Basic grooming for pets

Grooming a pet Kuvasz is basic, simple, and does not require a great deal of time.  Basically the tasks include: brushing and combing weekly, cleaning teeth, cleaning ears, trimming nails, and occasional bathing.

Brushing / combing:  There are three pieces of equipment you will need to buy to groom your Kuvasz, a pin brush, a comb, and a rake.  The pin brush is used most often to brush all the long hair on the dog.  Use this brush weekly to aid in removing dirt, and removing hair that would otherwise accumulate on your carpet!  The comb is used for areas such as behind the ears, tail, and longer hair on the backs of the legs, and areas that have become matted.  The rake is a special tool that is used to remove undercoat when your dog is blowing coat.  Additionally, some Kuvasz have long "eye brows" that will curve down and can grow into the eyes (these are NOT eyelashes, but thick, whisker-like hairs on the brow above the eye).  If you see them growing into the eye, cut them carefully with a scissors.

Cleaning teeth: It is now a common practice to brush your dogs teeth and vet's have found that a weekly brushing drastically improves canine dental health and can prolong your dogs life.  "People" toothpaste should not be used!  Ask your vet about canine toothpaste and toothbrush.  The brush is usually one that will fit over your forefinger and no more, but you can use a regular people toothbrush.  Some dog cookies, such as "greenies" and RAW frozen beef bones (BEEF ONLY) also aids in removing plaque and tartar.

Cleaning ears:  The ears should only need general cleaning of the outside ear leather only, which you can do with a baby wipe.  Smell the ears and if you detect a foul odor, an infection may be present.  Also watch your dogs behavior, scratching at ears, tilting and shaking of the head can also be indicative of an ear infection.  There are two types of ear infections, yeast and mites.  It is best to take your dog to the vet if you detect any type of infection. 

Trimming nails:  Nails should be trimmed regularly - meaning as often as needed.  If your dog spends a lot of time on concrete he will need less trimming.  Also, some dogs nails just grow faster than others.  You will have to be the judge.  You can trim the nails with a good quality large dog nail clipper, or you can grind the nails using a grinding power tool such as a Dremel.  I've found that black toenails are a harder substance than white toenails, not sure why. 

Bathing:  Use a shampoo made for dogs, preferably a shampoo made for white coated dogs as it will reduce any yellowing.  At Lambent, we bathe our puppies weekly so the new owners have puppies that are used to being bathed.  Weekly bathing is not necessary for adults however unless you are showing.  If you brush your dog regularly, you will need to bathe him less.  Brushing does remove a lot of the dirt, and Kuvasz do not usually have a "doggy" odor - even when wet.  I find it easiest to bathe my dogs on my grooming table, where the dog can be bathed at your height, lessening the strain on your back.  A grooming table can be purchased for several hundred dollars, or home-made for less than $100 using standard purchased table legs and 3/4" plywood covered with a non-skid top. 

Special Grooming considerations for your older Kuvasz:  Older dogs do have some special grooming considerations that you should heed to make their lives more comfortable.  The more your Kuvasz lays around, and is less active, the long hair on the backs of the thighs and the tail can mat and collect dirt and moisture.  To groom these areas the dog will have to stand, and your older dog will not want to stand very long, or very often, to allow grooming.   Your older dog may not be as cautious as he once was with regard to toilet cleanliness and feces and urine can collect around this long hair.  In the hot summer months this dirty area will attract flies.  Flies will find this wet, warm, and possibly stinky area a fine place to lay eggs, which will hatch into maggots.  Maggots can be devastating even to a young dog as they will burrow into the dogs skin!  Older dogs will be less likely to move around and shoe the flies away.  As my dogs get older I prefer to scissor or clipper the longer hair on the backs of the thighs and the tail, especially around the anal area.  This reduces any risk that urine or feces will cling to the coat.  Another consideration for older dogs is that I will allow them to lay down and accept grooming, they really don't want to stand very long.  The older they get, the thinner the skin, or so it seems, so be a bit more gentle with the older dogs especially when loosening mats (I prefer to cut mats on older dogs that will not be shown).  Teeth and ears may need more attention as well.

Grooming for the show

If you plan on showing your Kuvasz everything mentioned above is applicable (with exception of the special grooming considerations for the older dog) and more.  Here, it is best to visit a show and observe Kuvasz handlers groom their Kuvasz and ask questions when they are done.  Most Kuvasz owners are more than happy to help new owners learn how to groom their Kuvasz.  Don't expect to learn everything overnight!  If you live near an experienced Kuvasz exhibitor, don't be afraid to ask to come over for a grooming education!