Kugshas are large dogs that belong to the working dog group. Actively waiting for commands and highly spirited, they are Spitz dogs with a wolf-like appearance, yet are sensitive and make a good family dog. Kugshas are extremely intelligent, requiring an experienced owner or trainer to train and socialize them. Unfortunately, Kugshas are yet to be recognized by national and international kennel clubs.
Table of Contents
Kugsha Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Brilliant
Highly active
Family-friendly
Requires mental stimulation
Quick learners and can be trained easily.
Proper care must be taken to avoid parasitic infections since it is an outdoor breed
Kugsha Basic Information
Name: Kugsha
Origin: Pennsylvania and Russia
Size: Large
Height: 20 – 27 inches
Weight: 60 – 106 Ibs
Coat: Dense, double-coated, smooth, straight
Color: Black, brown, merle, spotted, brindle, speckled, white, and cream
Breed’s Original Pastimes: Freight and weight pulling
Life Span: 12 – 15 years
Living Condition: Good for cold climate
Kugsha History
Kugshas are purebred dogs that originated in Pennsylvania – Wolfen Kennel and carried wolf genes in Malamute breeds, with luxuriant hair over the body. They were initially used for pulling freights and weights. It has a history dating back to 1000 years. Initially known by the name “American Husky,” it didn’t go well in the market, and was renamed “Amerindian Malamute.” Finally, it turned out to be “Kugsha,” an acronym that was derived by choosing the first two letters of the wolf-dog breeder’s names – (KU) Kuhlwind, (GS) Gorden Smith, and (HA) Habben.
Different Types of Huskies
Alaskan Husky
Alaskan Huskies are leaner and larger than Siberian Huskies. They resemble Siberian Husky physically and can be distinguished from Siberian Huskies by their brown eyes. The sight-hound feature runs in their genes. They are jumpers and pounce on people out of love. They love to be outdoors and don’t like to be on a leash. They live for approximately 12-15 years. They are 23 to 26 inches tall and weigh 40 to 60 pounds.
Siberian Husky
Siberian Husky is a friendly, northern dog with a dense outer coat and an undercoat. They have erect ears and brown or blue eyes. Siberian Huskies were bred for pulling toboggan. They come in two coat colors – black and white and shades of black and white. They originated from Russia and the United States and made a lovely family pet. Siberian Huskies are 20 to 24 inches tall, weigh 35 – 60 pounds, and are recognized by AKC and UKC.
Kugsha Highlights
Kugshas are sensitive and should be treated with care.
They are intelligent and suitable only for experienced wolf dog owners.
All the family members should be trained at handling Kugshas as they are wise and can escape easily or go out of control.
Kugshas are quick learners, and they should be kept engaged with some or the other activity as they can quickly get bored.
They are inclined to neck pulling since they are working dogs meant for weight pulling.
Kugshas are not suitable for places where the weather conditions are scorching. So, they are ideal for cold weather conditions and love to go on outdoor activities.
Here’s the link to purchase a sweater for your Kugsha:
They can be best hiking companions and excel at jogging and walking when trained.
Since they have high prey drives, owners should avoid letting them off-leash. Also, not good with smaller breeds or children.
Not suitable for apartment living. Kugshas need a lot of space to move.
They are not great barkers, but they keep howling due to their wolf instincts.
Kugsha Personality
Kugshas are large breeds with white, fawn, gray, black, and brown coats. They bear a medium-length, double coat, a brittle outer coat that can tolerate cold weather and is unsuitable for hot or highly humid climatic conditions. Though they belong to wolf-dog types, they resemble Husky. They are 20-27 inches tall and weigh 60 to 110 lbs.
Friendliness Overview
Affectionate with family
Medium to high
Friendly with kids
Medium
Friendly with pets
Low to medium
Friendly towards Strangers
High
Adaptability Overview
Adapts to apartment living
Low
Good for new owners
Low
Sensitivity level
Medium to high
Tolerates being alone
Low
Tolerates Hot weather
Low to medium
Tolerates Cold weather
High
Kugsha Physical Features
Head – Their heads are proportionate to their body size and have a round skull slightly tapered by the muscle. They have pointed eyes that resemble almonds with brown, hazel, and amber colors, giving Kugshas a wolf-like look. Though their eye and coat colors might vary, their nose is always black. Another physical trait that gives Kugshas a wolfy look is their ears, which are pointed, triangular, and erect.
Neck – Kugsha has a medium-length, broad, muscled neck with hair that descends.
Topline – The topline is embellished with long hair descending from the neck, giving Kugsha a rich furry look.
Body – Their body is rectangular and slightly longer, a standard feature in large breed dogs. Kugshas have a well-developed chest that separates the forequarters from the hindquarters, with shoulders that are well-built and concealed with thick fur from the neck.
Tail – Like any other furry large dog, Kugsha has a long, exuberant tail.
Feet – Their legs are long, which draws a parallel line between Kugsha and wolves. The nails may be sharp and consist of a forequarter and a hindquarter.
Forequarters – The forequarters of Kugshas consist of straight, sturdy, thick-boned front legs.
Hindquarters – Their hindquarters consist of angular, muscular, and powerful hind legs, typically the thighs. This gives Kugsha speed and strength.
Coat – They bear a long, dense double coat and come in different colors and shades; however, one constant feature is their thick weatherproof fur that sheds heavily during some seasons and can bear only cold weather conditions.
Color – Their coat comes in colors and shades like black, brown, cream, gray, white, and fawn.
Gait – They have a balanced gait and strong legs ready for vigorous exercise.
Kugsha Temperament
Kugsha dogs are eager to please, intelligent, affectionate, adventurous, and playful. Since they are brilliant, they might dominate their owners. They are loyal to their pet parents and family, demanding mutual trust and respect. They are sensitive and should never be scolded, hit, or bullied. They like positive reinforcements, appraisals, and treats.
Amerindian Malamutes are unsuitable for novice owners, who prefer to stay away from strangers and need early socialization. They don’t tend to bark or bite often; however, they howl and can be unpredictable in situations where they are uncomfortable; hence, they are considered illegal in various countries. They are hyperactive and should not be left off-leash or alone, or else they will suffer from separation anxiety and be ferocious.
Kugshas must be intensely socialized from a young age and be given a vigorous exercise to avoid weariness. They are protective and can be hard-core guard dogs. Their Malamute and Husky inheritance makes them friendly with the family. They are good with other pets, but their strong prey drive can threaten smaller breeds and children. They can be fatal when they attack.
Kugsha Training
Kugshas is brilliant, sharp, and easy to train. They are eager and learn quickly. They expect appraisals and treats for getting the tasks to get done. They need to be taught at a very early age, maybe during puppyhood. They are dominant breeds and should be on a leash since they are brilliant and demand an equally smart dog owner to train them. They can be good at hiking and jogging and make excellent walking companions when trained well.
Here are a few dog interactive toys and products that you can use while training:
Since Kugshas are working dogs, they need plenty of exercise. A minimum of 70 minutes of exercise a day is good to go. They like a large fenced yard and a vast space to engage themselves. Thus, they need help in adapting to apartment living. The more they are given exercise, the better their mental and physical health will be.
Here are a few puzzles and dog toys to keep your pet engaged:
Nina Ottosson Interactive Treat Puzzle Game Dog Toys
Kugshas have a rough dense double coat that will require brushing frequently and blowing out during seasonal shedding. They will need coat maintenance, especially during warm weather conditions. Ensure they are not exposed to too warm temperatures. Kugshas need to be introduced early to grooming.
Grooming Kugsha includes clipping nails, cleansing eyes, and cleaning ears to avoid ear infections. Kugshas have thick, luxuriant fur that requires brushing 2 to 3 times a week to keep their hair away from debris, shedding, matting, and tangling. The straight fur requires less bathing occasionally; regular brushing is needed if they become filthy. In addition, you will have to take care of their dental health to prevent tooth decay, tartar, plaque, and other dental problems by brushing at least once a week.
Here are a few products and equipment to meet your Kugsha grooming needs:
Generally, Kugshas are very healthy dog breeds, but they are prone to specific health issues like other dog breeds.
Health Overview
General Health
Medium to high
Size
Medium to high
Potential For weight gain
Medium
Severe Health Problems
Hip Dysplasia
It is a condition where the thigh bone doesn’t fit into the hip joints. If you find your Kugsha bunny-hopping instead of walking or running in a different gait, it indicates that your Kugsha is having hip dysplasia. Lack of exercise, along with overeating, causes this condition.
Patellar Luxation
It is also known as “Slip Stifles,” generally common in dog breeds. When the femur (thigh bone), patella (knee cap), and tibia (calf) are not aligned it causes an abnormal gait; your pet skips, or hops. The severity of the condition leads to surgical procedures.
Arthritis
Rubbing of the patella can cause arthritis. Arthritis is seen in working dogs since they pull weight and always like to be hyperactive.
Bloat
A sudden gas influx in the stomach causes bloating. This causes the stomach to twist and can be deadly if not treated promptly. The twist is generally removed surgically.
Mild to Moderate health problems
Osteoarthritis
The affected part will be painful, especially in the joints, with stiffness and tenderness. In addition, the cartilage that layers the bones wears over time and affects the hands, hips, knees, and spine joints.
Occasional health problems
Parvo Canine Distemper
This is a viral infection commonly seen in dogs. Parvo Canine viruses are highly-contagious and often fatal. The viral infection attacks the intestine. Symptoms include diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, depression, and high fever.
Obesity
Due to a heightened sense of smell, Kugshas may have a big appetite and are prone to gobble anything that attracts their nose. Hence, a balanced diet is vital for them. It is best not to keep the foods we eat open as Kugshas might eat them without noticing when they smell them.
Recommended Health Tests
X-Rays
Physical Examination
Kugsha Diet and Nutrition
Kugsha is for large dogs, requiring a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 5 cups of dog food daily, depending on your dog’s weight and height. You can serve them raw bony meat and eggs, semi-cooked or tinned salmon, and tuna fish.
Here are the foods and supplements to meet your Kugsha’s nutrition needs:
Kugshas can be bred only by owners with experience in handling a wolf dog. Kugsha does well in cold weather conditions. However, they are unsafe for homes with smaller breeds and children since they have high prey drives.
Kugshas are not suitable for urban areas or apartment living. However, a rural housing area that is spacious, large, isolated, and has a well-built fence can be ideal for Kugsha. While traveling, it is better to check if they are secured to stop them from plunging out.
Did You Know?
Like other Northern breeds, Kugshas are dogs with primitive behavior.
A study conducted between 1981 and 2014 shows that 82% of people attacked by wolf dogs were children.
Kugshas are bigger than their cousin Siberian Husky but smaller than Alaskan Malamutes.
Adding a Kugsha to Your Family
Things to remember before adding a Kugsha to your family
It is best to purchase a Kugsha puppy from a reliable and reputed breeder who can provide you with health certificates and vaccination and gene testing certificates.
The Cost of A Kugsha Puppy
The cost of a Kugsha Puppy is around $1000, excluding the miscellaneous costs.
