Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Temperament observations from 150 years ago

Ekaterina in Russia shares this photo of her Kuvasz that has sprung up in an amicable fashion to clasp her around the neck.

I love this description of temperament! This is from Dr. Buzády's book.

"Mor Jokai wrote 150 years ago using the words Kuvasz and Komondor as synonymous:

"'That the welcome might be more patriarchal, the big Komondors/Kuvasz of the house too passed among the guests licking their hands; and in this is something worthy of comment. The conduct of the dogs of the house is a powerful indication of the hospitality of the householder: where even the Komondor/Kuvasz licks the guest's hand and springs up in amicable fashion to clasp him round the neck, there he is seen gladly;

"'but where the Komondor/Kuvasz lies in the doorway outside and growls at you when you approach, there prepare yourself for the question 'When will it please you to move on?'"

From: Dr. Tibor Buzády, Dogs of Hungary, trans. Bernard Adams, Budapest, Hungary: Nóra Kiadó, 2002, p. 141-142.


The above photo is Ekaterina in Russia whose Kuvasz has sprung up in an amicable fashion to clasp her around the neck, as did Peter's Kuvasz in Germany.