Description

The Komondor is a big, handsome, dog that was originally bred to guard livestock in Hungary, where the breed originates from. It can be hard to see under all that hair, but the Komondor is very athletic and muscular, as befits a working breed. The Komondor’s head is large, with dark skin around the eyes and on the muzzle. The muscular chest is wide and deep; the rump is similarly powerful, with a slight slope towards the tail. The forelimbs are very straight, as are the hindlegs.

Origin: Hungary

Look

Of course the Komondor’s stunning dreadlocked coat is one of the most striking features of the breed. The cords were thought to protect the Komondor from wolf bites as the dog guarded livestock.

Similar to the Puli, puppies are born with a soft, curly coat. As the dog ages the cords start to form, though the dog still has a soft, fluffy undercoat. The cords are actually a kind of controlled fur matting, with the coarser outer coat trapping the soft undercoat to form strong cords. Although the Komondors shed moderately, but require specialist care to keep their cords and skin in good condition. Some owners prefer to avoid the hassle by shaving off the cords.

The Komondor should be white, though some working Komondors’ coats become discoloured by dirt, giving them an off-white appearance.

Health

While the Komondor is generally healthy and hardy, the breed is prone to a few health conditions:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Entropion
• Gastric Torsion

At Newdoggy.com, we recommend that you buy your puppy from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines.

Learning

The Komondor is an intelligent breed, but it’s better to start training and socialisation from a young age. As these dogs mature, they become much more independent and can be stubborn. They like to think for themselves, and endless repetition or force will teach them nothing. Positive reinforcement and fun training methods are more effective for the Komondor. Keep in mind that Komondors can become bored easily, so it’s good to switch up your training method every couple of sessions.

Temperament

Slow to mature, the Komondor will grow up to be a calm and loyal dog. Nevertheless, they have an independent spirit, which can make training a challenge. Komondors were bred as guardian dogs, and as a result are very protective of their homes and families. They typically view strange people and dogs with suspicion and without proper socialisation and training this suspicion can quickly turn to aggression. Early socialisation, especially puppy classes, can be very helpful for helping your Komondor to grow up to be a good canine citizen.

Living with

The Komondor will not enjoy living in an apartment. These dogs are much happier in larger homes with access to a fenced garden or yard. Ideally there should be no close neighbours because Komondors, being guard dogs, like to bark.

If you choose to get a Komondor, you will need to exercise them properly. These dogs are both intelligent and independent, and their mental and physical abilities need to be channelled properly to avoid bad behaviour. Your Komondor should be happy with two or three daily walks, provided that they also have access to a garden or yard for free exercise.

Komondors are devoted to their family, and will even play patiently with the children. They are distrustful of strangers, and even with proper training and socialisation, some of them never get over this suspicion. They may also be suspicious of strange dogs, so it’s best to avoid the dog park. Fortunately they should get on well with other dogs that belong to their family.