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Each breed of dog is distinguished by its temperament and purpose. Some dogs love to hunt and participate in races, others have high intelligence - they are used as guides and bloodhounds, still others play well with children, and the fourth do a good job of the watchmen. All this suggests that the dog may be different, this should be taken into account when choosing a breed for home maintenance. Today we’ll talk about a rather rare breed of dog - the Slovak Chuvach. Let’s try to understand the ancient history of the origin of the breed, learn about the features of keeping a pet, and also get acquainted with the basic conditions for caring for Chuvaks.
History of breed origin
The Slovak Chuvach is one of the oldest breeds, the first written mention of it dates back to the 17th century. These are the most popular dogs in Slovakia, which have long been helping to graze cattle. The white color of the animal’s coat was easily visible from long distances, a person could distinguish a dog from sheep or cows. The large size and brave disposition of the Chuvach helped the dog cope with the wolf and even with the bear. In addition, the dog loudly informed the owner of the arrival of an uninvited guest, he could easily cope with a thief. Previously, dogs of this breed densely populated the mountainous regions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Subsequently, life developed, people began to change the usual cattle-breeding crafts for industrial professions, sheep and wolves became much less, the need for breeding Chuvachs disappeared. The First and Second World Wars brought the Slovak Chuvach irreparable damage - the breed was on the verge of extinction. A veterinarian and teacher at a Czech university decided to save the Chuvach. He started a worldwide company to search for and mate healthy and large representatives of this breed. At the beginning of the 20th century, several nurseries appeared, in which Slovak Chuvachs were bred. And in the second half of the century, the breed was officially registered and recognized by all international cynological associations.
What does a Slovak chuvach look like?
The Slovak Chuvach belongs to large breeds of dogs, has a white color and a massive chest. Growth at the withers is about 60 cm, weight 30-40 kg. The dog has quite large and expressive eyes with a meaningful look and a large black nose. The coat of the Chuvach is very thick, two-tier. The upper layer of wool consists of long and hard fibers, in addition, the dog has a thick undercoat - soft and dense. This allowed the dog not to freeze in the mountains even at night, because the guard dog was a round-the-clock guard. Around the neck, the Slovak Chuvach has a thick mane, this is especially pronounced in cables. During aggression, this mane rises, the dog takes a menacing look. Sometimes this is enough to scare off the enemy. The color of the coat is white, milk, cream, beige blotches are allowed, most often in the area of the head and ears. In general, the dog looks strong, powerful and reliable.
Characteristics of the character and character of the Slovak Chuvach
Despite devotion to the owner, the Slovak Chuvach is an independent person, a highly intelligent animal, able to assess the situation and analyze what is happening. Such a pet is not suitable for a weak or soft owner. A person who trains a Slovak dude should be consistent, calm and confident, strong mentally. Dogs of this breed are not recommended for beginners and people who have no experience in training other dogs. Remember that the breed is only 50% of the general character of the dog. The rest of the temperament consists of the individual characteristics of the dog, living conditions and quality of training. How to choose the pet that you need?
How to choose a puppy of a Slovak chuvach?
I would like to note that in our country the breed is not very widespread, if you want to buy a dog of this breed, you will have to look for a purebred representative. It may be necessary to leave Russia for the sake of this, since there are no nurseries breeding Chuvachs in the country. When choosing a puppy, the first thing you need to pay attention to the condition of the enclosures. If they are clean, neatly cleaned, if the puppies are separated from adult dogs, it means that animals are watched here and the baby will be well-groomed.
All vaccinations should be done on the puppy at the time of purchase, in addition, anthelmintic therapy should be carried out. Due to their age and characteristics of the breed, puppies of the Slovak Chuvach cannot be shy - they are always active and curious, even if they are a stranger in front of them. Try to clap your hands - the first reaction of the animal will be unexpected, puppies can start, get scared and run away from an unfamiliar sound. However, after a while, curiosity will take its toll, and the puppy will definitely come up to inquire about the source of the sound. Keep an eye on the dog; it should not be clubbed or limped. As a rule, the most courageous and brave puppy from the whole litter is the first to approach, this can play a decisive role in the choice. The last one is not the cowardly, but the most careful puppy, which is also very much appreciated.
Carefully inspect the selected animal. A good and healthy dog should have clean ears and eyes - without any discharge. The abdomen should not be excessively elastic or, conversely, sunken. When buying a purebred Slovak chuvach, metrics must be issued that indicate the pedigree of the dog, all vaccinations done, the nickname of the puppy and other necessary information. A dog in the groin or near the ear will have a mark confirming the entries in the metric. A good representative of a Chuvach will cost at least 100 thousand rubles, or even more. Puppies “with hands” can be much cheaper.If you are not going to participate in exhibitions or breeding with your pet, such an animal can also become a good and reliable friend. The main thing is not to rely on the words of the seller and be sure to take the puppy to the veterinarian, protect him from fleas, worms and do the necessary vaccinations yourself.
Keeping a dog of the Slovak Chuvach breed
Such large breeds of dogs cannot be kept in the apartment, this is fraught with a deterioration in the condition of the dog and damage to property. The best option for the Slovak Chuvach is a private house with a spacious territory. The pet needs a lot of activity, so keeping the dog on a leash is not recommended, otherwise it can become aggressive and angry. You can build a spacious kennel with an aviary for the Chuvach, but drive the dog there only in certain cases, do not keep the dog there constantly. As a rule, experienced owners close the dog in the aviary if guests or strangers are expected in the house. At night, the dog must guard the territory. The Slovak Chuvach tolerates frosts well - it has a thick and dense coat, but in the heat the dog has a hard time.
Animal hair requires more thorough care. 1-2 times a week, the dog needs to be combed out so that the coat is smooth, clean and crumbly. If this is not done, in the groin and abdomen, the undercoat can roll and form tangles. In addition, spikes, branches, dry grass and other garbage can get stuck in wool from street walks. During molting periods (2 times a year), you need to comb the dog more often, almost every day. This provides reliable protection against wool lying throughout the yard. As necessary, or once every two months, the dog is bathed, using a special shampoo for long-haired pets.
Ear care is not different from other dogs - 2-3 times a month you need to wipe your ears with a piece of clean bandage soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Once every six months, clean your teeth of tartar, and for its prevention, give the dog bones. From time to time it is necessary to protect the dog from fleas, worms and other parasites by conducting appropriate treatments.
Long-term observation of the breed suggests that this dog is distinguished by excellent health, such a pet will not often get sick. The Slovak Chuvach can suffer from dysplasia of the front and rear joints, a similar problem is inherent in almost all breeds of large dogs. Despite this, you need to periodically show the dog to the veterinarian in order to vaccinate the animal in a timely manner and diagnose possible disorders in the body. Health also depends on the diet. Feed the dog either with high-quality dry food of at least premium, or with natural food, the menu of the Chuvach should be balanced. At least a third of the dog's diet should be protein - offal, fish, meat. Be sure to introduce cereals, vegetables, dairy products into your food. Be sure to provide your dog with access to fresh water.
The Slovak Chuvach is a good, faithful, reliable friend and guard. Such a dog will be an excellent choice for a large and friendly family. If you have a country house and a house adjoining territory, buy a Slovak chuvach. With a competent approach, proper care and adequate training, the pet will become a real member of the family, on which you can rely on in any situation.
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