Appearance of the Chuvasz
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A Chuvasz is a large dog that resembles a stockier Kuvasz with some Chow Chow facial features. Its average weight is 27 to 41 kilos and its average height is 53 to 63.5 centimeters. Their medium-length, soft, thick, double-coated coat comes in many colors, including white, black, blue, cinnamon, cream and red. Chuvasz also have a soft, woolly undercoat. The breed is robust and muscular, with a build somewhere between that of the Chow Chow and the elongated torso of the Kuvasz. It has a large head and the muzzle is slightly shorter than that of a purebred Kuvasz. Chuvasz that take after their Chow Chow parent may have a few wrinkles and furrows in the eyebrows. The Chuvasz has small, hanging ears, a short to medium feathered tail and round, compact, well-cushioned paws. |
Temperament of the Chuvasz
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The Chuvasz is a stoic, intelligent dog. They are not overly attentive or playful with people, but they can be fiercely loyal to their masters, as well as gentle and patient with other family members. Although they love affection, Chuvasz don't always reciprocate. Chuvasz are generally suspicious of strangers and can even be aggressive with other dogs. For this reason, it's important to supervise Chuvasz when they encounter other animals and strangers. Similarly, Chuvasz get on better with adults and older children. In addition, this breed's intelligence makes it stubborn and relatively difficult to train. Owners can combat this undesirable trait with early and assiduous obedience training. Chuvasz bark from time to time, but are known to be rather calm in general. On the whole, this breed is a modern-day watchdog: discreet and aloof at rest, but fierce and aggressive when alerted. |
Needs and activities of the Chuvasz
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The Chuvasz is rather active and needs regular but moderate exercise, especially as the breed has a high potential for weight gain. A daily walk and/or play session with the owners or other dogs, if the Chuvasz is friendly with other animals, will suffice. Their modest exercise requirements make them suitable for any environment, urban, suburban or rural. Chuvasz have a thick double coat. As such, they prefer to be outdoors in cool climates and should never be exercised in hot weather. This breed is relatively gentle, so it will appreciate being surrounded by family members inside the house as much as it will enjoy being outdoors. |
Maintenance of the Chuvasz
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Chuvasz are not hypoallergenic, making them unsuitable for owners of dogs with allergies. They shed a lot, but daily brushing will reduce shedding, prevent tangles and make the coat softer and cleaner. Chuvasz should be bathed monthly, and owners should take particular care to clean any skin folds around the face or eyebrow area to avoid infection. If the coat is longer around the eyes and feet, clipping is recommended. Like all dog breeds, Chuvasz should have their teeth brushed daily and their nails trimmed once or twice a month to prevent nail breakage or cracking. |