The name Chuvasz is a combination of the names of its two parent breeds: Chow Chow and Kuvasz. The Chow Chow originated in China and has a long and debated history. Nonetheless, the American Kennel Club asserts that the Chow Chow is a 2,000-year-old – maybe older – breed. A popular theory is that Chow Chows originated in Siberia by crossing Tibetan Mastiffs and Samoyeds. Regardless, Chow Chows were employed as temple guards and hunting companions throughout the history of China. The breed was also – sadly – used for food and clothing at times. Chows Chows were imported to Europe, particularly England, starting in the 1880s and became popular when Queen Victoria took an interest in the breed. The breed was shown for the first time in the United States in 1890, and its recognition from the AKC followed shortly after in 1903. The Chuvasz’s other parent breed, the Kuvasz, is also thought to have originated in Tibet. However, the breed migrated across Asia and Europe, possibly with refugees from the Mongol invasions around 1200 C.E., to Hungary where it was developed into the dog we know today. In Hungary, Kuvaszs were used as hunting, herding, and guard dogs because of their large size. In fact, its name is derived from the Turkish word “kuwasz”, meaning "protector”. Kuvaszs became a favorite breed for the royal and elite classes in Hungary in the 15th century and its popularity grew across Europe after that. Sadly, it declined in popularity dramatically in the 20th century – almost to the point of extinction. Determined breeders worked to revive the Kuvasz population in the early 1900s, and the AKC recognized the breed in 1935. The combination of these two breeds has only recently been recognized widely. However, given the parent breeds’ long history, Chuvaszs may have been bred haphazardly over time.
