NOTE: Contact information updated 08/20/03

Kuvasz Fanciers of America

Valerie Traylor, treasurer
1409 Beechwood Drive
Coatesville, PA 19320
  phone (610)383-4127 email: ghosthill@comcast.net

June 21, 1999

Dear American Kennel Club, Kuvasz Community and Other Interested Parties:

The members of Kuvasz Club of America recently participated in an election to determine if the "whiteness" disqualification in the American Kennel Club Kuvasz standard should be removed. Although the leaders of Kuvasz Club of America have stated that the removal of the disqualification was approved by the mandated 2/3 majority vote of its membership, it appears that this assurance may not be factual.

Following the resignation of his wife Alice Kovacs as Kuvasz Club of America's AKC delegate and co-editor of its Quarterly newsletter, in a letter dated June 19, 1999, Steve Kovacs also resigned as co-editor of the Quarterly and "Webmaster" of the KCA website. In his letter, Mr. Kovacs presented a tally of the election votes which, if accurate, negates passage of the motion to remove the whiteness disqualification. According to the figures published by Mr. Kovacs, a 2/3 majority of KCA's membership did not in fact approve the motion.

While an immediate determination by AKC of the validity of the KCA election is paramount prior to any consideration of a "revised" Kuvasz standard, and we call for such an investigation without delay, any revision which fails to repair the standard as a whole presents more problems then it solves. In the. attached letter, Kuvasz Fanciers of America discusses the ramifications of this issue and asks not just for the assistance of the Kuvasz community, but more importantly for a demonstration of its devotion to the preservation of our breed. While the credibility of Kuvasz Club of America's leadership has been questionable since its inception, the commitment of the real caretakers of the breed to an ancient and noble ideal is of far more powerful and significant influence than the selfish, vicious and dishonest behavior of a few politically motivated individuals. You can make a difference. Your actions will affect the future welfare of the breed. If you truly love the Kuvasz, it is your responsibility to act now.

AKC must hear from you now, If AKC chooses not to investigate and resolve the dubious circumstances of KCA's recent election, it will move forward at its upcoming board meeting to accept or reject the proposed revision of the Kuvasz standard, a revision which if enacted will be not merely counterproductive but also which will delay a comprehensive repair of the real problems of our standard for at least another five years. Our breed deserves better. Write now to AKC at: Judges Department, 5580 Centerview Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606, or call AKC now at (212) 696-8262, or leave a message with AKC now at (800) 252-8355. Let AKC know that the integrity of KCA's leadership and the preservation of the Kuvasz are of vital importance to you. You can and must make a difference. Please do so. Thank you.

Sincerely,

The Officers of Kuvasz Fanciers of America

June 21, 1999

Dear American Kennel Club, Kuvasz Community and Other Interested Parties:

As officers of Kuvasz Fanciers of America, we are writing to you on behalf of our members to express our objections to Kuvasz Club of America's current effort to remove the whiteness disqualification from the American Kennel Club's Kuvasz standard.

Perception of whiteness is both subjective and cultural. Although the Hungarian standard also contains a whiteness disqualification, Hungarians interpret that white as "like cream, like [undyed] butter." The American interpretation of white seems to be far more literal. In reality, Kuvasz are naturally about the same size and color as the sheep they have protected for centuries, allowing the dog to blend into the flock without alarming the sheep while being easy for the shepherd to differentiate night and day from wolves, coyotes and other predators.

Sheep-colored Kuvasz are the norm in Hungary but often fail to meet the American dog show judges definition of "white." Instead of resolving this conflict of perception, American exhibitors have only compounded the problem by bleaching and otherwise illegally altering the natural coat color of their dogs. It is well-meaning but deceptive to present the removal of the whiteness disqualification as if it would substantially improve our breed standard. Unfortunately, it would not. The AKC Kuvasz standard is seriously inaccurate. The whiteness disqualification is - literally - the least of its inadequacies and could better be remedied not just by improving judges education but especially by demanding a higher level of integrity from Kuvasz exhibitors

We agree that revision of the standard is long overdue. But any revision which fails to improve the standard as a whole is insufficient. The AKC Kuvasz standard fails to adhere to the Hungarian Kuvasz standard. Any effort to revise the AKC standard must focus upon the correction of all deviations from the Hungarian standard.

If the whiteness disqualification is removed, following approval AKC will reject any other standard revision for a period of at least five years. The report of the KCA "Breed Standard Committee" in the Fall 1998 Kuvasz Quarterly states that if this occurs, the committee "will be working over the next five years on a revision of the Standard." Five years?

"Thus we play the fools with the time,
And the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us."
-Shakespeare

Kuvasz Fanciers of America condemns any delay in a comprehensive revision of the AKC standard as unnecessary and detrimental to the welfare of the breed. The deficiencies of the standard are well known and require no further study. After all, we've been presenting them to the fancy since 1985.

If Kuvasz Club of America truly exists to "protect" Kuvasz and "to bring their natural qualities to perfection" then it must act to eliminate the ignorance, complacency and destructive arrogance which combined to create American Kuvasz who are caricatures of Hungarian type. Ignorance and arrogance altered our standard in 1974. Ignorance and complacency have since promoted destructive individuals in our fancy whose personal agendas supersede the preservation of the real, "natural" Hungarian Kuvasz. How ironic it is that the Kuvasz barely survived World War II only to later be desecrated in North America.

I cannot emphasize enough how horrible the looks on peoples' faces were when I showed photos of 'American Champion Kuvasz' in Hungary."

-Paul Yuhas

How embarrassing! Surely this wasn't the anticipated reaction! And surely our even more embarrassing response cannot continue to be. "What do Hungarians know?" The Hungarians have over two thousand years of experience perfecting the form and function of the Kuvasz. We have less than forty - and we are moving in the wrong direction.

Nevertheless, how refreshing it is to see Jóseph Hódosi's comments about the Hungarian Kuvasz printed and praised in the same issue of the Quarterly, and how gratifying it is to hear that Kuvasz Club of America is eager to dialog with the Hungarians in the years to come. So how disheartening it is to remember that KCA's newsletter printed Dr. András Kovács' lecture to Kuvasz Club of Canada on the history of the Kuvasz in 1988.

A more distinguished native Hungarian Kuvasz authority with better credentials is impossible to find. Dr. Kovács, a respected geneticist, historian, veterinarian and FCI Judge whose father Antal salvaged the breed in Hungary in the 1950s, was even at that time living in the United States.

Far from being honored for his wealth of knowledge, András Kovács was snubbed by Kuvasz Club of America. When he accepted an invitation to judge Kuvasz at an AKC show, some KCA members complained because Dr. Kovács examined their dogs Hungarian-style. One has to wonder why they were there. Dr. Kovács subsequently received an insulting reprimand from an AKC employee, which was quickly but fruitlessly rescinded. Dr. Kovács vowed never again to Judge in the United States and later returned to Hungary, his knowledge unwanted his opinions unwelcome.

"Such an excess of stupidity, Sir, is not in Nature."
-Samuel Johnson

Kuvasz Club of America's ignorance, complacency, arrogance and sheer stupidity were responsible not just for alienating an extraordinary breed scholar, but ultimately for ten years of wasted opportunities; opportunities to magnify our meager knowledge, opportunities to rectify errors, opportunities to apologize for shameful behavior and begin again with grateful spirits In a true direction.

It is time to begin again. Our path will be marked by what we know and what we should have known. We know that unlike some eradicated breeds, the Kuvasz was never an artifact; we know that many thousands of Kuvasz thrive in Hungary, the descendents of Kuvasz who never left Hungary. We know that the Kuvasz was separated from its Hungarian source in Germany after the turn of the century. We know that the Germans believed that wavy-coated Kuvasz were mongrels, and that in general they now freely admit that they made grave errors in their Kuvasz breeding programs. We should know that studbooks prove that German breeders crossbred Kuvasz with several other breeds and registered the offspring as Kuvasz; i.e., the so-called 'Type II' Kuvasz and the 'black Kuvasz' said to have been exhibited at the London Zoo.

"Many authorities on the Kuvasz and Komondor believe that the two are very closely related. These include Horowitz von Stephanitz and others. In Germany. the distinction between the two has been chiefly one of coat, with the ragged and matted dog being called the Komondor, and the smooth-coated dog the kuvasz. However, many Komondor fanciers bitterly resent this, saying it would be difficult, if not impossible to cross the two breeds.

"The Germans, with no sanction from Hungary, now recognize also a smaller type of Kuvasz. Until recently. all pure-bred Kuvaszok were white. Now a black strain is sometimes seen."
- Modern Dog Encyclopedia, 1956

Because of the relentless slaughter of Kuvasz in Hungary during World War II, we know that Hungarian Kuvasz breeders were forced by necessity to use phenotypically correct German "Kuvasz" in their effort to rebuild their breed in the 1950s. Not surprisingly, these breedings produced offspring of inconsistent and often unacceptable type. Hungarian breeders were determined to regain correct type through selective breeding. We know that they were largely successful.

"Nowadays it is generally assumed that [Fogas Von Schwabensee] has done considerable damage to the Kuvasz stock. Still, he was frequently used in the breeding and appears behind all well-known Kuvasz of today. Why this contradiction? The problems began when the offspring eventually were interbred, with a threatening hybridization as an unwelcome result. Super-studs are good business, but have never contributed anything to the breeding."

-Jósef Juhász

We know that when the Kuvasz was reintroduced to America in the 1960s, it was almost impossible to obtain good specimens from communist Hungary, not only due to importation problems but also because Hungarians are reluctant (for good reason) to export and thus lose their best dogs, especially to Americans. We know that importing Kuvasz from Germany and Austria was easier at that time. Many Kuvasz brought into the United States from both Western and Eastern Europe in the 1960s and early 1970s failed to meet the requirements of the Hungarian standard (Ch. Gyapjus Kapitany, a foundation "super-stud" dog in the United States. is one example).

We should know that the 1935 AKC Kuvasz standard was crude. We know that by 1970, only four years after its formation, Kuvasz Club of America submitted a draft of a revised standard to AKC for approval. We should know that Dr. Zoltán Balassy, at that time President of the Hungarian Dog Breeders' National Association, assisted in the development of this first draft, which more or less approximated the Hungarian standard and almost succeeded in duplicating it.

It described the Kuvasz as "wolflike" in appearance and movement described the stop as "not defined" accepted "ivory white" coat color, specified muzzle proportions, described the neck as medium short, and disqualified "overly pronounced stop" and "massive broad head accompanied by a short heavy muzzle." (This draft can be found on pages 590 and 591 of the 1970 edition of The New Dog Encyclopedia.)

We should know that between submission of the first draft and acceptance by AKC of the final version, the proposed standard revision markedly deteriorated. Certainly Dr. Balassy could never have approved the final version of the AKC Kuvasz standard, which led to the proliferation of Americanized Kuvasz who deviate from Hungarian type. The standard clearly had been modified so that it would sanction what some members of Kuvasz Club of America wished the Kuvasz to be, regardless of the real, "natural" attributes of the breed.

In the finalized standard, the Kuvasz was no longer wolflike, lost its natural creamy-white coat color in favor of an abnormal degree of whiteness, was penalized for lack of "substance," was taller and heavier, had no harmonious wedges and parallel planes of the muzzle and head, had an exaggerated stop, had a domed skull, had an ambiguous muzzle structure and an overemphasized jaw, developed a weak bite, had the earset of a Great Pyrenees, had a longer neck, had a broad back, had over angulated stifles and short hocks, had a brand-new brisket and incredibly, could carry a straight coat. No wonder Hungarians are appalled by pictures of "American Champion Kuvasz:" Kuvasz who exemplify the revised AKC standard and win in the American show ring.

We should know that the original standard draft and its final version subtly mistranslated (inadvertently?) the Hungarian standard description of coat type. The correct Hungarian Kuvasz coat pattern on a single dog is invariable and ranges from always wavy on the body to always short and straight on the head, hocks and foreparts of the limbs. Instead, the 1977 translation implied that Kuvasz may carry either wavy coat or straight coat on the body, a misrepresentation which Kuvasz Club of America has promoted and defended ever since.

Surely the authors of the revised standard had the resources and the ambition to translate four latin words. We are discussing Canis familiarus UNDULANS hungaricus. How can the truth be a lie? How can a GENUS differentiated by its wavy coat be straight-coated? Perhaps Kuvasz Club of America should address this burdensome discrepancy prior to getting too excited about dialoguing with either the Hungarians or the Germans. Or anyone.

As for mutual dialogue, Dr. Kovács attempted to initiate it in 1988. He said:

"The Kuvasz is the only Hungarian breed having serious 'standard' and judging problems abroad. The Hungarian standard was accepted by the FCI in 1934... and given out again in 1966 with the number '54/b.' Our standard was the first one for a flockguard in Middle-Europe, therefore it was written to describe the existing breed. This is the only standard, which may be translated better into foreign languages and may be explained, but not changed out of Hungary, like we don't write standards for foreign breeds.

'There is no 'Hungarian Kuvasz,' 'German Kuvasz,' 'American Kuvasz', etc., only Kuvasz and it must be bred and judged everywhere in the same way. A dog in the Kuvasz-ring must be at first a Kuvasz."

We know that under the newly revised AKC breed standard, in 1977 a "Kuvasz" with long, straight coat and Great Pyrenees body type, Ch. Hamralvi Hemindall Odin won a Best in Show. By combining descendents of Von Elfin's Konig Schnee Mann and Wish-A-Way's Balinka von Elfin (in addition to other German bloodlines of that era and beyond), more and often very successful generic big white show dogs registered in America as "Kuvasz" are capable of being produced. Every show ring victory by one of these Pyrvasz dogs is catastrophic to the preservation of the real Kuvasz. We know that this should never have happened. We know we must begin anew.

"If a breed of dog evolved to do a specific job or jobs, it evolved in the form to do that job best. But, over the years, men decided that if substantial bone is good, more bone is better. If some coat is appropriate, more is better. If a broad head is desired, a broader head is better- and so on. Almost 100 years ago, in his book, The Show Dog, Huntington commented 'The specimen which is possessed of the "essential quality" in the most abnormal degree is the winner of the blue ribbon.

"Any breed has the potential to be subjected to influences that would take it astray from its original purpose. These influences are all the more dangerous when they come from inside the fancy. If you are going to dedicate yourself to a breed, then accepting the responsibility of preserving the integrity of your breed's original purpose is a very important part of the overall picture, Anything less is a 'cop-out,'

"If the new concept of winning beauty contests such as dog shows is to have any real meaning, all of us involved must work together to protect the very picture of type and traits that made the breed in the first place."

- Patricia Craige Trotter

Beginning anew. we must acknowledge and honor the most defining truth of our ancient and beloved breed, Canis familiarus undulans hungaricus:

THE HUNGARIAN WAVY-COATED DOG.

Hungarian. Not American. Wavy-coated. Not straight-coated. Not a Pyrvasz.

We must acknowledge that Sandor Palfavy was a fraud who duped Dana Alvi and others into believing and popularizing the myth that the Kuvasz originated in Sumeria. But there are NO cuneiform "Ku-Assa" tablets excavated in Mesopotamia. There are NO Ku-Assa exhibits in the British Museum, in the Louvre or even in the Asmolean Museum. There is NO Ku-Assa. And did anyone, ever, really believe that the Kuvasz was originally a Turkish "Kawasz," solemnly translated as "armed guardian of security of the European consuls and ambassadors dressed in an especially picturesque costume?" Was someone pulling someone's picturesquely costumed leg? Ignorance, arrogance and complacency on the part of Kuvasz Club of America can no longer be excused. No organization can claim stewardship and protection of the Kuvasz if it lies about and denies the definition and origin and heritage of its breed.

"False face must hide what the false heart doth know."

- Shakespeare

Dr. András Kovács, Kuvasz Club of America newsletter, 1988:

"Let's speak about Hungarians. At first about the Sumerian-Hungarian relationship. Sumerians living very near to the supposed origin of flockguards [Kurdistan, in North Iraq] and breeding sheep surely had dogs of this type, but we have no direct evidence for its Sumerian name as there is no evidence for a Sumerian-Hungarian consanguinity, close linguistic relationship or any kind of direct contact.

"Our language belongs to the Fenno-Ugric languages. Fenno-Ugic languages show similarities with Turkish, Tartar, Mongolian, Samoyed; etc languages and they may belong all together to the hypothetic Ural-Altai group. Our nearest relatives by language are the 'Obi Ugorok,' the Hanti and Manyshi people (Ostyaks and Votyaks in Russian) living in West-Siberia at the Ob River.

"Probably about 500 - 600 BC the Proto-Hungarians moved to the south of the steppes, where - according to linguistic evidence -they took over animal breeding from the Chuvash people as a high percentage of words specific to agriculture of Chuvash origin are in the Hungarian language. After being neighbors of the Chuvash people for more than 1,000 years a part of the Hungarians moved to the south about 750 AD to 'Levedia,' while the others remained between the Wolga River and the Ural Mountains in 'Magna Hungaria' About 840 - 850 AD the Hungarians were forced to move westwards to 'Etelkõz' and they occupied the Carpathian Basin in 896. On the basis of historical, linguistic evidence and simply also because of the similarity of the words 'Chuvash' and Kuvasz' and 'Chuvach' it may be supposed that the Kuvasz was originally 'Chuvash' and, if so, bred by the Hungarians for about 2,500 years."

 

It is time to demonstrate pride in the genuine history of our breed, not fabricated rubbish. It is time to demonstrate pride in the real Hungarian Kuvasz, not a manufactured Kuvasz-du-jour which exists because this year an ignorant American breeder likes long straight coat or big bone or short hocks or a massive head and there has never been any restraining ethical influence from our parent club to hinder him. It is time to examine the motivations for our loyalties and the foundations of our convictions. Do they advance or hinder the conservation of the real Kuvasz? The only trustworthy individuals in the breed may not be the people we bought our dog from. The one correct type of Kuvasz may not be the one we own.

We know that our standard must be revised to concur with the Hungarian standard if we are to preserve the real Kuvasz in North America. The alternative is somber: split the breed into two varieties as became necessary when American breeders altered the English Cocker Spaniel into an incompatible form. Kuvasz Club of America must choose, for in addition to unpleasant issues of membership bigotry, political bias, personality cults, lack of leadership and diminishing credibility, until it commits to either the preservation of the Hungarian Kuvasz or sanction of the American deviant, there can be no fellowship among Kuvasz fanciers. The Pyrvasz faction which has bitterly divided our breed will continue to sabotage any effort to build a united, effectual voice for the Kuvasz in this country. Kuvasz Club of America: Is this the hill you want to die on?

"For it so falls out
That what we have we prize not worth
Whiles we enjoy it, but being lacked and lost,
Why. then we rack the value, then we find
The virtue that possession would not show us
Whiles it was ours."

- Shakespeare

The Kuvasz fancy is no longer isolated by geography or culture. The Internet now brings the international Kuvasz community to our computer screens and our daily lives, It is no longer a mystery what Kuvasz in Europe look like or what their owners and breeders are saying about the breed...and about us. The Hungarians reject American Kuvaszok as a bastard breed. Most German breeders have corrected their mistakes by reintroducing Hungarian bloodlines. The Dutch are harshly criticizing us and are enthusiastically exchanging health information and pedigrees. In the midst of this, KCA proposes to essentially duck and cover for five more years because some of their malicious, venomous members might be offended by imperative change.

KCA's leaders say that its members aren't interested in ethical behavior: they only care about majors in the show ring. They say that elections are only popularity contests and that committees need bodies rather than reputable advocates of the breed. They say things will never change. And without conscientious action from KCA members, they're right. Until all KCA members recognize the necessity of independent thought and personal accountability, they are absolutely right! Surely this despicable cynicism and lack of morality cannot be what KCA members expect from their chosen representatives!

Kuvasz Club of America, change is no longer defined by "those troublemakers in California." Change will be imposed by KCA's own disgraceful politics and by its sanction of the corruption of the Kuvasz, behaviors which are denounced by the world. If KCA will not move to embrace the future, the future will leave it behind, for the destiny of this breed is the dynamic worldwide Kuvasz community, not a small-minded, self-important American social club whose leaders present coat-bleaching recipes to novice exhibitors.

Repairing our standard is the necessary first step to unity- It will require a grateful spirit and it will demand courage, virtues which have never been demonstrated by KCA. Five more years of inertia by a club paralyzed by fear of change and dominated by malignant personalities will serve only to further escalate dissension and disgust.

The Great Pyrenees Club of America recently revised their standard to more accurately depict the unique characteristics of their breed. We can learn from their example. In a successful effort to avoid partisanship, their "breed standard committee" was elected by a vote of the membership.

We call for a dissolution of Kuvasz Club of America's current "breed standard committee' and an election by the membership to determine new committee members. This is the only way for the club to avoid the problems inherent in its present committee:

(1) Sue Thomas has an enormous conflict of interest as the chair of KCA Judges Education:

(2) Agi Hejja has publicly indicated that she prefers "big boned" type:

(3) Linda Lloyd has substantial ethical issues due both to her involvement in the slander campaign against Earlene and Charles Gardner and her vicious interference in the decisions of an AKC Kuvasz Judge, not to mention her own conflict of interest as a judge.

In addition, all three of the above committee members demonstrate active prejudice against true type by choosing to breed, exhibit and promote Americanized Kuvasz who do not conform to the Hungarian standard.

(4) Elizabeth Kondor has been inactive in Kuvasz for many years. She is presently a Fox Terrier breeder/exhibitor. There are several long-term, active Kuvasz fanciers and breeders better qualified for service on the committee such as Sally Furgeson, Bonnie Leech, Gail Dash, Neil Berger Vicki Primm, Alane Lachowicz. Ivonne Lukaszczyk, Tom Lukaszczyk; Millie Fellerman, Gary Eastman and Valerie Eastman (who offered to serve on the committee and whose offer was declined by Sue Thomas), among others.

(5) Regardless of her type preferences, Maria Conkey is the sole member of the committee who is not just active in the breed but whose experience as a Kuvasz breeder also has involved correct Hungarian type. She is the only legitimately acceptable (if not desirable) member of the committee.

If this is the best that Kuvasz Club of America is willing to do, we submit that there is ample justification for dissolution of the committee and the formation of a new committee by election of the club.

If we truly love the Kuvasz, we must respect its heritage and acknowledge the debt we owe to our Hungarian mentors. If we truly wish to protect the breed, we must provide more than lip service as a means of doing so: we must vigorously act to repair our breed standard and thus preserve those qualities which define the Kuvasz as forever unique and un-compromised. We have all the resources we need to do so; we need only reach out and embrace them. We ask Kuvasz Club of America to act now in a true direction. We urge Kuvasz Club of America to accept this belated but crucial opportunity to begin anew.

Sincerely,

The Officers of Kuvasz Fanciers of America:

Thomas Lukaszczyk, MD
President
email: ilukas@earthlink.net

Neil Berger
Vice-President
email: nhberger@pacbell.net

Gail Dash
Secretary
email: kuvasz@pacbell.net

Valerie Eastman (Emeritus)
Treasurer
email: ghosthill@comcast.net

Ivonne Lukaszczyk
Rescue Coordinator & Treasurer
email: kuvaszrescue@earthlink.net

Thomas Lukaszczyk, MD
Health Coordinator
email: ilukas@earthlink.net

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