• Country of origin : Slovakia. More specifically, from the Tatra Mountains.
• Date of publication of the original valid standard : 18-08-1965
• FCI standard number : 142
• FCI classification: Group 1 : sheepdogs and cattle dogs (except Swiss cattle dogs)
• Section 1 : sheepdogs without working trial

 

• Origin and utilization:
  The Slovenský Čuvač is well documented as far back as the 17th century. As wolves slowly disappeared from the European mountains and modern herding practices came about, the Čuvač almost became extinct. A man by the name of Dr. Antonin Hruza of the Brno School of Veterinary Medicine saved the breed with his successful breeding program after World War II. It is a popular companion in Central Europe, but is still relatively quite rare. Some of its talents are guarding flocks against wolves and other predators, hunting big game, border patrol and search and rescue.
  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.
• General appearance :
  The Slovenský Čuvač 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 and temperament:
  He is boundlessly faithful and courageous, always ready to fight off any intruder, be it as bears and wolves. In order to distinguish him from wild beasts in the night, he is, accordion thing to ancient tradition, only bred in white. A hardy, persevering and teachable shepherd. Extremely loyal and brave.


• 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
• 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/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. The look is shrewd.
• 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.
• Rump:
  Strong, broad and slightly sloping.
• Chest:
  Broad. Sternum bone reaching up to the height of shoulder joints.
• 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.
• 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:
  Position straight, pillar-like, with good angulations 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.
• Pastern joint:
  Bony and strong.
• Pastern:
  Short, strong and moderately inclined.
• Front feet:
  Strong toes and nails, firmly arched and round in shape. Well coated, with fleshy black pads.
• Limbs:
  
• Hindquarters:
  Buttocks, together with upper thighs, from a muscular whole, longish in shape and of considerable breadth.
• Stifle:
  Well muscled and well angulated.
• Second thigh:
  Sloping, strong, well muscled.
• Hock joint:
  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/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 rear side 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.
• Color:
  White. Yellowish shading at set on of ears permitted but not desired. Distinct yellow patches are not permitted.
• Life Expectancy:
  About 11 - 13 years
• Size and weight:
  
• Height at the withers::
• dogs → 62 tot 70 cm.
• bitches → 59 tot 65 cm.
• Weight :
• dogs → 36 tot 44 kg.
• bitches → 31 tot 37 kg.
• Lenght of head (average) :
• dogs → 25 tot 28 cm.
• bitches → 23 tot 26 cm.
• Lenght of cranial region :
• dogs → 13 tot 15 cm.
• bitches → 12 tot 14 cm.
• Lenght of facial region :
• dogs → 13 tot 14 cm.
• bitches → 11 tot 13 cm.
• Height at sternum level :
• dogs → 33 tot 37 cm.
• bitches → 30 tot 35 cm.
• Depth of chest :
• dogs → 30 tot 34 cm.
• bitches → 25 tot 30 cm.
• Length of body :
• dogs → 69 tot 76 cm.
• bitches → 60 tot 72 cm.
• Lenght of ribcage :
• dogs → 40 tot 47 cm.
• bitches → 37 tot 44 cm.
• Girth of chest behind shoulder :
• dogs → 70 tot 83 cm.
• bitches → 68 tot 72 cm.
• Girth of chest at lastfloating rib :
• dogs → 60 tot 70 cm.
• bitches → 56 tot 65 cm.
• Angulations of joints :
• Shoulder joint → 107 degrees
• Elbow joint → 145 degrees
• Hip joint → 90 degrees
• Stifle joint → 110 degrees
• 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.
• Pincer bite, missing teeth.
• Pendulous lips.
• not symmetric position of the ears.
• Flat, not sufficiently deep chest.
• Dewclaws.
• Close fitting fringy coat, also completely wavy coat.
• Lack of coat on belly, flanks and genitals.
• Excessively nervous, unbalanced character.
• Disqualifying faults :
• Aggressive or overly shy.
• Pink spots on nose leather, lips or eyelids.
• Light eyes.
• Yellow patches in coat.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified. Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Source © F.C.I.
Translation: Mrs. Chris Seidler