Slovakian Chuvach

		Slovakian Chuvach
		FCI standard Nº 142

Origin		Slovakian Republik
Translation		Mrs. Chris Seidler
Group		Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs)
Section		Section 1 Sheepdogs
Working		Without working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI		Wednesday 09 November 1966
Publication of the official valid standard		Wednesday 18 August 1965
Last update		Tuesday 04 June 1996
En français, cette race se dit		Tchouvatch slovaque
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar		Slovakischer Tschuvatsch
En español, esta raza se dice		Tchuvatch eslovaco
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd		Slowaakse Chuvach
In his country of origin, his name is		Slovenský Cuvac

Usage

This derives from his age old use as a shepherd and mountain dog in bare high mountain regions and as a guard dog for farms and borders.

Brief historical summary

The breed group of white mountain dogs is derived from Arctic wolves, whose remains from pre-ice age have been preserved in the mountainous regions of Europe to the edge of the glaciers. These are the north slopes of the Caucasus, the Balkans, specially the Rodope mountains, the Carpathians, specially the Tatra, the northern slopes of the Abruzzi and Alps and finally the Pyrenees. In these colder and damper areas, the alleged type of mountain dog is also accompanied by remains of flora and fauna whose nearest location were still found in Scandinavia by the Swedish explorer Wahlenberg. A similar connection with Nordic domestic animals we can, for example, find in the Tatra and Carpathian region with the Huzul horse, whose nearest relation is the Gudbrandstal horse. So it is with the Tatra Chuvach, whose Nordic analogy is the Pomeranian Shepherd dog (Pommernscher Hütehund) and others.
Slovak alpine farming has a very ancient tradition.The Tatra Chuvach, together with the mountain sheep, the Huzul horse and the typical mountain inhabitants, form the basis for an economy which assumes the utilization of the pastures through animal husbandry.
The Slovak mountain people were largely free people, not suppressed by medieval forced labour, which protected the frontiers and paid its dues merely in the form of "sheep's cheese". Their organization was called "Wallachischer Bund (Union)" (Valasski Opasek), whose centre (until the repeal of forced labour) was in Kaschau. The members of this, basically, herding and military organization, carried out their service on the mountain meadows, always together with their typical dogs, the watch dogs of the Tatra and they were always depicted with them.
As a good guard, watch dog and companion as well as guide for the shepherds, the Tatra Chuvach has also proved his worth in the guarding of cattle, driving poultry and other domestic animals to pasture, as well as guarding different objects. Holiday makers visiting the mountain farmers to buy cheese and other products found pleasure in the thickly coated puppies and so transferred the breed to the low-lands, where they were not seldom regarded as a luxury breed because of their unusual appearance.
On the Polish side of the Tatra, where a similar breed, the Goral Dogs (Mountain Dogs), are kept, specially powerful animals are called "Liptauer" by the people which points to the Slovak origin. So the breeding region of the Tatra Chuvach has a topographic boundary.
The Stud Book of the Tatra Chuvach in Czechoslovakia was founded more than thirty years ago by Professor Anton Hruza of the Brno Veterinary College. The basic material stemmed from the area of the places Liptovska Luzna, Kokava, Vychodna v. Tatrach and the neighbourhood of Rachovo in the Carpathians. The first breeding establishment had the name "Ze zlaté studny" (of the Golden Fountain) and was founded in Svitavy and Brno. The Carpathian kennel had the prefix "Z Hoverla" (Of Hoverla). Since then the club for Tatra Chuvach breeders, with its headquarters in Bratislava, has kept exact records and held exhibitions, assessments, competitions and shows in all regions of the republic. Further old blood lines stem from the places Liptovské Hole, Velky Choc, Zakopané, Martin,Jedlova and Jeseniky.
The widest spread lines are those of Topas, Uran, Simba, Hrdos, Ibro, Cuvo, Bundas, Dinar, Samko, Bojar, Olaf and others.
Genetically, the Tatra Chuvach can be characterised as a "leucistic" Mountain Dog with black muzzle and to a lesser part as "flavistic" dog with brown muzzle and paler eye. From the combination of the mentioned genetic types, of which the former is dominant, stems a certain difference in the shading of colour, of the pigmentation of the eyelids, eyes, muzzle, lips and membranes.
Through strict selection favouring the first type, the judges and breeders achieved the type required by the following standard and its stabilising by breeders.
The number of club members with breeding stock and kennels has recently been counted as towards 200. Living registered dogs, at present in the republic, number nearly 800.
The quality of our breeding of the Tatra Chuvach is confirmed by favourable assessment at international shows (Prague, Brno, Liberec, Bratislava, Leipzig and others) and this with strong foreign competition.

General appearance

The Tatra Chuvach's breed characteristics conform in type with those of a mountain dog of firm constitution, impressive appearance and thick white coat. He has a strong bone, a lively temperament and is vigilant, fearless and alert. For centuries he has been accustomed to the harsh climate of the Slovakian mountains, especially the Tatra mountains. His format is well within the shape of a moderate rectangle, the body resting on strong rather high limbs. His vigilance and alertness helped to give him his name, as the Slovak word "Cuvat" means to hear.

Behaviour / temperament

He is boundlessly faithful and courageous, always ready to fight off any intruder, be it even bears and wolves. In order to distinguish him from wild beasts in the night, he is, according to ancient tradition, only bred in white.

Head
Cranial region
Skull		Strong, longish in shape, broad between the ears. The broad forehead has a shallow furrow tapering away towards the rear. Superciliary ridges are in proportion and slanted sideways. Top of head flat. Neck clearly defined from strong, moderately protruding nape of neck. Top of head, in profile, slightly domed compared to bridge of nose.
Stop		Moderate.

Facial region
Nose		Black, especially in summer.
Muzzle		Straight in profile and about half length of had, fairly broad, tapering towards the front. Strong, of medium length, blunt.
Lips		Close fitting, corner of mouth closed. Mucous membranes black, forming a narrow, not overhanging frame to the mouth. Medium thickness. Palate black.
Jaws and teeth		Strong, always with complete scissor bite.
Eyes		Dark brown, oval shape, set in horizontally. Eyelids black, close fitting. Membrane in the inside corner of the eye dark, making the eye expressive.
Ears		Set on high, mobile at set on. Of moderate length, hanging, lying close to head. Half way down, the ear has finer hair. When in repose, the rounded lower edge reaches to mouth level.

Neck

Set on straight. Carried high when alert. In male dogs very powerful with good name. No dewlap.

Body
Back		Straight. Of medium length and strong.
Loin		Moderately arched. Well attached to the sacrum, muscular, very strong and adequately long.
Croup		Strong, broad and slightly sloping.
Chest		Broad. Sternum bone reaching up to the height of shoulder joints.
Ribs		Ribcage : Well sprung ribs. Sternum above half height at withers and reaching lower than elbows. The length of the ribcage exceeds half the body length; its breadth is a quarter of the height at withers. Ribs : Arched, inclined towards rear and forming a clear transition to the flanks.
Underline and belly		Belly and flanks appropriate, moderate tuck up.

Tail

Set on low. Standing and in repose hanging low, reaching to hock joints. Shape straight like a cigar, not curled at tip. When moving carried curled over loin.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality		Position straight, pillar-like, with good angulation of upper arm and elbow. Feet strong, round, tight. Legs generally rather long, specially in males.
Shoulders		Well laid back and long. Upper arm muscular and firmly attached to the body, inclined towards elbow.
Forearm		Vertical, strong, muscular and long.
Carpal		Bony and strong.
Pastern		Short, strong and moderately inclined.
Forefeet		Strong toes and nails, firmly arched and round in shape. Well coated, with fleshy black pads

Hindquarters
Generality		Buttocks, together with upper thighs, from a muscular whole, longish in shape and of considerable breadth.
Lower thigh		Sloping, strong, well muscled.
Stifle		Well muscled and well angulated.
Metatarsus		Strong, with blunt angle; rather low set but well defined and large.
Hock		Short and strong. Position vertical. There is no restriction at transition to hock. Dewclaws undesired.
Hind feet		Are slightly longer than frond feet, otherwise same shape. Toes somewhat stronger and more arched.

Gait and movement

Surprisingly light footed in spite of his powerful build, agile and quick, in every terrain and in all weathers; with preference for trot.

Skin

Loose on body, otherwise close fitting. Skin pink; black pigmentation only round the eyes, the neck and muzzle where it merges with the black mucous membranes. Pads also black.

Coat
Hair		With the exception on head and limbs, the hair form a dense coat without a parting on the back and without feathering on tail and buttocks. Males have a striking name. Hair is short and close on head and legs, slightly longer on rearside of legs.Short hair gradually merges from set-on of ears into the mane. Undercoat is completely covered by long hair in top coat. The latter is 5 to 15cm. Most wavy on mane, elsewhere moderately wavy, forming numerous waves across the back which merge into each other. Single waves, not joined, are undesired. Required is a light dense coat. Undercoat : hair fine and dense, in length up to half or two thirds of hair of top coat. The undercoat is shed during the summer, so the coat loses its density, but remains light throughout the year on account of the wavy topcoat which forms no parting on the back.
Colour		White. Yellowish shading at set on of ears permitted but not desired. Distinct yellow patches are not permitted.

Size and weight
Height at withers		Dogs : 62 to 70 cm. Females : 59 to 65 cm.
Weight		Dogs : 36 to 44 kg. Females : 31 to 37 kg.

Faults

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

General faults

Pincer bite, missing teeth.

Pendulous lips.

Unsymmetric position of the ears.

Flat, not sufficiently deep chest.

Tail lateratelly deviated.

Bear-like feet.

Dewclaws.

Close fitting fringy coat, also completely wavy coat.

Lack of coat on belly, flanks and genitals.

Results of tickets or distemper.

Excessively nervous, unbalanced character.

Disqualifying faults

Aggressive or overly shy.

Pink spots on nose leather, lips or eyelids.

Light eyes.

Yellow patches in coat.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

http://www.fci.be/

Detailed history

The Slovensky Cuvac, also called Slovak Chuvash, has been recognized by the International Cynological Federation only since 1965. This breed has been used since time immemorial for the care of sheep in the wild Carpathian mountains.

Like all great mountain dogs, it comes from the Tibetan Mastiff, which appeared in the 3rd millennium BC, and whose descendants were scattered in Europe during the migration of Asian populations. Distinct varieties were then formed, according to local, natural and human selection. Slovensky Cuvac has been a part of Slovak culture for a long time, but before the birth of a structured cynophilia it was not recognized as a full-fledged breed. Only utilitarian considerations motivated his selection; the shepherds made fun of the aesthetic aspect of their dogs.

Its white color, for example, which suits it perfectly well, is not the result of a whim of fashion but finds a much more pragmatic explanation: the "bête noire" of these herdsmen was the wolf, who was attacking sheep most often at night. When a fight was between the wolf and the dog, the shepherd must be able to distinguish them easily from one another. Otherwise, believing that he would deal a fatal blow to the first, he could have killed his most precious auxiliary. We understand why so many mountain dogs are white, like the Pyrenees Mountain.

The opulent fur of the Slovak Chuvatche also responds to a utilitarian need: these animals lived outside and in all weathers; they needed a thick coat to protect them from the harsh mountain climate.

The Slovensky Cuvac, as it stands now, after centuries of good and loyal service, was only the object of the attention of the dogs of his country in 1929, when Antonin Hruza, great protector of the breed, inscribed the first subjects in the Book of Origins. A few years later, in 1933, a club, the "Chuvatche des Tatras Breeders Society", was created. Since then, the breeders have been working to maintain the original qualities of this national dog, which still keeps the flocks in Czechoslovakia. They also take care to develop in him the qualities necessary for happy cohabitation with the "modern" man. Slovensky Cuvac is practically unknown outside of its country of origin.

The Slovensky Cuvac has all the qualities of the perfect herdsman: courage, intelligence, vigilance, initiative. He is also an endearing companion and extremely faithful. That his aspect "teddy bear" does not deceive: lively and vigilant, he shows himself excellent guardian. He has always been able to repel intruders.

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Slovakian Chuvach