I have shown/bred Shelties for several years. I was moving to the country and decided I needed a guard dog to protect my Shelties from being dog-napped. I did my homework and looked at several breeds before deciding on a Kuvasz. I had my mind made up... I wanted a Kuvasz!

After talking to a lot of breeders, I eventually chose Chuck & Kathy Ringering of Double Ring Kuvasz in Missouri. Kathy didn't have any pups at the time so I was put on her waiting list. It took almost a year until I got that wonderful phone call from Kathy telling me that she had a puppy for me. I didn't know, or care, whether it was a boy or girl, I was getting a Kuvasz! 

Kathy sent me a videotape of the puppy and his littermates. Now that I knew which pup I'm getting, I was even more excited. I named him, "Jake."

By the time Jake was old enough to leave his mom, winter weather had settled in, and I was unable to drive to Missouri to pick up my new boy. The wait was very hard on me, so I begged for somebody coming this way to bring him to me. Jake was already twelve weeks old. It just so happened that there was a dog show being held south of me and Kathy had a friend who was driving to the show and she agreed to bring Jake with her. We made arrangements to meet just off the freeway.

I had planned what I was going to tell my pup when I first saw him, "I've waited a long time for you..."

Well, it didn't exactly happen that way! Kathy's friend opened the back of her van so we could get Jake out of her crate and put him in mine. She opened the crate door, reached in to get him out, and the puppy growled at her. She stepped back fast!  She tried baiting him with a treat. No way! She was afraid of him and Jake sensed that. Now, I've had many years of experience with dogs and no dog has ever frightened me, so I told her to let me get him out. I reached in and he growled at ME! I then tried to put a towel over his head, but he wasn't coming out of that crate!

Now what do I do? Was I afraid of this 12 week-old pup? I thought that maybe there was something wrong with him and I would send him back to Kathy. The lady had to leave to go to her dog show, and couldn't take care of Jake, too. We decided that I would take Jake home in her crate and then she would pick the crate up on her way home from the show.

The ride home was uneventful. I carried him into the house and opened the crate door. He just laid there. He still wasn't coming out of his crate. So I left him alone for awhile and when I returned he was out of the crate happily exploring his new home. Since that day he has never growled or shown any aggression to anyone. The brave puppy was just protecting HIS crate from us; a couple of strangers! And that is what a Kuvasz is supposed to do!

Jake had been living with me for only about two weeks when he did something that amazed me.

I had a litter of 3 week-old Sheltie puppies. It was a nice day, so I decided to open the back door a few minutes for some fresh air. I was watching the tiny pups as they were learning to walk and play. Jake was just outside the door, also watching the pups, when all of a sudden one of the pups fell outside (there is a three inch step down) right where Jake was lying. Jake (still a puppy himself) gently picked that tiny puppy up and placed him back into the room! It was at this moment that I knew Jake was going to be a wonderful dog, guardian and protector!

When Jake was five months old we enrolled in a basic obedience class. He loved it! I remember the day we arrived at class and nobody was there (class had been cancelled but I didn't know), Jake was so disappointed that he pouted the rest of the day. He graduated from that class at the top. He was the only dog who did everything perfectly!

When Jake was around two years-old, I took him to see Chuck and Kathy. They looked him over and said he was good enough to show in conformation. I entered him in the next fun Match Show held in my area. He did great until it was time for the stand-for-examination and he didn't like the judge coming near me. He repeated this at the next  match. After I told Kathy, she felt Jake was just protecting me and with another handler he would probably do just fine. Chuck handled him at the next show, and he did great! Chuck handled him from start to finish, and Jake earned his AKC Championship in only eight shows! There was only one show that I can remember him not winning.  

Out of the 15 points that he needed to finish, Jake received two 4 point majors and a 3 point major!

Even if Jake had never been shown at all, he would still be a champion to me. We have had many wonderful times together. I have enjoyed watching Jake in the role of a sentry protecting his territory (the sky included), or just trying to catch dragonflies. I love him dearly! He has been a wonderful friend and companion to me.

Thank you so much Chuck & Kathy for allowing Jake to live with me! You have beautiful dogs and are doing wonderful things for the breed. Keep up the good work!

Bobbi & Furkids
from the Natural State ~Arkansas~

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