the breed is rare... Very! Rare, but the most beloved dog breed in Slovakia.

Yes, the Dude remains a rare breed today. They are engaged in it mainly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia. However, the Germans and Finns became interested in this breed. They not only became interested, but also began to actively breed these dogs.

Breed characteristics

Height at withers: males – 62-70 cm, females – 59-65 cm,

Weight: males – 36-44 kg, females – 31-37 kg,

Color: white (yellowish spots near the ears are allowed),

Eye color: dark brown,

Nose color: exclusively black.

General appearance: strong bones, deep chest, long coat, high paws, thick white coat.

Impressive dog!

Powerful, brave, strong... A real shepherd! A shepherd who is able to protect the flock from ferocious predators, and a person from serious danger. Nature and time have endowed this breed with great endurance and adaptability to winds and cold. The Slovak dude is capable of not relaxing for days, watching over the safety of his friends and loved ones. At the same time, he is endowed with a colossal reaction and tremendous speed, which allows him to quickly get close.

If you look at the photo of the Slovak dude, you will understand that he is really worthy not only of attention, but also of respect. This is a large dog, up to 70 cm at the withers, pure white. The Slovakian Chuvach may have some yellowness on the ears, but it is extremely undesirable. Its lips, eyelids and paw pads are black, and its oval-shaped, expressive eyes are brown. "Czech" has a thick, hard coat up to 15 cm long and a very soft undercoat. The appearance confidently speaks about the character of this rare but wonderful dog.

See also: Belgian Shepherd breed

History of the breed

The Slovak Chuvach owes its origin to an ancient animal - the Arctic wolf . This species was distributed throughout the continent, but over time it was replaced on the plains by other predators. Arctic wolves remained primarily in mountainous areas.

The distant ancestor bore little resemblance to the modern representative of the breed. People took part in the breeding of the Slovak Chuvaches. This fact is evidenced by at least the white color of the coat.

It is believed that the light dog stood out against the background of nature, and it was easy to distinguish it from the wolves that the Chuvach drove away from the sheep flocks.

Slovakian Chuvaches were bred in the highlands of the Carpathians in Slovakia. The local population called them Tatra Chuvachi , where the first word meant the area where they lived, and the second translated as “sensitive, vigilant .

Close relatives of the Slovak Chuvaches are the Hungarian Kuvasz and the Maremmo-Abrutz Sheepdog. They are united by excellent guard qualities, size and coat color.

The Chuvachi were known only in their homeland. They herded livestock and guarded their owners' homes . Even puppies showed guarding abilities. The life of their owners depended on the household, in which dogs played an important role.

According to one of the official versions, the locals developed trade. People who arrived in the Tatras noticed bright dogs and were surprised at their strength coupled with their unusual beauty. This is how Slovakian Chuvaches ended up on the list of breeds officially registered by Czech veterinarians. In 1964, the breed received recognition from British dog handlers, who drew up the first standard.

Today these dogs also participate in international exhibitions. In total, there are about 3 dozen breed representatives in Russia. Most of them were brought from Slovakia.

Interesting Facts

The Slovak Chuvach is an amazing breed, the history of which has accumulated a lot of interesting things:

1. The breed got its name due to its phenomenal sensitivity and vigilance. Translated from Slovak, “feel” means “hear.”
2. During the existence of Czechoslovakia, an average of 500 puppies were born per year in the country. After the division of the state, about 150 puppies are registered annually in kennel clubs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
3. The Slovak dude distinguishes odors at a distance of 30 m and quickly digs out food from under a meter layer of snow.

Behavior and temperament

Slovak guys are characterized by the following positive qualities:

• Thoughtfulness,
• The ability to stand up for yourself and the owner,
• Devotion,
• Courage,
• Sensitivity,
• Moderate activity.

Negative breed qualities include:

• Waywardness,
• Difficulty in education.

Most guys are sanguine and can show independence in decision making.

Slovak dude and man

Such dogs will be excellent helpers on the farm. It is not advisable for beginners who are unfamiliar with serious dogs to have them. Slovak dudes, as guards, must be raised from childhood and clearly understand their place among family members.

Some individuals have a tendency to dominate , which can become a problem in everyday life, given the size of the dog. In this case, the animal shows aggression towards people, sometimes to the point of biting. However, in guard dogs this is not an abnormal behavior, but requires certain training, strength of character of the owner and establishing contacts with the dog.

It’s not worth buying dudes for a child, because he won’t cope with upbringing. However, this breed is tolerant of children's pranks and gets along well in the house with kids. They only show anger towards strangers. Cats and similar living creatures belonging to the owner are an object of protection for the Chuvach people.

The Slovakian Chuvach has a long coat with a thick undercoat, and the climate in the mountains is harsh. This allows the dog to withstand frosts and bad weather in the form of precipitation, and the white coat protects against overheating in the heat. The dudes are brought in to guard the house and are kept on a personal plot, equipped with an enclosure with a booth.

In urban conditions, Slovak guys behave obediently, but with proper restraint and upbringing. There is no evidence of targeted use for hunting.

How to choose a puppy

Are you ready to buy a Slovak dude? An excellent choice, but you need to do it skillfully. When a flock of little “dudes”, charming white buttons, rushes at you, believe me, you will be ready to take them all at once. But you only need to take one thing with you - your dearest one, the one who will become a member of your family for many years.

Slovakian Chuvach puppies are playful, active, curious and simply adorable.

To take or not to take

First, try to clearly formulate for yourself what kind of dog, why you want to get it and whether you can handle it. The questions are by no means idle, because very soon a fluffy polar bear cub will grow into a big white “bear”, which, if not raised correctly, can cause a lot of problems for both you and those around you. Perhaps it would be better to buy, for example, a Labrador?

An adult dog has a strong character, so there may be times when his behavior will have to be adjusted regardless of the purpose for which you are currently choosing a dog: for protection, exhibitions, or just for fun. Are you ready for the fact that you will need to seriously and persistently raise a new member of your pack family?

The white fluffy ball will definitely turn into a large and serious animal, so from the age of two months it’s time to start raising it

What to pay attention to

If you have enough experience and strength to cope with a serious canine temperament, you can purchase a puppy from working parents who have both the appropriate certificates and practical security and protection skills. In any case, you need to look not so much at the documents, but at the puppy’s parents themselves, their external characteristics and behavior - no one has yet canceled heredity.

The physical and psychological state of the baby is of great importance - at the time of moving to a new family, he should be:

• self-confident and active;
• gain age-appropriate height and weight;
• have clear eyes, pink mucous membranes and shiny fur;
• be treated for parasites.

Two-month-old Chuvach puppy is completely ready to go to a new home

It is better to pick up the puppy after the first comprehensive vaccination - after two months. By this age, the main organs of a young dog have already been formed and it is ready to move from its mother’s “nest” to an independent life.

Video: Dude puppies on a walk

Maintenance and care

The Slovakian Chuvach is an unpretentious dog in food. The diet consists of a standard set of products:

• Meat and offal (beef trim, kaltyk, tripe, lung, liver),
• Porridges based on rice and buckwheat,
• Vegetables,
• Dairy products.

A small puppy is served food 4-5 times a day starting from 2-3 weeks of age. The meat is cut into small pieces, the size of which corresponds to the size of the nose.

Porridge with vegetables makes up about 20% of the daily food volume. Cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, kefir and whey – 30%. During puppyhood, practically no by-products are given. According to the recommendations of breeders and veterinarians, mineral and vitamin supplements are included in the diet.

By 8 months the dog is switched to two meals a day . The consumption of carrots is limited, since the white wool acquires a yellowish tint when there is a large amount of this vegetable in food. Raw meat remains the staple food. Pork is considered too fatty and can also be a source of disease.

During cold weather, it is recommended to increase the content of carbohydrates (cereals) if the dog is not obese. It is also useful to add fish oil and olive oil to your food in winter. This improves digestion and the condition of the coat.

Dudes need movement . Even with 24-hour living on the property near the house, dogs are walked at least once a day to maintain physical fitness. Apartment keeping involves walking the puppy as needed, and an adult puppy is walked twice a day for about 2 hours in the fresh air.

The dude loves freedom and space, but calmly tolerates life in an apartment if he has the opportunity to run around the street to his heart’s content . In the courtyard of the house, the dog should have a good-quality booth made of wood or thick plywood, of medium size.

Dude fur care is simple. It is enough to go through the wool every week with a slicker brush and a wide-toothed brush. During the molting period, the dog is combed more actively, once every 2-3 days.

Slovakian dudes are washed when they are heavily soiled or immediately before an exhibition. The dog's coat is self-cleaning , according to owners and breeders. The ears are periodically washed with special products from a veterinary pharmacy, and the claws are shortened with a nail clipper. Whitening shampoos, dry and liquid, are used for washing. After soaping, rinse the wool thoroughly and apply conditioner.

Dry in the summer in the air, and at low temperatures using a hair dryer or compressor. Guys are accustomed to such procedures from childhood, so that the dog is not afraid of water and the noise that comes from a working hair dryer.

Veterinary

Native breeds are usually distinguished by excellent health and trouble-free reproduction of offspring. This is another compelling argument in favor of choosing a Slovakian Dude dog for yourself.

Diseases and vaccinations

The genetics of Slovakian Chuvaches are wonderful - they are very healthy dogs, but recently some of the costs of illiterate breeding have begun to negatively affect the health of the offspring. Fortunately, Chuvaches, unlike many other breeds, do not have specific hereditary diseases and pathologies, but cases of a tendency to allergies have already been recorded (white dogs generally suffer from this more often than all others) and problems characteristic of large breeds - hip dysplasia and gastric volvulus.

Try to initially rule out bad heredity - when choosing a puppy, ask for x-rays to check for the presence of dysplasia in its parents, at least visually assess the condition of the mother’s skin and mucous membranes

Constantly monitor your dog’s physical condition both during the critical growing period and as an adult:

1. To prevent such a dangerous pathology as gastric volvulus, do not give your dog too large a portion of food at once and do not allow it to actively move for an hour after eating.
2. Carefully monitor the condition of the joints - dysplasia can be not only hereditary, but also acquired as a result of improper cultivation.
3. Support the formation of the growing dog's bones with special supplements - glucosamines and chondroetins; Calcium is also very useful, but it is important to strictly follow its dosage.
4. Avoid putting excessive stress on the joints until the dog reaches one or even one and a half years of age, depending on the size of the individual.

Timely vaccination is an immutable rule for keeping any dog. There are several vaccination schedules for puppyhood. In this sense, different veterinarians have their own preferences. Usually, the first complex vaccinations are given at eight and twelve weeks of age; parasites must be cleared ten days before each vaccination. For the second vaccination, at three months of age, a rabies vaccine is added to the usual complex.

Vaccination is carried out annually. Only healthy animals can be vaccinated. A ten-day (or at least a week) quarantine after vaccination is required.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Preparing for the birth of a dog should begin in advance, several months before the expected mating. By this time, the bitch should be in excellent physical and psychological shape. It is very advisable to conduct a comprehensive examination of her health and, above all, check for the presence of various infections that can become dangerous both for the process of pregnancy and childbirth, and for the health of future offspring.

It will be possible to find out that the mating was successful and the dog did not miss births in three weeks - at this time, using ultrasound diagnostics, it will be possible to calculate the approximate number of embryos. Experienced breeders determine the pregnancy of a bitch independently, by palpation and by a variety of direct or indirect signs. After the fortieth day, the fetal heartbeat begins to be heard - at this stage, even a novice divorcee can diagnose pregnancy.

A normal canine pregnancy lasts an average of two months. In the first half of the term, you should not radically change the diet and walking habits of the expectant mother. But moderate physical activity and quality food are certainly very beneficial for her.

You can read more about pregnancy in dogs here:

Starting from the second month, you should limit your dog from too active games and review its diet. When feeding naturally, it is worth eliminating cereals and crackers, increasing the proportion of protein in everyday food. From the same period, vitamins for pregnant and lactating bitches should be given. A week before giving birth, it is better to reduce the amount of meat consumed by adding fermented milk products to the diet.

The Slovak Shepherd is a gentle and caring mother

If there are even the slightest complications during childbirth or if the interval between the birth of puppies lasts longer than two hours, call a veterinarian at home - your dog needs qualified help.

Typically, childbirth in a Slovakian Shepherd is quite quick and easy. As a result, up to one and a half dozen charming white fluffies may be born. Ask your dog's breeder how prolific the mother's females are to know what to prepare for. If there is a chance of getting a large litter (8-10 puppies), stock up in advance on bottles with nipples and special formulas for feeding, the so-called bitch's milk. They will have to feed the babies if the bitch can’t cope on her own.

Human baby formulas are not suitable for this purpose - they contain sugar and other components that can cause allergies in the puppy. But goat’s milk can be an excellent help in such a situation - it can be given unboiled, but only if you are confident in the health of the goat and the cleanliness of its contents.

Training

According to the standard, Slovak dudes do not pass mandatory performance tests. However, they are natural guards due to their territorial nature. The dudes look after the site, the house and the rest of the owner’s property. Therefore, instincts must be directed in the right direction. Two common types of training are suitable for this:

• OKD (obedience),
• ZKS (protection and guard).

After passing the exams, the owner receives a diploma. Contrary to the popular opinion about the harm of protective guard service, this course will help determine the working qualities of a particular dog and teach the owner how to handle the pet in extreme situations.

To train a Slovakian dude you will need a lot of patience. Unlike working breeds, these herding and guard dogs think about every action.

You cannot use brute physical force, as this only strengthens the animal’s aggressive behavior and disobedience. In some countries, they practice teaching Slovakian people to select objects by smell.

Health and life expectancy

On average, Slovakian dudes live 13-15 years .

A powerful, but dry and strong body can withstand enormous loads. The fashion for puppies of this breed and show breeding for the sake of appearance have not yet reached the Slovak dudes, so they are not deprived of health.

Common diseases:

• Hip dysplasia,
• Allergies.

It is important to know about the predispositions to diseases of your dog’s ancestors in order to provide decent living conditions and care for your pet. White coat color, along with lightened eye color and nose color, can increase the risk of allergic reactions.

His character

This is a real family dog ​​that can protect, comfort, help, save and brighten up moments of loneliness. Like other ancient breeds, he still tends to make his own decisions. Yes, he is smart and kind towards his loved ones, but he is quite stubborn, so he needs serious training. There is no doubt about this. Speaking about the character of a dog, we must not forget about the character of its owner. Look at your dog - it is you. But a person with a very soft character, or rather a weak-willed person, will not have the strength to cope with such a dog. So, think, speculate, assume and weigh. Which, in fact, is what reason is given to us for.

Regarding innate qualities, it would not be out of place to add that the Slovak dude, well, really loves to bark. As you understand, for such an impressive dog it will not be just a “woof”, but a “WOOF-WOOF” turning into a growl. This is a property of herding dogs. With his voice he achieves his goal. The paws and torso come into use much later, if one voice was not enough. And this is a devoted dog, and also a willful one, and also loves children, but only his own, and if they are not monsters.

Breed photo

A selection of photos of Slovak dudes.

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Pros and cons of the breed

To prevent the Slovakian Dude from turning into a source of irritation in a few months, before buying a puppy it is better to carefully study the main advantages and disadvantages of the breed.

The Slovakian Chuvach is a tall, stately dog ​​with intelligent dark eyes and thick, perfectly white fur. He is infinitely loyal to his owners and is ready to protect them from any enemies.